Race report: Paul Phillips
Well what to do ? 5 days to go till my first ever marathon and one of the hottest days of the year.
I know lets go and run one of the hillier 10’ks of the NSRRA calendar, should be plenty of points up for grabs as no one is daft enough to run in this heat.
How wrong was I ? 127 runners including 11 Bats strolled to the start line in temperatures hovering around 30oC.
I had done my customary early arrival as I know the parking wasn’t the best and met the other early arrival of Anne Marie we pinned our numbers on and went for a vigorous warm up…..well we strolled round one lap of the course eyeing up our competitors in the various groups – as always it seemed every one of my rivals was as daft as me.
At 7.30pm we made our way to the start and bumped into a number of the other Bats and discussed how slow we were going to take it and to just enjoy it – much too hot to run competitively.
However, the race started and I watched the Boote’s set of at pace with Martin determined to beat Phillipa after she beat him at St Michaels, I settled into my steady rhythm and watched a number of my ‘D’ rivals sprinting off.
The course starts with a downhill start then evens out before a grassy climb that keeps on going before an undulating top section where you can see the delights of the city to the left and Bentilee to the right before completing the lap with a downhill finish. The first lap is just under two miles with the 2nd and 3rd lap being a bit longer with a sneaky long path that creeps uphill before re-joining the uphill grassy climb.
I passed the Boote’s half way round the first lap with Martin winning the battle as he was about 10 yards in front and left them to continue round whilst I started reeling in my group D rivals whilst chatting to old friends about the forthcoming marathon on Sunday. There was a lot of red faces and the heat was draining but we all kept plodding around and dreaming of a cold beer.
As I got round to the final lap I passed a few of the Bats who were struggling on with Anne Griffiths contemplating pulling out, but much to her credit Anne carried on determined to finish.
I crossed the line in about 47 minutes which I was more than happy with and managed to pass lots of my rivals in the last mile to get my highest point total of the NSRRA season so far. Grabbed a bottle of water and then stood at the finish line to cheer my colleagues in.
Phillipa and Martin were not far behind locked in a sprint finish with Phillipa pipping Martin at the post with a big grin on her face. Alex Yendole and Anne Marie soon followed with the ever young Joyce finishing in just over 63 minutes to win her F65 group yet again (Well Done Joyce).
Amber Flounders running her first 10k for the club cruised over the line looking full of energy in about 68 minutes and then the troublesome trio of Emma Dutton, Marian Humphreys and Bill (not last in for the club tonight) Clarke clocked 73 minutes.
Last but certainly not least Anne Griffiths in a self-proclaimed PW bought the evening to a close.
Another great turn out for the club at an extremely challenging 10k in the heat (my Garmin clocking 27oC at the end of the night), but a successful run and well done to everyone who competed.
Bring on the Potts Marathon !!!
Kingham is situated 7 miles south of Stow-on-the-wold in the Cotswolds. A beautiful village with two village greens surrounded by Cotswold Stone buildings. Kingham was voted England’s favorite village in 2006 by Country Life Magazine, so I had to experience a run through the village. This was the first time I had competed in a 12k race and this year they were celebrating their 40th Anniversary race!
Philippa Boote
A brief outline of what we plan to do in the sessions.
On Sunday 21st June the wonderfully organised St Michael’s 10K took place once again. It was something of a momentous occasion for our beginners group as it marked the first race for many of our newer members who joined in January. Obviously the race was well supported by many bats, both those running and marshalling, but we just want to take a moment to celebrate the achievements of the beginners group.
The conditions were ideal on Sunday and allowed for some impressive beginner performances. It seems like a very long time ago when Chris stood up on a dreary Thursday evening in January and mentioned the race to the newly formed beginners – you could see many a face grimace at the thought of running 10 kilometres, but after some serious training and commitment, the beginners made it twice round the course and even managed a smile on the home stretch.
Well done to the following beginners for taking part and we hope this will be the first of many. Paul Newman, Kay Porter, Jane Capey, Jo Softly, Ruth Machin, Tim Clegg and Sharon Brandwood.
ed slightly with a new start point on Priory Road where we all gathered nervous and excited and still buzzing from Wednesday nights Shugborough relays where we had 2 winning teams in the ultra super vets men and the ladies super vets, who says we are a club for seniors! There is always a concern that a race in June could be really hot but I forgot this is England and flaming June was refreshingly cool, ideal race conditions, so that’s one excuse down.
The St Michaels 10K is always eagerly anticipated for those wanting a new PB because of the relatively flat course over two laps and the entry was full with 600 runners huddled together on the start line. We all got off well with a good wide start area everybody could set off at their own pace, that’s another excuse I can’t use. The bats stick together at first finding their feet until we all find our pace, I started with Paul Philips and Julie McArthur before Paul disappeared into the distance and I settled into a 7 min 30 pace with Julie and I pushing each other.
The finish is always a welcome sight but I nearly missed it expecting to go all the way around the field and was surprised when we stopped in the far corner just before I was going to put my sprint finish in and overtake Ben Gamble. In reality it was great to see more bats at the finish taking numbers and handing out promotional leaflets. I was an impressive turn out from the club with members in all the key positions and 25 runners led in by our venerable chairman Tim Hulse in a very impressive 40m 42s and Bill Clarke bringing up the rear shepherding in the excellent beginners. Well done everyone proud I’m to be a Stone master marathoner.
This was my first attempt at running a half marathon so a PB guaranteed and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. It was great to see quite a few fellow club members beforehand and your advice was invaluable..thank you.
People told me how special the atmosphere would be and it really was. So many people out supporting and I have to say the support from fellow runners also was pretty special too.
I arrived at Westbridge park by the Scout hut just after 9am, there were lots runners from different local clubs, the run was well attended, some very familiar friendly faces from the Spring Treble. The use of the Scout hut was brilliant and meant there was somewhere to leave bags and the always required last minute dash to the toilet facilities.
Then exited Aston onto the A34 there was finally air as we had a nice breeze to cool us down slightly before re-entering the canal for the final stretch to the finishing line back at the Scout hut at Westbridge.
This year the Half Marathon was advertised as part of Bungay Festival of Running which also included a Marathon and for the first time a 10k. All three races follow the same route with the Marathon runners completing two laps of the course, Half Marathon one lap and 10k peeling off at around 3 miles and rejoining the main route at approx 5 miles. All three races were sold out prior to race day. All chip timing.
All finishers received a well stocked goody bag, medal and can of Adnams of Southwold Ghost Ship Beer which was well deserved and went down very well after the race.
The muster for the start was different – there wasn’t an obvious voice directing the herd and the time-based colour pens weren’t pens like the Great North Run, but signs you kind of stood by until the off. It was a little bit confused at first. I’d been allocated to the second last group and was worried about how to get towards my pace group. The benefit of loose waves though was that we could edge up – there were people in the forward groups edging back at the same time. 
The course involved a bit of out-and-in with two loops, one around Altrincham; and the other around Sale. Once away from the start the running was very residential with occasional town centres which felt very similar to the mid-section of the Great North. It quickly became striking how flat the course was. I’d not noticed before but hills do gently help regulate pace and their absence seemed to make for consistent running which could trap you if like me, you went out too hard. I counted five ‘bits’ of gradient all the way around that any of the club runners would take in their stride. If though you wanted to break yourself in, there was an option to run a relay in teams of two and four which appeared to be really well marked – it is a very accommodating event.
The organisers, Xtramile events (xtramileevents.com) also do a range of endurance events, triathlons mainly, so after you’ve done the marathon, you may get tempted to have a look at some other disciplines while you are on. Hope this of some use, cheers.