The Sidmouth Running Club team photo ahead of City Runs’ Great West Run wasn’t pure green but all for good reason, charity.
Mighty Green Bob Huntington ran the 10k race for Devon Air Ambulance and finished in 56:08, 128th out of a field of 455. He found the route hillier than the Plymouth 10k he had recently run but enjoyed the experience just as much.
Nearly all the Mighty Greens (2 in the loo queue)
Sidmouth Running Club’s Colin Ryan seemingly flew round the half marathon course finishing in 1:37:51, 235th out of a field of 2109 finishers. Well done Colin. Mighty Green Sarah Clapham had a lovely surprise, her son Tom had returned home to run the Great West Run with her; though seeing him at the end, he might surprise her with flowers next time! Sarah finished strongly in 2:05:33 with Tom not far behind in 2:09:11.
The Mighty Green SHaH runners
Swapping green for blue six Mighty Greens ran the GWR half marathon for Sidmouth Hospice at Home alongside fellow team members Tash Evans, Charlotte Simpson and Allan Kay. Sharon Coombes, head of fundraising at SHaH supported them all the way, thoughtfully providing bananas, water and protein bars all under the cover of the SHaH gazebo in Exeter Arena plus cheering and taking photos. The team were also very lucky to have the support of the Jenkin family, who stationed themselves at the bottom of the university hill and cheered enthusiastically which certainly made that stretch a whole lot easier to run up.
Using the experience of MG’s Kerry Salter and Clare Luke who have run the GWR several times and listening to their advice to keep with a pace runner plus chairman Terry Bewes as an earworm in our heads (left turn ahead, start moving over now, head up, chest up, breathe etc etc!) everyone finished sub 2:30 which given the hilly nature of the course was a fantastic achievement.
Nikita and Kyle enjoying the rain
There was a cooling shower halfway round which did not dampen the very supportive crowds cheering the runners on, many of whom seemed to know your name; yes, it took a while to realise our names were on our race numbers! Nikita Kay and Kyle Baker finished in 2:05:25, Alexa Baker 2:11:27, with a new PB, Kerry 2:18:11, Kathy Jordan 2:20:11 and Clare 2:27:04, a new PB too. Could Tash who finished in 1:49:50, Charlotte 2:12:27 and Allan 2:18:23 be convinced to join the Mighty Greens? Could you set yourself this challenge and join Team Sidmouth Hospice at Home next year? Sharon would be very pleased to hear from you.
Kerry storming over the finish line
Team Sidmouth Hospice at Home would like to thank everyone who has donated to this amazing charity; your support is really appreciated. The total raised by the 9 runners currently stands at just over £4,000 which will nearly cover the cost of 48 hours of their specialist palliative care nursing service.