I think this week might set a record for most number of races with fewest CRC runners. I count 15 runners across 10 races.
First up were Rachael Dark and Caroline Cozier enjoying the trees at the Westonbirt 10K, where Rachael finished under 50 minutes for the first time.
Marie Vinolo-Young joined with her friends from John Moore Sports (sponsor of the excellent Hazelbury Hurrah!) for the Rat Race Dirty Weekend Half Mucker. A 20 mile ‘run’ with 200 Obstacles. An obstacle every 160.9 metres. I remember watching something about it on channel 4 many years ago. It looked immense fun then and still does now.
The Luffs took the short journey to Marlborough for the 20 mile Marlborough Downs challenge. They had exactly the same time but on the results Max finished one place higher than Mike so it counts.
David and Susan Mackie travelled to Wales for one of their favourite races, the Preseli Beast. With 4,700 ft of climbing in 24 miles, it doesn’t undersell itself as the beast.
Richard Biggs was also in attendance taking on the slightly more sedate Beast Bach, which is ONLY 1,700 ft of climbing in a MERE 11 miles.
However, I think we can let Richard off as he day afterwards he did the Jan Younger Memorial 10K in Pembrokeshire with his daughter Caty. Results aren’t out yet so who knows which Biggs (or Brock) won.
Daniel Parker did the Stourhead 10K in under 50 minutes and unfortunately I’ve seen no photos as I’m sure it was stunning, taking place in the grounds of a National Trust property.
Mark Cortaville continued his recent run of mostly very impressive performances, shaking off the disappointment of Newport marathon with sub 35 minutes at the Commonweal 5 miler.
There were also hills this week for Becky Townsend, Helen Ashworth and John Ashworth as they did the Jack and Jill Challenge 10K. Hosted by fellow black and gold club Somer AC, it’s definitely not a PB course. As well as having many hills, one of them leads up to Kilmersdon primary school and lays claim to being the hill that Jack and Jill fell down. There are little stones on the side as you ascend which contain the words of the nursery rhyme and when you teach the top, there is a well.
Chris Hunt doesn’t know when to running. After breaking two ribs two weeks ago, he didn’t want to remove his races from the calendar, so this weekend he walked the inaugural Hullavington Half Marathon in what I suspect is a Personal Worst for him of 2:37:10. A very good time for someone walking.
So that’s our 15 racers, but last week also saw our latest away run and for the first time since the For Fox Sake run last summer, David Mackie failed to arrange the sunshine and everyone got very wet. As you can see from the photos though, it doesn’t appear to have dampened spirits.
