Last Wednesday saw Derek Blackburn complete his in house run leader training taking the 4-5 mile group run along the Jurassic coastline.  The Mighty Green was presented with his run leader top and first aid kit by vice chair Sarah Watkins.  Derek joins a merry band of run leaders within the club, all of whom bring enthusiasm, encouragement and a different run route with almost the exact number of miles required!

With the nights drawing in the club is preparing to re-start the Monday and Wednesday club runs from their base at St Johns School but will trial an off road torchlight run in September for those missing off road running.

Vice Chair Sarah Watkins presenting the Club’s newest Run Leader Derek Blackburn with his SRL shirt

On a glorious morning at Killerton Park Run Sidmouth Running club member David Skinner completed his 200th parkrun.

David Skinner on his 200th parkrun at Killerton

David’s first park run was in January 2016 and in that time he has taken part in four Christmas Day park runs and broken 30 minute on 6 occasions. David who only started running when he was 68 3/4 and runs in the VM75-79 category has also completed another park run challenge.  The Mighty Green has travelled over 15,198km to visit 51 park run locations and has successfully run the park run alphabet in the UK as his recent holiday to Durham and Scotland saw him run in the Jubilee parkrun at Spennymoor and the Vogrie park run near Edinburgh.  (There isn’t a X or Z).

David Skinner has travelled across the UK to complete the Parkrun alphabet including Vogrie in Scotland

Huge congratulations from SRC who look forward to seeing what your next challenge will be!

Derek Blackburn is another MG who is participating in park runs up and down the country.  Whilst visiting the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Derek ran at Oaklands and Edgebaston.

Derek Blackburn at Oaklands parkrun on a recent trip to Birmingham

Proving how committed Sidmouth Running Club members are even on holiday run leader and vice chair Sarah Watkins wore her Mighty Green top at Glacier Bay, Alaska!

Sarah Watkins wearing the Mighty Green at Glacier Bay, Alaska.

The club is still enjoying off road runs on Monday and Wednesday evenings and welcome visitors to join them on the runs.  Please contact Terry via the web page www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk for further details.

The Blackdown Beauty organised by Honiton Running Club fell in the middle of the recent heatwave but this did not deter Mighty Green Mark Andow who was, as it turned out, the only SRC member to represent the club.  Despite this the self-navigating run was well supported-mad dogs and Devon folk in the midday sun sprung to Mark’s mind!  Mark thoroughly enjoyed the route aside from the stinging nettles and enjoyed a lovely cream tea at mile 13 before completing the 18 mile charity run in the top three.

Mark Andow likes it hot!

Whilst many of the clubs’ runners were cooling off in the sea last Monday evening a dedicated core of Mighty Greens ran with run leader Clive Gilbert.  Taking advantage of the track on Tipton St Johns playing fields they did some warm climate speed training!

Warm Climate Speed Training

Not only was Mighty Green Derek Blackburn celebrating his 25^th volunteer credit as 30 minute pacer at Cranbrook parkrun this weekend, it was also his 50^th parkrun.  The race director said Derek has helped a lot of people achieve an awesome sub 30 minute 5km.

Derek Blackburn celebrating parkrun milestones

When SRC’s Kirsteen Welch travelled up to Wales to compete in the UTMB World Series Ultra Trail Snowdonia 50k, she hoped to finish in the top three having changed her training to include more hill work.  The Mighty Green had an exceptional race helped by following advice and fuelling up during the event to avoid muscle cramps that she has struggled with in the past when racing in the mountains. Kirsteen finished 1^st female and 8^th overall in 6:23:34 and was over the moon to be on the podium alongside incredible athletes. Kirsteen is very grateful for her family’s never ending support and to everyone who is sharing her running adventure.

The only way is up for Kirsteen (photo by David Miller)

What a difference a year makes for the Otter Rail and River Run which took place on Saturday. Long gone were the memories of being knee deep in mud and instead finding shade was a priority!

The event is organised by Tipton St John Playing Field Association in conjunction with Sidmouth Running Club and is based at Tipton St John playing field where the Jackie Box fun run took place first at 10.30am with 10 Mighty Green Juniors taking part.

Our Mighty Green Fun Runners

They all enjoyed the warm up taken by SRC Junior helper Catherine Hilton before setting off on the mile long off road loop.

Catherine Hilton taking the Junior pre-run warm up

Barney Baxter was second over the line and first SRC junior with the others following not far behind to loud cheers from parents and SRC supporters.

And they are off-Junior Fun Run

At 11am, following a warm up by SRC’s Alexa Baker, 42 Mighty Greens lined up at the start of the 10k race looking forward to reaching the shade of Harpford Woods.

