Author Archives: sidmouthsrc

Great start to Beginners Course

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Off the starting blocks as SRC’s Beginners Course Begins

The drop in temperature did not deter the new recruits joining Sidmouth Running Club’s beginner’s course on Wednesday. Course leader Terry Bewes soon had them warming up in the sports hall at St John’s School ready to take to the streets in their first group run.

Beginners Group

Running and chatting comfortably throughout they took on the challenge to run the final section of hill back to the school in their stride and were surprised but delighted to learn that they had run 2.5 miles. A fantastic start which will be built on over the length of the course.

 

Mighty Greens running over Christmas

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Sidmouth Running Club Kept On Running Over Christmas

There is always an opportunity to run over the Christmas period; Christmas Day park run at Seaton, the club’s Boxing Day run and the New Year’s Day park run at Exmouth and many Mighty Greens got involved.

Julia and daughter Alex

Whilst the turkey was cooking, club members David Skinner and Julia Haddrell plus her daughter Alex, took the opportunity to wear fancy dress and take part in the Seaton park run while Derek Blackburn with his daughter Grace lined up in Bushy Park with 1,600 park runners! Further afield in Vancouver, MG Tim Swarbrick managed to get a Christmas day run in as the weather had finally warmed up enough!

Tim in Vancouver

The Boxing Day runners gathered in the rain but set off under a full rainbow determined to burn off a few calories and make room for more festive food! Any fancy dress was soon taken off as it was unseasonably warm and Soldiers Hill had still to be climbed but as they approached the frog stone the sun came out in a clear blue sky.

Terry

As part of the club’s tradition, the group lined up in formation at the top of the grass slope on Salcombe Hill, spread their arms and sang the Dambusters theme tune as they ran/slipped down.

Boxing Day MGs at the Frogstone

Club runner Cheryl Boulton decided Boxing Day would be a good time to complete her Grand Western Canal virtual 10k before the end of the year cut off and had an enjoyable run with fellow MG Susan Reeves.

In Exmouth 443 clear headed runners lined up for the New Year’s Day park run and despite the rain two Sidmouth Running club members got new PB’s. Kirsteen Welch was 3rd overall with a new PB of 17:44 and Alexa Baker knocked 3 minutes off her PB finishing in 30.16. David King, Clive Gilbert and David Skinner were also spotted wearing the Mighty Green shirts.

There is still time to sign up for the Beginners and Back to Running courses which start on Wednesday. Running is a great way to keep fit, explore where you live and meet people. Sidmouth Running Club welcomes all abilities and ages and are very encouraging-come and see for yourself. Please contact 07734581782 or email sidmouthrunningclub@gmail.com

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The Long and the Short of it

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The Long and The Short of it!

As mentioned before, Sidmouth Running Club is encompassing of all abilities, is supportive of one another and celebrates achievements and milestones together whatever the distance or time.

The club’s web editor Rob Edwards has completed his mammoth virtual John O’Groats to Lands End and back again run with 4 weeks to spare before the year cut off point. Organised by Raced Coaching, Rob ran a total of 1,748 miles with over 200,000 feet of ascent with many of his runs involving a coffee stop. Over a quarter of runs in the first 6 months involved a mid-run coffee stop at Otterton Mill and in the second half of the year the Donkey Sanctuary and Otterton Mill. In fact the Mighty Green went through 2 loyalty cards. Rob said, “I am not a serious runner more a coffee drinker with a running problem!”

Rob with medal and t-shirt

Recently, Mighty Green Kirsteen Welch went out of her comfort zone and away from her mountainous training programme to compete in the Telford 10k, her first 10k in 12 months. Running a hard 10k was a shock to her system; a mountain marathon generally lasts four hours but she finished in an amazing 35:02 and is already planning to try again and go sub 35! Go Kirsteen.

Kirsteen at Telford 10k

If you feel inspired to dig your trainers out and give running a go there are still places available on our beginners and back to running courses which start on Wednesday 5th January at 7.15pm from St Johns school. Please email sidmouthrunningclub@gmail.com or ring 077345581782. A warm welcome is guaranteed!

