2015 reports – Page 5 – Stilton Striders

27 Sep 2015 – Rutland Marathon

The first Rutland Marathon by a new company, OK the Bad: having to pay £6 on top of the quite dear entrance fee was terrible, feed stations were a bit bland, T-shirts would’ve been nice, feedback from the company by email and the FB site wasn’t very quick, the ten o’clock start and where it started from was very poorly handled. The Good: despite the course looking a bit boring it was enjoyable, the marshals were upbeat and friendly, plenty of feed stations and they did give out gels. So the day didn’t start great, my intended 18 mile Cycle to the start became a 30 miler due to closed roads and bad signage. Today was about getting my dear friend Andrea of Barrow Runners her good for age (Sub 3:50) so luckily pressure was off.

Despite the frosty and foggy start it turned into a hot blue skied day, despite its beauty anyone who regularly runs with us round Rutland water knows it’s not flat and 20 or so miles in its a killer.

So with such lovely weather everyone has come out so runners are constantly dodging dogs, people, cyclists and hopping over at least 20 pace slackening cattle grids. The Hambleton Peninsula comes in around mile 15 and for those familiar with its incline’s they just don’t get any easier!

The last few miles are tough and Andrea has fell behind but I’m still confident of her making her time with room to spare. I press on ahead some of this has to do with myself actually feeling it tough the last four miles and I admit when I crossed the line I found it harder on my legs today than the Railway Ultra!

3:49 hrs, I come in at 18th place, 3rd in my age group and very consistent (the printout is really good), sadly Andrea comes in at 3:52 having had a terrific race and its very fair to say had it been a normal road Marathon she’d have been much nearer to 3:30 which tells you how much harder this was. Well worth the experience and supporting a local race, be nice to see a few more Stiltons give it a go if only for the lactic challenge!

Running the half Marathon were Michael Cooke and Laura Pickard with much appreciated support on the course from Ben Pickard and Mike Brighty. [Rob]

20 Sep 2015 – Ladybower 50

You could be forgiven for thinking that all of the Stilton Striders were gathered in a field near Belvoir Castle for this year’s Equinox 24, however for John Houghton, Dan Valencia and Simon Bottrill it was off to Bamford, Derbyshire for Ladybower 50.

On what was a dry but chilly Sunday morning, with an eerie mist still hanging over the reservoir 53 runners gathered in a layby near the Derwent Dam, the Start/Finish line for this year’s race. As 8 O’clock struck and with Dan still pondering his kit choice (you’re wearing those trainers are you?) we were set on our way for an initial 5 mile loop of the upper part of the Ladybower Reservoir. Opting to stay together throughout we adopted a nice slow steady pace and within the hour were looping back past the Start/Finish. A quick stop to collect hydration packs and food and we headed off again for the longer 15 mile loop. The first part took us back along the same route but then added an additional 10 miles around the picturesque Derwent & Howden Reservoirs and taking in the two Dams that divide the three bodies of water.

Sense of humours intact and still looking quite fresh we completed the first 15 mile loop in just under 3 hours, had a quick lunch stop then headed out again for a second full lap. Though we were covering the same course, the second 15 mile loop was a much tougher and quieter affair with the increasing mileage starting to require a bit more effort. Pure stubbornness (none of us would quit unless one of the others did it first) and the steady pace carried us on to complete it in just round three hours again. With another stop for food and all important cup of tea for Mr Houghton, we prepared (with no doubt in our minds) for the final loop. With the welcome addition of a support runner in the form of Lou Houghton (joining us after having run in the nearby Stanage Struggle) and with the end now in sight we pressed on.

The last lap was in much better spirits becoming a bit of a tick off list as we passed all the familiar landmarks from the earlier laps and none more welcome than the sight of the Derwent Dam as we approached the finish. With the light starting to fade and the pace quickening we all crossed the finish line in 11 hours and 26 minutes, a mere 5 hours and 7 minutes after the events winner but still enormously proud of our achievement.

