Author: admin

Posted on by

Nant Yr Arian Silver Trail Half Marathon by Nia Rose Nokes

Rewind the clock back to September last year… It was a Thursday night club run and Emma Phillips was telling me about a trail half marathon she had done earlier in the year in Wales, it sounded great and the very mention of red kites being fed as the race was finishing sold it to me and I thought I must go and give it a try!  ‘It’d be a nice day out if nothing else!’

So I did some research and entered the race soon after, followed by Becky Southall and Nikki Towle. Upon mention of the race to both my Mum and Glyn Pattinson, they signed up too! So with Emma and Craig also going we had a good group of us to enjoy our day trip!

Fast forward to March 2019, and having followed the Facebook updates from the event page we were all getting really excited, and a little nervous too not knowing exactly what to expect!  Once the hype of Stafford half marathon had died down it was time to hatch a plan of action (and of course check we had everything on the kit list!)

It was an early start for us all, the weather was looking good and on arrival we were welcomed by friendly marshals and race signs in both Welsh and English which made me smile. The scenery was stunning, overlooking the lake and once out the van for a better look, it was clear we were in for a treat.

Over to the tent for registration and on the board were the names of the 150 entrants. I collected my number and saw I was for once not the only Nia on the start list, this was when I knew I had arrived in Wales! The drawstring goody bag had energy chews, reusable cup, an energy drink and the race t-shirt. We bumped into Emma scoffing a sausage bap who was so excited and got us all hyped up! It was back to the van to get kitted up and meet Glyn and Becky for a team photo!

The race briefing followed and then it was a walk up the hill for the start. Surrounded by what looked like many seasoned trail runners we were off! The first few miles were easy to run on and myself and Glyn got swept away. I could definitely feel my legs were still somewhat weary post Stafford Half but it wasn’t going to stop me enjoying the event (it didn’t however stop me moaning… Poor old Glyn)!

Our feet and legs were quickly muddy/wet but it was all part of the fun. 3/4 miles into the race and we took a steep climb through the forest then out onto an open field with the most spectacular views. 5 miles in we stopped for a quick drink, energy chew and a photo opportunity.  This set the tone for the race and we decided to take numerous photo stops as it was just too beautiful not to!

As the race continued the terrain became more varied, lumpy grassland, boggy fields, shale paths, cattle grids, stiles, gates and woodland were all featured. Oh and a man running barefoot who overtook us! The marshals were just wonderful, so encouraging and upbeat. The course was clearly marked so any worries we had about getting lost were quickly forgotten!

One of my favourite sections was running down through a stream and some quite technical trails then at 10.5 miles we entered a steep grassy field. We walked here taking some pictures and when we turned around I said ‘S**t a photographer, run!’ Needless to say as soon as I passed him I walked again! The field flattened out and we got going again knowing we didn’t have far to go!

The final push through what seemed almost pitch black woodland and steep climb for the last half a mile or so was tough going but wonderful, the views once again were incredible and hearing the noise from the finish area pushed us on! A steep descent and into the finish! What time did I do?! It didn’t matter, it was great!

The sun was out and a short while after we spotted Nikki and Becky with beaming smiles heading downhill to the finish! Bat wings and all! They held hands and crossed the finish together! The atmosphere at the finish was just lovely. My Mum was next, she entertained us by doing her own version of bat wings on her downhill finish! She had been poorly prior to the race and wasn’t sure traveling up if she would even run, so I was so proud of her for getting though it! Emma was a tail runner and she was equally as happy as the rest of us as she finished. We didn’t see Craig as he was still out on course assisting a visually impaired runner.

The presentations took place and we were in awe of the winning times! Next were the red kites being fed over the lake so we all assumed our positions. (Ours was by Nikki’s van with a brew and a Jaffa cake). It was an amazing sight and Emma had been lucky enough to feed them herself the day before, a thank you gesture from the organisers.

We said thank you to the race organisers, Karen and Ian, before heading back with a full heart. This race was simply stunning, well organised and made us all remember why we run. We all have goals and PBs to beat but sometimes appreciating your surroundings and friendships through this wonderful sport is all that really matters.

To quote Emma Phillips ‘This race was not about times, pressure or conventional racing, it was simply about running for the soul’. 

See you next year Silver Trail!

Nia

Posted on by

Putting A Demon To Bed – Stafford Half Marathon by Dawn Watkins

Stafford Half Marathon 2019

By a Stone Master Marathoner /Runner (!)

There have been a few announcements in recent months (usually from Dave B or Helen) suggesting that I was the 3rd lady of Meriden (Escape from Meriden Ultra 2018.)  These announcements always exclude the real fact that there was not much running at speed involved on my part in this event and it was purely the true desperate need to get back to the comfort of a heated seat in the car that gave me and my joint 3rd friend the last dregs of energy to do that final mile.  Not any actual athletic ability or drive.  Partly as a result of this, I remain surrounded by people who genuinely believe that I am a person that can do this running thing.

