As we’ve quite a mixture this week I’ve presented it in chronological order
Fancy a running holiday? Read on
Last week we mentioned some international running adventures with a report to follow. Many thanks to Rachel McAdam for her account.
“After some gentle encouragement from Kate and Andy Kilby (who both have been coming to this event for many years). Alan and I decided to sign up for the Lanzarote International Running Challenge (LIRC), based at Club La Santa in the north of the island.
This is a four-day event, four races over various terrains and distances on four consecutive days. There is also a night run (party!) that launches the event the day before. You can sign up for just one race or as many as you like.
I loved the night run 4km (7km run and 4km walk alternatives) around the La Santa lagoon. A real festival of lights (see photo below), live music, DJ sessions and street food. The Samba band half way around was energising. A real fun run with a short race for children earlier in the evening.
The next day it all became a bit more serious. A 10km race, again around the lagoon, three laps this time. All on asphalt. It was very warm with a light breeze. Alan was delighted to finish first in his age category. I was third in mine.
Day two was a 13km ridge run, starting at Club La Santa. Beginning on asphalt, but mainly trail with some volcanic rubble up to the ridge. About a 160m climb over 5km to the ridge. Wonderful views from the top. We then ran around the ridge of the old volcano before a steady drop back to Club La Santa to finish on the running track. I found this tough, running on tired legs from the day before. It was hot with very little breeze. But Alan said he enjoyed it and when I had a brief stop at the top of the ridge to take photos (really for a breather!) he ran on, this time finishing second in his age category (but still first overall) I was fourth in mine (still third overall).
The third race, a change of scenery, travelling to the south of the Island, a beach at Puerto del Carmen. A 5km race on sand, this is a two-lap run starting and finishing on the beach. The lap had soft sand at each end (Andy said it was the softest he has known it over all the years he has been coming to this event). Strength sapping to the legs. Once through this you run along the shoreline, which was firmer but you had to dodge the waves and avoid running into sand castles! Alan came first in his category remaining first overall and I remained third in mine.
After this race we bowed out of the 4th race, the half marathon. A point to point from Tinajo and finishing again on the track at Club La Santa. Although mainly downhill, this race includes several steep climbs on trail. We left this race to the stalwart who is Andy Kilby (Cirencester 2nd claim). And we had a more leisurely walk on the last day of our holiday. A very big thank you to (injured) Kate Kilby for her enthusiastic support at every race. I’m confident next year she will be back.
An excellently organised event. Maybe next year we will be back, possibly to do all four races with more club members??”
****
On Wednesday, recently joined member Jack Bonnick ventured up to Battersea Park in London on the hunt for a 5k PB.
“Chase the Moon” 5k and 10k’s are midweek events held monthly during the winter (Ed. – then “chase the sun” in the spring/summer). A lapped course that is well lit and ideal for a PB. Anyone visiting London for work or personal should check it out. A decent medal as well which is not always the case these days!”
The flat tarmac course lived up to its reputation and Jack did indeed bag a 5k PB of 17.31 (chip) finishing 25th/409 – congratulations!
[Ed. – although it’s a long way to go, if you can combine it with seeing friends or a show etc. in London, I can confirm this is a quick course – both Mr & Dr Harris 10k PB’s were run here]
Parkruns
Most distant (and hottest) parkrun this week goes to Luke Campbell, who after running most mornings at c. 04:30. rounded off his and Annie’s 2 weeks in South Africa by squeezing in the beautifully named Fig Tree parkrun in Durban. No time for a cooldown – running straight back to base before rushing to catch their flight home. He describes the course as Roasting - a horrid mix between technical trails, sharp inclines and runnable parts making it impossible to get a rhythm.
Honourable mentions also go to Amanda Naylor in Vienna, and also to the Timms in one of the less hilly and therefore faster Lake District parkruns in Keswick (Whinlatter Forest next time?).
Closer to home, club members came 2nd at both Cirencester (Rob Forbes) and Tetbury (Rich Allen on the harder B course).
****
Also on Saturday morning , Nicola Wood and Paul Edrich took on the New Forest trail HM. Nicola recommends the organisers (Run Rebel) – really good pre-race comms, and great organisation and atmosphere on the day. She would definitely do another of their events.
Whilst they did run and finish together, their Strava reports were slightly out of sync ;-))
“Oh my word….I have no idea how we pulled that off in under 2 hours!! I was ready to call it quits after 5 miles. Too many short spiky hills for me”
“Run Forest Run …me and Nic doing a lovely jog in the New Forest with a bunch of folk”
With Nicola now often out in front of a Thursday morning, after improving significantly over the past year, not all her fellow social runners will be as surprised as her that she clocked an impressive 1:59:34 off-road HM, her first as a FV50. Great job Nicola [not forgetting “jogger” Paul too ;-)].
****
On a wet Sunday morning, with the course flooded in places, fellow veterans David Wright and Keith Filkin ran the Victory 5 mile road race in Portsmouth. It looks like a quality field as David’s impressive (almost 85% age-graded) time of 33:01 didn’t quite put him in the top quartile.
This was Keith’s first race since returning from a few months spent in the bars and cafes in Sicily with his wife Barbara on an extended grand tour of Europe. The 5 was a shock to the system but just what Keith needed, David assures me!
****
Finally, also on Sunday morning, in the Abbey Grounds in Cirencester several club members (senior and junior) participated in a Santa Fun Run 5k/1k, organised for local charity the Churn Project. The weather was unfortunately very wet, but this didn’t stop the fun – see our very own club elves (looking suspiciously fresh after their HM on Saturday?)
and a junior Santa (Brecon Musk, after running the 5k with mum Jo)
****
30 November 2024, New Forest Trail HM
1 Rob Hall (unattached) 1.19.56
174 Paul Edrich (Cirencester AC) 1.59.34
175 Nicola Wood 1.59.34
518 finished www.ukrunningevents.co.uk
30 November 2024, parkruns
Cirencester: 2 Rob Forbes 18.59, 19 Otis Forbes (J) 24.46,37 Stephen Hale 26.47, 60 Gordon Jones 29.13, 70 Pam Wheeler 29.56,81 Brendan McCarthy 30.27, 105 Kirsty Leggate 32.23, 137 Ruth Fulford 36.25,161 Phil Davey (tail marshal) 1.00.52, 161 finished.
Tetbury: 2 Rich Allen 19.01, 49 Alan McAdam 27.14, 67 Rachel McAdam 28.47, 158 finished.
Seven Fields, Swindon: 62 David Moss 26.02, 165 finished.
Keswick: 53 Paul Timms 22.51, 166 Samantha Timms 29.03, 300 finished.
Donaupark, Vienna, Austria: 98 Amanda Naylor 28.53, 169 finished.
Fig Tree, Durban, South Africa: 4 Luke Campbell 23.51, 92 finished.
1 December 2024, Victory ‘5’, Portsmouth
1 Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi (Bournemouth AC) 24.22 (chip 24.21)
165 David Wright (Cirencester AC) 33.09 (33.01)
340 Keith Firkin 38.35 (38.18)
622 finished www.portsmouthathletic.co.uk
Comments