A WORD OF WARNING (just incase you fancy it next year): For what was my first Ultra this was a very back to basics event. The Facebook site boasted three water stops and food at the race HQ the reality however was one manned water stop, which ran out of water before the last lap and one unmanned stop with water but no cups. Food at the race HQ only consisted of a few pretzels and a bit of flapjack (fb promised chips and sandwiches) and marshals sadly were bit too few and far between. [Simon]

20 Sep 2015 – Silkstone Shuffle 4.5

Stuart Gregory was the only Stilton Strider to enter the Skilstone Shuffle. On a very nice and sunny morning Stuart took to the start line with 131 other runners to take part in the 4.5 mile event. As the race got underway he made a steady but well paced start to the event as he tracked Barnsley Harriers ladies for the first mile before losing touch at the foot of the first part of the accent. On the way down the hill towards the finish he began to gain ground and with just over a mile to go over took two back markers and finished the moderately tough race just behind those Barnsley ladies in 128th place with a time of 52.42. [Stuart]

19/20 Sep 2015 – Equinox 24

Wow! What an incredible weekend! We put in three large teams and two solo runners, and no-one can feel disappointed with what they’ve done. Epic performances all round!

Throughout the weekend, the team results were categorised by gender (male, female, mixed) on the leader-board. Our ladies team “Stilton Striders B Team” finished as the top ranking female team at the event, while “Studs in the Mud” were the 4th best all-male large team there. I had the pleasure of seeing my team-mates show some incredible efforts over the tough course to finish as the weekends 2nd ranked male team overall, but sadly just missed out on a podium spot by 7 minutes!

Rich Gray ran strongly throughout, and although feeling a little bit ropey on Lap 7 (afterall, that is around 71k!!) went on to complete a superb 14 laps, while the rest of us were moaning after 3. Also, making it look easy, Wendy Piesley, doing her first ever ultra event (having never done more than a Half Marathon before?!?!) put in an amazing 8 laps – totaling an incredible 50 miles!!!!

Already signed up for next year, we have one team (headed by myself and Jay so far), and THREE (maybe four) soloists in the form of Rich, Marie, Ben Pickard (??!!) and maybe even Wendy again (seriously contemplating it!)

Yet again, I am so proud of our club and the determination to showcase the talent, drive and dedication displayed by all within it. It really has been an honour to spend the weekend with you all! [Shane]

A few of our favourite photos from the weekend are here.

16 Sep 2015 – Derby Midweek Races

RACE 1 – 1 mile – After taking part in four races over the previous weekend, Stuart Gregory once again picked up his running shoes and made the relatively modest trip to Derby for the first set of races in the Derby mid week races. The night is split into two separate races a 1 mile road race and a 5km road race. In the first race of the night Stuart lined up with 49 other runners. As the race set off, Stuart did his now familiar greyhound out of the traps approach, unfortunately as he was still feeling the side effects of a big weekend of racing he completed the mile in 8m 01s his second worst time to date.

RACE 2 – 5km – After a short break to allow for drinks and recovery from the first race, Stuart lined up for the second race of the night with 65 others. The second race takes in two large laps of the footpath along side the by-pass. After the first lap Stuart was sitting in 64th place overall having taken over 15 minutes to complete the first 1.5 miles and this pace continued during the second half of the race as Stuart recorded his second worst 5km result to date finishing in 64th place with a time of 32.29. A very good set of events and well worth the £3.00 entry fee. [Stuart]

13 Sep 2015 – Ponton Plod

The Eighth running of this wonderful multi-terrain race at Great Ponton (Between Grantham and Melton for the less Geographically inspired). I’ve long sung the plaudits of this one, put together with a small team with proceeds going to charity, a very small entry fee for the 12, 17 or 27 mile route for runners or walkers.It seems a few more Leicestershire clubs have turned out this year for what could be a great warm up for Seagrave Wolds veterans. Organiser Stuart Ashley gets proceedings under way with a short speech before suddenly say `Ok, off you go` , which is a bit different to those used to whistles, air horns and the like.

The beginning of the race is the worst, coming out the village over the very bouncy bridge over the A1, a bit of road, a stony track and a golf course which seems all uphill. However once your away from that it’s a great tour of the South Kesteven area , having lost sight of the leaders about forty minutes in, I wait for the person behind who not only knows where he`s going but has won the event a couple of times. Perhaps sensibly it slows me down as not feeling my very best today and the next few miles are spent in chatter along the Viking way.

