It was off to the Babcary 7 for a contingent of Running Forever members. This race is organised by Wells City Harriers and forms part of the Somerset Series. Chris Brown was first member home in 48.03 followed by Jo Carrit whose 50.02 earned her the 3rd female finisher overall and first in her age category. Next home was Tom Brodie in 51.47 closely followed by Sam Wharton in 51.53. Next over the line were Tanya Lewis (53.06) and Lisa Denson (61.26), with Ola Timpson completing in 70.57. Lovely to see some of the new Club vests on parade!

Ali Bisatt took on the Hambeldown Hammer Half which delivered 13.1 miles of ups and downs on Dartmoor. His 1.58 finish made him 2nd in his age category.

Goff and Cathie Welchman took on the Escot Park Resolution Run 10K course with 62 minute and 72 minute finishes respectively, before they were presented with their medals by running legend Jo Pavey. Helen Moffat opted for the 15K option and finished in 1.34.

Parkrun tourists ventured to Basingstoke, Killerton, Peter Pan, Burnham, Glossop, Cirencester, Heartlands and Exmouth where Hannah Taunton recorded the 4th fastest female time in the UK for this week. Thirty took on Longrun Meadow where Karen Chapman and Mark Templeton recorded PBs.

A few of our members got intentionally soggy this weekend by taking part in the Taunton Deane Aquathon. Hannah Taunton took first place in the female long course race with her 53.15 time with Chris Gunn finishing the same course in 1.07. In the short course race Sarah Capstick finished in 35.50 which earned her 2nd place in her age group.

A couple of members travelled to South Molton for the Castle Hill Corker with George Sherwin finishing in 57.52 and Rachel Nicholls crossing the line in 1.24.

Ben Timpson took part in the Street 5K on Wednesday where he finished in 20.00 minutes,

Parkrun tourists ventured far and wide this week with members visiting Newcastle, York, Killerton, Burnham, Wilmslow, Peter Pan and doing a bit of parkwombling round Wimbledon Common. Twenty two took on the slightly altered course at Longrun Meadow.

As it was one of our own races this weekend, more of the Humdinger & Hurtle later, it was a busy Saturday for Running Forever athletes as we sent most of them out to marshal on Sunday!

We had Bev Collins & Damon Butler braving some bracing British weather whilst participating in the Portland Coastal Marathon. Bev completed the marathon in 5.15.41 & Damon finished the half in 2.31.20. From what I hear it was an eventful race, with Damon twisting an ancle, but at least they made it back in one piece!

A few members took part in the Exeter Half Marathon with some great finishing times from Emma Kiernan (1.26.21) Andy Staples (1.26.37) and Heather Pearce (1.41.00).

Meanwhile, Andy Burgess took part in the Brecon to Cardiff Ultra, a 70k race that winds its way from Brecon following the River Taff to Cardiff. A tough challenge in the midst of the stormy weather which battered most of the country this weekend.

Many of the usual suspects were involved in organising and helping out at the Hurdle and Humdinger on Sunday so it was a smaller field of Club runners who took part. First home in the Humdinger was Chris Brown, in 1.39.01, followed by Tom Brodie in 1.39.58, and then Georgina Brice in 2.27.03.

We had 5 entrants in the Hurtle, Hannah Rachel Taunton (in Taunton AC colours) crossing the line in 26.41 (First lady & course record). Next in was Sam Stamp with a time of 41.31, Craig Moore in 45.36, then Rachel Nicholls in 48.54. Next we have Sarah Reed & Rachel Reid with times of 54.05 and 55.36 respectively. Sarah and Rachel were both members of our Beginners Group last year and have made great progress with their running.

There were parkrun tourists in Minehead, Winchester, Humber Bridge and Burnham & Highbridge. We even had an international parkrun by Dave Perry at Hagley, in Christchurch (New Zealand). There were 17 runners on the local course at Longrun Meadow.

Many of the planned events this weekend were cancelled or postponed due to the snow and ice. However, Jonathan Newby managed to beat the weather at the ARC50 ultra down in Cornwall, completing the 50 miles of this self navigated event in 13 hours 20.

