Magnificent 7

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Week 5 into the Beginners Course and the Magnificent 7 complete the 3 mile test run.

This was a great team run, keeping together, helping and encouraging each other, all at a steady pace of 11 minute a mile. That is until they got to the Esplanade for the final run to the flagpole when they all lined up together, picked up the pace to 10 minute miles and finished in style.

That’s the way to do it. Who’s next?

Congratulations to Beccy Johnson, Louise Dunford, Kerry Agar, Paul Williamson, Carol Hounsell, Jenni Yeoman and Danielle Downey.

SW Vets X-Country

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Southwest Vets AC Cross Country
Photo courtesy of Kit Woodcock.
Taking part in the South West Vets Cross-Country Championship last Sunday 27th January were 7 Mighty Greens. The race is 6km comprising of 3½ laps around the fields by the Rugby Club. In previous years the course has quickly turned into a muddy, slippery affair, but this year despite the recent rain, the course was good underfoot. To make matters even better the sun came out for the duration of the race. If only you could keep out of the biting north wind.
Although this is a championship event, it is a very friendly, low-key affair (mug of coffee and a chocolate biscuit after), it welcomes runners of all abilities. You never know who you are rubbing shoulders with, for instance, amongst Sunday’s runners was Ian Thompson, who still holds the Commonwealth Games Marathon Record of 2hrs 9 mins 12 secs set in 1974.
Paula Farrand picked up first prize in the W45-49 category and Emma Grainger first prize in the W65-69 age-group. Antony Hall had a good run and was the first Might Green home in 12th place. Naomi Garrick who turned up with a nasty cold, was the first Sidmouth woman home, closely followed by Kate Johnston. Bert Dykema had an enjoyable run on home territory and thanks to the much drier conditions underfoot Rob Edwards was 3 minutes quicker than last year.
Results: Antony Hall 24:40, Rob Edwards 30:10, Naomi Garrick 31:16, Kate Johnston 31:21, Paula Farrand 32:18, Bert Dykema 37:27, Emma Grainger 40:32.

Blackdown Beast

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The Blackdown Beast 2019.
   With a record number of entries for this year’s Blackdown Beast, the organisers, Honiton Running Club are hoping to have raised over £2000 for The Macmillen Cancer Support.
    This event is a social, self-navigating, multi terrain run, with a 10 mile and 16 mile route. It takes place in the Blackdown Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty. So, for the 20 members of the Sidmouth Running Club attending the Beast, it was party time with pasties, cider, mud, and a bit of running chucked in for good measure.. 
   The runners set off on windy Saturday morning (26th of January) at 10am from the Highfield Sports and Social Club at Dunkerswell. They followed a rural and picturesque route along footpaths, woodland tracks, through fields and over many styles. Headed up farm tracks, through streams and bogs and over the odd hill to Smeatharpe Village Hall. Here the runners were rewarded with a hot pasty and mulled cider provided by the local WI. Then they contend with lanes and country paths that drop down to the village of Upottery. Here, the Sidmouth Arms provided more sustenance to the runners. This is where the 10 mile route finishes. The 16 milers continue along the road to Rawridge, crossing the river Otter and climb up to the ridge. The viewpoint at the top is above Luppitt and has a spectacular panorama of the surrounding countryside. They continued to the Luppitt Inn for another refreshment stop, it is the highlight of this run to have a drink here. The last few miles of the day took the runners over Luppitt Common and back to Dunkeswell. It was by far the muddiest part of the run and included a number of boggy fields before arriving back at the finish line, where again there was a chance for some more food and a well earned drink.
   David Wright found the Blackdown Beast tough going, so huge thanks went to Danny Painter for helping him around. David says he normally likes to run with his dog, so uses a Canicross harness (for the dog) and it helps to pull him up the hills. Today he was able to tap into some ‘Dannycross’ power instead! Danny Painter made good use of the stops with a pasty at Smeatharpe and a coke at the Inn at Luppit. He will remember this run for the quantity of cow pats! He took it easy with an average 13.6 min/mile and 3h:42m:45s running time.
   Els Laureys found this event to be a great, social run. We stuck together with a group of 8 from SRC,  Cathy Keast, who came armed with delicious Delia energy bars, also in the group were Monica Read, Nick Dicks, Richard King, Terry Bewes, Sarah Watkins and Helen Palmer. They indulged themselves in a lovely pastie and mulled cider at the first stop, which did not slow progress down in the least. Drinks for some at The Sidmouth Arms which was the second watering hole for all but Nick and Richard, who preferred a beer. The last stop was spent huddled together in the tiniest of pubs having a drink, which i believe this time did slow them down. Never mind, because now was the time for those energy bars made by CK and make a break for the finish line. Nick Dicks and Richard King took full advantage of all the public houses and really got into the spirit of social running. Emma Cudd, Sue Colman and Simon Holyer ran as a small group creating a great team atmosphere. Sam Ingram had to cut his run short due to bad back pains which came on from the start, however he still ran 13.2 miles of the race with an average pace of 10.25 min/miles. Jessica Raynor took this run more seriously than the rest of the MG’s. However, with loads of mud and stiles, she still had a few laughs. She flew the Migty Green proudly taking the 9th place over all and 1st lady all in 2hrs 46. No pasties or cider for this girl during the event, she was on a mission to finish this race in good speed and bag a good placing. Mission accomplished. She then had a drink…or two.

