Month: November 2016

20 Nov 2016 – Beacon Hill Trail Half Marathon 

14 Striders made it for this year’s Beacon hill trail half marathon running on its 3rd year in a row. The course is two laps and takes you through the beautiful scenery of the Beacon Hill Country Park and includes hills, woods, fantastic views and fast downhill sections and even more hills!

Race results Luke Eggleston 1:33:00

Mark Stoneley 1:38:09

Greeba Heard 1:59:01

Jon Wilson 2:00:05

Dan Howley 2:01:42

Helen Plant 2:07:56

Shane Sharkey 2:10:05

Matt Chalmers 2:10:30

Sarah Lawrence 2:12:27

Jacqui Riley 2:19:36

Deborah Wilson 2:21:45

Kaye Mead 2:27:35

Celia Bown 2:28:55

Lynda Harris 2:42:15

20 Nov 2016 – Clowne Half Marathon

Just north of Chesterfield the annual Clowne half Marathon, a very hilly and most often windy and cold half marathon with a ton of crippling hills, sorry not really selling it am I? Still a road half Marathon for just £18 and an absolute superb goodie bag might help get a few up to this next year.

Running my first road half marathon in two years and I’m absolutely full of cold, the weather driving up the M1 was enough for myself and fellow Strider John Hudson to keep mentioning warm fire and going home. I did Clowne probably four years ago it was bitterly cold and windy yet somehow I did my first sub 1:40hm, If I got anywhere near that today given how yucky I was feeling (I even packed a base layer and considered longs!).

Like many we didn’t leave the warmth of the leisure centre until the last minute to head to the start it was cold, very wet and windy all day, In the end I plump for shorts and vest, be quite rude not to. Getting underway I don’t feel too bad, although early progress is hampered by my shoelaces coming undone twice in the first two miles and playing catch up. My mile four I`m not feeling too bad and passing people throughout, the hills don’t worry me too much and I’m quite surprised when I clock mile five at 6:21. From 10k on I`m running with a guy from Matlock and one from Grantham a.c, pretty much egging each other on silently and we all seem to be making progress passing people as we go past 2nd lady at mile 9. Most of the course is nice rural lanes, there is one village you go through which utterly says `old mining town`, about mile 9 there is more pavement which isn’t great especially one section which is on a right camber.

There’s` a very unwelcome hill at mile 10 up to the church, I recall having done this previously a marshal saying “It’s all downhill from here” , it certainly is not, the fibber!

Legs start to welt at mile 11, although I continue to pass people up to the last mile and never get passed myself, hopefully that means I`m doing something right. Last hill into Clowne feels like a 15min mile and the last 400m feels never-ending, cross the line way ahead of what I’d have been happy with.

So the wet, cold, windy and hilly course may not appeal but under £20.00 for a road half including not just Banana, flapjack and water after but probably the best goodie bag I’ve ever seen at a road race! Hoodie, Tech T-shirt amongst a bag full of things.

Good result by John Hudson also, bit of a disappointment not many Leics club`s ventured over as have done in the past-It`s well worth a look. The biggest downside is the distance between the race car park, start/finish and the race village (changing rooms, bag store etc) logistics need improving there.  [Rob]

13 Nov 2016 – Derby Runner XC, Markfield

Overshadowed by Seagrave but a day with far better weather our small but happy band of Stilton’s headed to race 2 of the Derby XC league at Markfield.

So having done near 17 miles of Seagrave challenge the day before the quads weren’t great, luckily for me I was joined by a great team of XC newbie Matt Gayton, the Stilton debut of Mark Ashmore (and his Junior runners!), in form Natalie Teece and Striders legend Nick Brown. Matt asked a pretty good question before hand “These are the same people who run the league runs?” yes totally, same people from the same clubs no Dathan Rietznhein clones, same people as you beat in the league runs!

Today is one of the races where they split Male and female runners by 10 min staggered start, I’ll be honest the worst bit in these races are the starts when 400+ plus blokes go all out sprint for the first corner. I`m pretty much taking my time and enjoying it, not far in I’m forced to anyway as my laces somehow come undone three separate times! Once the pack starts to thin out they do get a lot more friendlier and enjoyable. Because this series is now so popular or even oversubscribed, very much like a fell race your stuck often in lines and have to take your passing chances when you can get them, let’s be honest they are all a good bit of fun so don’t no use getting upset over your garmin time. This is my first race in spikes and very happy given its now getting quite muddy underfoot, the others grumbled about the uphill’s but today I felt I did some of my best work on the ups and downs. So with the lace problems of earlier most of the race for me was a negative split and playing catch up which actually made it very enjoyable.

