The Gonerby Tuff duathlon was an understatement of a name for a low key first time event organised by Belvoir Triathlon Club. contacting of 5 x 2.25mile lap route, a run, 3 on the Mountain Bike and a final run.
Three Stilton Striders were in action, Clive Kent (1hr 31mins), Andy Nicholls (1hr 47mins) and Wayne Hackett (1hr 40mins, after completing the Whissendine6 road race the previous night).
[Wayne]
The end of the school year can only really mean one thing – it is time to start focusing on running again, with the intention of being race fit in time for Equinox. Knowing that I was so far from where I would like to be, I needed a short sharp burst of runs at race effort over a short period of time. Cue: the Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix series.
The four race series is held over 2 weeks and is based around East Notts covering distances from 5k to 10k, costing just £25 for the whole series and including a series Technical Tee to all series entrants. In a revision to the previous race schedule, the first race this year was the Rushcliffe 4 – a 4.1 mile run around the grasslands of Ruddington country park. This race is characterised by having a massively wide start that narrows after 200m to a very thin path, so getting a decent start is somewhat essential or you get squeezed out and held back in the bottleneck. The race is half grass/half path and a lovely scenic route. It didn’t quite go to plan as I had to stop twice on the short distance to simply de-phlegm (nice??!!) but still finished with a 7 min pace in 28.49.
The usual race finale was the second race this year: a flat and dull 10k around Holme Pierrepont water sports centre. The course involves a lap and a half around the water’s edge, a bit on the surrounding roads, and a full mile finishing straight. The start was delayed 15 minutes due to cricket traffic and a breakdown closing off a lane, but this didn’t make up for my having to run “naked” (forgot my watch). Felt good all of the way around the run, but this good feeling was explained by my time. Finishing in 46.10 I was not disappointed, but knew I could have done better. This was the only race where I was accompanied by a fellow Strider as Vanessa Walker took on the course in a fantastic 56.48
The third race was probably my best by some distance. The Wollaton 5k required a great effort by the marshals to clear all the deer from the course just before the start. An undulating path/grass route that involves a tricky there/back section delivered my best 5k time since last August (it really is a summer thing?!) at 21.14
Finally, the series finished at Colwick park for their 5 mile 2-lapper around the country park. Entirely on pathways, this was the one race where I actually felt like the wheels had come off, but pleasingly only just missed out on a 7 minute average, in a time of 35.31.
Overall in the series, I finished 63rd out of the 275 runners that completed the series. Very pleased with the whole series, but work still to be done…. If only I had 8 weeks off work to do it… [Shane]
My third time running this awesome 6.2 mile with 1125ft of ascent Gritstone series Fell race, rather a personal fave, it does have something of everything and a lot of fun. I had hoped to get a few more of us by pointing out that the mere £5.00 entry on the day is better than the £60 plus that many people will happily part with to adventure races. However we did get 7 Stilton Striders myself, Dan Valencia, John Houghton, Luke Eggleston, Steve Dewick, Stuart Shaw and Katie Hateley plus Leics locals Dave Lodwick from Roadhoggs and Haydn Williams from Barrow.
Even though rainfall has been heavy it`s still very muggy and will be wet under foot regardless, there is an absolute swarm of flies around the village, thankfully didn’t eat one today. Luke and Stuart have taken higher places up the start line, the race starts with a quick run through the village before heading offroad with a couple of downhill fields. This is followed by a very steep descent (aka drop) and rocky track before the long pull uphill and getting my feet wet for the first time. It`s not a too tough uphill but I’m stuck in my lines and can see Luke and Stuart pushing on, trying to manoeuvre forward would be a huge waste of energy I’d need later so I have to bide my time.
The highest point comes early on before a marshy downhill, a poll across the moors, a second peak and a long downhill to the only bit of road on the course. After two `shiny` races last week I overtake six people before we hit the offroad again, the following section I never told Luke about or he wouldn’t have come! You hit a wooded valley that is a really good slalom, its muddy, often cantered footpath, trees and branches come out of nowhere, footing is precarious, oh its superb but you really have to be on it!
You then come out in Griezedale valley which means readjusting your legs to the hills again and the sun is now out and beating down, I see Luke and Stuart who are still going superbly 30 seconds ahead but any thoughts of catching them are lost when I follow someone on the wrong path and end up surrounded by nettles! On the right path still going strong there is the really big uphill pull out of the valley before one large down and up and just the downhill through the woodland to finish.
