A sea of Mighty Greens at the Bradleys 10k Exmouth

As the sun burnt through the mist, 20 Sidmouth Running Club members gathered under the Mighty Green flag on Exmouth seafront on Sunday for a group photo ready to take on the Bradleys 10k race.

Before the start

The chip timed, 2 lap race organised by Lizzie of LME events was sponsored by Bradleys Estate Agents who also got involved helping with registration, running in the race and marshalling. Sidmouth estate agent Stephen French and his wife Sarah were very encouraging marshals and certainly gave us all a boost as we passed them several times!

Jack Wilson was first club runner home in 44:33 and was third in his age group; Jane Stein came 2^nd in her age group in 58:07 as did Chris Heywood in his age group in 51:29.

A special mention must go to Tracy Scannell who got a PB as it was her first timed 10k race. Tracy showed strength and determination as she started lap 2 and with some timely encouragement from Suzi Rockey who joined her for the last mile, ran over the finish line with chairman Terry Bewes hot on her heels.

Tracy

The team spirit of the club had been commented on by several runners (not SRC), who noticed how the club runners cheered each other on. As Beccy Johnson said, “The supportive waves, “well dones” and thumbs up really helped.”

Run and Talk

Another example of the running club’s supportiveness was the success of the #runandtalk session last Wednesday. Mental Health champion, Charlotte Forrer, was delighted with the ‘fantastically sociable atmosphere’ and to everyone who stayed on after the run for a drink and a chat.

Derek

Derek Blackburn set out this year to run in events he hadn’t raced before so instead of lining up on Exmouth seafront he was on the Scilly Isles for a half marathon around St Marys. Derek enjoyed the scenic route and kept Terry’s advice to keep the sea on his left in mind completing the run in 2:42:00. Where will he pop up next?!

Sidmouth Running Club will be cheering on Mighty Greens Allan Kay, Yasmin Salter and Toby Garrick as they head off to London to take part in the Virgin London Marathon this Sunday. You’ve got this!

Sidmouth Running Club Marathon Madness

Mighty Green Antony Hall found himself lining up with 30,000 + runners at the recent Manchester Marathon and finished in the top 1,000!

Ant with medal

Antony said, “ I started off really well, keeping a steady pace of 7 minute miles until mile 18 where the long stretches of road took its toll and my pace dropped off considerably; but I kept going and finished just over 2 minutes outside my PB time in 3:10:06, 975^th overall.”

Jo

Jo Earlam headed to Cornwall to compete in the Atlantic Coast Challenge-3 marathons over 3 days along the Cornish coastline. Day 1 saw Jo run between Trevone Head to Perranporth in 7:25:00, even though day 2 included 3,500 feet of elevation between Perranporth and Hayle Jo knocked 2 minutes off the previous days run. Day 3 was a 28.86 mile stretch of the coastline from Lelant to Lands End with 4,800 feet of elevation. The Mighty Green completed the final section in 9:23:00, coming in 95^th place out of 180 entrants and said the spectacular scenery and fabulous weather made it all worthwhile.

Cheryl

It was third time lucky for Cheryl Boulton when she travelled up to Weston Super Mare on Sunday to compete in her first half marathon since the start of Covid as the race had been rescheduled twice. The Mighty Green was determined to beat her 2019 time of 2:08:24 and knocked almost 2 minutes off it despite a quick dash to the portaloo at mile 8! It was the first time Cheryl ran in a new age category, senior women, having turned 50 earlier in the year and was delighted to find out she came 56^th out of 137 and overall 576^th out of a field of 1058 runners. Husband Bruce treated Cheryl to fish and chips on the pier afterwards with the added bonus of 20% discount for all runners-there’s an incentive to enter a race!

Junior swimathon

On Wednesday evening Chairman Terry Bewes presented the SRC Junior members who are representing the club at this month’s Rotary swimathon with a SRC swim bag as a thank you. The Junior team will be competing along two adult SRC teams, the Elite and the Survivors!

Sidmouth Running Club’s Antony Hall Secures 2^nd Place With 7+ hours of Running!

The aptly named Celebration Caper organised by Jolly Running was cause for celebrations for three Mighty Greens on Saturday. The 8 hour timed event was set in the Riverside Valley Park, Exeter and it was up to the runner how many 3.3mile laps to run.

