Category: 2017 reports

A small group of Stilton Striders  joined 683 runners to take part in the 3^rd summer Leicestershire Road Running League Race (the Swithland 6) – a very scenic one lap course with a particularly challenging hilly last mile.  It was Nick Brown to lead the Strider men grabbing an awesome 5^th age category place and 59^th  position in 37.31.  Very close  behind him and challenging for a top strider spot was Alan Thompson in 37.58 (66 place), and Darren Glover 38.17 (75 place). Other men David Hall (10^th cat vet) in 48.08, and Daniel Howley 01.02.

On the ladies side Natalie Teece was again first strider lady in 39.32 (7^th Lady), followed by Julie Bass 44.25 (3^rd vet placing) in 44.25 and achieving her much deserved Gold time. Other ladies: Michelle Farlow 45.10, Vicki Lowe 45.49, Abi Arnott 46.35, Lou Houghton 47.48.
~Vicki~

A bit more on the Club Standards:
Julie has been running very well and to acheive a Gold Standard time is hugely impressive. There are other levels to aim for, such as Bronze, or Copper and for many, a lower standard time is still a massive acheivement as it’s on the very upper limit, or beyond their race pace.
If you’re interested, Club standard times can be found here:
Mens club standards
Women’s club standards

The club introduced the club standard awards a few years ago as an incentive for some. The rules, together with mens standards and womens standards are attached below. In essence, the challenge is to achieve three race times in the year that are better than the standard level you are running at – those who achieve either their first award, or the next standard up, will then receive their award at the club’s annual awards dinner.
Club standard rules

Go for it and submit your Standard times at the end of the year!

Two Striders travelled to Liverpool to enjoy their weekends in this magical city.  A great playlist kept the runners going with bands every mile.  This was a challenging course up and down the city taking in all the sights including the Cavern Club, Penny Lane, Stanley Park, Anfield and Goodison Park. Vicki Lowe did the half marathon in 1.42 45.  Matthew Gayton did the full marathon and achieved 3.17 on this challenging course.

Nick Brown travelled to Chester for the Chester half marathon and in a field of over 4700 Nick finished in an excellent 80th place in 1hr 25 min and was 2nd Vet50.

A large group of stilton striders travelled up the road to Gaddesby for the 2nd round of the Leicester road running league summer series the ‘Gaddesby 7’.

In a field of nearly 500 runners, First back for the club in 57th place was Darren Glover in 45mins 35 secs, followed in 62nd by Natalie Teece in 46.11 who was 2nd lady on the day, then:
Alan Thompson in 46.46,
Tam Nicol in 51.28,
Julie Bass 53.16,
Michelle Farlow 53.27,
Vicki Lowe 54.28,
Michael Cooke 54.33,
Dan Howley 54.46,
Liz Goodbourn 55.15,
Kirsty Black 56.01,
Sharon Eshelby 56.26,
John Houghton 56.25,
Louise Houghton 58.32,
David Hall 59.48,
Nick Pryke 63.45,
Celia Bown 64.32,
Vanessa walker 65.31
and Ray Walker 76.10.

What can I say…..if you like bluebells then you’re in for a treat!!! Near perfect weather for the 200 runners of the Dukeries 30 and 40 mile ultras. The course is relatively flat and on easy going trails, taking in Sherwood Forest, Clumber Park and Creswell Crags.

Fantastic organisation – the route clearly marked – and reassuring yellow dots to confirm we were on the right path. The fuel stations well stocked and Marshalls were all so nice offering to fill our hydration packs for us etc.

If you’ve not done an ultra before and you quite fancy trying one this is a great place to start – another spot on recommendation from Rich Gray.

We ran the whole 30.8 miles together and were more than happy with our finish time of 5hrs 7minutes, 6/7^th Females and 22/23^rd overall out of 107 finishers.

Helen says I have to find someone else for my next challenge…..any takers??

Abi

There was another good turnout of Stilton Striders who made the short hop up the road to race the Belvoir Half-Marathon on Sunday.

For those running the London Marathon, the popular race is seen as an ideal warm-up.

As well as the very warm conditions, they faced a breezy cross-headwind for the second half of the race.

Darren Glover headed the Melton club’s times in 1hr 26min 36secs for 28th, followed by Mark Stoneley, 55th in 1.31.29, and Paul Geeson, 64th in 1.32.52.

Alan Thompson also comfortably broke the 1hr 40min barrier with 1.34.17 ahead of clubmates Andy Nicholls (1.41.27) and Rob Beers (1.43.05).

First lady back for the Striders was Helen Widdowson in 1.43.31, just ahead of Vicki Lowe 1.46.29 and Ian Howe 1.47.21.

Other Striders times: Louise Houghton 1.51.30, Jon Wilson 1.52.24, Kirsty Black 1.53.19, David Hall 1.55.02, Sharon Eshelby 1.58.46, Nigel Willat 1.58.37, Nick Pryke 2.01.39, Melanie Willat 2.06.38, Celia Brown 2.18.12, Deborah Wilson 2.26.30, Kaye Mead 2.26.30.

 

Summing up another fantastic weekend for Stilton Striders racing locally and as far as Geneva!

Stuart and Christie setting PBs

A few stilton striders travelled to sleaford to compete in the sleaford half marathon with nearly 400 finishers  first strider back showing he’s well recovered from the London marathon was Stuart Shaw smashing his personal best by around 4 mins stopping the clock  in 1 hr 24 mins 28 secs for 8th overall and 2nd vet , next was Christie Jones also running a pb in 1.40.34 , then Greeba Heard in 1.50.42 .

Clawson 10k trail race

Chris Southam came away with the win in his local race the Clawson 10k trail race finishing in an excellent 40.17 , not far behind in 2nd was stilton strider Jason Barton in 40.53 entering on the day after cycling over to watch initially , next in 11th  Alan Thompson 45.30 , Michael Atton 46.38 , Simon Bottrill 50.40 , Daniel Howley 56.31 , Deb Wilson 71.21 , John Wilson 71.22 , Richard Gray ran around with his son Conrad to both record 76 mins , Marie Gray 80.54 .

Geneva Marathon

John and Louise Houghton travelled to Geneva for the Geneva marathon,  john finished in 3 hrs 50 mins and Louise was going well till around the 20 mile point when she pulled a calf muscle but still managed to finish in 4hr 30 .

[Darren]