Tag: trail

19 Apr 2015 – Grantham Cup 10k

Having done this awesome event at Belton House last year just had to do it again as it’s as much a day out as a race. For the £10 or £12 entry you get the entrance for yourself and one other into the Belton Horse Trials and country fair, including the race (and fine memento’s) although they didn’t `officially` let you into Belton House for free this year.

Very cold, grey and blowy start and I’m hoping my legs are rested from yesterday`s fell race enough to put in a credible performance and get near last year`s 15th place. It seems that the good word has spread and the attendance has tripled to over 300 runners this year, many I’m guessing also started late due to the huge tailback of traffic into the venue.

Tony Allen the only Strider in full kit today (Sorry!), Norman Starks we didn’t see but we did have Diane and Michael Atton as cheerleaders so no scrimping on the Strider Cup points! 

Race starts at 11:30 and although it looks like short neat grass to start within the first 1k it`s not only uphill but the grass lengthens to the stuff that drags your pace, still it’s nothing bad. Mind you the first real hill at 3.5k is and its one many are forced to walk (it’s all Runnable!), my legs get going again at the top and start hitting form) passing people through the woods section and especially on the descents (thank you Inov-8 trailroc 245`s).

Second big hill is a killer and although its slow still `no walk in the park` for this guy, the last 3k is back the way you went out but it does feel a hell of a lot longer especially as your going for scalps and trying to do that on tired legs. Complacency lost me four places in the last 100m instead of putting a sprint on but I’m very happy with my placing of 30th and time of 45:55 some six minutes quicker than last year!  

Norman Starks and Tony Allen ran superb races also coming 55th and 90th in 48:51 and 52:48 respectively, it’s one of those races that hurt like hell at the time but you feel great afterwards – it is a tough tough course and I hope that despite that we can see more Striders shirts there next year as it is one for the family as well as the runner.  [Rob]

21 Mar 2015 – Charnwood Marathon

Rawlins School and Community Centre in Quorn was the location for the start of this year mis-named Charnwood Marathon as there are two distances to choose from a 16 and 27, neither of which exactly constitutes a marathon, but for £10 (£5 of which goes to charity) and some fabulous views you can’t really go wrong. Six [first claim] Striders and Rob Beers made the trip all opting for the 16 miles distance with six of the participants competing in races the following day the plan was for a steady and enjoyable run around Charnwood.
IMG_2012-1.JPG
At home among a number of salty looking fell racers is was no surprise to see Greg Pettingill coming in 5th and complete the course in 2:06 followed home by the youthful Alex Riley, a new addition to the Striders with bags of potential, home in 2:16 then Michael Atton who seemed to have completely forgotten that he had the Ashby 20 the next day in 2:26 and bringing up the rear, ably led by Rob Beers from start to finish was John Houghton, Dan Valencia and Simon Bottrill all finishing in 2:46.
IMG_2018-0.JPG
This was a great event with the organisers laying on an impressive spread for the returning runners/walkers including hot & cold beverages, 4 different soups, filled rolls and vast array of cakes. [Simon]
————————————————————————–
My Fourth Charnwood Marathon and for myself the best race in Leicestershire, more ascent than Charnwood Hills, stunning route and all for a mere tenner going towards a great cause. With fixture pile up today’s race would only be a gentle outrun with the boys so no building on last year’s colossal placing (Have I ever mentioned that?).  As per usual the group are unable to stay together due to sheer excitement of being in a race with both Alex  Riley and Michael Atton chasing `Salty old Fell Runner` Greg Pettingill from the race start at Rawlings college Quorn.
IMG_1988-0.JPG
It’s quite a pull in the first two miles even up to Woodhouse Eaves although our group aren’t racing there is camaraderie thus anyone walking up the Hills gets the round in, thankfully our strong Stilton legs have no problems with upper Broombriggs, Beacon Hill, Windmill Hill or Cardiac Hill. Into Bradgate Park and were all running really well, we did forget our selfie at the top of Old John but we have real fun navigating our own way to Swithland gates where again we scoffed cake. Through Swithland woods and Swithland village and an easier three miles back to Quorn, 16.3 miles in all a wonderful day out in great company, we got some smashing photos and ended up at a Pub in Barrow on Soar.  [Rob]
IMG_2016-0.JPG

28 Feb 2015 – Belvoir Challenge

The 25th annual Belvoir Challenge and something like 13 Stilton Striders running the 15.9 and 26.2 mile course in the worst conditions underfoot than many a year.  This for the group I’m with is a precursor to the Snowdonia Trail Marathon later in the year, y`know stick together and all that, which happened for like ooh 100 yards or so.