Fast forward exactly 4 months on from that Meriden day and it’s the morning of the Stafford Half Marathon 2019. I have entered this year to put to bed a demon from 3 years ago when I started but didn’t finish this race – when I got to 4 miles and gave up after setting off too fast and running out of steam. I gave up and did the walk of shame back to town. I wasn’t injured, I just didn’t know why I couldn’t run any further and I was truly gutted having to walk back to town in my running gear and wait for Dave. I wasn’t a BAT back then, so I didn’t know that other people had gone through similar things but had teammates to help them through. Yet they do. Or at least they do when you have an SMM top on.

8.25am and despite our usual lack of race preparation (except a visit to Pasta di Piazza the night before) Helen and I arrived into Stafford telling each other that we were a) going to finish and b) going to beat our old PBs. We carried on with this wild exaggeration as we held court in the safety of the upstairs section of McDonalds. Other bats joined us and shared their aims of new PBs too. It seemed to be a day where we were all setting the bar high. As we went outside to join many more bats for the club photo, everyone was so positive and full of enthusiasm that I got swept up in the emotion of it all. I really felt part of this club and because of that, it was truly possible that I could finish this race today!

10am, I set off with Helen at my side, and Jo and Anne R by us. Like 3 years earlier, I set off faster than I should have, and kept that pace up all the way past the 4-mile point where I stopped the last time. This time, stopping wasn’t even a consideration as Bill Clarke appeared out of nowhere, ran a few hundred metres with us and told us we were running well (an actual first!) Surpassing the point of previous failure, I astonished myself continuing towards Radford Bank. As we passed Alex Yendole (in the only time I shall ever pass him in a race – but then he was there spectating with his dog!) we did Radford Bank with almost ease and into the water station for a 10 second drink. After that, Helen kept us running faster than I would have done and if I did think about slowing down then it was a waste of a thought. She was so focussed on her aim for us that I just had to keep running…

By the beginning of Beaconside it was getting harder and harder to keep up with her, and going along Beaconside, in what seemed a bit of a cold wind, it got even harder. This road seemed never ending and I was really starting to struggle. Fortunately, just when it was needed the most, the Bat support was truly there in the guise of Lynda and Sarah, and Ben & Amy, and many others who just said well done to those in Stone MM tops! The support carried me through most of that road, but I did slow down, and thankfully Helen pulled away so I could finally take the opportunity to walk for a moment – something I had wanted to do for miles! Alas, it wasn’t to be for long… As I walked into the water stop along the A34, Jo Yendole came past and told me to get running again. The cheek! How dare she! Suddenly, a ‘previously unknown runner’ in me came out and there was no way I was letting her get away with that …. Instead, I found myself running after her and once caught up with her, vowing to stay by her side. Jo didn’t seem to mind – she didn’t like this section, so I think was happy for the company. We then caught up with Jenny, who incredibly, told us she had a back injury and yet she was still running despite this but now struggling more. We made a pact. The three of us would make it through together.

I think those last couple of miles were hard on all of us – Jenny with her back, Jo with that part of the route and me… well I was now genuinely running out of my comfort zone to keep up with Jo and Jenny, but as the 3 SMM vests stayed together, it felt so very right. So, we kept going to that last mile. Then that last 400 metres. When we finally turned that last corner to head to the finish line, we even found a little sprint still in us (see the great Mick Hall’s photographic evidence!) to make it through the finish line together. As we crossed over the timing mats, it didn’t just feel right, it truly felt amazing!

Today, for me this was a great race. I finished on a high, knowing I ran faster than I had before (one of those elements of a race I previously seemed to avoid!) I not only got to put the old ‘flunked it demon’ to bed by finishing but I also got a 12 min PB on my previous half marathon time and Helen got a 16 min PB on hers. Walking back through Stafford we got pelted by a ridiculous hail storm, but even that couldn’t take the sense of achievement away. We saw other Bats who had achieved new PBs and read of many more through the afternoon and even where there may not have been PBs there were other achievements – the finishing of an event despite other factors (Jenny!) and of course, those who didn’t run but were there supporting with great smiles on their faces despite the weather as we passed by! (Alison – thank you!) For me, being an SMM club runner in this race today epitomised everything the ‘Great Club Chairman’ aka Tim has been known to harp on about… the Inclusiveness of runners of all abilities, the Camaraderie amongst those runners of all abilities at the start line and during the race and that bit of Competitiveness by the real runners in the club for a ‘proper running club’s’ sake!

