Its a long way to Langport
Released On 16th Nov 2024
Bath Hilly 10
From Matt: Bath Hilly 10K race report
Yunmi Jang and I set off together at the same pace, and things were going fine. A slight mishap sent us the wrong way (too much talking), but we turned round and didn't lose too much time, arriving at the carpark ready to register and collect numbers. 🤣
Yunmi and I set off together at the same pace, and things were going fine. A bit chilly for the first lap of the race-course but then we dropped down on the Cotswold Way into the Weston area of Bath. At the turnaround point, they clearly made the hill twice as long to go back up and I trailed Yunmi by about 50 yards near the top, but she gallantly waited for me before the flattish stretch along Kelston Roundhill and the mad dash down to North Stoke.
Yunmi again moved ahead as I found something very interesting behind a bush, and then ascended the Hill Fort (why do they build hill forts at the top???). Again Yunmi was meanly waiting, ready to take a photo of the old fella struggling along.
A final push gave Yunmi 1st YTRRC, while I swept in to be 1st male YTRRC 😄
Times around 1:15 for Yunmi and 1:16 for me reflected the difficulty, total ascent was 966 feet (which I think is equivalent to three times up Everest), but also, the course was extra-long at over 7.5 miles - not exactly the 10K we signed up for (free mileage - yippee!) 🤣
Weird tradition of carrots and non-alcoholic beer at the end, but we still got medals too!
Wimborne 10
From Rach: Well done to all the Yeovil runners this morning at the Wimborne 10! Some very fast times.
Alton Towers Half
From Steve: I ran the Alton Towers half marathon this morning. Something a bit different running around the park and by the rides. A bit twisty and undulating- 2 lap interesting course but quite a lot running around the car parks.
Course was a bit short (or I took the racing line!) so happy with circa 1:35. Kate and I then braved a few rides afterwards.
Southampton 10km
From Margarita: Southampton 10km today. A really good 10km starting and finishing in the St Mary's Stadium, with a few twists, turns and a hilly bridge along the way. My 2nd fastest 10km. All the training and hill training are paying off.
Bath 10k Skyline
From Ann: Well that was definitely an experience the bath 10k skyline ,my second night time race . There was two waves I was in the second wave we start at 6.15 there were 212 people racing. We started at the University of Bath with music 321 and of we go down a narrow path and of into the forest it was a challenging hilly race which takes you through a variety of terrains including woodland and open meadows with large muddy sections . It takes you on a hilltop tour and views of the city , when we reached the second part of the forest it was super slippy safe to say I definitely went down on my butt with a thud but I wasn't the only person and I definitely came of better than some . It was a really lovely course that you done twice with a lovely hill you had in the mile Comeing into the University which you have the pleasure of doing twice but I managed to run it both times so pleased with that . It was a well marked course with glo sticks arrows and tape so not even I could get lost .there were snacks and drinks at the end too with for a wooden medal really nice one. The marshals were encouraging and really lovely . I managed to come 2nd in my age category and 47th out of 212 I think so not to bad for a trail night time run.
Weekend Running
From Mags: Another muddy one for Trail Gang this morning. Nice to revisit some old paths after a long while.
From Tina: Just Amanda and myself for the inbetweeners this morning. A lovely countryside route with pleasant weather. We clipped along at a good pace too, even with jeffing averaged 10.30 min miles . Lovely cake from Helen as always afterwards.
From Mark: Sunday Run from Goldenstones. Sharon leading Alisons group today. Thanks Sharon, and all for the run around Yeovil this morning. Great company.
From Louise: Enjoyable Cavity Trays social run this morning for this group of ladies. It wasn't as cold as we thought so we all had to strip off a layer! Thanks to Sharon for leading and everyone for lovely company.
Park Runs
From Adam: The 4th Simmons Park Park Run in Barnstable for us. Slightly complicated but pleasant flat course around playing fields and along a river. My 298th and ‘snakes’ challenge completed!
