It was a busy weekend for Running Forever members which saw distances from 10K to marathon tacked by the red and white brigade.
It was a trip to Dorset for eight members for the White Star Running Larmer Races. Our contingent split themselves equally between the hilly marathon and the equally hilly 20 mile option. First home in the marathon for the Club was Andy Burgess in 4.37. Bev Collins’ 4.47 time was enough to earn her second age group place. Brian Bandyszewski finished in 5.35 with Georgina Brice crossing the line in 6.33.
In the 20 mile race, Simon Denson’s 3.11 made him RFRC member home. Emma Perkins and Lisa Rossiter completed the distance in 3.56 with Jules Griffiths-Jones making it home in 4.27.
The original running of the Longleat 10K was postponed due to weather. The snow held off this weekend but there were still enough hills and wind to make this a challenging run. Ed Herbert crossed the lion (I have been waiting 3 weeks to use that) in 48.37. Lucy Spring collected her medal in 60 minutes with Vicki Hanna hot on her heels with a 61 minute time. Sarah Holloway and Lisa Windsor also outran the wildlife to record 69 and 79 minute finishes respectively.
We’ve all heard about what bears do in the woods but what did the fearsome bunch of Running Forever athletes do when then tacked a Grizzly at the weekend? They took on a very challenging course with shingle beaches, cliff path climbs and enough mud for Ron to get his socks just a little bit grubby. Dan Talbot made it back to civilisation in a very creditable 2.54 with Sam Wharton, our first female finisher, following in 3.13. Keith Thompson was next with a 3.40 time with Ron Foord (4.09), Dave Marshall (4.11) and Alex Hughes (4.17) behind him. Lee Macklin beat the Grizzly in 4.26 with our final finisher, Jamie Hill, making it back home in 4.45. Rachel Nicholls completed the Grizzly Cub in 2.29.
There were no bears or lions to be seen in London where we had a quintet tackling the Vitality Big Half. Jo Dodson Hall and Dave Porter both finished in 2.01 but Jo just pipped Dave by 11 seconds to take our first finsher position. Ann-Marie Crampton completed the course, which took in lots of London Landmarks, in 2.04. Charlie Sargent was next in 2.11 with Louise Mills crossing the line in 2.20
Parkrun tourists ventured to Market Harborough, Long Eaton, North Shore, Burnham and Haldon Forest. Twenty six took on Longrun Meadow where Karen Chapman had a PB run.