A small posse headed for Exmouth on Sunday for the Exmouth Express 5 mile event. A lovely run at the seaside saw Simon Rowland as our first member home in 39.10. Goff Welchman was next with a 42.20 finish, closely followed by Peter Stretton (42.40), Brian Brown (47.30) and Cathie Welchman who crossed the line in 53.04.

As Longrun Meadow parkrun succumbed to the snowy weather, lots of members took the opportunity for a bit of parkrun tourism with visits to Minehead, Killerton, Winchester, Forest of Dean, Bedworth and a mass outing to Exmouth.

Not all superheroes wear cloaks, but some of ours do, and quite a few of them chose to team them with trail shoes for the 38 mile Wychavon Way Ultra on Saturday. The superhero attire was in honour of Martin Webb’s birthday; only real superheroes run an ultra before blowing out the candles on their cake!

First hero home was Ali Bisatt who, despite pleading a cold would hamper his performance, flew over the line in 6.07 to take 6th place overall. Next home was the birthday boy who beat the 8 hour mark by one minute; our 3rd hero home being Matt Blee with his 8.14 finish. A quartet of members finished within a couple of minutes of each other Andy Higham and Robin Upton on 8.16 and Keith Thompson and Adrian Edwards in 8.18. Peter Hall made it home in 8.32, just in time for a slice of birthday cake; hotly pursued by Chris Gunn and Alex Hughes (both 8.40). Emma Greig crossed the line in 9.54 with our final hero, Matt Price, landing in 10.47.

Saturday also saw the annual Blackdown Beast challenge some of our members. This is an off road social run organised by Honiton RC which has 16 and 10 mile options offering various stops for tea, cake and beer. There’s also a lot of mud and quite a few hills. Well done to Jamie Hill, Sally Tuer, Ann-Marie Crampton, Dan Talbot, Sarah Henderson, Dowan Kwon who were amongst our members taking part.

Our parkrunning members went to eleven different parkruns this weekend. Twenty nine took on Longrun Meadow where Claire Allison and Yvonne Loat hit their parkrun centuries while Craig Moore, Brian Brown and Paula Bisatt rang the bell for new PBs.

It was back to marathon distance for a trio of runners this weekend, none of this breaking yourself in gently for the Running Forever athletes.

Georgina Brice took on the Gloucester Marathon and was delighted with her 4.52 finish. Heather Pearce achieved a 1.35 PB in the Half whilst Lee Macklin crossed the line in 2.04.

Bev Collins and Andy Burgess headed for the Plym Trail Winter Marathon weekend where Bev was back on the podium with her 4.04 time, taking 2nd female place, and Andy had a great 3.40 finish on Sunday.

Down in sunny Exeter, a trio of members took part in the South West Road Runners First Chance 10K. Andy Staples crossed the line in 39.36, Rob Williams in 55.22; with Pat Pike finishing in 75 minutes.

Our parkrunning members went to Burnham (well done on the PB Ola Timpson), Montacute, Rogiet, Plym Valley, Minehead, Catterick, Killerton and the oddly named Peter Pan. Twenty three took on Longrun Meadow where Kirsti Nelson recorded her 200th run and Craig Moore scored himself a PB on what must have been a very soggy course.

Having got over the excitement of New Year racing, this was a quiet weekend for our members. Only Chris Brown went glory hunting and he succeeded with second place at the Armada Athletics 3K event in Plymouth, finishing in 11:01.

Our parkrunning members went to Ashton Court, Minehead, Winchester, Thornbury, Seaton, Pontypool, Hastings, Burnham, Exmouth and Teignmouth as well as 28 taking on the local course at Longrun Meadow.

However, just because there have been no medals earned it doesn’t mean our fine athletes have been taking things easy. As well as our Wednesday Club night where 11 different paced groups take to the streets, we have a coached session on a Monday night, a Trail Run Tuesday which starts and finishes at a different local hostelry every week and five Sunday run groups taking on different paces and distances.

If you feel like you’d like to be part of this wonderful club please get in touch or pop along to a Wednesday night session and try us out. Sense of humour essential, love of cake and cider a bonus, looking good in red and white … doesn’t everyone?

New Year brought resolutions for the athletes of Running Forever (and maybe the odd headache too) and the first resolution for several of them was to fly off down to Chard for the New Year’s Day Chard Flyer.