Mighty Greens festive and Extremely Jolly

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Sidmouth Running Club Is Feeling Festive and Extremely Jolly

The SRC Juniors and coaches kick started the festivities by wearing Christmassy things on their last session before the Christmas break. They even had a visit from Father Christmas and his Elf who congratulated the 8+ and 11+ groups, handed out their end of term certificates and gave them all a present.

Juniors Christmassy

Next up was the Extremely Jolly Race on Saturday and the Escot half and full marathon on Sunday. These races through the woods and grounds of Escot are organised by Jolly Running and encourage festive fancy dress. The events are always popular because as well as river crossings there is an optional water slide and amazing finishers snow globe medals, buffs and for the Sunday racers a Georgie’s Pudding.

Extremely Jolly Group

The 7.5 mile Extremely Jolly run was the most popular with 14 club runners entering; this was in part due to the Club’s Christmas do being held that night and the thought of running the next day was too much for some. Head coach Kyle Baker, though lacking in the fancy dress department, led the way and finished in 18th place in 1:11:14. Adrian Horne, Ollie Goodchild-Horne and Allan Kay were next over the line with soggy bottoms from the water slide with Helen Akay and Leeann Thomson not far behind with soggy, muddy bottoms and Judith Jeeves with a dry one!

By the time Beccy Johnson, Tracy Scannell, Alexa Baker, Jenny and Nikita Kay reached the slide there was a long queue and watching from the bottom saw fellow runners hurtle down past the end of the plastic sheet into stony mud, some going head over heels. This put them off and they decided they wanted to enjoy the Christmas party in one piece so continued running up the hill. It did not deter Ann Cole even though her run buddy Julia Haddrell had taken a fall in the woods earlier and she loved every second of it. There was a lot of festive banter between the runners and Jenny was serenaded more than once to ‘O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree’!

Extremely Jolly Half and Full Marathoners

Post party, Sarah Watkins and Paul Williamson lined up with Tom Knight to compete in the half marathon while Jo Earlam and Jane Hemsworth took on the marathon.

Tom Knight at the Extremely Jolly 1/2M

The ground was a lot muddier underfoot from the previous day but this did not stop Tom, wearing a very fetching tutu and Christmas leggings combo, storm round in 1:37:43 coming 3rd overall. Sarah Watkins (the Elf) crossed the line in 2:54:59 and Paul, who found it tough going with a foot injury, finished in 3:36:41. Meanwhile Jo and Jane were enjoying the scenery and friendly marshals as they kept on running completing the marathon, Jo’s 10th this year, in 6:38:12, finishing 39th and 40th out of a field of 46. They can eat a few guilt free mince pies now!

 

 

Cranbrook Junior Parkrun

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Road Trip For Sidmouth Running Club Juniors

On Sunday a group of Sidmouth Running Club Juniors wore their Mighty Green tops with pride as they took part in the Cranbrook Junior Parkrun.

Juniors at Cranbrook

The Parkrun is a free, fun friendly event which takes place every week at the Country Park for 4-14 year olds and the SRC Juniors thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the 2km out and back route.

Bicton Blister 2021

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Sidmouth Running Club Welcomes The Return Of The Bicton Blister

Following the wild winds on Saturday, the 37 Sidmouth Running Club members weren’t sure what to expect when they arrived at Bicton College on Sunday to compete in Exmouth Harrier’s Bicton Blister (10 miles) and Bicton Lite (4.5 miles).

Mighty Greens at Bicton

As well as plenty of climb, encouraging cadets/marshals and bagpipes, the multi terrain race had additional extras this year-a telegraph pole to duck under in the road section, a fallen tree to climb over and icy puddles to run through. The weather provided many a conversation before the start too, the sun was out but the temperature was low; how many layers were necessary?

Tim, Sam and Mark

In a field of over 480 the Mighty Greens set off along the road stretch where the runners spread out before the first climb of many on Woodbury Common.

Christine

The nine first timers now understand why members like Helen Palmer and Don Cawthera have been signing up to this event for ten + years what with the spectacular views, the well marshalled and sign posted route, the variety of terrain, (running along a single wooded track, scrambling up and down the loose pebblebed paths, charging through rivers plus the tarmac section) even the many walkers they met were very encouraging too.