A beautiful drop down to the village of Denton, it’s a nice clear day and easy to spot Newark in the background. As we go through Harlaxton a couple of signs have been taken down/moved and not sure how the first lady who was following us managed to get ahead of me if I’m honest. Apparently we are going the right way as we cross a ploughed field and head uphill towards a copse of tree`s but end up lost and off-path, knocking about 5 mins off where I was.

By this time the pace has become too easy and I`m worried about who has passed me when we went wrong so kick back a bit over my favourite part of the course around Hungerton and Wyville, lovely offroad area. Still end up getting slightly lost again but pass two people in the last 1.5 miles and come in 5th place, had I known where I was going and not treated the middle bit as a training run could’ve done better (forever the critic).

The Plod however is known for it, all Strider`s doing it got lost! A very good Charnwood ac runner got lost, the central theme being don’t just be a good runner but learn to use a map also! It’s a bit of fun, seriously don’t take it too seriously.

Nicholas Smith 2nd in the 12 mile, he`ll say it was due to navigation but he is running very well, Jon Wilson ran his longest distance ever in training for Leicester Marathon getting lost and running 31k!

Please do think about this one next year its only down the road, the large bowl of soup, free tea and coffee and selection of custard laden puddings free to all runners just put the icing on a great morning. [Rob]

12/13 Sep 2015 – Buxton 5k, Ipstones 5 and more

Buxton and District 5k: Stuart Gregory was the only Stilton Strider to make his way to Buxton for their monthly 5km race. On a wet morning and competing in the event for the first time Stuart set a steady pace knowing that he would be running again later that day and completed his first Buxton 5km race finishing in 61st place with a time of 28.58.

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Ipstones 5: In his second race of the day Stuart Gregory headed slightly further south to the village of Ipstones in the Staffordshire Moorlands to take part in their annual 5 mile road race. Having already ran earlier that day it was nice to know that the race did not start until 3.30pm giving time to have a look around the village fate which takes place on the same day.

77 runners took to the start line on what was now a very pleasant afternoon (maybe a little to pleasant at times) as the first mile included 350 feet of ascent, before a very long 2 mile decent to the bottom of the hill. By this point he had made up some ground after a steady start passing two runners ahead of a short but very sharp climb with just over 1.5 miles to go. The run in to the finish is predominantly down hill and having slowly closed the gap on a further two runners in the closing stages he managed to pass both of them with around half mile remaining and crossed the line in 71st place with a time of 52.34. A very well organized event and well worth £7.85 entry fee.

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Team Alfie 5 mile race: After two races the day before, Stuart Gregory was the only Stilton Strider to make his way to Wollaton Park for the team Alfie 5 mile race and joined 68 others on the start line. The race covers two laps and, having felt the pace after Saturday’s exploits, Stuart started towards the back of the field and remained there for the vast majority of the slightly shorter than 5 mile event to finish in 64th place overall with a time of 52.48.

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Derby Athletics Festival 2015 – Mens (U20, Seniors and Masters) track mile: Stuart Gregory was the only Stilton Strider to make his way to Derby for the track mile, having already completed three races over the weekend this would be his fourth race in two days and complete a busy weekend of running. After arriving early to give his legs a chance to recover from the mornings race, it was soon time to get down to business and Stuart lined up with 7 others to take on the track. The first two laps went as planned before a slowing in Stuart’s pace saw him complete the final two laps much slower and completing the mile in 7.22.68 his fastest track mile to date and 54 seconds faster than Nottingham. Having finished 7th overall it was confirmed after the race that Stuart had also finished as 3rd senior male, and some two hours after the race had finish was awarded his bronze medal.

[Stuart]

6th Sep 2015 – John Fraser 10 (LRRL)

A bumper crowd of 630 runners were at the final LRRL summer league race of the season on Sunday morning, the John Fraser 10. Held over 10 miles of undulating roads starting from Countesthorpe, the race was to also be the Leicestershire 10 mile road championships.