Well I beat last year’s time so going right, didn’t catch Luke and Stuart who both ran superbly – Stuart`s first and definitely not last fell race, Luke who has now ran 3 superb races this week. The rest of the team come in and we partake of the awesome homemade flapjacks and those locally sourced Hucklow bananas (where do they grow them? Superb!). Steve Dewick ran a little slower than usual when a branch caught his glasses and flung them nearby which enforced a Thelma from Scooby-Doo type search!
Yonderman cafe after for the best chip cob in the peaks followed by a trip across the road to the Three Stags at Wardlow Mires, the saltiest pub in the Peak, absolutely awesome day – please join us people next time, we`d love to have you with us!
Stuart Shaw (34th, 58:45) Luke Egglestone (38th,58:55) Rob Beers (45th, 1:00:28) Katie Hateley (84th, 1:06:39) John Houghton (92nd, 1:08:22) Dan Valencia (98th,1:09:17) and Steve Dewick (148th, 1:29:41) [Rob]
What`s this two tarmac slapping races in two days? Well after enjoying the last one somewhat and also feeling compelled to support a local race again I donned the road shoes for this one. There`s a lot to be said for positively promoting an event which I’d been doing the last week and it paid off superbly as we were by far the best supported club on the night with a massive attendance of fellow Stilton Striders, must’ve been easily double the shirts than last year.Political statements started early with the army of blue and white running down together en masse to the start line, if anyone hadn’t heard of Stilton Striders they certainly did after.
Start time of 7:30 and Jay Barton and Luke Egglestone lead the field on the downhill start to the centre of the Whissendine before the long pull up past the church. Initial ideas are to stick near Darren Glover but legs are more tired than I thought after Wednesday and going off more moderately would’ve helped also. I instead run near Mark Stoneley but the fast start and cooling down after my warm up have an effect on me, further excuses include its very humid which is my worse running weather. Mark pulls in front at 3 miles and I don’t feel so great until I reach the top of Stapleford Hill. Overtaken by three more people shortly after on the uphill, thankfully that was it for the rest of the race as I really felt I had slowed so much that every man and his dog was passing me.
Completely missed the four mile sign and suddenly realised the 5 mile sign I had a mile to go, the legs woke up somewhat in the last mile and a half but can’t quite catch anyone in front. Slam back into the village for the descent to the finish, it`s a good time but not a great performance-not bad for a salty though who rarely does road I guess.
Jay said it right, when you pay £10 for a cracking road race and a memento glass and bottle of beer as a goodie bag it is rather superb. We stood there watching our runners come in and it seemed like every couple of seconds a blue and white vest would be coming through with loud shouting accompanying, very good night to be a Strider! [Rob]
Full results, including all 27(!) Striders racing, via race website: http://www.whissendine6ix.org.uk/about.html
So its best intentions as Club Captain to represent the club even if it means not only tarmac slapping but doing LRRL races also! The idea being if I can do it hopefully others will and what an excellent turnout we got for this mid-week summer league race! So I thought it was sorted, myself (Rob) and Simon Bottrill would just run round easy and put out the club colours.
So looked like quite a pack of us didn’t want to take it seriously as many of us Striders lined up together near the back, “I hope you know how seriously I’ll be going” warned Simon. Can I point out by the time the klaxon had gone Mike Bryan had already snuck off towards the front and when it was time to run certain Striders set off like Usain Bolt! So much for the easy run!
So beside Simon we go off ducking and weaving through the heavy traffic and it certainly is for at least the first two miles, I haven’t done this new course although I was out marshalling last year I’ll be honest it’s a bit flatter. Still although not as over the top hot as last year it’s still a trifle humid out and a couple of Stilton runners are suffering in it, was nice to be able to provide some words of support on the way round. Five miles in and an onlooker described me as `positively casual`, even having time to stop and have a word with Barrow Chairman Mick Ballard mentioning he`s not having the 3-club challenge shield back!
I put my foot down the last mile of the race and given it was simply a run around I’m really happy at the time and dare I say I really enjoyed it. The shouting in of Stilton runners was superb, I`m sure LRRL debutant Kaye Mead got the loudest of all for her smiling sprint finish, really great Striders spirit from the team well done all!
Jason Barton (6th, 39:29), Luke Eggleston (54th, 43:27), Darren Glover (77th, 45:06), Mark Stoneley (95th, 46:22), Mike Bryan (129th, 48:14), Rob Beers (161st, 49:24), Simon Bottrill (197th, 50:53), Michael Atton (199th,50:55), Michael Cooke (244th, 52:37), John Houghton(251st, 52:26), Iain Howe (275th, 53:28), Mike Williams (300th, 54:42), Louise Houghton (324th,55:42), Jon Wilson(329th, 56:00), Dan Howley (334th, 56:11), Mike Brighty (355th, 57:30), Kaye Mead (481st, 1:05:48)
[Rob]
We were actually in Charnwood on an outrun last year when we saw the initial Beacon24 hosted by Poplar Running Club, little did we know we`d be doing it a year later! The Beacon24 is a fundraising based event based on doing 10k laps around Beacon Hill, Leicestershire`s 2nd highest hill with all proceeds to the Falcon centre which is a charity that deals with helping and supporting the local homeless.