Ok, when Simon Bottrill says `I`m going to take it easy and see what happens` never believe him, I’ve found to my cost on a few races now he`s deadly competitive, great race today though for Simon home in 4:07 on his first Marathon absolutely great going!

Very nice course this year, superb support all the way round (thanks to Helen Bentley and Mike Bryan), comedy highlight for me was Mr Bentley getting a shoe change at Denton.For me it was a great and enjoyable day out, best Marathon I’ve ever run in view of performance (rather than time) as was told still looked fresh when I came in, ran the lot also! Every hill and mud bog conquered! Very good day to be a Strider.  [Rob]

Results:

15.9 mile – Natalie Teece (12th overall) 2.01, Darren Glover (2.11), Jenni Wisher (2.27), Luke Eggleston (2.36), Matt Taylor (2.37), Andy Nicholls, (2.53), Michelle Farlow (3.02)

26.2 mile – Simon Bottrill (4.09), Rob Beers (4.26), Andrew Bentley (4.33), John Houghton (4.49), Rich Gray (5.07), Gary Christmas (5.57)

7 Feb 2015 – Rab Mini Mountain Marathon

Andrew Easom Bentley & Mike Bryan took to the snowy hills of the Peak District to take part in the Rab mini mountain marathon. We had a map, compass and 4 hours to get to as many randomly placed check points as possible. Each check point was allocated a number of points between 10 & 40 depending upon how far away they were or how difficult to navigate to. The winner of the day managed 440 points in 3h 57, we were delighted to come in 58th out of nearly 200 runners with 286 points after a 4 point penalty for arriving 4 minutes over the allotted 4hour time limit (not bad at all) . To sum up a fantastic day had by all. [Mike]

7 Feb 2015 – No Walk in the Park 5k

Stuart Gregory made the trip up to Chesterfield again for the the second race of this year’s No Walk in the Park 5k race series.  On a perfect running day, Stuart made a fantastic start, pacing ahead of his pb for the first three laps.  Unfortunately, the pace had taken its toll and a slower final lap saw him finishing the event in 74th place, in 27 mins 4 secs.  [Stuart]

1 Feb 2015 – Charnwood Hills Race

On a cold and cloudy morning, six Striders made the trip to Martin High School for the annual Charnwood Hills Race.  After 14 miles of hills, bracken, uneven ground, trails and mud, Mike Bryan was first Strider home in 61st place (1.54.18). Darren Glover was next in 105th (2.02.15), shortly followed by Simon Bottrill in 110th (2.03.30) and Rob Beers (representing his first claim club, Barrow – 112th, 2.04.06).

John Houghton, (240th, 2.27.11), Louise Houghton (283rd, 2.45.25) and Stuart Gregory (311th, 3.03.45) completed the Striders contingent.

31 Jan 2015 – Peddars Way Ultra

So, here’s the thing about ultra marathons – just when you think you know what you’re doing, something comes along and reminds you who is boss (clue – it isn’t you…).

The Peddars Way is a 47 mile trail, from the edge of Suffolk, heading up through the whole of Norfolk to finish on the coast at Holme next the Sea.  Adding a half mile at each end to get the right start and finish areas, this ultra ends up as 48 miles (if you make it all the way).

The first four hours, heading towards the half(ish) way checkpoint at Castle Acre, were very pleasant – cold, sunny at times, and solid trails helping keep the pace (relatively) good.  Heavy snow at this point just added to the picturesque views as runners grabbed hot drinks and food before moving on.

Leaving Castle Acre, the trail follows an old Roman Road – on this occasion directly lined up with the headwind blowing straight down from the arctic.  The snow became sleet – just enough to soak you through, whilst hitting you in the face with lumps of ice – and most runners grabbed any shelter they could to put on the extra layers of warm and waterproof clothes that organisers had rightly insisted were carried.

At the next checkpoint, with 12 or 13 miles still to race, the most exposed section still to come, and struggling to get warm even whilst running, sole Strider Rich Gray decided enough was enough.  35 and a bit miles in 6.30-ish made it a decent training run, with bigger goals on the calendar for later in the year.