Tam and Steph took the holiday route to the coast to complete the East Cliff Quarter Marathon just outside Bournemouth on the Easter Weekend.
A friendly coastal scenic race on lovely sunny but breezy morning. Tam finished in 76 place in a time of 48.08 and Steph competed in 101st in a respectable time of 1:01.52 .
The race was followed by a paddle in the sea and ice cream
Tam
It is a horrible, cold day in April and it is chucking it down for Shane and Ben’s first foray into ultra running. A last minute trip to the toilet means Shane misses the race briefing and the official start! The first 10 miles is along a cycle path and the camaraderie between the runners is fantastic. The checkpoint comes and goes quickly and after a quick snack we are off again. Checkpoint 2, 21 miles in, and we are greeted by Emma Stevens and Luke Eggleston which proves to be a real boost for us, although that may have just been because Emma bought me a Snickers! 3 miles later we are met by Laura Pickard and a bag of sandwiches. Turns out this is just an eating day with some jogging involved. The next 10 miles, which included checkpoint 3, is across farm fields and was a complete mud bath (it was not all runnable!!). 10k to go and I am struggling. We try running every other mile but without Shane’s relentless encouragement I may never have got there. We crossed the line together in a time of 9 hours 53 minutes, smashing our target of 11 hours. After a little cry and a biscuit or 12, we reflected that an event like this is easier with company and running the whole event together really helped us get through the mood swings. With this in mind I decided to enter the Millennium Way Back 6 weeks later so Shane would not have to face that challenge alone…………
Why have just one medal when you can have 2 that lock together?! 6 weeks since the Millennium Way, and the day of the Millennium Way Back dawns. Shane got me through the last one and I was confident we would help each other through this one too. Unfortunately he had to pull out the night before due to injury so I am flying solo this time! Stood on the start line, all alone, I was wishing that could just do a parkrun like Shane, Emma and Luke were going to. The first 10 miles across farm fields went by in a flash and I quickly went through checkpoint 1. In traditional Ben style, I got slightly lost over the next 10 miles which added a couple of miles onto the run but you have to get your money’s worth! I met Shane, Luke and Emma at checkpoint 2 and they all looked pretty tired after their parkrun exploits. I left them with my sympathies and met Laura a couple of miles on. Like a good wife, she decided to run the next 8 miles with me. At this point I was struggling mentally and wanted nothing more than to quit, but her inane yabbering got me to checkpoint 3 for a refuel stop. The last 10 miles to the finish were a blur and was as high for 5 miles as I was low before, even breaking into random song! Arriving into Newport with a quarter of a mile left, adrenaline and emotion took over and I sprinted for the finish line. I finished in 9 hours 40 minutes, taking 13 minutes off the Millennium Way time which I was absolutely chuffed about (considering I spent 20 minutes going the wrong way). It is the support that got me through and knowing that people were waiting at checkpoints really helped. I swear I will never do anything like this again…………..
Ben Pickard
Fellsman 29-30 April 2017 – this fell race is over more than 61 miles and over 11,000ft of the Yorkshire Dales, from Ingleton to Threshfield via Ingleborough, Whernside, Dodd Fell and Great Whernside, to name but a few.
Katie Hateley and Clive Kent drove up with Jenny Kent on the Friday night, staying in the school hall at Threshfield overnight before breakfast at 5.30am and catching a bus to Ingleton in time for an 8.30am start.
The day dawned bright and dry, with some cloud on the tops that lifted fairly early. The field of about 400 runners headed up the high street and onto the bridleway towards Ingleborough, a warm up for the challenge to come. While it had been relatively dry beforehand, there were still some boggy bits on top and many summits and checkpoints left to go!
They covered the first half of the course in good form and reached Redshaw (checkpoint 12, 34 miles) at about 6pm. From this point on, it was a battle to stay positive – they knew as long as they kept moving the end would get nearer.
For safety reasons, before night fell they were grouped with Aimee and Michael (from Liverpool) and ran with them from Fleet Moss to the finish (about 20 miles), this helped as they were also really positive. Overnight, the temperature dropped significantly but it stayed dry!
The sun rose just after they passed the summit of Great Whernside, revealing another beautiful day and one final summit, then a relentless run along the road back into Threshfield and finally to the finish at about 5.30am. They submitted their tally cards (punched at each checkpoint) and had breakfast, before showering and packing up for the journey back to Melton Mowbray.
Jenny and Clive
On Saturday 8th April, lone Stilton Strider Richard Gray travelled to the south coast to run the South Downs Way 50, a 50-mile trail race starting in Worthing and finishing at Eastbourne.
The route covered about 6,000ft of ascent with 85 per cent of it off road, but with some impressive pacing, Richard finished in a fantastic 9hr 39mins.
8 Striders entered the Maw of the mighty Wolf’s Pit Fell Race in the beautiful Hope Valley.
Although the idea of a Fell Race sounds quite gnarly, they can be hugely enjoyable for all abilities, although beginners may want to think about entering a shorter race and exercise a certain amount of caution on technical terrain until they feel more confident. The Wolf’s Pit is a good one to try out and, of course, the outruns would help get used to running over non-flat surfaces.
The starting marquee was placed in a cool field free of any bovines, but full of expectant runners hopping around keeping warm, tying laces, filling the registration forms and huddling together. A few runners had their names called for the spot-check inspection of kit which comprised of the following:
Full Body Cover must be carried by all competitors; waterproof cagoule with hood, full length waterproof bottoms,
Hat,
Gloves,
Map of the course,
Compass,
Whistle.