Dawn

3rd Lady of Meriden /694th Lady runner of Stafford Half 2019

Posted on by

Isabel Trail Parkrun Takeover – Saturday 9th March 2019

Isabel Trail’s 14th Parkrun certainly tested the mettle of all runners and volunteers as the rain clouds loomed! Undeterred, however, a record number of 347 participants donned their Lycra and were ably supported by volunteers Stone Master Marathoners on their first Isabel Trail takeover.

Based just a few miles away, it’s important to know Stone’s running club is affectionately known as the Bats, so apologies in advance for any overuse of bat-related clichés!

Isabel Trail is a superb, flat, out-and-back course that has tantalising personal best potential. The pre-event briefing was a wet and windy affair however, as if like magic, the sun shone on the righteous literally as the event started and the rain held off for the duration.

Watching the wonderful gathering of Parkrunners start the event is always a proud moment, no matter what their personal motivations and goals. For example, we had the pre-race course analysis by 2nd place male Adam Guy on his first time visiting Stafford. He was interested to know exactly where the finish was, and marshals were pleased to explain the finish is around the corner, so he’d need to keep his bat wings a-flappin’ as he swooped towards the finish!

Buoyed by a cancelled event at Cannock Chase this week, there was an abundance of first timers over in Stafford, including numerous dogs and little ones in buggies. Welcome to all tourists from near and far. Other highlights include watching the many young pups (still working in the bat terms, stick with me!) and beginner runners getting involved and giving their all to the line. Whether you’re a racing snake or more social runner, you’re a winner!

The sense of achievement is generally palpable irrespective of a finisher’s placing in the results at Parkrun. Indeed, every performance out there today was fantastic given the inclement conditions pre-run. As we all know, just getting up and fastening your trainers can sometimes be the hardest part and everyone should be proud of their efforts today.

 

Huge thanks to Paul Glover for drumming up a large colony of Stone Bats to support the core Isabel Trail volunteers. Everyone from Stone Master Marathoners had a fabulous time and we look forward to coming back again soon!

 

*Stone Master Marathoners would like to welcome all runners to join their off-road 5-mile series of races, Spring Treble. Held on consecutive Thursdays in April, it’s a fabulous way to build up your distance and you’ll enjoy all the same support and camaraderie on display at today’s Parkrun event. Full details can be found here > https://www.stonemm.co.uk/spring-treble/

Posted on by

Bats represent Staffordshire at the British Inter-Counties Championships

On Saturday 9th March, myself and fellow Bat, Simon Hodgkinson represented Staffordshire at the British Inter-Counties Championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough after qualifying at the Staffs XC Championships at Stafford Common back in January.

A very windy day and both the senior and men’s races were a gruelling 6.6 miles!

A proud and enjoyable day for us both. (It was also great to see a familiar face in Mark Churton as I approached the finish!)

Hope everyone has a great spring/summer training and racing and please come and run in the XC over the winter. Yes it’s muddy and cold but it’s bloody goood fun too!

Nia

Simon – 41:08
Nia – 48:29

Posted on by

Fun in the Sun – Lanzarote Half Marathon by Adreen Hart-Rule

Lanzarote Half Marathon was meant to be my first ever half. I was meant to have a whole year to work up to the 13.1 mile distance; which sounded an incredibly long way when I decided that I wanted to enter last year while holidaying in the island. I signed-up to the 2018 event after seeing runners in the days following the race wondering around in their Lanzarote marathon t-shirts and feeling the excitement still in the air.

But things don’t always go to plan. Lanzarote became my second half marathon as I was kindly given a free place from a fellow club member for the Stafford Half due to it being rescheduled. I hadn’t trained enough, but I knew that I’d at least be able to complete the course.

I ran most of the race with Sara Buckley, who had already been round the course with the 9:30 Sunday group. I thought that even if I couldn’t keep up for the whole route, I’d have a good starting point. I did manage to keep up; the water and walking breaks being a huge help. I finished in a time that I was happy with: 2:08:51. But I then had a new goal to beat in Lanzarote.

Fast forward nine months, and not enough training sessions later, to a very warm and sunny Lanzarote. A Lanzarote that I hadn’t seen the past couple of Decembers; normally it’s cloudy and breezy, providing a comfortable temperature to run in. I arrived just under a week before the race and started to get apprehensive. I went out and did a couple of shorter runs with times that I was happy with, but they were later in the day when the weather was cooler. I wondered if I’d made the wrong decision to do the half marathon. But knowing that other bats were going to be doing the same event, helped calm some of my nerves, along with the Lanzarote I knew returning the night before, as thick clouds dominated the sky again.

The morning of the half marathon arrived, and the think clouds had disappeared, but it was too late to be concerned. After hastily putting on my sun cream, it was time to go to Sands Resort and catch the free organised bus to the tourist resort of Puerto del Carmen where the half marathon was starting.