Always popular, this local event saw a good crowd take to the lanes. First home in the RFRC colours was James Nicholas in 41.46. New member Tom Brodie finished in 45.02 with Tanya Lewis (45.39) hot on his heels. Gavin Clegg (48.43), Nigel Baker (51.59) and Tanya Herbison (59.18) were RFRCs next finishers. Rob Murr completed in 60 minutes, Robert Williams in 61 with Brian Brown and Pete Stretton fighting out on the finish line with their 64 minute times. Our final finisher was Paul Clowes in 65 minutes. Great start to the year!

Ali Bisatt tackled the Hangover 10K in Weston and finished in 41.01 and assures us he didn’t have a hangover either before, during or after.

Just before Christmas a trio of members headed down to Portsmouth to take on the Waterside Marathon. Sam Wharton took the 3rd female place with her 3.22 storming run. Ray Tutton crossed the line in 3.54 and Brian Bandyszewski in 4.37.

This weekend saw a mass exodus of 44 members to Stoke St Gregory for the annual Stoke Stampede 10K. Chris Brown was first home in the red and white with 38.18 to earn 6th place overall. Our other finishers were Jo Carritt (39.21 and 3rd female); Simon Denson (40.04); Sam Wharton (41.51); Caroline Norris (41.55 and 3rd in category); Heather Pearce (43.03); Scott Weech (44.30); Gavin Clegg (46.14); Sam Stamp (46.19); Mike Parsons (46.18); Paul Clowes (47.19); Dave Bullock (47.32); Lisa Denson (49.25); Duncan Gordon (49.52); Simon Rowland (50.15); Michael Glide (50.29); Mercedes Thorne (52.03); Damon Butler (52.20); Sally Tuer (54.26); Nadine Prouse (52.55); Tanya Herbison (55.16); Vicky Hanna (55.28); Philip Parsons (55.57); Robert Williams (56.05); Carl Moppett (56.02); Richard Councill (56.35); Darren Purchase (56.48); Peta Aspden (57.32); Pete Stretton (57.28); Charlie Sargent (57.49); Brian Brown (58.13); Jules Griffiths-Jones (58.34); Paul Cooper (59.21); Louise Mills (64.02); Helen Phillips (64.27); Marina Tomsett (64.50); Liz Williams (66.00); Sandra Williams (66.01); Gareth Parsons (70.32); Rachel Reid (71.56); Lisa Windsor (72.02); Sarah Reed (77.03) and Sarah Holloway (83.15).

First female finisher was member Hannah Taunton (36.22) wearing her TAC kit.

Our parkrunning members have been far and wide over the festive season, taking the opportunity to visit new runs whilst on holiday and completing New Year’s Day doubles. Congratulations to Tanya Herbison who completed her 100th parkrun.

Sunday saw the 26th running of the Wellington Monument race which attracted a lot of entrants from Running Forever. This Taunton Athletic Club organised event sees runners running up to, round and down from the Wellington Monument making a distance of just over 10K. It provides a good cake table and cider in the goody bag, what’s not to like?

Adam Crichton was our first home in the red and white with his 40.20 time. Next back down was Sam Wharton who took second in her category with her 44.36 finish. Caroline Norris (45.54) and Tanya Lewis (47.02) hit the line next, followed by Gavin Clegg in 48.53. After a bit of a cake break it was Simon Rowland (52.49 and a massive course PB) and Richard Carman (53.09), just pipping Louise Lowry (53.55). Mercedes Thorne finished in 55.04, Sally Tuer (55.53); Richard Mackrory (56.20) before Rob Murr crossed the line in 58.29. Our final finishers were Vicky Hanna (60.26) and Brian Brown (64.57).

Big shout out to Hannah Taunton who was first female finisher in the race with her 39.10 time whilst running for the organising club.

Bev Collins took things a bit further with a marathon distance at the Plym Trail Merry Xmas race. Despite hills aplenty and some atrocious weather, Bev had a 4.19 finish.

This weekend’s parkrun tourists went to Minehead, Winchester, Chelmsford, Exmouth, Gloucester City, Henley Wood and Ashton Court. Fifteen took part in the local Longrun Meadow event.