Month: June 2015

100 lap challenge – seniors team

The following list of people were first in line to volunteer for next Friday’s 100 lap challenge (7pm start at Saffron Lane stadium). Please can you confirm asap to Mike if you can no longer attend, so we can put a reserve in?

1. Nicola Clay

2. Gemma Brown

3. Laura Pickard

4. Vicki Simpson

5. Katie Hateley

6. Mike Bryan

7. Jason Barton

8. Michael Atton

9. Shane Sharkey

10. Ben Pickard

11. Lloyd Willett

12. Dan Casey

13. Isaac Fisher

14. Rob Beers

15. John Houghton

16. Dan Valencia

17. Simon Bottrill

18. Ian Johnson

19. Alex Riley

20. Rich Gray

26 June 2015 – Whissendine 6ix

Friday evening’s Whissendine 6ix saw an army of Striders (and soon to be Striders) turn up in both running and supporting capacities. The race had several drop-outs last year as the date coincided with the annual Rainbows 100-lap challenge, but with no fixture clash this year there was a fine attendance. A fantastic course starts off uphill with a signpost saying “Highest Point” featuring quite early on – raising you emotionally to your “Highest Point” for the race as surely it is “all downhill from here!” This false placed confidence is quickly highlighted when, at halfway, there is another sign which states “Lowest Point” – again, this sign was indicative of both geographical and emotional states!
There were some interestingly placed distance markers along the route with all competitors beating their 5k PBs by about half a mile (5k sign at 2.65 miles), however, the overall distance was accurate.

A tough course, with two challenging hills in the last two miles, finishes off with a sharp downhill sprint across the finish line – which was crossed by Darren Glover in a fantastic time of 39.20 (12th overall). Next Strider across the line was Luke Eggleston in 40.22 (17th) closely followed by a Vibram-clad Shane Sharkey in 21st place (40.57). Clive Kent was next back (41.38 – 25th) followed by a Striders Quartet of Ben Pickard (44.38 – 45th), Nicholas Smith (44.47 – 46th), Tam Nicol (45.01 – 47th) and Matt White (45.03 – 48th). Tony Allen completed in 48.15 before Max Houghton – under the watchful eye of Dad John – got back in 52.04 beating John Hudson in 52.40 and Celina Silver (55.50). They were followed by another Striders Trio (you know how we like to hunt in packs….) Holly Houghton was masterfully paced around by mum Louise to “get under the hour” in 59.28 with Laura Pickard close behind in 59.37. Completing the Striders contingent – watched closely by super-coach Rob Beers – was Stuart Gergory in 1.01.59.

The race is completed by all finishers receiving a beer brewed at the ever popular Grainstore brewery along with a commemorative Whissendine 6ix glass. Across the road from the finish line at the White Lion pub there was a band playing in the beer garden under a marquee which was amply surrounded by BBQ burger stands and a Hog Roast. A true village fete atmosphere to it. Despite being the worst thing to happen to grammar since 5ive topped the charts, the Whissendine 6ix is certainly a highlight of the summer racing calendar.  [Shane]

28 June 2015 – Tamworth Gate Gallop

Stuart Gregory was the only Strider to travel to the 30th Tamworth Gate gallop, a 10km cross country race, with the support of girl friend Natalie at the start and finish line.  As per normal Stuart started at the back of the 381 strong field and paced the first 2km at a steady pace, with so many runners and single track footpaths it was a given that times would be somewhat depressed unless you were to the front of the field.  Around the half way mark when the tracks became wider, many runners were able to put their foot down and make up for lost time early on.  At 6km it was the first couple of the stiles and, as there was no one around, both were jumped with ease, as 8km approached things got very slow again as a number of runners started to struggle with the next set of stiles. So it was off to 9km six minutes behind my PB for that course it was finally time to make some time up over the final 1km, which proved to be my fastest making two minutes up and overtaking a lot of runners in the final 400m, to finish in a expectedly slow time of 1hr 8m 27s. [Stuart]

25 June 2015 – Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix race 2

Stuart Gregory and Jason Barton attended race two of the series at Colwick Park around the five mile circuit.  Jason set off at a strong pace on the mainly flat two lap course, meanwhile Stuart Gregory started at the back of the field and paced around at a steady pace. 

