The Bacchus Wine Marathon in Surrey

The Bacchus Wine half and full marathons are combined into a sociable fancy dress and wine tasting event. Three Mighty Green/Pink Sidmouth ladies took part, Helen Palmer doing the half, whilst Jane Hemsworth and Jo Earlam took on the full marathon. Jane is celebrating a landmark Birthday soon and this is Jo’s 60th marathon, so a fifties/sixties style kit was made.

The first third of the route was tough going, so with the tight cut off time of 2 and a half hours on the full marathon Jo and Jane steered clear of the wine, or so they say! Jane suffered a fall, got stung by a feisty wasp and there were chafing issues with the modified pink kit, and all before the halfway point! With their spirits revived sting and cuts treated, Jo and Jane got on with the task of the second lap.

Meanwhile, Helen was taking full advantage of the on course entertainment with music, wine and nibbles at every water (I mean wine) stop. She also enjoyed being with the other 2000 sociable half marathoners, including Chris Evans and Vassos Alexander who were both in her wave at the start line. Jo and Jane missed out on the main party, making do with under 200 other full distance runners.

Helen completed the half in 2h:37m and enjoyed more wine and the hog roast, leaving Jo and Jane to cross the finish line in 5h:06m, coming in 95th and 96th respectively, both ladies added on the extra distance to finish the 26.2 Miles in 5h:27m.

Sidbury Fun Run

Five Mighty Green Sidmouth runners took part in The Sidbury Fun Run on Sunday. Rachel Burrows, Sarah and Michael Ginsberg, Paula and Amelie Farrand spent part of a warm, sunny Sunday morning running in and around the grounds of The Manor House. Paula and Amelie won the First Local and Open girl and lady.

A Sting In The Tale At Michelmores Charity Run.

David Skinner took part in the Michelmores Exeter 5K Charity Run on Thursday 6th of September. This annual event is now in its 18th year and the proceeds are being donated to The Amber Foundation, a charity that helps young homeless unemployed people get back on their feet.

Congestion at the start line on The Cathedral Green meant that David got off very slowly. However, he soon broke away from the ruck, progressing around the route, picking up speed and passing other competitors. Then disaster struck half way through Northernhay Gardens! David had several other runners closing in on him when a wasp flew into his air space and stung him near his right eye! The impact and reaction of the irritated insect caused David to swipe at it, knocking his glasses to the ground. He lost time here while looking for the glasses and even more time getting checked over by a first aider. Due to all this excitement, David’s time was still a respectable 33m04s coming in 727th out of 950 runners.

City To Sea Marathon 2018

On Saturday the 1st September Jo Earlam completed the City To Sea Marathon. This brings Jo’s total to 59 completed marathons and was the third time competing in this very tough competition.

This 26.6 mile marathon is deceptive in that the first section from the start line in Exwick to  Cockwood and Dawlish Warren is a flat trek along the River Exe, Exeter Canal and Exe Estuary. During section two between Cockwood and Shaldon the hills start to kick in, softening up the legs for the real work to come later. Stage three and leaving Sheldon behind is where the hard work really starts, with a steep climb up a monster hill above Ness Cove, Smugglers Cove and Labrador Bay. The undulating coastal path doesn’t let up with the pain inducing hills, as it follows the coastal route all the way to Babbacombe Downs.

Jo found section three really tough, especially the steps which are very steep and seem to go on for ever! However, she had kept something in the tank for the last six miles and with determination and grit, she still managed to pass by a lot of other runners, whilst not allowing others to pass her. Then, during the last two hundred yards just before the finish line, one runner trotted past her as if he was just starting the race! He encouraged her to sprint for the line with him. It turned out that whilst she had just completed the marathon and was on the floor, he had finished the ultra and seemed ready to go again.

Jo finished with a very good time of 5h:57m:14s, coming 90th. This was not as fast as the previous year but better than 2016. Her well earned reward for the long and arduous race was Fish and chips at Hanbury’s Fish Restaurant

The Bridport 10k and Half Marathon

Six members of the Sidmouth Running Club attended the Bridport 10k and Half Marathon. Four took part in the 10k and two took on the challenge of the Half Marathon.

Both races started with the famous ‘Broadchurch’ cliff at West Bay in the background, and headed up to the second highest hill on the South Coast of England, a full 157m to the top of Thorncombe Beacon, (the half marathon runners then head down to Seatown) back through Downhouse Farm, Eype to West Bay. The 10 k is one loop and the half-marathon is two loops.

In the 10k race the first Sidmouth Runner across the finish line, was Deb Marriott in 46th place over all with a time of 01:11:22. She also got a 1st in age category. Next with the same time was Don Cawthera in 47th place, followed not long after coming in at 58th Helen Palmer with a time of 01:15:49. In 61st place was Jennifer Bentley 01:16:18.

The two ladies in competing in the Half Marathon teamed up together and braved out the wet and windy weather. Jo found it impossible to keep her hat on with the wind bowing it off several times. Also with the rain her glasses couldn’t be kept dry enough to see through!

Officially Jo Earlam was the first Sidmouth Runner across the finish line however, the times for both Jo Earlam and Jane Hemsworth are same at 02:53:43.

The Straight 8 Race

On Saturday the 4th of August at 5pm, Antony and Kat Hall lined up with 160 other runners, to represent the Mighty Greens at the start of the Greenbow Running Club’s Straight 8 race.

The race got underway in the blazing late afternoon sunshine from The Strand at Starcross, along the cycle routes and foot paths along the Exe Estuary and Exeter Canal, all the way to the quay in Exeter. Although it is a dead flat course, the weather certainly made it a very tough race.

Right from the start the pace was very quick, with the leading group setting out at sub 6 minute miles, so Antony settled into a chasing group behind the frontrunners.

After a few miles this group started to break up, the pace and heat of the day starting to take affect. However, Antony who has had some hot weather race experience this year managed to keep his pace going. Finally crossing the line hot and exhausted in a fantastic time of 52:48 and finishing in a high 5th place overall.

Kat took a more steady pace in the main field, and managed the heat of the day in a more sensible fashion, finishing in a commendable time of 1:18:27, with a well earned mid position of 89th overall and looked in much better shape than Antony!

A great race on a really nice flat route, making it a perfect distance for those looking to take the next step up from a 10k. They are both planning to compete in next year’s Straight 8, hopefully taking some more Mighty Greens along with them.

Cotswold Lake 62 Triathlon

Well done to Jane Hemsworth who took part in the Cotswold Lake 62 Triathlon on Saturday 28th July in some unseasonably bad weather. Starting en-mass with all the other competitors in the deep water, Jane had to swim 1500m, she then cycled 40km on a fairly flat course with a few inclines around the Cotswolds and then ran a 9km route cheered on by the spectators. A superb performance gained a 2nd lady in age category with an impressive 3h:19m time.