Everyone was friendly and in a good mood. It was great to see so many international competitors; I was sat next to a Dutch woman on the bus who’d come over on a cycling holiday but had decided to also participate in the half marathon. But it was also great to see our usual local competition; Stafford Harriers, Chase Harriers and Aldridge Running Club to only mention a few, and from my childhood neighbour of Leighton Buzzard too.

Before the half marathon started, we got to see many of the marathoners pass their turning point and start the returning journey. I enjoyed seeing the faster runners in action, along with supporting fellow bats taking on the marathon challenge.

The marathoners had a tailwind until turning in Puerto del Carmen, when it then became a headwind. For the half marathoners and 10km runners, it was a headwind the whole way. Despite the conditions, I still wanted to get as good a time as possible against my PB from the Stafford Half.

A drum band marked the approaching start of the half marathon. After a while, the crowd of competitors started moving forward and I realised the race had begun. I started off with a few fellow bats and aimed to keep up with them; planning to use the same tactic as I’d used for the Stafford Half.

The course goes from Puerto del Carmen, past the airport, along the coast to the island’s capital of Arrecife and then finishing back at Sands Resort which is on the far side of Costa Teguise.

I personally loved the course: being able to run alongside a sea view; planes flying directly overhead as they land in the airport only meters away; seeing the city in the distance and reaching it quicker than expected. However, the ground is tough and hard on the knees and legs; roads aren’t as level as we’re used to and some of the race is run over cobbles too. The wind made it harder, but at least it was there to keep us a bit cooler.

There were pacers for the event, but they started at the very front of the pack and seemed so far away from us at the beginning (which should have been a pre-warning that the event was going to go off gun time only). However, within the first couple of miles I managed to easily catch-up with the two hour marker. I stayed near him for a while but, despite the strong start, I slipped behind as we started to enter Arrecife.

I didn’t get frustrated about my pace though. I’d been looking forward to this race all year and I wanted to make the most of running in the sun; in racing vest and shorts in December, along the sea with a breeze keeping me cool. I’d already run nearly half the race without stopping or walking; I aimed to just keep going.

I caught up with a couple of runners from Aldrige who I started chatting to and fell into their pace. A while later, they’d fallen behind to walk and take gels, but I continued running; despite not feeling too well from drinking on the go.

We were approaching Costa Teguise; the final stretch and the paths that I’d trained on. It was nearly in the bag and my watch was showing that although I wouldn’t be near two hours, I was still going to get a PB!

As we came back towards the sea for the final time, I noticed my partner among the spectators. He’s been very supportive of my running ever since I joined the club in July 2017, but he’d never been out to see me race before. It was great to see him there and made the finish feel all that bit closer.

The final run around the sea and into the town was a relief; counting down those final couple of miles. When approaching the final bend, a bike bell was ringing; the cyclist rushed past and the first of the 10km runners was in toe, sprinting towards the end.

Finally, the finish line came into sight; or should I say the first arch of the finishing stretch. On seeing the arch I started to speed-up for a final push, to see that there were around five more huge arches behind it. I kept going; pushing through for the best time I could get.

I got over the line and looked at my watch: 2:06:33. A new PB!

There were congratulations from other bats as soon as I got into the runners’ area and I enjoyed seeing the rest of the club runners finishing (along with receiving the event medal, which is a nice big, heavy one).

When everyone was over the line and the event had finished, it still wasn’t really the end. It was brilliant to be able to socialise with club members that I knew and hadn’t met before, over dinner and drinks for the next couple of nights. It really showed me how welcoming our club members of all different abilities are.

A couple of days later, while waiting for my flight back home, I got an email from the event organisers. My official time: 2:07:39. Not quite the PB I’d been hoping for but still a PB, and hopefully sets me in good stead for the races of 2019.

Posted on by

Cross Country – Bat Men Promoted

As a runner who doesn’t really excel at cross country, my main focus behind taking part in this year’s NSCCL was primarily to help the club out and also get some race fitness back into my legs after a long time out. The first round at Winsford spoilt us with gorgeous weather and perfect conditions (for myself anyway), although it was probably a bit too warm for most runners. The course was barely XC. Solid ground due to no rain, so no mud whatsoever. I loved it haha and I performed well to finish 11th and record my best XC position ever! But that was probably due to it not being a true XC!!

