Taunton 10K

With the SIDMOUTH Running Club ladies enjoying themselves in Bristol and Windsor half marathons, Justin Ashby was dispatched slightly less far up the M5 to take on the Taunton 10k. Starting at the Blackbrook Leisure Centre, the route is mostly flat, taking runners past Kings College across the M5 into the country lanes of Stoke St Mary before circling back over the M5 and into Taunton again. As 10k’s go, it is a scenic one that is very well supported too.

Those who run with Justin will know that he has been trying to break 36 minutes for the distance – since 2012! He has come close on a number of occasions recording 36:00 twice, 36:01 and a host of other close shaves in the intervening years. Now, finally, after 2 months of dedicated 10k training, he can tick off that goal, having finished 3^rd overall in a time of 35:30. Not just breaking it but smashing it. Says Justin: “There have been some near misses along the way, some tactical blunders and some comical mishaps too, but the wait has been worth it. Besides, I promised JP I would do it”.

River Exe Summer 5K Series and Sidbury Fair

The final race in the River Exe 5k was run by two SIDMOUTH Running Club members with ages at either ends of the spectrum. A friendly Park Run sort of event it isn’t, with the last runner coming in under 25 minutes. With a field of over 100 fast young runners and everyone in Club vests, except Jason whose was in the wash, it is very competitive.

Even without his Mighty Green Jason Drew had a stunning run coming 3^rd overall in 16:14:00 just 21 seconds behind the winner and as an under 20 he should still be improving. At the other end of the 108 strong field Rob Edwards in terms of age and speed avoided being last, just about. Finishing in 23:01, his quickest time since 2001 and placed 97^th overall he was second M60+ which sounds ok until you realise that there were only 3 M60+ and all three M65+ runners were quicker. Anyway Rob it’s not the winning but taking part so both are looking forward to the start of the six races series starting again in April.

Sidbury Fair attracted two new and two stalwart members of the Club. New member Paula Farrand had a great start to racing in the Mighty Green coming first in the local Adult category in 33:52 and that time gave her 3^rd place in the Adult Open. Had she been paying attention instead of soaking up the glory towards the finish she would have been second having been overtaken with a few strides to go.

Naomi Garrick retained her open title wining in 32:39 but will have to be watchful next year with Paula just over a minute behind this time. Paula’s running buddy Bert Dykema also enjoyed his first race for the Club so much so that he couldn’t stop the Mobot at the end.

Rachel Burrow a long time supporter of this race also enjoyed the conversations on the way around.

A Tale of Two Marathons

Prolific SIDMOUTH Running Club marathon runner Jo Earlam took her total to 52 when she competed in the City to the Sea Marathon. The run started from Exeter Quay and finished in Babbacombe, Torquay. The run started with a couple of loops around the canal tow path and was totally flat for the first 13.5 miles to Dawlish Warren. There were a few smallish hills on the coast path to Teignmouth at 20 miles which she reached in under 4 hours keeping a consistent pace of around 12 minute miles. It was also the furthest she had run since the Portsmouth marathon in December and she was feeling in good form and pretty pleased with herself, despite very little training. Then came a series of tough hills for the last 6.5 miles, which reduced her time to what felt like a crawl and took a further two hours and 15 minutes dropping her pace to 20 minute miles. By this time it was also pouring with rain, but even moving at what seemed to be a snails pace she still managed to overtake a dozen or more other runners and let no one overtake her.

Jo grew up near Babbacombe so was delighted to reach the short road link to the finish on the Downs, only to discover that the course director had a final sting in the tail, sending them nearly back to sea level and then a climb up steep steps by Oddicombe Cliff Railway. I am sure she was not the only one muttering expletives at that point. However there is something about a hard, hilly finish in the rain that is particularly sweet and she crossed the line full of smiles and very happy to have made it number 52.

Meanwhile not that far away Danny Painter had headed off to Dartmoor to take part in the inaugural running of the Dartmoor High Ground Marathon.

What Jo was experiencing at sea level was 10 times worse on the top of Dartmoor. The Mighty Green vest couldn’t be seen beneath his storm jacket but then again not much else could anyway with the storm force weather and clag. The conditions made it more of a navigation exercise than a speed test.

There is a mandatory kit list to be carried so you are prepared for all eventualities and you are not allowed to start without it such are the conditions. If you like fell races and the effect of running towards a fire hose on at full blast this is the race for you, and it proved so for Danny coming in 6^th place with a time of 5:34:51, a very remarkable result.

The Lustleigh 10K

While most of us were enjoying the sunny bank holiday Monday lazing on the beach eating ice-cream or crashed out by the swimming pool three of our members headed off to Lustleigh.

The Lustleigh Fayre is a good old fashioned fete with a jazz band, dog racing, loads of stalls and of course a beer tent. It is held in the heart of Dartmoor and is well supported by visitors from far and wide. The 10k is a beautiful, but extremely hilly run over Dartmoor. There are literally no flat parts.

For Chris Robinson this was the 12th successive year that he has ran this event and by his own admission each year he gets slower but enjoys it more. In all the years he has ran it has only rained once and this year was the most glorious day of all.

Jayne Drew and David Wright were both first timers with David finding the first 4 miles hard going but enjoyed running back down into Lustleigh. Jane led the Club runners home in 53 minutes taking 3rd place in her age group followed by David in 65 minutes and Chris in 69.

Becky Robson was going to run it on her birthday but got stuck in an accident on Four Elms hill which left it too late for here to get there.