Matt and Mark had a pretty good race, Nick did far better than he`ll let on! Natalie had a stormer (told her she would!) being 2nd lady most of the way and eventually 4th, pretty sure she can go on from this and score even higher. Naturally no PB`s or sterling efforts from myself but enjoyed massively see you at Bagworth Heath!  [Rob]

12 Nov 2016 – Seagrave Wolds

Best Stilton turnout I’ve yet witnessed in the 25 years of this ever popular multi terrain event, would like to think there were more of our shirts today than any other club. Last year I had a great run coming 17th and the only sub 2hr Strider, new course this year and even the two Striders ahead of me never cracked 2 hours although this was slightly longer.

Absolutely chucking it down from before the off, despite this event has its biggest ever turnout, it certainly looks colder than it actually is, happy to get set off as we head towards Radcliffe on Trent. Thankfully only one golf course and it’s over pretty early, and we hit Cossington and the Barrow canal. The Route did feel like a Barrow Runners summer outrun somewhat, without being too rude the rain made the whole course a damn lot better as would’ve been awful in the dry. A highlight was climbing up from the Butter market to the top of the memorial at Mountsorrel, unfortunately I’m stuck behind someone in racing flats from Stamford Striders who has forgotten his trail shoes so it’s a walk up. Far too much tarmac through Swithland although the reservoir always looks stunning, we hit Rabbit bridge and then the always mud entrenched Buddon Wood which is an absolute gas if you love the filthy stuff. Coming out in Quorn if you’re wearing heavy duty fell shoes the next few miles were awful , I’m going along chatting to the Stamford Strider who is a lot happier to be on tarmac for a few miles. Barrow for me was the worst part, having to run down the high street had more obstacles than every offroad part of the course combined , very overjoyed to get finally offroad again.

The last three miles thankfully were all entrenched with mud, I seemed not to get overtaken by anyone during the race but pushing past people even in the last mile and could’ve happily done a Marathon if the chance would’ve been there. Still I got in at a decent time as third Strider, even though another year of faffing about trying to scan my barcode on my wrist lost me a good 30 seconds, Grrr.

The pie and custard was as good as ever and was good to get changed and warm and watch the expressions of my fellow Striders as they came in-A good run from Michael Atton, an ecstatic Sarah Procter, a very glam looking Sarah Lawrence and Bex Forrester, a cheering Brian Walkling and a strangely fresh looking Dan Howley.

Well done to our whole horde who ran, sounds like it’s a return to the original Charnwood course next year so make sure you have a stud on!  [Rob]

Luke Eggleston – 2.02
Sean Elkington – 2.08
Rob Beers – 2.11
Alan Thompson – 2.14
Dan Valencia – 2.21
Rich Gray – 2.24
Sarah Procter – 2.33
Paul Geeson – 2.33
Clive Kent – 2.44
John Houghton – 2.44
Noel Blake – 2.48
Nick Pryke – 2.49
Dan Howley – 2.50
Brian Walkling – 2.52
Vicki Lowe – 2.54
Michelle Farlow – 2.54
Rebecca Forrester – 3.07
Sarah Lawrence – 3.07
Kaye Mead – 3.29
Helen Metcalfe – 3.37
Jenny Kent – 4.11
Celia Bown – 4.11

13 Nov 2016 – Leics Orienteering, Bradgate Park

As an alternative to the cross country race, five Striders made the trip to Bradgate Park on a beautiful autumn morning for an orienteering event organised by Stilton Strider and Leicestershire Orienteering Club (LOC) member Liz Harvey. Greg Pettingill cycled over to meet us and we registered – me for the light green and Clive Kent, Nick Pryke and Matt White for the blue course. The ground was firm and largely runnable as most of the bracken had been rolled. 

While there were a few navigational mishaps, everyone completed the course and the numerous paths, walls, streams and copses meant it was difficult to go too far wrong and pretty easy to relocate yourself and have another go! If any one is interested future events are shown on www.leioc.org.uk.