When results were all in, it was a surprise to find that Stone MM were sitting at the top of division 2. What a fantastic club effort. I think I can speak for most people at the club by saying, promotion probably wasn’t in the mind at the start of the day. This set the desire and motivation for the remaining 3 races.
Next up was Stafford Common. The conditions couldn’t have been any different than at Winsford. We were greated with cold, chilly weather and I had to opt for tights myself. Cold weather and myself don’t get on haha. The course however still didn’t contain any mud and it was another good performance by the club, however we found that we had slipped to 2nd overall. It didn’t deter us though and actually made us want to push that bit harder.
By the time Park Hall came around, I found myself extra motivated to help the club regain the top spot and I gave it my all! It was a nice clear day, but very windy. The breeze actually helped somewhat by giving us all a boost up the hill on each lap. (Or was that Bernie’s homemade mulled wine?) Either way I felt energized! Another strong performance by the club and although we didn’t get back on the top step, we had opened up a very nice margin over 3rd place. I left Park Hall thinking I’m actually really liking XC now. 3 races done and not a single bit of mud, awesome!!

That soon changed though as the 4th and final XC race at Rodbaston was a mudbath. 0 degrees and freezing rain. It was so cold I had to wear a waterproof under my club top. I opted not to wear spikes as I wanted to protect my calves. Big big mistake. My ‘barely’ trail shoes were completely hopeless. I spent the entire race tip-toeing around the bends and slipping every time I put the power down. Eventually I skied my way to 67th place and by god was I glad that was over! This was the true XC that I’d completely forgotten about. Anyway I soon had a big smile on my face as the results were in and we had done it! Stone Master Marathoners had secured promotion to division 1 with the 2nd placed team overall. It felt great knowing I had done my part in helping the club secure this promotion and I had discovered a new found likeness to XC. Yes despite the cold, rainy, windy weather most XC’s bring, there’s a different feeling and togetherness that road running doesn’t give you.

Fantastic effort everyone! Bring on 2019!!

By Danny Soltys

Posted on by

Flying Fox 10 – Tale of a Compleat Runner by Jason Barrett

The alarm went off at 6am, and like all mornings over the past three weeks, the first 15 minutes were spent hobbling around the house with intense heel pain. But today was going to be different. Today was my 29th race of the year. Today was going to seal my NSRRA Compleat status. And having mentally prepared all week for pulling off something special at my inaugural Flying Fox 10, this pain wasn’t going to stop me.

After finishing my habitual pre-race sustenance, a hot teacake loaded with peanut butter, I donned my SMM vest with pride, and took to the roads for the short drive to Standon.

On arrival, I was directed down to the non-VIP car park by fellow bat and NSRRA Group F competitor, Richard Shaw. There were already many bats walking up the road or directing traffic, and bats supporting & cheering on every corner was a theme throughout the race. Remarkably it was also a positively balmy morning, which as someone who detests cold & rain was extremely welcome.

Having arrived at race HQ, picked up my number (who decided on Legs 11?), it was straight outside for a quick photo shoot with my fellow Compleat runners – David Dunsmore, Bryan Powell & Alf Slater. Whilst I had several goals for 2018, Compleat didn’t really enter the possibilities until late in May. It silently snuck up on me and before I realised what was happening, it was too late and the NSRRA addiction had well and truly sunk in. My congratulations to all the Compleat runners, inclusive of Colin Pheasant who surely would have been alongside us if possible.

Following a brief warm up, it was time to get into position; no longer starting innocuously towards the back, but jostling myself forward to gain a vital few extra seconds advantage. All pre-race fears – yes, I still have many – had now abated and after a brief delay for an impatient car, the starting pistol was fired and away I went.

The first half mile was simply a game of getting past as many people as possible in a lane that was tight at four runners abreast, but I took advantage as each small gap opened up. A quick look at my watch showed a 9:00m/mile pace, a fair bit off my target for today, but I was feeling good – really good – and was confident I could pick that pace up now the runners were thinning out.

I had latched onto my fellow group F competitor, Peter Williams, running about 50 yards behind and matching his pace. Peter vanishing off into the distance has been a familiar sight during 2018, and I congratulate him on a superb year. Alongside Peter was Laura Slack, seemingly running effortlessly as always. Flying Fox 10 promised a scenic route and it was delivering a great countryside run.

The first 2 miles go by and we’re heading back down Mill Lane towards Standon. I’m still feeling good, barely any pain in my heel, legs feeling strong and mentally in the zone. Running towards the crossroads, I can hear my name being shouted by several people – I didn’t look to see who – and as always it’s those simply shouts of encouragement that makes you pick your legs up just that little bit higher, to raise your head & straighten your back and to refocus on the task ahead.

I don’t think we’re allowed to call a course hilly, unless it’s Meerbrook. More than a couple of people had warned me Flying Fox 10 was “undulating” with an incline at mile 6, so the two miles leading up to this was purely about pushing as hard as possible and hoping I could make it up the slope ahead. I was still behind Peter, but now beginning to drop a little distance. Laura had noticed me behind her and dropped her pace to keep with me. During this couple of miles we passed Pam & Mac who were marshalling on one of the railway bridges. I can’t remember the exact comment, but Pam expressed true surprise at how well I was doing, and it was at that point I realised I was, so far, having my race of the year!

