Hot! Hot! Hot! Haytor Heller

On Saturday 17^th July Antony Hall was questioning why he had signed up to run the Haytor Heller on possibly the hottest day of the month so far! Organised by Teignbridge Trotters to celebrate their 35^th anniversary the hilly, rugged terrain certainly put the Mighty Green to the test. The 5.30pm start didn’t bring cooler temperatures but Antony completed the 10k course in 00:54:12, 30 seconds behind the first woman home in an impressive 25^th place out of a field of 240 entrants.

Antony at Haytor

Antony said, “It was by far the hottest run I have had since the London Marathon in 2018!”

Hosepipes Cool Kirsteen As She Blazes Ahead!

Kirsteen Welsh has done it again setting a new woman’s course record at the Frome Half Marathon on Sunday!

Despite the temperature hitting 29^oc and the hilly first half, Kirsteen was the first lady over the finish line, 6^th overall and completed the course in 1:21:13, smashing the existing woman’s course record.

Kirsteen at Frome

The Mighty Green said, ”The residents of Frome were legends, they came out to cheer the runners on and cooled them down by spraying us with hose pipes!”

Dolphins And Puffins (Medals) Make A Hot Half Marathon Worthwhile

Further afield on Sunday Tom Knight, Debbie and Don Cawthera ran the Lundy Island half marathon. Deb said, “It was the hottest, slowest half marathon I have ever done!”. Debbie and Don completed it in 3:25:15.

Don and Debbie

Meanwhile Tom put in a good run in the 30 deg heat, coming in 3rd place in 2:10:52!

Tom at Lundy 1/2M

The Mighty Greens saw dolphins on the way back and received a lovely Puffin medal which made the event very memorable.

What A Way To Celebrate Being 50!

Also on Saturday 10th July representing Sidmouth Running Club in the Exe Estuary 50k, Marathon, Half Marathon-Summer were Allan Kay, Adrian ‘Gripper’ Horne, Niall Hawkins and Sarah Ginsberg.

The race organised by Winding Paths starts in Budleigh Salterton, continues along the SW coast path to Exmouth (where those running the half marathon turn around), and along the Exe Estuary Trail to Topsham (the return point for the 50k).

Sarah

Half marathon runners, Niall and Sarah, both agreed that the return along Exmouth seafront was tough but despite mud, rain, sun and hitting a wall (not literally) at mile 8, Niall had an incredible run taking second place in 1:53:53 and Sarah, who had her granddaughter Olive cheering her on, finished in 2:14:54, fourteenth place in a field of 84 runners.

Niall

Mighty Green Adrian finally achieved his goal to run 50k in his fiftieth year, and the race postponement due to Covid meant he got to run it with his son, Ollie and MG Allan.

Ollie, Allan, Adrian

Despite the wet start, the trio enjoyed the picturesque route and were encouraged along the way by family and friends. They finished together, rather fittingly, in joint 50^th place in 6:57:08.

Medals

A special mention must go to former SRC member, Jess Raynor, who was 1^st woman home, 6^th overall in 4:50:12. Congratulations to you all.

­Field of (Mighty) Green

Sidmouth Running Club members were out in force on Saturday competing in the Otter Rail and River 10k event. The multi terrain race is organised by Tipton St John Playing Field Association and is gently undulating, following the valley of the River Otter and along the disused railway line in Harpford Woods using short road links, un-surfaced tracks/paths, fields with stiles, kissing gates and this year lots of MUD!

Luckily Sidmouth club runners have been advised by Chairman Terry Bewes not to dilly dally on the outside edges of the mud but to plough straight through and as Bex McDonald said, “It was great Grizzly training!”

There was an air of excitement as the Mighty Greens gathered for a group photo before the start; for many it was their first event in club colours and it was the first race in a long time that 45 MG’s lined up at the start.

Toby & Catherine

Mighty Green Toby Garrick had a fantastic run through the challenging conditions and came in 1^st overall out of a field of 216 finishers in 36 minutes and was first in his age category. MG’s Antony Hall came in 9^th place in 42:14 with Tom Knight not far behind in 42:57. Mighty Green Catherine Hilton had a great run, not only was she first local lady home but also first in her age category in 52:51.

Charlotte

Seconds behind Catherine was Charlotte Forrer who has recently successfully competed in her first triathlon, the Weymouth Middle Distance Triathlon organised by Bustinskin Events. Charlotte is also an England Athletic Run Together group leader with mums from Sidbury school; two of which ran the Otter Rail and River.

Group finish at Tipton

For the club runners further down the field it was very encouraging to hear the cheering as the finishers crossed the line and to see the number of Mighty Greens who had stayed on to do so in true club spirit.

