Author: Peter

It’s the time of year when days are short and race calendars are sparse but that didn’t stop new club member Emma Louise completing the Heddon Howler 5km race over near Barnstaple coming in as 2nd lady in her age group. A further hardy group of 14 Running Forever RC members weren’t to be put off by the wintry conditions from making the short trip to Bicton College near Budleigh Salterton for the Bicton Blister 10 mile race. It’s great to see one of the popular local races making a comeback this year following cancellation in 2020 for this and many others. The course is mostly along hilly trails with a very welcome quick finish along the road, as you can see from the finishing straight photos. First home in 1h29m was Ron Foord continuing a rich vein of form over the autumn, with Simon Rowland (1h30m), Ian Bawler (1h31m), Jon Newby (1h34m) and Dave Loader (1h34m) all close behind. First ladies home were Sam Cross and Sue Lewis both in 1h38m, followed by Damon Butler (1h43m). The next set of hardy runners back were Ann-Marie Crampton (1h48m), Helen Prescott (1h50m), Nadine Prouse (1h50m) and Peta Aspden (1h54), with Rosie Bennyworth (2h01m) and Rachel Nicholls (2h07m) completing the club charge to the finish. Storm Arwen managed to close several parkrun events, but whilst numbers were down for us compared to a normal week we still had good representation at Longrun Meadow with 12 taking part, plus 1 each at St Mary’s Bridport and Great Field Dorchester.

A large group of Running Forever trail runners took to the hills of South Wales on Saturday 13th November for the ever popular Up Hill Down Dale Beacons Ultra, a 47 mile route in the Brecon Beacons. Running in memory of Adrian Edwards, a much-loved club member who passed away earlier in the year, they were blessed by favourable weather for this very challenging route, made tougher by being a two-lapper; the runners know exactly what they are in for when they leave the halfway checkpoint! A few had also done the Porto Marathon the week before and needed the extra help of their memories of Adrian to get around lap two. First home for the club and in 4th place overall was Sam Carden in 7h42, with Dean Bennett (7h58) and Ali Bisatt (8h32) close behind, and then 3rd lady Sam Wharton and Robin Upton (both 9h56). Next over the finish line were Fintan Murray (10h42), Andy Burgess (10:51) and Martin Webb (10:52), then the trio of Dave Marshall, Jon Newby and Mark Wilson in 11h32. Andy Higham (11:48) and Sandra Moffatt (13:16) followed them in, and lastly the group of Chris Buckman, Matt Blee and Chris Gunn all completed the course in 14h03. Also taking on a loopy endeavour, four club members headed to Cricket St Thomas to take on the Lemur Loop which offers a range of distances from a 10k single lap all the way up to as many laps as you can manage in 12 hours. Three club members, Ann-Marie Crampton, Helen Prescott and Sally Tuer, all opted for the 10k which they completed in 1h08. Brett Gatward, channelling his inner hamster, went around the loop six times in all for a grand total of 35 miles in 11:15. Rob Murr travelled over to Walton on Thames to pay his respects by taking part in the Phoenix Running Remembrance Run, during which at 11:00 the runners out on the course pause to observe the 2 minute silence. Rob completed the event in 5h44m to receive his poignant medal. A bumper crop of 36 parkrunners took part across 10 different courses this week, including Kingsway (2), Hampstead Heath (1), Newport (1), Lanydrock (1), Worthing (1), Exmouth (2), Bolberry Down (1), Central Park (Plymouth, not New York! 1), Cranbrook Country Park (1) and the usual good turnout of 25 at Longrun Meadow.

Running Forever athletes went on tour this weekend with a contingent heading to sunny Porto for their marathon. In beautiful conditions and a very scenic course, Simon Denson’s 3.28 allowed him to be first to the bar, James Lewes was next in 3.46 with Mark Wilson (4.03); Helen Needs (4.07); Sam Wharton (4.08) and Lisa Denson (4.08) hot on his heels. Chris Gunn clocked 4.16, Peter Hall 4.34 and Sarah Henderson 4.52 to top off a great weekend. A bit closer to home, Tracy Marshall crossed the line in 1.36 at the Bideford 10 miler with Emma Salter taking 1.47 and Rachael Jones completing the trio with her 2.03. Club member Hannah Taunton, in her TAC kit, took first female finisher spot in 61 minutes.Up in Ironbridge, Malcolm Hutchings and Damon Butler both completed the Half in 2.29. In the hilly but scenic Portland Marathon, Ron Foord was first RFRC member home in 5.14. Scott Weetch followed in 5.27 and Dave Urwin clocking 5.37. In the Half distance, Sally Tuer and Nadine Prouse collected their medals in 2.32 with Liz Williams and Rob Murr both completing the distance in 2.56. Down in Exeter, Eliza Brodie finish the city marathon in 5.53. Whilst parkrun tourists headed for Minehead, Lanhydrock, Great Knotley, Isabel Trail and Penryn Campus, twenty two completed the Longrun Meadow event where a quartet ran personal best times.

Five Running Forever members donned their head torches on Saturday night for the Moonlit Meadow races in Longrun Meadow. In the 10K event Sam Carden took 3rd place spot with his 42.50. Simon Rowland finished the distance in 50.51 with Tracy Marshall & Rachael Jones splashing their way back in 1 hour 25. In the 5K event, Emma Walter finished in 46.31.
Finally being able to complete the Canal Canter Half after a couple of postponements, Paula Bisatt & Karen Chapman galloped home in 2.37.
In a slightly more exotic location, Liz Williams completed the IM Turkey 70.3 triathlon in 7.02.
Around 60 members turned out on Sunday to take part in a fundraising walk in memory of RFRC member Adrian Edwards who died in May. Unable to say a proper farewell at the time, three scenic loops of muddy Quantock trails followed by lunch seemed a perfect way to remember him. Monies raised were split between Adrian’s chosen charities of St Margaret’s Hospice and BIBIC and our Club charity, Taunton Samaritans.
This weeks parkrun tourists got wet in Shepton Mallet and The Great Field whilst eighteen members splashed round Longrun Meadow.