How some racers fit this all into a small bum bag defies the laws of physics, but is acheivable with a certain amount of cash. Most of us carry some sort of running bag/vest to carry this in. As this kit is a minimum, I often carry a couple of extras, like an extra base layer stuffed into a plastic sandwich bag along with a buff, just in case I find myself stranded at the top of a big hill.
So, at this point I’ve donned my Salamon Speedcross, while others opt for Innov8s, La Sportiva’s, or looking around even Walshes, which are a serously meaty, yet retro looking shoe. A good grippy shoe is essential to be able to move about confidently. Then to the start, where I place myself somewhere towards the back, not really knowing where I fit into the pecking order.
The start is frantic with a slight decent down to the corner of the field into the road. We find ourselve dancing through an ankle deep ford, not really know how the soles will handle the slightly slimey surface beneath the water. A guy slips in front of me, but springs up and carries on. A couple of turns later and the climb begins.
The first climb takes the racers up to the top of a hill with a mast on. It is steep. There are some who manage to run up the whole thing and soon runners are strewn out like an elastic band under tension. As we reach the top by the mast, I realise that elastic band has snapped into small pieces. Groups of runners find themselves at similar paces and chase each other across the top of the hill winding, twisting and crossing over their chosen groove in the trail. Picking one line over another can mean a quicker, but more technical overtake. This reminds me of swoopy mountain bike trails with slight berms and rises, hiding the place where you may choose to land on the other side. Often, it’s better to take extra steps, keeping balance and centre of gravity close to one’s self, rather than taking a leap of faith over a rock or knoll.
A technical off-camber decent favours some runners over others. I see Katie who is looking very fresh and says a cheery hello. A little more undulation and criss-crossing trails and soon we’re turning back towards the mast. The camber is unforgiving, so the ankles are really working hard. Then eventually we hit the top of the main descent. This is furiously fast and yet the ground seems to be fairly forgiving, in the fact there aren’t too many ruts and the grass has been trimmed, by sheep or man I don’t know. It means the racers can see where their feet are. I clock sub four minute pace – so that’s how Roger felt! All too soon it’s back to the road and through the ford.
I find that I possibly went too hard on the descent and stagger up the field. ‘Hello Clive’! In a familiar cheery fashion. It’s Katie! How did she catch me after that furious descent? Katie is handy! Okay, now to hold on to the finish. I see Greg and Mick enjoying a soup or tea or something looking like they’ve been back for hours.
We cheer in the rest of the gang and say hello to other folk.
If you fancy a Fell Race, speak to one of these. Lift sharing is a good idea and there’s normally a pub lunch involved if the time is good.
119 61 Greg Pettingell M V50 Basic Stilton Striders 0:56:00
131 96 Michael Atton M V40 Basic Stilton Striders 0:57:10
162 63 Katie Hateley F V40 Basic Stilton Striders 1:00:06
164 200 Clive Kent M Open Basic Stilton Striders 1:00:15
188 62 Simon Botrill M V40 Basic Stilton Striders 1:01:42
229 113 John Houghton M V50 Basic Stilton Striders 1:04:41
285 145 Dan Valencia M V40 Basic Stilton Striders 1:12:55
334 199 Jennifer Kent F Open Basic Stilton Striders 1:29:31
by Clive
For link to final results, masses of photos, video and the Melton Times race report, please see the main Stilton 7 page.
I decided to try out this half. Standing at the start line in my lonely striders vest thinking I wouldn’t know anyone – at the side of me was our fellow Melton parkrunners Emma Machowska and Gosia Garnier and was a lovely surprise to see them. The course was a winding first half mainly streets, but second half made up for it along the Thames river bank and past the grounds of Hampton court palace. I was pleased with my efforts 1.42.00 and 8th in age cat. A well organised and friendly race in a beautiful part of London, nice thick medal and tech teeshirt. [Vicki]
On Weds a group of Striders travelled to Leicester for the Nice Work Leicester 5k winter series at Victoria Park, the 4th and final round. Vicki Lowe won her age category on the night which won her a bottle of wine and also secured the overall female title which is a points based scoring on the best 3 of the 4 races , and was awarded a bunch of flowers and chocolates.
First back for the Striders on the night was Darren Glover in 13th in 19min 50 secs and first vet 45, winning a bottle of wine, followed by Sean Elkington 14th in 19.57 with Luke Eggleston in 15th in 20.04. Darren, Sean and Luke mistimed their warm up and ended up missing the start by around 25 – 30 secs so had to catch up and work through the field as best they could.
Next Strider was Wayne Hackett in 22nd in 22.04 followed by first female Strider Michelle Farlow in 27th, 3rd lady in 22.14, Michael Cooke 34th in 23.22 , Vicki Lowe 35th in 23.30, then Liz Goodbourn 37th in 24.22 and first vet 50, won bottle of wine .The ladies also won the team prize on the night and all received a bottle of wine so a successful and eventful race. [Darren]
A small group of Stilton Striders travelled to Burbage Common near Hinckley for the 91st Leicestershire and Rutland Cross Country Championships.
On a mild misty day with rain having fallen on the course overnight, the course was soft underfoot with some very muddy sections. Third race of the day was the under 20, senior and masters (over 35) women’s race and Natalie Teece had a fantastic run covering the advertised 6k (more like 4.3 miles) in 30 min 19 secs to claim a bronze medal in the masters category and 11th place overall. Natalie went on to celebrate by running an extra 10 mile training run after the race…
Final race of the day was the men’s under 20, senior and masters race over 10k (6.5 miles). First back for the Striders was Darren Glover (44 min 15 secs, 72nd overall, 26th in masters category), followed by Paul Geeson (after a parkrun in the morning, 46.32, 99th overall, 37th in category) and Nick Brown (46.50, 104th overall, 41st in category).
Great enjoyable event. [Darren]