Sidmouth Running Club would like to thank race director Gemma Wiltshire and her team for the very well organised event, the very friendly supportive marshals and the two cow marshals (they had skills!). There were smiles all round as the runners left with their finisher’s bottle of Otter Brewery bitter despite having very wet, muddy trainers.

Results

Toby Garrick 36:00

Antony Hall 42:14

Tom Knight 42:57

Catherine Hilton 52:51

Charlotte Forrer 53:37

Yasmin Salter 53:44

Tim Swarbrick 54:54

Susan Anderson 55:25

John Sharples 56:32

Clive Gilbert 57:22

Mark Norton 57:47

Naomi Garrick 59:03

Christine Farnham 59:04

Becky McDonald 60:33

Sue Colman 61:01

Suzi Rockey 63:48

Derek Blackburn 63:54

Judith Jeeves 64:47

Helen Akay 64:51

Brigid McEleney-Smith 65:05

Sarah Clapham 65:34

Jane Stein 66.51

Denise Main 67:01

Kathy Jordan 68:17

Katie Harris 68:46

David Wright 69:35

John Doherty 69:57

Sam Ingram 70.19

Lucy Ingram 70:20

Jasmine Reeves 70:36

Colin Flood 70:51

Sarah Burston 71:23

Leeann Thompson 72:30

Amelia Frankpitt 72:55

Jo Earlam 79:22

Emma Grainger 81:33

Sarah Watkins 83:35

Carol McManus 83:36

Beccy Johnson 83:37

Liz Goodman 83:37

Alexa Baker 83:38

Jenny Benattar 84:58

Alison Long 85.20

Ann Cole 86:40

Rachel Austin-Rigby 87:02

Julia Haddrell 94:28

Terry Bewes 94:28

A Record Breaking Running Weekend For Sidmouth Running Club

On Saturday two SRC members headed up to Petworth in Hampshire to compete in The Salomon Serpent Trail organised by Freedom Racing.

Hannah at Serpentine 1/2M

Hannah Maslen ran the half marathon and after a mental tricky start the Mighty Green pulled herself through to get herself a half marathon PB of 2:28:48.

Kirsteen at Serpentine 50k

Following on from her success in the Exeter half marathon last week, Kirsteen Welch competed in the 50k Ultra race as part of the Golden Trail Series. This Mighty Green was the first woman over the line, 9th overall and smashed the woman’s course record and the previous men’s course record! It was the first time in this race that a lady has finished in under 4 hours, which Kirsteen did in 3:56:44 knocking nearly 40 minutes off the old record!

Closer to home on Sunday a small posse of Mighty Greens took part in LME’s Balmy Bicton 10k.

Suzi at Balmy Bicton

For Suzi Rockey it was a last minute decision having entered the race the night before and she was very happy to see the finish line completing the course in 57:20.

David art Balmy Bicton

David Welsh completed the course in 1:05:35 coming 3rd in his age category and Jamie Locke was very happy with his result especially considering there were a few challenging hills.

Jamie at Balmy Bicton

He came 23rd out of a field of 79 runners, 5th male in age category with a time of 50:42.

Niall at Balmy Bicton

Mighty Green, Niall Hawkins, had a fantastic run, crossing the finish line in 42:00, giving him a well-deserved 3rd place overall and 2nd in age category.

Sidmouth Running Club are delighted that Kirsteen Welsh is back flying the Mighty Green flag and what a return!

Last weekend Kirsteen raced in the Run Exe 5k, her first 5k race since running an Exmouth parkrun back in October 2018 and achieved a big PB of 16.59 minutes! Kirsteen said, “There is definitely more in me to go quicker with targeted speed work and more racing to increase my pain threshold to keep pushing the pace even when it starts to hurt.”

Kirsteen

This Sunday saw Kirsteen and new Mighty Green Jamie Locke race in the Exeter Half Marathon organised by City Community Trust.

Jamie

Jamie enjoyed the traffic free, flat route along the footpath and cycle track of the River Exe and Exeter canal, dodging the rain drops and was very pleased with his result, coming in 132 out of 275 runners in 1:50:37. Kirsteen, despite the weather conditions and twisty route, was the first woman to cross the finish line in 77:24 wearing the Mighty Green colours. A fantastic result reflecting the dedication of her training, well done Kirsteen.

David

Travelling further afield, David Skinner had an early start on Saturday to get to Sibleyback lake in Cornwall for the Gecko gathering 5k which started at 8am. David said’ “I haven’t been there before but it was a very nice lake to run (in my case still very slowly) around with a decent cafe. I only do it for the bling!”