Author: Sam

This is formal notice to club members of the (virtual) AGM to be held at 7.30pm on 1st May. Details have been sent by email, Thanks!

In the light of the latest government advice to limit non essential social contact, the club is suspending all RFRC group runs until further notice. We are also asking everyone not to advertise any social runs in the club’s facebook groups. This will be disappointing to everyone who enjoys our runs but we are in exceptional times and we must all do everything we can to protect our NHS. Let’s all try and keep fit by ourselves and hopefully we can return all the stronger when this is over.

It was Grizzly Weekend for a large number of Running Forever members. Ready to grin and bear it in this popular but tough 20 miler they set off for Seaton where 3000 feet of ascent and a lot of mud and water was waiting. First member home was Dean Bennett in 2.59, great time considering the conditions. Next was Ali Bisatt (3.25) closely followed by Martin Webb (3.26). Laura Chapman’s 3.34 meant she was our first female finishe. Andy Higham crossed the line in 3.51; Dave Marshall in 4.01; Heather Pearce in 4.06 and Mercedes Thorne in 4.17.

A small knot of runners, Ian Bawler, Damon Butler, Ron Foord, Joanna Gavins, Mark Wilson and Sam Wharton must have been holding hands as they all clocked 4.35. Alex Hughes was over the line in 4.40, Matt Blee in 4.44 with Lee Macklin being cheered home in 5.40. A great turnout from the Club and some cracking results.

In the Cub 10 mile race, Sam Cross, Rachel Mills and Joanne Toogood stuck together for a 2.10 finish with Rachel Nicholls crossing the line in 2.26.

Up in Dorset, it was Larmer weekend. This popular White Star Running event has 4 distance options and Running Forever members were keen to tackle the marathon and 20 mile distances. Bev Collins and Emma Perkins were first home in the Marathon with their 4.54 time, this earned Bev a 2nd in Age Group ranking with Emma 4th in hers. Next home was Brian Bandyszewski in 5.44, with Rob Murr (6.13) and Georgina Brice’s 50th Marathon being completed in 6.41.

Sally Tuer and Ann-Marie Crampton took on the 20 mile race and finished together in 4.20 which was a 3rd age group placing for Sally.

Down in Bideford, a quintet of members braved some rather nasty weather from Half Marathon medals. James Lewes crossed the line in 1.36, Helen Moffat was delighted with her 1.58 and Eleanor Perry made it home in 2.13. Peter Stretton and Eliza Brodie finished in 2.25 and 2.39 respectively.

Covering 33 miles round the edge of Salisbury Plain in the Imber Ultra was the destination for Peter Hall (6.44) and Sandra Moffat (7.18) to collect their souvenir mug.

Michael and Adam Turk took on the Thames Meander Half, finishing in 2.53 and 2.59 respectively.

Congratulations to Abi Perry who completed the Cambridge Half in 2.03.

Making his debut in Club colours, Robert Harris clocked 57.08 in the Channel Events Dark Skies 10K for a 3rd in his age group placing.

With Longrun Meadow still more suitable for kayaks than runners, our parkrun tourists took the chance to visit Minehead, Forest Rec, Burnham, Exmouth, Bolberry Down, Rothay Park and Bedock Reservoir in Singapore.

Running Forever members had another successful weekend collecting medals from around the country and the other side of the world.

Andrew Saunders clocked 1.35 in the Newport Half Marathon, a great PB to start March.

Up in London, a quartet took a 13.1 mile run around some of the city’s most famous landmarks in the Vitality Big Half. Nadine Prouse crossed the line in 1.59.59 in a beautifully timed run. Helen Needs and Ann-Marie Crampton weren’t far behind with 2.02 and 2.05 respectively and Liz Williams clocked a 2.20 finish.

Simon and Lisa Denson seem to make a habit of combining a bit of a run with their holidays and their trip to New Zealand continued this theme with the imaginatively named Christchurch Motorway Half. Finishing in 1.35 and 1.55 respectively we can only hope it was more picturesque than it sounds.

With Longrun Meadow still a victim of the February weather, our parkrun tourists took the chance to visit Newent, Exeter, Burnham, Clevedon, Land’s End and Hagley in New Zealand.

Running Forever members were delighted to be faced with a weekend which wasn’t marked by a named storm and were back on the glory trail.

