David Chipping at the Taunton Marathon
SRC at ExeToAxe
That was March
Sidmouth Runners finish March in style
Sidmouth Running Club welcomes runners of all abilities and experience and the last week in March saw a whole range of runners in action.
During the week night runs the Club celebrated another cohort of beginners completing their New Year programme by running three miles nonstop. With a few runners to go more than 20 beginners of all ages have now achieved this important milestone in their running development. They will now join club runs on Monday and Wednesday evenings with the opportunity as the evenings draw out to join the off-road groups running footpaths and lanes in East Devon.
The smiling beginners described themselves ‘proud and motivated’ as they were congratulated by other club members.
One of last year’s beginners, David Skinner, completed the Easter Bunny 10k organised by Yeovil Town RRC. Around 450 runners followed a waterlogged route around the villages of West Camel and David, who is now a seasoned Park Runner was pleased his time over this longer distance of 1:08:27 and 338th position, and an enormous bunny medal.
Following some cracking marathon training runs from the boys the previous weekend the girls were not to be outdone and pulled out all the stops for the Easter weekend. Kerry Boyle and Clare Ashby stormed around their final long training run on a course that started at Countess Wear and followed the River Exe up to Exwick, then downstream to Starcross, and finally back up to Countess Wear. They completed their 20 mile route at an average 8.22 minutes per mile, with a negative split and three minutes faster than their last long run. With all the hard work done now Kerry and Clare are looking forward to easing back the training and saving their legs. Clare Ashby said ‘we have got three weeks to go until the London Marathon and we are more than ready to taper!’
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Busy Weekend
Busy Weekend for the Running Club
Saturday morning saw Olympic distance running legend and Sidmouth Running Club Ambassador, Jo Pavey, out supporting a local fundraising event. Newton Poppleford Primary School PTFA, assisted by Sidmouth Running Club, organised a 10km sponsored run that was started by Jo at the Sailing Club, also HQ for the Running Club, on Saturday morning. Jo Pavey gave the 21 runners a motivational talk, set them off, and then set off on her first training session of the day. Organiser Emma Finch thanked Jo, the sponsors, SRC and helpers. Runners raised £3500 towards the PTFA target of £10k.
Meanwhile further down the coast Nigel Maeer and new club member Dan Carter were out on a training run the length of a marathon. They completed their 26.2 miles in 3:45:16, and were pleased with a great time. However club runner Antony Hall was also in action on Saturday and completed 26.83 miles in a scorching 3:13:01giving an average 7.11 minute miles.
The Running Club ladies were not to be outdone. After both having chest infections which forced them to miss the 4 Trigs event cheery duo Cath Miller and Polly Walton decided they would do their own 4 Trigs race on Sunday morning and enjoyed stunning weather and amazing company. ‘What a great run!’ said Cath, ‘stunning day, especially with a little show from four deer. The only thing missing was tea and cake at the Sailing Club!’
AGM 2018
A Year to celebrate at Sidmouth Running Club
Sidmouth Running Club’s AGM and Trophy night took place after last Wednesday’s club run and allowed the many members who attended to reflect on a successful year for the Club.
Club Chairman, Terry Bewes, reported to members on the growing membership, the success of the Beginners and Improvers Courses, and the events and activities organised by the Club during 2017. With over 200 members and a selection of regular runs of different distances being led on and off road every week by run leaders, Terry paid tribute to the Committee, helpers and run leaders who made it all possible. The club invests in the training of its run leaders and Terry told his audience that with a growing membership, more were needed and invited members to consider taking the opportunity to be trained and to lead.
The Chairman also recorded a vote of thanks to Vice Chair Becky Robson who in 2017 resurrected the Time Trials with a record 74 members recording times on the first outing at the start of the season. Each month the time trial over the same course allowed members to track improvements in speed. Club members bid Becky a fond farewell as she has retired from the Club after 15 years of successful running and non-stop encouragement for others.
Looking forward Terry pledged that the Club would concentrate on its core strength, running. He said, ‘The beginner’s group this year showed great commitment so we will endeavour to train and encourage them to achieve even greater heights than the nonstop 3 miles they can all run now. Tim Mitchell’s work in the role off Head Coach has been inspiring and his technical and improvers courses have been very well received by those taking part.
He highlighted to members that SRC would be hosting the Woodland Relays in June. ‘These runs are for teams of 3 and the short course of 3-4km will be ideal for our beginners and will be an excellent opportunity to put the training into practice and have a fun evening’
One of the features of 2017 has been the growing strength of the group of younger female runners and Terry was pleased to tell members that Kerry Boyle will be working throughout the year towards becoming the Junior Leader, and Claire Ashby has agreed to help her taking various courses up to assistant coach level.