Then mile 6! Truly it didn’t feel that bad. I certainly lost pace, but Laura stuck by me offering encouragement and in the true spirit of the NSRRA, other close by runners also coached me up to that summit. I believe it was around this time I was caught by another bat running well, Bonnie, and we had a brief exchange of places – my legs serving me well down hill – before she gradually pulled away.

The next couple of miles were eventful. I was tired, shoulders & back aching and breathing hard, but still felt stronger in the legs than I have in any previous race. Despite the pains, I was really enjoying this. I reached the 9 mile sign, not far now and time to see what was left in the tank. I was passed by a group C runner and decided this was the time to really dig deep. With shouts & screams of encouragement from Laura, off I went and pushed ahead in pursuit of Mr. Group C. I knew I wasn’t going to beat him, but now it was purely about pacing off him for a better time.

As I ran down Church Lane towards the finish, I could again hear my name being shouted by several people, but I was now far too focused on getting to that line to recognise the voices dragging me to the finish. My legs hadn’t failed me and were still going strong, despite the rest of my body wondering when on earth the suffering would end.

One final left, a short sprint and there was the finish.

After the obligatory priority of stopping Strava, I was instantly congratulated by many bats and other competitors with nothing but positive comments, and informed my time was just over 1:24. I had achieved another huge personal best, beating Rugeley 10K by a whopping 13 minutes and I’d finished the Flying Fox 10 with a 3rd place in my group. 2018 NSRRA was over and I was a Compleat runner.

Yet 12 months ago, I was a distinctly average runner. I was in my first year as a runner and as a bat, and whilst I had improved over the year, I had no targets or focus.

Then I read an NSRRA race report by David Dunsmore, someone I only knew as one of the “quick ones” in the SMM.

That report set in motion the changes in my life that have defined my 2018. This year has been tough, but I’ve discovered that by combining goals with determination and support, the unimaginable doesn’t take that long to start achieving. I’ve discovered competitiveness at a point in my life when I didn’t expect to have anything I could achieve. I’ve discovered pain that I didn’t think existed, but that you can work around and through it with the right guidance. Being part of SMM & NSRRA has brought me new friends of all ages, paces & abilities, and the “quick ones” are just as supportive and approachable as anyone. Being part of the incredible SMM family has helped me overcome major running anxieties (I came close to fainting at the start of Stafford Half 2017!) and has driven me to PB after PB.

I’ll remember 2018 as the year I stopped being a jogger and became a runner. I’m already planning to stretch my goals & challenges for 2019, and if this article encourages just one person to do the same with their running journey it would be the proudest achievement of my year.

Posted on by

My Manchester Half Marathon – 14th October 2018 (by Shaun Ashworth)

After feeling really disappointed with my performance at the potters Arf in June I made the decision to try and get myself in better condition and target the Manchester half for my target for the year of a sub 90min HM. Over the next couple of weeks Martin and Wayne had also signed up with the same target and the training started. I tried to train as consistently as I could with a couple of fast/hard sessions in the week and a decent long run on the weekend. Sometimes these were tough as I’d be running on my own but then I also got to run with some great runners, which make these tough sessions a lot easier when you’re all pushing each other.

All of a sudden results and performances started to improve, times that I thought would be out of reach were being achieved and everything seemed to be coming together. I knew I was running well but there was always this doubt in the back of my mind that I’d struggle to maintain the pace I wanted over the 13.1 miles, probably due to my disappointment at the potters Arf. Although at this point I knew that I’d rushed back from injury for that race and hadn’t done enough long runs in training.

In July I noticed a post from Lynda offering a Tissington trail place 2 weeks before Manchester. I thought this would be a good opportunity to get the speed and distance required and ease my worries about not being able to complete Manchester in my target time. As I completed Tissington in a time of 1hr 20.38 it helped in one sense that I knew I could do it but as few of you would of witnessed it completely confused me as to what was achievable and what I should be targeting. After a few conversations with various people I knew that I should just run as I always do, to go out hard and back myself and not have any regrets.

The night before the race I was nervous and knew I needed a good night sleep, which seemed to make it harder to sleep and resulted in me watching Die Hard until 2am and with my alarm set for 5am this wasn’t ideal. Surprisingly, I woke fine and went to pick Martin and Wayne up to travel up to Manchester. The chat in the car seemed to help and I started to look forward to the race, and even more so the planned food for after.

We arrived in plenty of time and walked to the Race village via the start line to familiarise ourselves with where we needed to be as it’s a 10 min walk from the race village back to the start.