Bex

Bicton Lite Results-92 finishers

43 David Welsh 51:54; 60 Sue-Ellen Lee 56:41; 76 Julia Haddrell 1:00:54; 82 Emma Grainger 1:04:34; 83 Doreth Lawrence 1:04:40.

Els and Rachel

Bicton Blister Results-387 finishers

63 Antony Hall 1:22:37; 88 Ollie Goodchild-Horne 1:26:34; 105 Mark Andow 1:28:11; 107 Ross Walton 1:28:15; 143 David King 1:32:09; 156 Jamie Locke 1:33:20; 194 Tim Swarbrick 1:37:40; 197 Sam Ingram 1:37:45; 199 Mark Norton 1:37:52; 210 Catherine Hilton 1:39:12; 216 Rob Edwards 1:40:03; 221 Simon Hollyer 1:40:38; 233 Becky McDonald 1:41:36; 242 Sarah Ginsberg 1:43:05; 249 Adrian Horne 1:44:21; 252 Naomi Garrick 1:44:43; 258 Christine Farnham 1:45:16; 261 Karen Farnham 1:45:43; 266 Adam Passmore 1:46:51; 269 Clive Gilbert 1:48:12; 273 Don Cawthera 1:48:36; 277 David Lee 1:49:09; 282 Deb Cawthera 1:49:58; 294 Christine Hellier 1:51:34; 306 David Wright 1:53:31; 324 Rachel Barnard 1:57:31; 325 Els Laureys 1:57:36; 327 Alexa Baker 1:57:40; 341 Cath Miller 2:00:38; 342 Cathy Keast 2:00:38; 343 Helen Palmer 2:00:39; 375 Leeann Thomson 2:11:36.

 

November Runs in the Sun

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November Runs In The Sun-especially for Suzi Rockey

SRC member Suzi Rockey packed her Mighty Green running kit when she went on holiday to Gran Canaria last week knowing there was a race scheduled that she could enter.

The keen MG went outside her 5k comfort zone and ran the 10k Maspalomas race in 20 degree heat.

Suzi at Gran Canaria

Suzi said, “The biggest mass start I have ever come across did me a favour as it meant I could not go off at my 5k pace. I tried to sustain this slower pace to achieve even splits, but after a hill I couldn’t resist testing my 5k fitness on the long flat stretch and was on for a 48 min 10k, but regretted this 4 miles in when my legs started to tire and my pace dropped rapidly.”

Despite this and having lost a great deal of fitness after the longest chest infection ever Suzi was very pleased with her result, a cracking 6.29miles in 53mins.

David

Mighty Green, David Skinner didn’t have to worry about the heat when he travelled to Padstow on Sunday to take part in Purple Gecko Events Lobster Lollop 5k running along the Camel trail. David enjoyed the very scenic, slightly chilly and windy route and explained the event is so called because a donation is made to the Lobster Hatchery in Padstow. He received a very cool medal.

Blister Training

The Sunday runners have been progressively increasing their mileage and took to Woodbury Common last week to familiarise themselves with the Bicton Blister route which takes place next weekend. The sun was surprisingly warm and conditions were dry underfoot, not guaranteed on the day but with this week’s cold spell a possibility?

 

Tommy 10k Challenge

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Ollie Goodchild-Horne Runs 100k in 10 Days for the Royal British Legion

Sidmouth Running Club member, Ollie Goodchild-Horne has completed the Tommy 10k challenge 2021 for the Royal British Legion Industries.

The Mighty Green had to run 10k a day for 10 days- an impressive 100k in total. Ollie ran mainly from his home in Budleigh gaining a PB on his first run. Day 3 was a hilly one which he ran with his dad and fellow MG, Adrian ‘Gripper’ Horne, who ran this challenge last year and inspired Ollie to sign up for this year. Ollie had the company of friend, Harry Savage on day 6 and day 10 saw him reach his target by running across Exmouth seafront on Remembrance Sunday.

Ollie

Ollie was delighted and grateful for all the support and donations. He raised £175 which was over his target and will go towards supporting the RBL’s most venerable veterans, those with disabilities or homeless.

The MG is giving his legs time to recover ready to run the Bicton Blister in a couple of weeks’ time!