With exciting times ahead Club members enjoyed the presentation of an array of Trophies and Awards to runners and those who had made special contributions and achievements.
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- Danny Painter
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- Debbie Marriott
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- Caroline Ball
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- Becky Robson
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- Sarah Watlins
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- Justin Ashby
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- John Chesters
Trophy Winners:
Female runner of the year – Sarah Watkins
Male runner of the year – Danny Painter
Runners Runner – Tim Mitchell
Wooden Spoon – John Chesters
Time Trials short course – Joint winners Caroline Ball and Jenni Yeoman
Time Trials long course – Paul Wright
Reindeer Run, most improved – Debbie Marriott
Mighty Green Awards Winners 2017
Mighty Green Racing Challenge:
Winner. Steve Saunders – Houston Space City 10 miler 4696 miles
Runner up. Jo Earlam – New York Marathon 3309 miles
Mighty Green Holiday Challenge:
Winner. Sarah Watkins. – Machu Picchu, Peru. 6045 miles
Runner up. David Hedges – Athabasca Glacier, Jasper, Canada 4227 miles
Mighty Green Ultra Queen:
Carine Silver 100k Wellington Boot – 17 hours 59 minutes
Jennifer Bentley Jurassic 100k, Weymouth to Exmouth – 24hours 6 minutes
Debbie Marriot Jurassic 100k, Weymouth to Exmouth – 24hours 6 minutes
Mighty Green Strike the Pose, Vogue: Paula Farrand
Mighty Green ‘DONK’ Award: Nigel Maer
Mighty Green Recovery Award: Lynda Hawkins
Polar Grizzly
Grizzly Weather turns Polar
Last Sunday saw the 31st Grizzly running event turning polar as the second wave of snow hit the south west.
Race organisers at Axe Valley Running Club were contemplating a difficult decision as the weather took a turn for the worse and they were faced with the prospect of thousands of runners and a legion of voluntary marshalls being stranded in snowy conditions in remote and inaccessible parts of the East Devon countryside.
The Grizzly, which in the best of conditions can be treacherous, is a race of 20 miles that starts and finishes in Seaton and crosses beaches, streams, bogs, and cliffs. It is known nationally as an extremely tough event and is hugely popular, usually attracting 2000 runners from across the country, with entry tickets in high demand.
On Saturday with an amber weather warning in place the Grizzly Committee decided that there would be no full (20 mile) Grizzly, but that a modified Cub route (10m) would be open to all.
Back in Sidmouth there was a bit of debate amongst runners about whether to travel, and 27 runners decided that if the marshalls were going to turn out then so would they. They were not disappointed. Wrapped up against the wind and snow 1200 runners set off on the shortened race with high spirits. Not long into the race conditions deteriorated quickly so that by the time Sidmouth runners got to Branscombe the course was shortened to 9 miles
Sidmouth Running Club Chairman, Terry Bewes, said ‘What an absolutely brilliant day, a once in a life time experience. The camaraderie amongst the runners was fantastic and the marshalls were amazing, stuck out there in freezing blizzard conditions at times, handing our water, directing us on the route and being so supportive. They all had a smile on their faces for us and enjoyed asking if we wanted ice in our water!’
Sidmouth Runners delivered some good times, despite the appalling weather, with Antony Hall leading the Sidmouth team charge in 1:14:38. Jessica Raynor was Sidmouth’s first lady home in 1:23:07. John Keast and Joe Kent acted as sweepers, running the route to ensure no one got left behind or lost in the blizzard.
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First man home was David Green (1:01:06) and First lady home was Kirsteen Welch (1:13:40) who was treated to a “powerful sales pitch” before the start from Charlotte Forrer to get her to join the Sidmouth Running club. Further encouragement from the Club Chairman and Kirsteen is the Club’s newest recruit.
The Grizzly organisers said, ‘Massive well done to all of you hardy 1200 runners who completed the Grizzly Cub today in the toughest conditions of the 31 Grizzly events. A huge thank you to all the marshals that made today possible- you really raised the bar.’
Terry Bewes said, ‘Huge respect to race director Tony Smith for the very difficult decisions he took and all his helpers who gave us a fantastic experience. The drive home was quite an experience too. Was it worth the t-shirt? Absolutely YES.’