We knew it was going to rain and the previous day I had suggested to the lads that maybe we should take a bin bag to keep us dry and warm while we walked to the start but this ended in me being mocked by the pair of them so I decided to not bother, only to find that they both had brought bin bags, although luckily for me Wayne couldn’t decide between a standard size and a wheelie bin size so he had a spare. (He even shared a selfie of himself modelling them the previous night). On the way to the start we bumped into our fellow SMM runners Anna, Matthew and Michael and Chief Supporter for the day Caroline who decided a bin bag photo was needed and then off we went to the start pen. After a few of Emma’s now famous balloon warm ups we entered Start Pen ‘A’ Ready for the Manchester Half Marathon.

I made my way to near the front of the pen to try and get a decent start only to turn back and find that Martin and Wayne weren’t there and I couldn’t see them. It turns out they didn’t want to get too close to the front. I was joined by Jo and Vic which helped as because of their previous encounters with the streets of Manchester they were more nervous than me and so instead of worrying myself, I was trying to convince them both that they’d be fine. Just in front was Chris Morgan, Craig Taylor and a couple of other Newcastle runners which I hoped would work in my favour for pacing as I knew these guys are top runners and would be targeting a finish time similar to mine.

After a short delay ‘Bang’ the pistol went off and the race started, I set off at a quick pace and the miles soon started to go by and I felt ok. After a quick chat with Craig discussing targets I went past him and carried on back through the crowds who had gathered at the start, this is when I heard the first ‘Goarn Shaun’ from Caroline which always helps and always makes me smile. Everything was going fine up until about mile 7 when my stomach started to feel a bit ‘dodgy’ and this affected my concentration which then affected my running. I dug in and got dragged along by runners who were passing me, I knew that we joined the straight road back to the finish at around 11 miles so this was the primary target and then look towards the final 2 miles to the finish. 11 miles came and went and then before I knew it I was on the short final stretch with the finish in sight. I kicked on to try and grab as many extra seconds as I could and this is when I heard ‘Goarn Shaun’ for the second time which again made me smile although the photo shows it as more of a grimace as my calf was starting to cramp at the same time.

Finished…… as I crossed the line in a time of 1.22.20 (11 minutes faster than the previous year) I was greeted by Chris Morgan who had finished in a brilliant time of 1.20, my first thought was to see if Wayne or Martin were in sight. I got ushered round into the finish area to collect my medal and goody bag and then it was a case of waiting and hoping that they both finished in under 90 minutes. Within a few minutes I saw them both in the distance and I knew they’d come in within the target. Happy Days!!! Within a couple of minutes both Jo and Vic came through again both pleased with their times and confirmed what I had tried to tell them before that they’d be fine and both do well. I would of liked to hang on to see my sister and partner finish their first half marathons and all the other SMM runners finish but unfortunately by this point my stomach was in bits and we were all freezing so we headed off to the restaurant where Vic and Jo would meet us. Unfortunately the meal didn’t go to plan for me as I was struggling to eat but everyone else seemed to enjoy the food and a good chat which was good and I will look to do this again next year and hopefully be able to eat a bit more.

So Manchester Half Marathon is done, I appreciate some of you reading this would of ran multiple Half’s, Marathons and Ultras and maybe think ‘all this worry over a half’ but I always push myself and set myself high standards which then ultimately turns into more worrying and nerves hence why I was so disappointed with the Potters Arf, although my time wasn’t that bad. I definitely need to start listening to my own advice sometimes as I’ve tried to explain to a couple of friends, sometimes those nerves can be a good thing and you should try and embrace it. This is something I’ll be working on leading to up my first marathon next year. Finally I like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has encouraged me over the last few months, whether it be commenting on a run post or to those people who messaged me in the couple of days before Manchester. I can’t explain how much it has helped and kept me pushing towards my goals for the year and, to my wife who sent me a lovely text as I arrived in Manchester that brought a tear to my eye and again helped settle my nerves down.

Thank you all,
Shaun.

Posted on by

Bat Girls Win Thunder Run 2018

Thunder Run 24 2018 Race Report – Team of 5 ladies: The Bat Girls

by Fiona Bradley

Thunder Run 2017 had been my first experience of this amazing event and I’d absolutely loved it.  My team of five ladies, ‘The Bat Girls’, had had a little bad luck when one of our fastest runners, Kirsty, was unable to run after her first lap resulted in her having to spend a night in hospital!  Down to four, Amy, Angela, Victoria and I, ran as hard as we could before the horrific weather caused us to stop during the night, meaning we dropped to 6th place (a small price to pay for staying in one piece)!

As a club, we register our interest in the event and are then allocated a team a couple of weeks before it happens.  I won’t lie, I had unfinished business and was desperate for a place in ‘The Bat Girls’ again so I trained hard and managed to achieve a fair few PBs in the process.  I found out I was ‘in’ as I umpired a Rounders match – the children in my team were thrilled as they knew how much it meant to me!