Pretty much I`d been pushing this from the start as I thought would be excellent training for those doing Snowdon trail/Equinox as it’s a totally non-competitive event and would be superb training (even head torch!).
On the day itself we got myself (Rob), Rich Gray, Clive and Jenny Kent, Sarah Procter , Simon Proctor (no relation!) and Katie Hateley, the weather was very mixed going from heavy showers and winds to scorching summer day in two minutes. Can you believe for the mere £20 entry as solo we all got a T-shirt, medal and plenty of nutrition/hydration that was actually much better than many corporate events. Poplar did a great job of organising the whole event, making everyone feel welcome and appreciated and creating a great ambience.
Knowing I had an outrun at Rutland water the next day I clocked four laps which to be honest was hard enough, similarly did Rich and Katie. Sarah did her longest ever run distance doing three laps and Simon Proctor who did parkrun also that morning(!) did two.
Our two day `team` running a relay Clive and Jenny did superbly also, with Clive doing 42 miles (7 laps) and Jenny 24 miles (4 laps).
I really hope this event grows, it really makes great training and believe me the ascent of climbing the Beacon a few times soon makes it become very tough. If you would like to know more about the Falcon Centre homeless charity please click on the following link, and do look out for this one next year.
http://www.youthshelterhosting.veryclever.co.uk/
[Rob]
10 Stilton Striders went to the Prestwold 10K on a cloudy Sunday morning.
Jason Barton was in fine form as always and was the first strider back in a time of (35:30) in 8th place, next back was Matt Gayton in a time of (38:21) who managed to hold off Luke Eggleston who got round in (38:39). Stuart Shaw (38:39) and Darren Glover (39:41) both managed to get under 40 minutes which later meant Stilton Stirders mens team had won the Men’s team prize!
Mark Stoneley was next back in (40:31) John Houghton was a few minutes later who posted a time of (46:37), David Hall ran a PB in his Striders debut (49.48), Helen Plant crossed the line in (51:47) and Lynda Harris was still running very strong crossed the finish line in (52:30) completed the Stilton Striders team. [Luke]
With 37 runners (double last year’s figure!) in the event, well done to everyone who came along and gave it a go. It was a really positive evening, with some great running on the path around the Hambleton Peninsula. Great to see so many socialising at the Grainstore afterwards as well.
The growing membership makes calculating appropriate handicaps trickier than ever – the intention being that start times are staggered so that anyone could finish first, if they are on form, feeling good, give it everything and have that little bit of luck we all need. With predictions based on recent race times and parkrun PBs, there was 16 minutes between the first and last starter – and more than half the field finished within a minute of their predicted time.
It’s a deceptive course, sharply hilly from the start, with a flatter stretch towards the end that never seems to be over – with 5.2 miles total distance. The staggered start means that it is then a straight race for who can be first over the finish line.
For the first time in a few years, it was one of our quickest runners who worked his way through the field to finish first – so well done to Darren Glover, outsprinting Andy Nicholls in the finishing straight. They were closely followed by Simon Proctor in third and a host of Striders hot on their heels.
With so many runners, there are a few gaps in finish times where people were crossing the line in quick succession – if you recorded your own time then please send it to us and we’ll fill in the gaps in the results below.
Finally, thanks go to Michael from Melton Sports for once again donating vouchers as prizes for the first three finishers.
The sixth year of this popular ultra distance event put on by the very friendly lot at Long Eaton Running Club. You may remember quite a few of us did it last year and for most our first ultra distance, can you believe this is my third ultra Marathon of this year?
Just myself and Katie Hateley running today for Striders, this being Katie’s first 30+miler after doing 27.5 miles at Baslow two weeks ago, if it goes wrong it’s my fault for talking her into this! The race starts at 9:00am and at a nice social pace we quickly get onto the canal towpath towards Shardlow and before we know it we hit our first checkpoint at 10.5 miles where the rain absolutely hammers it down.
The rain continues as we pass Shelton and head into Derby, although it clears up its still ominous and showery throughout the day. The cycle route we are on through Derby isn’t the most interesting but I tend to find that working through it is actually a part which helps an ultra runners mind; it’s not too bad as we meet a great guy called Andy from Draycott who ran with us the entire race.