Georgina Brice clocked up her 49th marathon distance with a 5.17 at the 100 Marathon Club’s AGM event on the Thames Towpath!

Emma Greig was legging it round 27 miles of the New Forest Challenge. This LDWA event provided a cake selection which didn’t disappoint our connoisseur who fuelled up on lemon drizzle and scored a 5.33 time.

Up in Birmingham, Michael Turk was clocking a 2.13 time at the city’s Half Marathon, which was a great PB effort.

Down in Exeter, a hardy trio tackled the Exeter City 10K which provided enough challenges to keep them happy. Chris Adams was first home in 57.18 with Janette Blair (62.55) and Charlie Sargent (64.07) hot on his heels.

Our own group of Corking runners travelled to take part in South Molton Stragglers Castle Hill Corker 10K. This multi terrain event provided plenty of hills and enough mud to keep our crew happy after their enforced fortnight’s rest. George Sherwin hit the line in 59.59, with Ron Foord close behind for a 61.25 finish. Bev Collins earned herself a 1st in age group trophy with her 61.34 with Sally Tuer’s 69.38 scooping a 2nd in age group award. Rob Murr made it home in 69.46 with our final finisher Liz Williams crossing the line in 85.58.

The Weston Prom 5 series continued last Wednesday where Hannah Taunton’s 28.39 earned her first female finisher place and Gill Taunton’s 47.32 was a PB for the distance.

Final word and biggest cheer for to Ali Bisatt who took on the Snowdonia Slate Trail 83 mile event. Despite a lot of the route being seriously flooded and being faced with some seriously challenging weather, Ali got over 70 miles in before calling it a day. Paula went above and beyond any marriage vow I have ever heard by fighting her way through flooded roads to keep Ali supplied with vegan sausage rolls and dry socks. Top supporting Mrs B!

With Longrun Meadow parkrun being off due to ground conditions, our parkrun tourists took the chance to visit Minehead, Northampton, Eastville, Forest Rec, Chipping Sodbury, Yeovil, Burnham, Exmouth and Berkley Green.

The weather took its toll on Running Forever this weekend with the cancellation of our Humdinger and Hurtle races. Many other races fell to the same fate, but some members managed to dodge the worst of it to complete races.

Ali and Paula Bisatt both crossed the line in 61.01 at the Eton Dorney Winter 10K, a great PB run for Paula.

Georgina Brice racked up her 48th at the distance with her 5.25 finish at the Phoenix Running PRDNDT marathon on the Thames tow path on Sunday.

An intrepid and hardy quartet took on the 70km Brecons to Cardiff Ultra during the worst of Storm Ciara on Sunday. In some very challenging conditions Martin Webb made it back to the capital in 7.47, Andy Burgess in 8.38, followed by Adrian Edwards (9.03) and Peter Hall (10.12) without any mishaps.

This week, parkrun tourists visited Southampton, Eden Project, Minehead, Burnham, Heartlands, Berkely Green and Exmouth, where both Gill and Hannah Taunton ran PB times. Twenty four ran at Longrun Meadow.

Running Forever members ranged far and wide at the weekend. The Lions Share attended the ever popular Longleat 10k. On a quite hilly course, first club member home was Ed Herbert in 49:56 closely followed by Sue Lewis in 52:36. Then came Ann-Marie Crampton (56:35), Darren Purchase (56:48), Sandra Moffat (57:29) and Phil Parsons (57:32). Peter Stretton (61:05) was next followed by a group of Craig Moore (66:59), Val Perigo, Phil Wilson (68:25) and Steph Andrews. The rest of our pride followed shortly after with Lisa Windsor (77:12), Suzanne Templeman (77:20), Gareth Parsons (79:00) and Sarah Holloway (80:45) all performing well. Another large contingent headed south to tackle the Portland Coastal Marathon and Half Marathon. On a blustery day our first finisher in the half marathon (and first in her category) was Bev Collins in 2hrs 17 closely followed by Mark Wilson in 2hrs 19. Nadine Prouse was next back in 2hrs 37 with Liz Williams coming home in 3 hrs 12. In the Marathon, Sam Wharton was first club finisher and also won the ladies race in 4hrs 25. Behind her came Robin Upton (4hrs 49) Scott Weetch (4hrs 52) and Rob Murr (5hrs 57) with Georgina Brice overcoming recent illness to finish in 6hrs 32. In South Devon Dave Marshall completed the very hilly Endurance Life 34 mile Ultra in 8hrs 23 whilst Alex Hughes finished the marathon distance in 7hrs 13. Mike Turk completed the (also hilly) Half Marathon in an impressive 2hrs 55. In other races this week Yvonne Loat travelled to Minehead on Thursday evening for the first event in the Waves on the Prom 5k series, finishing in 37:03. Pat Pike headed in the opposite direction to take on the Bristol 10k winter warmer at Ashton Court (another hilly venue) completing the two-lap course in 81:30. As usual there were plenty of parkrunners out and about on Saturday morning with club members visiting Minehead, Maesteg, Burnham, Worthing, Heartlands and Berkeley Green parkruns whilst 24 took part in our ‘home’ event at Longrun Meadow and 7 members volunteered to help the event take place.