From Jo: The things we will do for the letter “I”!!! An early start as we went off to Itchen Valley Country parkrun to bag our self the letter “I” all for the alphabet challenge!! We had agreed to enjoy this one instead of racing it!! This worked for two reasons, last nights track session had finished us off & it is a very wiggly windy (with lots of trip hazards!!!) route which was actually really enjoyable. Next, & more importantly a lovely breakfast was enjoyed by all even if a couple of photo opportunities got in the way.!! Bit worried now as everyone else wants to Christmas shop before we go.
From Kevin: Nice and steady run at Frome parkrun after track last night.
From Simon: A beautifully scenic woodland park run having to avoid the occasional tree root and pine cone. Some of the run was lit with Christmas display lights (already)!
From Ali: Yeovil runners at Frogmary this morning. Hardy any mud today but a bit chilly.
From Margarita: Moors Valley parkrun on the way to Southampton and for an M with a stop for breakfast.
From Steve: A is for Alvaston parkrun Derby. Kate and I ran in Derby this morning whilst visiting my brother as a base for Alton Towers half Marathon tomorrow.
A flat out and back fast (a parkrun pb for Kate 26:51 and my fastest parkrun this year and 7 seconds off of a pb 19:16) course around a park. A slightly uninspiring course but the marshals were very friendly and rakeets in the trees by the lake.
From Terry: Kaz & I headed to Bristol this time for Ashton Court Parkrun.
From Taryn: #249 parkrun DONE but who should I meet on the start line amongst 500+ parkrunners at Southwark park event number499! Matthew and Jodie Warr - a great event with mass wide start stampeding across the park to join the tarmaced path - hearing that many feet on the autumn leaf drop was quite something- 3 laps around the park- and on to my milestone next week-Lydiard park!
PUB RUN – EAST LAMBROOK – (14TH NOVEMBER 2024)
From Gareth: Anyone who has had the pleasure of running with Bungy Williams and experiencing his amazing navigation skills will enjoy this……
He set off from The Rose and Crown at 1830 on his own. He realised he had gone wrong when his watch said 6 miles and he had no idea where he was. So he knocked on a random door and asked them which way East Lambrook was…The man had no idea! As you’ll see from the picture. He was quite a way away. Bungy tried his luck and asked him for a lift back to the pub. The man was happy to help. That’s one for the history books.
From Bungy: What really happened was I missed the turn at Kingsbury because the Space Shuttle had a new crew and managed to hit the Garmin Satellite and it stopped transmitting for a few seconds, I thought I had gone wrong so knocked on some gezzers door to ask where I was, he had never heard of East Lambert so asked his wife who also said she hadn't either. He got his phone and we looked at where it was and then I thought its only 6.9 miles I can run back, sadly that would have meant missing my meal in the Rose and Crown so asked if he would give me a lift thinking he would say jog on, but he didn't and gave me a lift. I thought he took the long way back but didn't say anything to him.
PUB RUN – EAST LAMBROOK – (14TH NOVEMBER 2024)
From Mark: I ran solo tonight, running an anti-clockwise loop. Leaving the pub, I made my way to Gawbridge Bow. The way was partially lit by a bright full moon. However, it was cool, and there were patches of fog to run through. Dogs barked in the distance. Turning left, I headed along Broadmead to Kingsbury Episcopi. As there were no runners to photograph, I started photographing the pub signs. I continued on to the Rusty Axe at Stembridge, and along New Cross Hill. The lights approaching me up ahead were Phil, Ann, and Rachael. At New Cross, I turned left and made my way along Owl Street. More patches of fog and light from the full moon made this a particularly enjoyable atmospheric run. Had, I been leading a group, I would have made the run longer by incorporating the lanes to Burrow.
After the run, I joined Phil, Guy, Ann, Rachael, and Gareth (who ran out from Yeovil), for the meal in the pub. The spicy prawns were so good I ate the shell, legs, and tails as well. Thanks Phil for organising.