Devon Schools

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Toby Leads From The Front
Toby Garrick took part in the Devon Schools Cross Country Championships at the Stover School on Sat the 19th in the Senior Boys Category. With a race distance of 6.4km Toby had an average pace of 5:28 minute miles and finished in a fast 21m:44s, In-fact he was 2 minutes quicker this time than in the previous years attempt. He won with a very good distance between himself and the second finisher, with at least 120 metres separating them. Toby had decided to try a new racing strategy of leading from the front, This new tactic kept him clear of the pack for two out of the three long laps. His next race will be the South West Schools Championships in Bath on the 2nd February. 
Taking part in the same race was another young Mighty Green runner Will Ashby and a fellow Sidmouth school colleague (non MG but part of the team), Will took the 12th place over all and their colleague came in 15th making Sidmouth the team winners over all. 
Also running in the girls intermediates and seniors race was Kate Marriott Race. Her race went well, coming in 11th place over all. This secures her as the reserve for Nationals! Well done Kate.

Gloucester 1/2M

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First Lady, Kirsteen Welch
Kirsteen Welch took part in The Gloucester Half Marathon on Sunday the 20th of January. This was only the second half marathon that Kirsteen has taken part in, so she was very happy with her performance, especially with her time of 1h:24m:18s giving her a personal best by over three minutes. The first half of the race Kirsteen was ahead and keeping pace with a small group of men, then the lady who came 2nd over all, over took at around mile six! Digging in really deep, Kirsteen managed to keep up with her over the next five miles. Leaving it to the last two miles Kirsteen kicked it up a gear and overtook her. Not only that, she overtook the small group of men and kept the sprint going. She didn’t look back, just kept up the fast pace, all the way to the finish line. With a great trophy awarded for crossing the line as the first lady, she feels inspired to get her half marathon time to the sub 80 minutes and feels that her training is really paying off. Keep it up Kirsteen.

Plym Trail Marathon

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Back To The Plym Trail For Jane Hemsworth
Jane Hemsworth revisited the Plym Trail Marathon at Clearbrook on Sunday the 20th of January. The winter race is one of the 4 seasons events all of which start at Clearbrook, near Yelverton. The route continues south towards Plymouth along the old railway line, now the Cycle Route 27. It is downhill all the way out, with the turnaround point being Coypool. It is uphill all the way back and the competitors do two laps.
With perfect weather conditions for her first marathon of 2019 and the fact that she was the only Mighty Green, she decided to set her pace quite high. With no one to chat too, she completed it in 4h:21m:38s which qualifies her to enter London Marathon as Good for age category for next year.