The team of 12 Stilton Striders were led home by Jason Barton, who continued his excellent form to take 6th place overall (5th Senior Male) in 57.28. The next four Striders were all close together, exchanging places late into the race, with Rich Gray finishing in 70.37, closely followed by 100% award winner Luke Eggleston (71.23), Dan Valencia (72.05) and Shane Sharkey (72.46).

Iain Howe was next to finish in 74.20, followed by a close battle between Michael Cooke (76.01) and Ben Pickard (76.03). John Houghton, nursing his damaged hand from the prior day’s fell race (see prior report), finished in 80.08 before Vicki Lowe and Laura Pickard, the Striders’ two female finishers, in 82.08 and 97.40. Stuart Gregory completed the team in 103.17.

5th Sep 2015 – Man Vs Mountain

So it was off to the beautiful Snowdonia again for the 20 mile, (query 22 or query 24 mile) Man Vs Mountain Event. The race began in the historical Caernarfon Castle for the 1211 runners, 1020 of these being male and a smaller number of 191 females. The weather was certainly on our side as I set off at 8.15am in the second wave of runners as we all attempted to squeeze through the castle fortress.

All of the runners were in good spirits which always creates a fantastic atmosphere and once again I chatted to various people, whether they wanted me to or not! The views were stunning and due to the fortune of clear weather you could see for miles which helped numb any pain that makes itself apparent as your legs realise once again what you are doing to them.

Just before you reach the summit you are clocked in to check no one is lost en route and then it’s your choice to go the wee bit further to the summit at 1085 metres. This, in my mind, is a no brainer especially on a sunny day. I hugged the summit and the only photo evidence I have of me being there was from a German Surgeon who took my picture, I also think he will be the only one with a copy!

I took the descent at a steady pace down into Llanberis and waved to the passengers on the train. The support from the many walkers visiting Snowdon was fantastic with lots of cheering on! Once I reached the 2nd Pit Stop, which was like a tuck shop that you physically felt unable to eat any of, I knew that I must be at around mile 18 which meant the Vertical 1km climb was coming up. I was lucky enough to have completed the Snowdon Half Marathon in July with Luke Eggleston so the route became familiar and then it dawned on me that myself and Luke had already encountered some of this 1km stinger of a climb!

The climb is timed for those crazy enough to run up it, apparently someone completed it in 10 mins! Once at the top I was clocked in again by a marshal and was told I was the 14th female, I could not believe my ears! So with hearing this and eating a lump of Kendal Mint Cake I was spurred on and started to pick my pace up. I reached the abseil area where your chip time is stopped due to any queuing and then picked up again at the bottom of the abseil.

Then came the water jump which I was dreading. After choosing your gang plank you jump into cold water from a height of about 17ft and then after getting your breath it’s a short swim to get out. Luckily friends were here cheering me on which was very much appreciated. Once out it’s a short run to some more water with some little obstacles and then another wee run before a 25 metre swim. At last I had completed the water part and was dragging, what now felt like, a very heavy body to the final 3 obstacles.

The first 2 were 7 foot walls, I utilised a metal rail to flop over in a very non-military fashion the 1st wall and then a kind chap offered a leg up for the 2nd, then the final obstacle was in site and with the use a of a rope I pulled myself over and then I leapt over the finish line! I completed the event in 4hrs 42mins and was the 8th female back. I was over the moon!

I have a huge thank you to say to all of the runners at Stilton Striders, because I can honestly say if it was not for your support and training there is no way I would ever have finished in such a time. Also being part of the team that completed the half and full marathon up Snowdon in July was also a huge learning curve, less wine the night before being one of them. So thank you all and bring on the next race! [Katie]

5th Sep 2015 – Longshaw Fell Race

A fine day on the fells marred by a number of incidents highlighting the need for FRA safety equipment on more exposed races. In separate falls, two Striders sustained injuries to their hands. John Houghton breaking a bone two miles into the race and Steve Dewick dislocating a finger in a fall when crossing a stream two miles from home. First Strider home Greg Pettingill 36th (3rd MV50) 51:04; Michael Atton 47th 53:01; Simon Bottrill 58th 56:18; Dan Valencia 65th 57:34; Stephen Boylan 88th 65:06; Steve Dewick (DPFR) 112th 71:47.

[Greg]