Rachel

Despite the heat Rachel Austen-Rigby completed 2 laps, running 6.6 miles in 1:31:05 and was very pleased to receive the unique medal in the shape of a champagne bottle. This was Rachel’s second 10k event since joining the club’s beginners group in lockdown this year and she said she appreciated the encouragement given from the fellow Mighty Greens.

Yasmin

Newly qualified Leader in Running Fitness, Yasmin Salter, gave her Hospice UK charity marathon vest a test run and used the Caper as part of her marathon training. With four weeks to go Yasmin ran 6 laps, a total of 19.8 miles in 3:26:01.

Antony with prize

Antony Hall’s pre-run preparations the night before certainly paid off. The Mighty Green said, “On Saturday I lined up for the start of the Celebration Caper. Having got off to my usual too fast start I settled down from the second lap into a steady pace taking 2 laps at a time to get through the heat of the day! Finally the fatigue and cramps got too much on the 13th lap and I finished at that, covering just over 43 miles in the time, and picking up 2nd place! It was a really great event with fantastic marshals and friendly runners; I will be back next year to see if I can reach the magic 50 miles!”Knowing Antony he will!

Jane and Jack

Representing Sidmouth Running Club on Sunday at the Bridgwater Half Marathon were Jack Wilson and Jane Stein neither of them having run this distance before! Jack, who has only been running for just under a year, chose the Bridgwater Half Marathon as it was relatively flat, chip timed and in support of Cancer Research UK. Jack was thrilled with his time 1:47:00 and showed his support to fellow MG Jane by running back to encourage her over the finish line of which she was very grateful. Jane was very happy with her time of 2:18:00. Will a marathon be their next goal?

Celebrations As Landmarks Reached For Sidmouth Running Club Members

Saturday saw Mighty Green Jo Earlam complete her 80^th marathon at the Plym Valley Trail event organised by First and Last Running.

Jo and marathon #80

Jo ran with fellow MG Jane Hemsworth, who has completed 29 marathons, and completed the course in 5:36:00. The ladies were pleased with their time as they had walked the last couple of miles to accompany a runner who had fallen; their club spirit shining through.

Jane and Jo

Julia Haddrell was all smiles as she crossed the finish line at Seaton Park Run for the 100^th time on Saturday despite the rain. Julia said she appreciated all the shouts of encouragement from the other SRC members taking part on Saturday. We will have to wait and see if she buys the landmark t-shirt!

Julia and Parkrun #100

The club’s organisers of JP’s Exe to Axe race also reached a landmark this week; the 200^th entrant to ‘An adventure 22 miles in the making!’ Paul Mitchell, David Lee and Rob Edwards have been hard at work planning the club’s biggest fundraiser which had to be cancelled last year. A couple of changes include using chip timing and having an open start time between 9am and 10.10am. Paul said,” Entries have been received from the length and breadth of the country with the furthest entrant being in the Canary Islands!”

There is still time to enter this scenic, challenging trail run along the coastal path from Exmouth to Seaton. Please visit www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk for further details.

All Smiles At The Sidmouth 10k

It is not often you can walk to a race from home but thanks to Lizzie from LME events, 41 SRC members enjoyed the close proximity of the Sidmouth 10k which took place from Sidford on Sunday.

MGs out in force

The popular race takes you down through the Byes, up Salcombe Hill Road, down Cliff Road and Beatlands, along the seafront and back again. Not quite as flat as you might think but an advantage to being a MG is we can train up and down the hill so we get the measure of it. Another advantage is the support you get from your fellow runners; a well done and a smile spurs you on and there were many of those as we passed each other.

Antony at the start

Antony Hall and John Sharples were best in their age groups with Antony coming in 7^th place overall out of 232 finishers.

Special mention must go to all the fantastic friendly marshals (many of them club members or relations of) who cheered the runners on, to Emma Donovan and 1^st Sidmouth Guides for manning the water station on the seafront and to Lizzie and her team for organising the event.