Times were:Blue course – 6.3km 230m climb

Matt White – 54.09 24th

Clive Kent – 68.22 46th

Nick Pryke – 80.54 54th
Light green course – 4.2km 105m climb

Jenny Kent – 77.35 19th

31 Oct 2016 – Zombie Run

A host of skeletons, witches, zombies, devils, pumpkins and vampires descended on the country park for the annual Zombie run in aid of Melton Learning Hub. We collected our race numbers and glowsticks from the café and then assembled on the grass for a warm up and briefing before heading to the start line. It was a chilly but clear night with a hint of fog, just perfect as the witching hour approached. 

We headed through the woods towards the bridge and the first of the zombies made an appearance as we turned left to run along the path towards the dam. The course followed the dam before doubling back on the other side of the lake and into the spooky tunnel and up parkrun hill. 

The crew of zombies that volunteered to lurch, leap and caper into the path at the optimum fright point did a fantastic job, as did the brightly-dressed marshals with torches to light our way – the rest of the course was black as a cloak. From the top of the hill, we followed the parkrun route to the bottom of the hill (looking out for lurkers behind trees) and then turned left across the football fields. 

By this point I was finding signposts rather frightening and we hadn’t even entered the “grotto” which housed a zombie-filled maze. From there, we headed back to the café to complete the 5k loop with relief, we had all banded together and survived! [Jenny]

Christie Jones #79 ​2nd ​21.40

Ben Pickard #64 ​14th ​28.36

Ray Walker #84 ​19th ​30.41

Simon Proctor #255 ​22nd ​30.52

Vanessa Walker #83 ​23rd ​31.04

Sarah Lawrence #77 ​24th ​31.12

Rebecca Forrester #186 32nd ​33.45

Matt White #101 ​35th ​33.49

Matt Chalmers #102 ​36th ​33.50

Clive Kent #82 ​​37th ​33.52

Laura Pickard #63 ​41st ​34.43

Elaine Bottrill #25 ​42nd ​34.43

Jenny Kent #81 ​​43rd ​34.44

Celia Bown #107 ​44th ​34.45

Brian Walkling #41 ​59th ​36.29

Kaye Mead #76 ​​61st ​36.43

Laura Peacock #78 ​62nd ​36.38

Nick Pryke #104 – time to be confirmed.
 

23 Oct 2016 – Leicester Marathon 

There was a great Strider turnout with 24 Stilton Striders at the Leicester marathon.

Marathon results: Stuart Shaw 3:04:17 PB, Matt Gayton 3:11:44, Luke Eggleston 3:18:12 PB, Richard Gray 3:54:01, Andy Nicholls 3:58:18, Sarah Lawrence 4:26:54.

Half Marathon results: Jason Barton 1:19:04, Darren Glover 1:25:00, Mark Stoneley 1:30:58, Natalie Teece 1:31:29, Shane Sharkey 1:40:11, John Houghton 1:41:13, Vicki Lowe 1:45:30 Greeba Heard 1:45:58, Liz Goodbourn 1:46:04 PB, Louise Houghton 1:52:00, Helen Plant 1:54:56, John Hudson 1:56:35, Colin Miles 1:57:36, Lynda Harris 1:59:44, Vanessa Walker 2:02:05, Ray Walker 2:03:50, Helen Metcalfe 2:04:46, Alexandra Fairhurst 2:35:35.  

30 Oct 2016 – Coalville 10k

At the end of October, having accumulated a grand total of zero Strider table points in the month, I entered the Coalville 10k which takes place over 2 laps on trails and paths around the former Snibston Discovery Park, which is now largely returning to nature following the closure of the visitor facility last year.

The numbers for this event were fairly modest, with a Cross Country League race taking place nearby on the same morning, with not too many club vests in evidence. Despite the local youths having done their best to disrupt the event by dismantling and burning the course signage the previous evening, the organisers did a sterling job of resetting the course on the Sunday morning, and the race was able to start on time. The course itself was varied in terrain, being a mixture of trails and paths, with a couple of sharp climbs up the landscaped waste heap of the former Colliery, which kept the levels of interest up during the run.

Due to the good conditions on the morning and relative lack of congestion around the course, I managed to get home in 7th place overall in a chip time of 41.03, which was my best at the distance this year, so despite being the lone Strider there I was glad I took part in this slightly quirky 10k event.  [Alan]