It was an absolute Beast of a weekend for Running Forever members who took on the Blackdown Beast 16 mile trail event. Billed as a social run, with no times issued for finishers, it includes a pasty stop and a couple of pub visits as the route meanders up and down and round the countryside. Our finishers were Sam Wharton, Martin Webb, Mercedes Thorne, Sue Lewis, Chris Buckman, Dan Carrington, Brian Bandyszewski, Tanya Lewis, Heather Pearce. Joanna Gavins, Sally Tuer, Jonathan Newby, Dean Bennett, Jo Carritt, Ann-Marie Crampton, Dan Talbot and Andy Higham.

Equally muddy but lacking the refreshment opportunities was the Exeter Epic Trail 10K which attracted a quartet of members. First home was Simon Malley in 48.25 with Michael Turk (1.01); Asbie Potter (1.14) and Lisa Windsor (1.25) following him over the line.

Up in Amesbury, Helen Needs took part in the 30K Stonehenge Stomp.

This week, parkrun tourists visited Minehead, Winchester, Chippenham, Hastings, Ellenbrook Fields Exmouth, Gloucester City and Salcey Forest. Seventeen kept things local at Longrun Meadow.

Running Forever members hit the Marathon trail again this weekend, Peter Hall completed his 110th marathon with a 4.22 finish at Plym Trail Marathon. Georgina Brice was on the Thames Coastal Path for the interestingly named Zeus and the Thunderbolt Marathon, taking 5.01 to complete her 46th run at the distance.

Going a bit further, Andy Burgess crossed the line at the Gloucester 50K event in 4.37 for 15th place overall and 2nd in his age category.

A quartet headed off to Braunton for the NDRR events. Paula Bissat clocked 1.08 for the 10K, with Ray Tutton (1.15), Sandra Moffat (1.32) and Lucy Spring (1.49) taking on the 10 mile event.

On the Exeter Quayside, Charlie Sargent crossed the line in the Exeter First Chance 10K in 1.01 with Liz Williams clocking up a 1.05 finish.

On Wednesday, a duo of Tauntons travelled to Weston for the latest in their 5 mile Prom Series. Hannah’s 28.56 was enough to earn her first female finisher prize, whilst her mum Gill was equally delighted with her 49.25 run.

This week, parkrun tourists visited Bushy, Lydiard, Minehead, Yeovil, Pomphrey Hill, Exmouth, Watermeadows, St Marys, Coole and Lands End. Twenty one splashed their way round Longrun Meadow.

A quartet of Running Forever members got off their sofas on Saturday night to tackle the hills and mud which were provided by Channel Events in their Storm the Fort 10K. First Club finisher was Dave Porter who crossed the line just ahead of Jo Hall, both getting a time of 1.03, with Jo also earning 1st place in her age category. Jo is still awaiting the result of the VAR to rule on an alleged infringement when Dave was storming towards the finish line to be our, let me mention this again, first Club member home. Our other finishing duo were Ali and Paula Bissat who both crossed the line in 1.22, Paula also earning herself a 1st in age category finish.

Jonathan Newby and Helen Moffat took part in the Dawlish Coasters Obelisk Half on Sunday and finished in 2.05 and 2.29 respectively.

This week, parkrun tourists visited Lydiard, Ross on Wye, Burnham, Exmouth, Mallards Pike and Tremorfa. Twenty five ran at Longrun Meadow, where Sophie Roberts earned herself a course PB.