Sidmouth 10km results 7^th November 2021

Antony Hall 7^th 42:08, Niall Hawkins 43:47, Jack Wilson 45:55, Colin I’Anson 47:30, Ross Walton 48:43, Jamie Locke 50:27, Tim Swarbrick 51:11, Clive Gilbert 51:15, Pete Norman 51:17, Yasmin Salter 52:22, Kyle Baker 52:44, Chris Heywood 52:57, Rob Edwards 53:04, Allan Kay 53:26, Tim Clay 54:38, Christine Farnham 54:52, Becky McDonald 54:57, Karen Farnham 55:26, Susan Reeve 55:29, Suzi Rockey 57:10, Jane Hemsworth 57:53, Cheryl Boulton 58:20, Cameron Baker 58:46, Christie Ward 1:01:27, John Sharples 1:01:28, Kerry Salter 1:01:54, Judith Jeeves 1:03:55, Naomi Loosemore 1:03:45, Lee-Ann Thomson 1:03:55, Kathy Jordan 1:03:58, Helen Akay 1:03:59, Gail Goldsmith 1:05:12, Alexa Baker 1:05:18, David Welsh 1:05:44, Amelia Frankpitt 1:10:37, Beccy Johnson 1:12:57, Jennifer Benattar 1:15:01, Julia Haddrell 1:15:03, Helen Neighbour 1:18:46, Tracy Scannell 1:22:59, Terry Bewes 1:22:59.

Mighty Green David Knapman Earns Himself A London Marathon Championship Start

Sidmouth Running Club members Jo Earlam and David Knapman ran the Exeter Marathon on Sunday and at one point briefly ran together before David crossed the line and Jo had another lap to run. In fact David finished in second place in an unbelievable time of 2:35:27, just 8 seconds behind the winner! Not only has he smashed the club record by more than 5 minutes, the Mighty Green earned himself a championship start in the London Marathon.

David after his great run

David has recently moved to Sidbury after spending the last couple of years in France where he rediscovered his love of running during the lockdowns. He was super happy to find that Sidmouth is home to a very active and welcoming running club. The Mighty Green said, “I’ve been training for Exeter Marathon for the past 10 weeks partly in France and latterly here in Devon with lots of back and forth along East Hill Strips interspersed with the Monday and Wednesday night club runs. We were lucky with the weather, 10c and lighter winds than forecast on Sunday and I managed to keep a steady pace throughout the two-lap course around Exeter Quay – a bit twisty and turn-y in places, but otherwise flat and fast. I am extremely pleased with my result and look forward to wearing my MG shirt in the London Marathon next year.”

Jo & marathon #85

For Jo this was her fifth marathon in four weeks, number 85 and she was delighted with her time of 5:18.00 as it was her best in 3 years and the last 20 marathons.

Gold In Them There Mountains For SRC’s Kirsteen Welch

Mighty Green Kirsteen Welch had the honour of representing England on Sunday swapping the coastal paths of Sidmouth for the mountains of Italy and she smashed it! Chosen by England Athletics to join the England team to run in the World Mountain Association Nations Cup, Kirsteen was delighted to come in 10th female place helping England to a team gold!

Team Gold

An elated Kirsteen said, “I loved this race so much, the hills were torture but the downhills were so much fun and super quick.

Kirsteen in action

Every second of the trip has been enjoyable thanks to fellow team mates and the EA team support. I am going to build on this for the World Mountain Running Championships.”

Jane, Jo & Bob(?)

Closer to home Jo Earlam and Jane Hemsworth had a great day out at the Grand Canal Canter organised by Winding Paths entering into the Halloween spirit by carrying around ‘Bob’ the skeleton as he had ‘no body to run with’! The ladies completed the out and back twice route between Tiverton and Sampford Perverell along the Grand Western Canal just inside the 6 hour cut off time, making it Jo’s 84th marathon and Jane’s 31st!

Scary Halloween on the seafront

An impromptu Halloween fun run was had by a group of Mighty Greens who don’t like to miss an occasion to dress up and run on Saturday morning. It was more fun than run as they kept getting stopped for photos!

Mighty Green swimmers

Twenty three SRC members swapped trainers for flippers on Saturday evening to represent the club in the Rotary Club of Sidmouth’s Swimathon. Chairman Terry Bewes said, “What a brilliant job all the teams did. The Elite Team swam 140 lengths, swam 108 lengths and the juniors swam 112 lengths. A special mention goes to the juniors who were outstanding in showing what a team sport is all about. For 55 minutes they swam, cheered and encouraged each other and in Blues restaurant afterwards were so well behaved a privilege to have them in the club.”