Pre-Race Warm Up

The route is very picturesque, alongside the river (which was looked at longingly!) through Harpford Woods, along the old railway line, back towards Tipton, through fields out to Fluxton and along tracks back to Tipton.  Mark Andow was the first SRC over the line in 49:45 in a field of 205 and not for the first time MG Catherine Hilton was the first local woman over the line in 53:27 and was presented with a trophy and prize. Special mention to MG David Wright who ran the route earlier in the morning to check the signage then took part in the event.  Race director Jemma Wiltshire did a fantastic job reminding runners to take on water at the 3 water stations on the route, but the heat certainly tested the runners.  Thankfully dizziness and nausea were overcome and the juicy oranges at the finish were much appreciated as was the bottle of Otter Brewery Ale all runners received.

Sunday wasn’t any cooler for Derek Blackburn, Donna and Grahame Womersley-Westlake who represented the club at GWC 10k charity run.  The Mighty Greens ran from Tiverton to Samford Peverell for Young Lives V Cancer.

Derek Blackburn, Donna and Grahame Womersley-Westlake at GWC 10K

Otter Rail and River 10K Results: Mark Andow 49:45, Darren Pearce 52:37, Greg Ward 53:06, Catherine Hilton 53:27, David King 53:35, Tim Swarbrick 55:44, Becky Knapman 56:03, Simon Stokes 57:42, Paul Reeve 57:51, Christine Farnham 58:02, Rachel Barnard 58:26, Clive Gilbert 59:35, Tim Clay 60:20, Simon Hollyer 60:24, Karen Farnham 60:40, Sarah Clapham 61:33, Naomi Garrick 61:48, Becky Procter 62:20, Becky McDonald 63:31, Adrian Horne 63:54, Jane Hemsworth 65.21, Brigid McEleney-Smith 65:22, Graham Sheppard 65:45, Sue Collman 67:54, David Wright 67:54, Alexa Baker 68:02, John Doherty 70:14, Carol Hounsell 70:33, Christie Ward 70:50, Judith Jeeves 71:54, Clare Luke 71:54, Colin Flood 72:53, Paul Mitchell 72:53, Amelia Frankpitt 76:04, Marion Johnson 79:01, Jenni Yeoman 80:43, Beccy Johnson 80:51, Kate Jenkins 85:05, Liz Goodman 85:05, Ann Cole 85:30, Terry Bewes 85:30, Jo Earlam 89:57

Mighty Green Mark Andow took part in the Plymouth Hope 24 Trail Festival starting at midday on Saturday and finishing midday on Sunday!  The 24 hour endurance event took place in the beautiful wooded valley at the heart of a 1550 acre country estate, Newnham Park. Mark ran 14 laps of the 5 mile course, 75 miles in total and was very pleased to learn he came 12^th out of 177 runners. An amazing achievement!

Mark Andow in training for his 24 hour challenge

All of Hannah Maslens’ training came to the fore on Saturday when she competed in her first ultra-marathon, the Salomon Serpents 50k trail race.  The race organised by Freedom Racing starts in a field in Petworth and follows the South Downs Serpent Trail to the finish at Petersfield rugby club. and Hannah said it was a stunning route. The Mighty Green was delighted with her time of 6:54:39 and finishing 314^th out of 459 runners despite everything starting to hurt in the last six miles and being a huge mental challenge. Well done Hannah!

Hannah Maslen with her ultra marathon medal

Meanwhile five Mighty Greens represented Sidmouth Running Club on Sunday 3rd July at LME Events’ well organised Balmy Bicton 10k covering the same distance as Hannah did on her own!  Perhaps more humid than balmy with the odd sprinkling of rain the runners enjoyed the undulating course which starts and finishes at Bicton College and takes you along quiet country lanes. LME Events were supporting Millwater School who are based in the grounds of Bicton College and as well as marshalling the route with Budleigh Rotary Club the school provided a very popular cake stall at the end.  Pete Norman was very pleased with his run and not surprising as he finished 7^th overall and first in his age category in 46:49. Gail Goldsmith and Terry Bewes also finished first in their age categories in 1:05:18 and 1:10:55 respectively with Carol Hounsell and Alexa Baker finishing 1:06:26 and 1:10.15 respectively.

Five MG’s at Balmy Bicton 10k

Brenda Perratt presented £250 to Teresa Loynd of Woolbrook News, the organiser of aid for local Ukrainian refugee families on Thursday.

Brenda Perratt puts the donation into the jar at Woolbrook News

This was part of a larger sum raised by Sidmouth Running Club’s annual JP’s Exe to Axe Race. Brenda’s late husband John was the inspiration and organiser of this race over many years. The club are very grateful to David Lee, race director, Paul Mitchell and Rob Edwards, the organising committee as they were instrumental in the decision to support the appeal. Teresa is doing a fantastic job locally, making the community aware of useful donations needed eg clothes, bikes, school uniform and by providing a networking hub.