The second checkpoint is at 18 miles, very nice to see our Club Chairman Rich Gray out supporting us here, checkpoint 3 and the race finish. I really felt like I’d ran 3 miles which Rich said “Who’d have thought training makes you better?”, many a true word!
Next couple of miles along the trail path are followed by more serious offroad stuff as we hit Morley; this is very much the ‘second half’ of the race with far more offroad and undulation. Still happily we make it to the 3rd checkpoint at 26 miles and my only worries are being a little dry throated, although the team has spread out on occasion we pretty much ran together.
The hilliest part of the root is the long pull over Stanton on the Wolds before a long downhill over the golf course, a few fields and for me the hardest part of the race the seemingly never-ending half mile of tarmac along Longmoor Lane to the race finish.
The Nomad is pretty brilliantly put on by LERC, very friendly team, the signage was a lot better this year on what is a cracking route through South Derbyshire, how many races give you a pint of hand pulled beer and a large filled jacket potato on finishing amongst many other goodies? I cannot rate it high enough and so glad we have now had six Striders do this event who can testify how worthy it is.
The Nomad is a great step up for those looking at moving up from Marathon distance,
I guess I have to mention our lovely Katie Hateley who came 1st lady in her first 30+ miler! Not only did she run a great race (bit of a natural here if I’m honest), but she got a superb lot of prizes for doing so!
Katie is running this as part of her ‘Gambia Trilogy’, with Beacon24 next week and Snowdonia Trail Marathon at the end of next month. Katie is raising funds for Humanity first medical to raise money for things like defibrillators for disaster relief in countries less fortunate than our own. If you would like to sponsor this remarkable lady the link is below:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Katie-Hateley4
[Rob]
This was the inaugural running of a fantastic half marathon from Eye Kettleby Lakes, just outside Melton Mowbray. There was a great showing from the Stilton Striders and our MRC and parkrun friends running, volunteering and supporting. The route started in the campsite and followed quiet country lanes to Great Dalby, where there was enthusiastic support and another water stop, before heading off on an undulating loop round to Little Dalby and past (not up!) Burrough Hill to rejoin the road back to Eye Kettleby. Some great views and perfect running conditions, slightly breezy and overcast to start and brightening later.
Jay Barton won the race and so was first Strider home in 1:19:25, followed by Luke Eggleston who also got onto the podium in 3rd place in a PB time of 1:26:05. Also well placed were Stuart Shaw (6th, 1:27:49), Matt Gayton (8th, 1:29:26), Darren Glover (10th, 1:30:59), and Mark Stoneley (12th, 1:34:50). Natalie Teece was 15th overall and first lady home in 1:35:14. Michael Cooke was 20th (1:39:58), followed by Andy Nicholls (1:40:23), Greeba Heard (2nd lady in 1:43:18), John Houghton (1:44:06), Alan Thompson (1:46:37), Michelle Farlow (4th lady, 1:48:15) and Vicki Lowe (8th lady, 1:49:35), Abi Arnott (1:52:28), Simon Proctor (1:54:51), Mike Brighty (1:56:36), Mike Williams (1:56:55), Helen Plant (1:57:16), Jon Wilson (1:57:30), Matt Chalmers (1:58:30 PB), Sarah Lawrence (1:59:53), Vanessa Walker (2:08:31), Nicholas Smith (2:12:57), Celina Silver (2:13:01), Kaye Mead (2:13:49 PB), Charlotte Allen (2:14:15), Lou Houghton (2:20:07), Alison Wilson (2:22:28) and finally, dressed as cavemen Clive Kent (2:27:25), Jenny Kent (2:27:27) and Laura Pickard (2:27:28), chased home by best-dressed dinosaur Ben Pickard (2:27:28).
Unfortunately we had a few injuries and Ray Walker and Debs Wilson weren’t able to finish the half. Despite injuries, Liz Parkinson completed the 5k run that was held at the same time. They also took lots of great photos.
Many thanks to Shane Sharkey, Theresa Coltman, Helen Benzie, Nina Snowling, Wendy Piesley and all the other volunteers for their cheerful support on the course.
Following the race, there was lots of catching up over tea and cake, a hog roast and some amazing ice cream. All sat outside admiring the beautiful views across the lakes and listening to George Simpson doing a lovely acoustic set. An ideal way to spend a Sunday and we’re all hoping that it’s on again next year. For more details keep an eye on: www.claireschallenge.co.uk [Jenny]
