Bill Clarke – SMM Captain
The beginning of November going dark early but at least the temperatures have been higher for the time of year and the races have been coming thick and fast over the last few weeks.
I was quite surprised when Phil Sharratt came and told me that he had run the Black Country 10k in 59.59 and finishing 1st for the club? (PHIL DOES NOT DO RACES)
This was followed by 4 races on the weekend of the 5th October. The Congleton Half Marathon – 1st for the club was Mick Downes 1.27.06, with Richard Fain 1.31.50, Paul Lee 1.34.00 and Ann-Marie Mountford 1.51.00, all achieving PB’s.
Tim Hulse was the only club runner at the Chester Marathon with a time of 3.26, but Fabian Carbonell also ran the Chester Metric Marathon (26k) in a time of 2.10 and at the Bournemouth Marathon Jackie Allen finished in 4.05.
Mid October saw Steve Parker, J Holland, Bernie Priekulis and Chris Barlow travel to Hungary to race the Budapest Marathon with Steve Parker 1st member across the line in 3.40.00.
Alison Brind took on the Round Rotheram 50 miles, her first longer distance for a while in just over 11 hours.
Richard Fain was the only club runner at the Werrington 10k and recorded 43.06.
The second of the North Staffs Cross Country took place on Saturday 25th October on Stafford Common. Six ladies ran for the club over 5k. Pam Davies 26.30 just managed to hold off Alison Brind at 26.39 and Emma Clay 27.26 managed to get the better of Ann-Marie Mountford 27.33 who had beaten her in the previous cross country race.
In the men’s race over 10k Tim Hulse was 1st member to finish in 45.50.
The day after Clare Mackellar, who had just returned from injury, finished the tough Snowdonia Marathon in 4.12.00.
The Flying Fox 10 miles run on the 2nd November saw 17 members take part, 8 of whom are fairly new members and the weather was kind for early November with Richard Fain 1st club member 68.46 PB followed by Paul Lee 73.44 PB, Ann-Marie Mountford 83.33 PB and 1st lady member.
One of the new lady members who had only joined a few days earlier, Gail Evans, ran with my club vest from 1989 which I wore when I broke 3 hours for the 1st time (POTTERIES MARATHON)
I would like to thank all the members of the race committee and everybody else who helped out at the race, marshals, finish line members and people at the water station.
After this race I now have the distinction of coming last in a road race (BACK MARKER).
Bill.