Teresa Loynd accepts the donation from Brenda Perratt with Terry Bewes and Rob Edwards

The club donated a further £2,200 to the Red Cross Ukrainian Appeal which included £100 donated by the club auditor Jeanina Puckey and £100 was also donated to the RNLI on behalf of Axe Yacht Club for the use of their club house on race day.

On Sunday morning while several club members were supporting Ottertons’ Open Garden event, Kirsteen Welch and Carol Hounsell took to the streets of Paignton to run the Torbay half marathon.

Mighty Green Kirsteen ran hard tempo in preparation of next week’s Ultra Trail Snowdonia, part of the UTMB World series where elite runners compete for guaranteed places on the start line of OCC-the UTMB World Series Finals.  Despite the undulating 2 lap course and 20mph wind the Mighty Green finished in 1:21:24, first female overall and 8^th out of a field of 635 runners.  Kirsteen said the atmosphere was fantastic with lots of support on the course from marshals, spectators and fellow half marathon and 10k runners.

A Delighted Kirsteen Welch On The Podium

It was Carols’ first half marathon which she thoroughly enjoyed and was very happy with her time of 2:27:04.  Carol is busy preparing for her Hospiscare charity place in the London Marathon which takes place in October. This means the Mighty Green has to fit in fundraising events to meet the £2,000.00 target alongside her training program, the next one being a disco in Alphington, Exeter on Saturday 23^rd July. If you would like to support Carol and Hospiscare please follow the link www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carol-hounsell1 .

Carol Hounsell Was Very Happy With Her First Half Marathon

Derek Blackburn had cause to celebrate at Cranbrook park run on Saturday in his volunteer role as 30 minute pace marker.  It had taken 11 park runs in this role to finish spot on 30 minutes and he was over the moon!  Can he do it again?

Derek The Pace Maker

Sidmouth Running Club fielded 13 adult teams and 3 junior teams, 48 runners in total on Wednesday evening at The Woodland Relays organised by Honiton Running Club.

Nearly All The Woodland Relay Runners

The event took place in the picturesque grounds of Escot on one of the hottest days of the year so far and all the runners were grateful for the shady tracks the 2.2 mile route took them on.

The event was very well supported with 62 teams taking part from Axe Valley Runners, Exmouth Harriers, Honiton Running Club, The Met Office and SRC.  The junior teams ran alongside the adults and there was a great atmosphere throughout the well organised event but especially at the finish line with everyone cheering the runners in.

Juniors and adults ran side by side.

The Mighty Greens were very inventive in naming their teams; we had The Winslade Wobblers, YasMaHa, The Kamoots, The Indestructibles, and Rosy Cheeks to name a few.  Before the race started team tactics were discussed, the sweet treats on the cake stall were eyed up and water was taken on board.

Sidmouth Green Junior Girl Runners-Izzie, Amelie and Freddie

The overall winners, a team from AVR, completed the relay in 41:31.  The first SRC team to complete the relay were The Ronettes in 29^th place 1:02:06 and the first SRC junior team to finish were Super Sidmouth Junior Trotters in 48^th place 1:05:23.  All the Mighty Green teams completed the race under 1:20:00 and at the prize ceremony The Mermaids aka Sarah Clapham, Liz Wright and Sue Collman, were delighted to hear they came second in their age category in 1:8:22.

The Mermaids-Sue Collman, Liz Wright and Sarah Clapham

Wednesday night is also club night and this week’s run took in the stunning views over Salcombe mouth and the shady tracks through the woods whilst the juniors had their own relays organised by coach Charlotte Forrer at St Johns school complete with ice lollies to cool them down afterwards.

Cooling Down In The Shade

If you would like to find out more about the juniors and/or club nights please visit our website www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk

On Thursday 2^nd June three junior Mighty Greens, Hamish Bishop, Amalie and Barney Baxter entered the Cranbrook Country Park Jubilee Celebration family Fun Run organised by Cranbrook Running Club.

Barney and Amalie Baxter represented SRC at Cranbrook

All three enjoyed the run but especially Barney who finished first and although proud to receive a trophy for first male was far more interested in the inflatable football which was in his goody bag!

A very happy Barney Baxter with his trophy

Suzi Rockey competed in two Jubilee events over the weekend at Cranbrook and Honiton and received some impressive commemorative medals

Suzi Rockeys’ Jubilee Bling

while Liz Goodman entered into the Jubilee spirit by running in 3 pairs of socks on Saturday to achieve a red, white and blue effect!

Liz Goodman and her Jubilee socks