Sidmouth Running Club members had an active but fun festive time over the Christmas period including park runs, charity events, carol singing and a swim in the sea!
The last club session before Christmas saw the juniors run up Bickwell Lane by torch light in the drizzle to see the fantastic lights at Bennetts Hill before returning to St Johns for a festive treat. The adults enjoyed a run down to the Market Square where club ambassador Jo Pavey MBE, led a lively carol singing session with chairman Terry Bewes. The Mighty Greens split into their mileage groups and reconvened at St Johns for a festive mince pie and mulled wine. Terry was presented with a ‘bounce back to running award’ by vice chair Sarah Watkins in recognition of his determination to get back running following two broken bones in 2024.
Up for a challenge Donna Womersley-Westlake and Alexa Baker took part in SidRox, a charity event organised by PT’s Josh Solman and Rhys Thomas. Both Mighty Greens took part in the doubles event, Alexa with Laura Clode and Donna with Emily Prince and ran (lots!), skied, rowed, carried, jumped, burpeed, lunged, pulled, pushed and finished with 100 wall balls! The support form Josh, Rhys and fellow competitors was fantastic and got them through it finishing with a great sense of achievement.
Eleven Mighty Greens were at Christmas Day park runs, 9 of which were at Seaton which had a record 504 park runners and included MG Karen Farnham who ran her 25th park run.
It was a misty Boxing Day run but the runners thoroughly enjoyed the new route Terry took them on despite the hills. As tradition dictates, at the top of Salcombe Hill the Mighty Greens made a V formation and ran down the hill, ‘wings’ out, singing the dam busters theme tune much to the amusement of passing walkers. Arriving back in perfect time to watch or join in the unofficial Boxing Day swim.