Results:
Antony Hall 01:14:38, Gary Anning 01:23:03, Jessica Raynor 01:23:07, Danny Painter 01:22:49, Mark Welland 01:24:55, Adrian Clode 01:27:22, Nigel Maeer 01:28:14, Charlotte Forrer 01:31:04, Jim Forrer 01:31:11, Julian Bartlett 01:31:10, Graham Sheppard 01:33:33, Els Laureys 01:47:11, David Chipping 01:47.20, Alan Colwill 01:51:01, Sasha Colwill 01:51:02, Lynda Hawkins 01:52:06, Kaylee Hawkins 01:52:05, David Wright 01:53:43, Helen Palmer 02:07:26, John Sharples 02:17:38, Greg Ward 02:17:41, Kat Hall 02:16:57, Terry Bewes 02:24:39, Suzi Rockey 02:24:39, Bethany Wells 02:30:12, Joe Kent 02:39:09, John Keast 02:39:10.
Thanks to Terry Ife and to everyone else for their photos.
Bideford 1/2M
Talk about a swift half!
Last Sunday some of Sidmouth’s female runners headed to the north of the county, to Bideford for some half marathon competition. The race, which is organised by Bideford AA, attracted over 1200 runners onto a course which course takes in magnificent countryside alongside the River Torridge between Bideford and Great Torrington. The course is half on roads and half on the Tarka Trail, with a tunnel at one point. The race is moderately flat with one small hill section giving the opportunity for fast times which Sidmouth runners have enjoyed in previous years.
This year the Hawkins family from Sidmouth were out in force with Lynda Hawkins supported by daughters Kaylee and Jade. All three had good races, with Kaylee setting the pace to come in well under the 2 hour mark (1:53:12), with mum and sister following nearly 15 minutes later (2:07:25).
Janice Ranson, another Sidmouth Running Club stalwart, did the race as part of her training for a marathon in May. Janice said ‘I had a great time at the Bideford half in my Mighty Green. I’ve previously only done trail and fell running, so this was my first road race of any distance. I’d aimed for a time of 2:30 so was pleased to finish in 2:14:20’.
All the runners enjoyed the atmosphere and the layout of the route which allowed runners further back in the pack to see the front runners heading back. The fastest times were recorded by Shaun Anstell of Bideford AA (1:08:39) and Charnwood’s Katie Synge (1:22:20). ‘It was fun to see the front runners’ said Janice ‘and there were plenty of friendly supporters along the way and lots of lovely cake at the finish’.
Grizzly training
Grizzly training for the tough
Every year at about this time Sidmouth Running Club members can be found getting up to all sorts of eccentric activities as they prepare for the annual challenge of ‘The Grizzly’ on Sunday 18th March. This year was no different.
The Grizzly is an epic 20 mile off road event that takes in beaches, bogs, cliffs, rivers and valleys in East Devon that has become legend in the running world. It takes a lot of grit and a lot of preparation and 17 members of Sidmouth Running Club had just that in mind when they planned a club outing for training on 4 March. They hadn’t factored in the snow that fell in abundance in the few days before the trip.
Undaunted they set off in the coach, with one group being dropped at Seaton for a 12 mile jaunt back to Sidmouth along the coast path while another group went on to Colyton and followed the East Devon Way for 14 miles back to home.
Els Laureys and Polly Walton were in the coastal group and agreed that they’d experienced four seasons in one run. ‘We ran through hail, rain, sunshine, icy rivers and muddy fields and then at Weston Trig ploughed through knee-deep snow, but we had an absolutely great time’ said Elys. ‘We danced the conga, threw some snow balls, joked around and enjoyed the scenery’. ‘We did the 12 miles’ said Polly ‘it was very leisurely for us, but a lot of fun & we had a lot of snack breaks’.
New club member John Sharples enjoyed the experience. ‘It was like being a kid again. Playing in the snow, jumping in the big puddles, sliding in the mud, flapjack, chocolate, Stanley the dog. Oh yes, and some running’.
Meanwhile Cath Miller was on the East Devon Way route under Don Cawthera’s navigational guidance. Cath said ‘it was beautiful to look at but I was not prepared for the melting icy water! I think we ran with frozen wet feet pretty much all the way’. Debbie Marriott agreed. ‘They were tough routes, but fun. The sort of fun that you enjoy after the event’.
All agreed it was a good preparation for the Grizzly and the Grizzly cub run, as it’s good to get to know the hills and it seems the weather will be quite similar on Sunday.
Sunday Explorers
Two great Sunday Runs
Great club outing. Coach to Seaton then 12 miles back along the Coastal Path. The coach then carried on to Colyton for 14 miles back along the East Devon Way. A day to remember.
