Road racing
With the AVR half marathon called off due the storm conditions, there weren't too many members racing on Sunday (in the UK at least - more on that next week hopefully)
Most of them were at the usually fast Eynsham 10k.
However, with the race website the day before needing to say
“We have been in touch with Oxon AA officials, and with the forecast as it stands, the race will go ahead as planned.”
you knew it wasn’t going to be a PB day. Whilst the temperature was moderate, continuous rain meant the course was very wet (with a few stretches of muddy grass) , but winds gusting near to 50mph were the biggest challenge, making it difficult for even the most experienced to judge pace.
Four members braved the conditions and three of them topped their respective age-groups in a big field, with Gordon Jones also setting a new club V75 record of 55.22, comfortably beating Fred Robson’s 59.34.
At the sharp end, Dave Bell (in his last season as V35?), took 6th place in 34.42. In the difficult conditions he said his splits were “all over the place” (Ed. so about normal for the rest of us…) but he was pleased with his time, considering the runners he spoke to who know the course well were 60-90s behind their usual.
New club captain Aaron Willis improved his placing from last year to finish an impressive 18th in 36.43, with a fast finish suggesting a little more to come next time perhaps.
Some way behind, Brian Harris started ahead of his target pace but struggled over the second lap to finish a well behind it. {Ed. my disappointment was somewhat reduced on reading Dave’s 60-90 sec adjustment comment.}
Also braving Storm Bert, but at the Silverstone Racing track (yes, that one) Rob Tuttle also took on Silverstone 10k (Run Fest)
"Despite Storm Bert's worst, what a thoroughly enjoyable & excellently managed running meeting! Starting soaked to the skin & shivering isn't ever the ideal pre-race prep, but I was absolutely thrilled with my time even through strong head winds & constant rain. Glad it's over now! "
Rob's strava time was 52:25, but we're still hunting for the official results. Congratulations to Rob who has been off injured a lot of this year, and wasnt sure mid-week whether he would be able to run. Despite the weather conditions and lack of consistent training, he was not that far off his Strava best time.
Parkrun
It was a 1-2 for the club at our home parkrun, with Rob Forbes and Rich Allen leading home the field of 140, down on previous weeks possibly due to the wet and windy conditions. Alex Banks also bagged a top 10 slot at Warwick racecourse in a crowded field
Finally - one we missed
One late result from last weekend – Corinne Clark finished 4th lady/1st FV40 in the Avebury8 Nine trail race organised by Marlborough running club, in 1.12.27. The route starts and ends near the stone circle, and the going sounds more varied than this year’s Ciren XC.
24 November 2024, Eynsham 10km
1 Matthieu Marshall (Headington Road Runners) 32.52 (chip 32.51)
6 David Bell (Cirencester AC) 34.42 (34.42) 1st V35
18 Aaron Willis 36.44 (36.43) 1st V40
124 Brian Harris 42.58 (42.53)
356 Gordon Jones 55.30 (55.22) – 1st V75 / club V75 record
528 finished
23 November Parkruns
Cirencester:1 Rob Forbes 18.28, 2 Rich Allen 18.54, 6 Ben Conway (J) 20.28, 20 Heath Forbes (J) 24.14, 26 Paul Timms 25.06, 64 Pam Wheeler 29.33, 76 Kirsty Leggate 30.42, 86 Sam Timms 32.15,
Tetbury:36 Stephen Hale 26.36.
Chippenham:67 Phil Davey 27.06, 149 James Hunton 34.15, 185 finished.
Thornbury:52 Ruth Fulford 35.27, 67 finished.
Didcot:82 Martin Croucher 26.38, 208 finished.
Warwick Racecourse:6 Alex Banks 19.37, 288 finished.
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