Sunday 25th February is a date 20 Sidmouth Running Club members won’t forget in a hurry especially chairman Terry Bewes.
Following the success of the previous coach trip to Exeter where the Sunday runners ran along the river to Exmouth then onto Budleigh Salterton and Newton Poppleford under a watery sun, another coach trip was planned this time to follow the East Devon Way from either Exmouth or Four Firs on Woodbury Common back to Sidbury. Unfortunately, the weather conditions were more reminiscent of the Dartmoor coach trip back in September where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face and it rained persistently.
Helen, Amanda, Richard, Louise, Beccy, Colin and Richard
As the hardy 18 mile group posed for their starting photo by the estuary in Exmouth the wind was an indicator of what was to come and by the time the 12.5 mile group were dropped off the rain had started too.
If only they knew!
Becky Knapman who ran in the 18 mile group said they were indebted to Richard King who had left a box of sandwiches, falafels, energy bars and sports drinks hidden halfway along the route which gave them a much needed energy boost and lifted their spirits as they carried on running into the wind with the torrential rain battering them from every angle.
A soggy picnic stop for the 18 milers
With the route downloaded onto his watch, head coach Kyle Baker decided to run at his own pace and get back home as quickly as possible and soon left the 12.5 milers behind in the capable hands of Charlie Fawell and Terry Bewes who had also downloaded the route. Unfortunately, this didn’t mean the group went in the right direction to start with but by mile 3 they were back on the right track navigating their way through deep puddles of water, stoney terrain and lots of mud.
Having fun regardless!
It was not a pleasant, easy run for either group but despite being cold and very wet they did not give up, they encouraged each other, helped each other dig out extra layers from their bags when their fingers wouldn’t work (using their teeth!) and stuck together in true Mighty Green Spirit. This was very evident when Terry took a spectacular tumble in Harpford Woods. The group stayed with him while the damage was assessed, and a phone call made to off duty community nurse Nikita Kay for a lift home. Even though he was protesting he only had a few more miles to go he realised he had damaged his elbow and sensibly called it a day allowing daughter Alexa to accompany him out of the woods. Knowing Terry was going to be in safe hands the group continued up through the donkey field, across Fire Beacon and towards East Hill strips. It was here that Alexa managed to catch up with the group and they ran down into Sidbury together, relieved that they would soon be heading home to warm up.
The very soggy 12.5 mile survivors
Sharing their experiences on their ‘Sunday Runs Are Fun’ What’s App group later that day it seemed everyone struggled to get out of their wet layers, Terry even more so with his painful arm, and it took a while to warm up despite plenty of hot drinks, warm baths and helpings of jam sponge and custard! These Mighty Greens certainly tested themselves on this training run, they dug deep and pushed through, great preparation for the upcoming Grizzly and Exe to Axe races. Unfortunately, no Grizzly for Terry, he did break his elbow and is now in plaster for the next 6-8 weeks!
Naomi, on behalf of SRC, presenting Terry with a ‘thinking of you’ bouquet.
What a difference a week makes-in glorious sunshine five Mighty Greens took part in LME’s Bradleys Spring 10k along Exmouth seafront.
SRC Bradley 10k Runners
Colin Ryan, fully recovered from last week’s 18 mile adventure, was the first Sidmouth Running Club member over the line, finishing with a new PB in 44:14, 19th out of a field of 154.
Colin Ryan enjoying running in the sun for a change
Nikita Kay had a fantastic run too, knocking a whopping 3 minutes off her PB, finishing in 55:04.
Nikita flying along
With her London marathon training in full swing, Marion Johnson finished first in her age category in 1:04:09 and Claire Hawes and Emma Grainger finished in 1:08:33 and 1:14:57 respectively.