Jason Barton was the first Strider home in 4th place with a time of 28:21, next back some 25 minutes later was Stuart Gregory with a slightly improved pace resulting in him finishing 360th with a time of 53.49. The next race in the series is at Wollaton Park over a single lap 5km course. [Stuart]

23 June 2015 – Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix race 1

Stuart Gregory and Jason Barton made their way to Rushcliffe Country Park for the first race in the series on a warm and sunny Tuesday evening. Jason started the 4 mile event strongly and maintained a top 10 position over the two lap course to finish in 9th place overall and 8th senior male in a time of 23:02.  Meanwhile after a hard weekends running Stuart Gregory was just over half way round, suffering a little from too much racing one may say, Stuart completed the second lap quicker than the first to finish the first of the four race series in 364th place and 96th male senior overall with a time of 43.55. The next race in the series will see a move to Colwick Park on 25th June. [Stuart]

21 June 2015 – Prestwold 10k (LRRL)

With so many races at this time of year, you could be forgiven for thinking that we might not get a great turnout for this fast, flat 10k – the latest round of the LRRL summer league.

However, it was great to see 18 Striders take their places on the start line, including a number of people making their league debut in the white and blue – we hope you all enjoyed it, especially those racing for the second time that morning! Thanks also to Ben and Laura for support round the course, and well done to the mini- Gray and Blythes in the fun run.

Around 650 runners in total (maybe more, as there were a few technology problems with the chip timing) enjoyed the sunshine, if not the breeze, and certainly most will have enjoyed the race memento by now (being a bottle of Barrow Runners branded beer…)

Jason Barton took his now traditional place as first Strider home in 36.27, with Darren Glover (39.59) following him over the line. A close battle then followed between Will Blythe (41.37 debut 10k, so PB!), Mark Stoneley (41.42 PB) and Luke Eggleston (42.08) just ahead of Andy Nicholls (43.05 PB).

Shane Sharkey (44.05), Rich Gray (44.12), Iain Howe (44.39) and Rob Beers (44.49) followed in close succession ahead of Michael Cooke (46.52), Tam Nicol (47.13) and John Houghton (47.55).

Helen Plant and Tony Allen pushed each other to sub-50 times (49.22 and 49.27 respectively – both PBs). Louise Houghton (52.34), Steph Barlow (58.02) and Stuart Gregory (time TBC) completed the Strider contingent.

Roll on the Hungarton 7 – Weds 1st July, and we even postpone our club run for the week so that Striders can attend! Entries on line (link via the Events Diary page).

21 June 2015 – Bradgate Park XC

Four Striders made their way to Bradgate Park for the 5km and 10km races, with around 100 other runners.
In the 5km race Stuart Gregory was the only Strider taking part and made hard work of the course in his third race of the weekend finishing the very tough route in 46.40 his slowest time to date with one race still to go later that morning.
In the 10km race, Rob Beers was the first Strider home and 2nd overall in a none too shabby 52.34, followed in 7 minutes later by John Houghton (8th overall) in 59.39, and Louise Houghton (2nd lady) in 1.05.05 to continue her solid form of results on a very hilly course. [Stuart]
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It’s well known that a few of the more intrepid of us would be doing the double and following this with the Prestwold 10k straight after. Following Excuses (!) by Dan and Mike , its myself, Lou and John Houghton running the 10k and Stuart Gregory doing the 5k who are rocking the Stilton colours at Bradgate this fine morning.
It is laid back and nicely organised and looks like it’ll be a growing event (the next one in March 2016), the race starts with a mainly downhill route towards Newton Linford gates although I set off far too quick not realizing my legs are badly hung over from Friday`s Beacon Hill run. Sharp left at the bottom and the first of the climbs but it’s a nice route through the park they’ve chosen, quite an incline near what I’d refer to as ‘the climbers rock’ see’s the first of people walking. Around the Tree plantation followed by the long pull up Old John which definitely see’s even more people walking (Well apart from certain people, ahem).
As the course is multiple lap, I seem to have woke up a little and kick on more the second lap, although two people passed me in the last 2k the `all runnable ` adage is a winner as going up Old John the second time I leave them standing (ok walking) . It’s all downhill from here (literally) as the guy behind me isn’t going to catch me on the descent or the rare sprint finish and I’m quite surprised to find I’m second in the 10k race!
John Houghton `s impressive form saw him 8th in the 10k and Lou Houghton 2nd lady, both Houghton`s in great form! Not a PB race by any stretch of the imagination and we`d all have done the 15k instead of racing over to Prestwold in hindsight but was a really great day overall none the less. [Rob]

Summer outrun update

We’re running from the Wheel Inn at Branston this Wednesday (24th June) – usual summer outrun arrangements, running at 7pm for around an hour with most people likely staying for a drink afterwards.  We’ll have a couple of routes on offer – a loop of 6 miles and options to make it between 4 and 5 miles for those after a more relaxed run.

No outrun the following week, as it is the Hungarton 7 league race (entries on-line via the Wreake website).

Full list of runs for the rest of the summer can be found via the summer outrun page, or regularly updated on the diary dates.