Virtual GWC 10k – and the rest

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What a difference a ‘K’ makes

A coach to Beer, a 10k run back to St Johns School for a barbeque and swim might sound like the perfect way to wind up the Summer season for Sidmouth Running Club.

It was certainly a day to remember especially for the 17 runners who were using this run as their virtual 10k Grand Western Canal entry raising money for Clic Sargent.

Under the leadership of chairman Terry Bewes the Mighty Greens posed for a photo, set their watches and followed Terry who eventually realised we were on the wrong path-about turn! An omen of things to come!

GWC start

It wasn’t long before the group split enabling everyone to run at their own pace and enjoy the views. For the faster eight, this meant a coffee stop at Branscombe and slight concern that they hadn’t seen the other group approaching! They took the hilly route in their stride and arrived back in plenty of time to meet more club members for the barbeque.

Cath Miller, who had run a half marathon the day before which had been miss-measured at 14.8 miles long, started to doubt the length of the run when mile 6 saw everyone at Weston mouth. Relief that the required distance for the virtual 10k had been reached was overtaken by the realisation of how many miles were left to get back in time for the food.

There were a couple of ‘phone a friend’ calls and three runners were collected between the donkey Sanctuary and Salcombe Hill which left Ann Cole, Alexa Baker and Terry to run down Salcombe Hill and jeff up to St Johns School where they were greeted with a cheer having run an overall distance of 10 miles-the furthest Ann has run. The race medal and buff were certainly well earnt!

Terry is now a wooden spoon contender for miss-judging 10k for 10 miles but it made the virtual challenge one to remember and it was a great way to round off the Summer running season. Thanks were given to the school for use of their facilities, chef Matt and team for the food and Mighty Green Jenni Yeoman for not only running with a cold but being a life guard too.

Emma

Emma Grainger, meanwhile, (sensibly?) took part in the Teignbridge Trotters 10k race and completed the course in just under one hour 15 minutes, John Sharples ran his 100th parkrun at Seaton and Naomi Loosemore got a PB running 26 minutes in her first 5k race having started the year running 5k in 36 minutes. Great Mighty Green achievements.

John

The club is looking forward to start its’ Winter programme which includes torch lit off road runs, interval runs, technical runs, on road runs and strength and conditioning classes. To find out more please visit the web site www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk

 

 

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Bradleys 10k

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A sea of Mighty Greens at the Bradleys 10k Exmouth

As the sun burnt through the mist, 20 Sidmouth Running Club members gathered under the Mighty Green flag on Exmouth seafront on Sunday for a group photo ready to take on the Bradleys 10k race.

Before the start

The chip timed, 2 lap race organised by Lizzie of LME events was sponsored by Bradleys Estate Agents who also got involved helping with registration, running in the race and marshalling. Sidmouth estate agent Stephen French and his wife Sarah were very encouraging marshals and certainly gave us all a boost as we passed them several times!

Jack Wilson was first club runner home in 44:33 and was third in his age group; Jane Stein came 2nd in her age group in 58:07 as did Chris Heywood in his age group in 51:29.

A special mention must go to Tracy Scannell who got a PB as it was her first timed 10k race. Tracy showed strength and determination as she started lap 2 and with some timely encouragement from Suzi Rockey who joined her for the last mile, ran over the finish line with chairman Terry Bewes hot on her heels.

Tracy

The team spirit of the club had been commented on by several runners (not SRC), who noticed how the club runners cheered each other on. As Beccy Johnson said, “The supportive waves, “well dones” and thumbs up really helped.”

Run and Talk

Another example of the running club’s supportiveness was the success of the #runandtalk session last Wednesday. Mental Health champion, Charlotte Forrer, was delighted with the ‘fantastically sociable atmosphere’ and to everyone who stayed on after the run for a drink and a chat.

Derek

Derek Blackburn set out this year to run in events he hadn’t raced before so instead of lining up on Exmouth seafront he was on the Scilly Isles for a half marathon around St Marys. Derek enjoyed the scenic route and kept Terry’s advice to keep the sea on his left in mind completing the run in 2:42:00. Where will he pop up next?!

Sidmouth Running Club will be cheering on Mighty Greens Allan Kay, Yasmin Salter and Toby Garrick as they head off to London to take part in the Virgin London Marathon this Sunday. You’ve got this!