RFRC were out in large numbers last week as the popular autumn racing season continued, mostly road running for a change and ranging from 10k through to ultra distance.
Starting with the longest race of the week, Andy Burgess took on the Albion Running Conquest of Avalon 50-miler and defeated it in 10h32m. Other ultra distance races this week were the Chagford Challenge measuring in just shy of 33 miles and completed by Matt Price in 8h04m. Slightly shorter again at 31 miles we had Rob Murr doing the Jurassic Coast Ultra in 8h27m.
Seven marathons were completed this week as well, although five of those were by one person (regular readers will not need any clues to guess who it is). The remaining two marathons are diametrically opposed, one being a hilly trail run and the other the quickest road marathon course in the world. Rob Harris was running the hilly one, the Jurassic Coast Marathon which he finished in 4h40m. Eliza Brodie was over in Berlin running in the footsteps of the great Eliud Kipchoge around the Berlin Marathon which she completed in 6h40m.
That leaves the other 5 marathons for Georgina Brice who in another mammoth effort completed the Phoenix Running 5 marathons in 5 days challenge to take her overall marathon tally to 113!
The Bristol Half Marathon often draws in a number of runners from the club and this year we had better than average participation thanks to a bit of a club trip for some of our Group 7 regulars as well as a few others. Ali Bisatt produced a great run on a decent course to finish in 1:28:32. Next back was James Palmer in 1:53:49, and then Chris Adams was over line in 2:01:12. After Lauren Clarke’s time of 2:18:23 the results came thick and fast as Charlotte Donegan (2:20:54), Emma Salter (2:23:32), Lucy Stancer (2:24:18), Rachel Nicholls (2:27:04) Craig Moore (2:31:45) followed her in. Last back for the club but very much not least was Sherri Dingle in 2:43:06.
Also in action in Bristol only this time over the 10k distance were Paula Bisatt finishing in 1:14:07 plus Lisa Windsor and Sarah Holloway crossing the line together in 1:23:12.
We had an absolutely whopping turnout for the annual and always fantastic Taunton 10k on the Sunday. Fully 39 RFRCers pounding the roads of the circular route from Blackbrook Leisure Centre out to Stoke St. Mary and back in. Full details of the excellent individual performances below, but a particular shout-out for Vicky Hanna, Sarah Capstick, Bev Collins and Sally Tuer who completed a bit of a grand slam of age-category wins for 45+, 55+, 60+ and 65+ respectively. Home support was also great around the course, helping our runners to give their best.
Complete listing: Andy Saunders (39:41), Matt Paul (42:55), Nick Brazcliffe (42:57), Vicky Hanna (44:14), Ross Jenkins (44:57), Don Macphail (45:59), Sarah Capstick (46:16), Damian Lake (46:31), Hannah Kirkman (49:11), Pat Date (49:19), Nigel Baker (51:22), Bev Collins (51:25), Chris Manley (52:05), Richard Mackrory (52:21), Arthur Lewis (52:28), Andrew Phillips (53:21), Marcus Blackburn (53:53), Sally Tuer (55:34), Peta Aspden (55:43), Jennifer Chambers (55:44), Steph Andrews (56:13), Adrian Troake (58:47), Tracy Marshall (58:53), Paula Mcshane (58:54), Sean O’Sullivan (1:02:27), Dan Devlin (1:02:37), Charlotte Sargent (1:02:47), Wendy Fincher 1:03:00), James Fincher (1:03:01), Rosie Bennyworth (1:04:06), Peter Stretton (1:05:04), Karen Chapman (1:05:05), Lin Lewis (1:08:40), Gerri Fagan (1:10:10), Rachel Reid (1:14:06), Teresa Cheetham (1:18:14), Kate Mackenzie (1:21:21), Sarah Reed (1:21:42), Claire Loader (1:22:01).
We also had 23 runners at Longrun Meadow parkrun, several using it as a warmup for the Taunton 10k the following day. Tourist numbers were down a bit but club members still managed to get out and about to Berkeley Green, Exmouth, Itchen Valley, Killerton, Penryn Campus and Richmond.