So, the countdown began!  Multiple runs in a day started early – sometimes 5.30am(!!) so that Indira could squeeze in an early run before his long shift at the hospital.  This also worked well with our heatwave.  I struggled to make club runs but there are always friends up for running pretty much any time of the day or night!  Interestingly, none of the runners who spent a few vital weeks training with / dodging my lively dog, Betsy, fell over during TR24 – perfect ‘obstacle training’!

As my nine year old, Maia, was joining me this year (she’s far more practical than I am) we’d decided to camp out on the Friday night so, kindly chauffeured by Jonny and Ema, we arrived to a packed-out campsite with the entertainers well into the swing of things!  Great teamwork had occured as usual.  Huge thanks to Caroline, Matt, Jonny and anyone else who had arrived in the early hours to reserve our very special plot.  The Erection Team also did a fine job – although I did hear that it took three men (namely  JC, Mick and David) to pitch the tent that Maia puts up single-handedly… Great job, thank you!

It was lovely experiencing the inter-club social on the Friday – not least because a new ‘old boy’ band was born: Lee Jones, Drew, Churts, Mick and Bernie were the vocalists accompanying our legendary guitarist, David.  But if I hear ‘500 Miles’ one more time….

The night was unbelievably cold.  After hardly sleeping for weeks due to over-heating, I had stupidly travelled thinking we’d feel the same under canvas.  Seeing John Danahay’s blue-tinged skin proved it wasn’t just me who was freezing!  I finally gave in just before 4am when I searched for warmer layers, firmly regretting staying over as I’d been too cold to sleep!  The morning came and we knew we were in for a hot one when we could hear fellow campers discussing forgetting their suncream.  The clean, fresh and energised runners began to arrive. Anna H was our saviour – arriving with pillows and lunch.  A lovely catch-up and I was feeling better already!

After our annual 11am team photograph, the excitement began to build and the first-lap runners began to prepare themselves.  I’d been lucky enough to witness Phil winning the solo title last year and seeing him back for more inspired me to want to do well – surely running five or six laps is easy when you compare to running 24 hours??  I think that’s the joy of TR24 – whether you’re a crazy soloist; an almost as mad pair; in a team of five or eight, everyone matters – you don’t have to be the fastest or have the most stamina, sometimes it’s just a case of allowing somebody a break or breaking through your own barriers.  We just need to get out there and enjoy being a part of it!

I genuinely can’t imagine how Phil, Mark ad Jayne felt as they set off on that very first lap of their 24-hour run.  It very much shows that mental strength is equally (if not more) important than physical strength.  Our pairs, Indira and Martin; Laura and Trish; Aggi and Paul; Jonny and Drew had drawn straws and the (un)fortunate one had set off to begin their mammoth task too!  We non-runners (for then at least) assembled near to the start and witnessed the countdown before the hundreds of runners raced past – a sea of club vests, fancy dress, bare chests and even a bishop formed part of the crowd!

My team had received their running order courtesy of Captain Amy: Michelle, Amy, Jo, me and then Pip.  Michelle had stormed to a flying start and we were well on our mission for a podium place!  Waiting to run allowed me the privileged position of watching the outstanding support of our club offered to EVERYONE.  The cheering was incessant; encouragement second to none and, as for Grahame, ‘the weird cheerleader man’ in his dress – priceless!  Michelle had thought of everything and the red pom-poms were like energy gels to the flagging runners.

As my time to run approached, it was clear that we were doing incredibly well.  I adopted my usual technique of not thinking about my run in order to avoid anxiety.  Instead, I looked around me at each and every person – all putting themselves out of their comfort zone in some way.  Earlier in the year, I had worked on ‘motivational running quptes’ with my class and one sprung to mind: ‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you’.  With that in mind, I trekked down to the start.

I secretly love the waiting pen.  You meet all kinds of people, each with their own tale to tell.  The anticipation builds and there’s nothing quite like spotting your team-mate, orange band in hand, ready for the hand-over.  Jo ran in (looking amazing and effortless as usual) and it was my job to keep The Bat Girls flying.  I set off sprinting before reminding myself there was quite a way to go and the sharp right-turn naturally slowed me down.  I’d remembered snippets of the course: the winding narrow paths in the woods; the steady climb up the field; the welcome half-way drinks station and the subsequent climb; the circuit of the lake – I’m not sure if our soloists would agree but I could never tire (metaphorically as opposed to literally!!) of this course.  The colours, different terrains and beautiful scenes mean that the 6 miles pass quickly every time.  

It was great to see other clubs / teams putting their effort into supporting everyone too – I loved the ‘Boss Duck corner’ (even holding a Strava segment for all of 20 minutes!); the ‘Bubbles Disco’ and the general encouragement / compliments.  Nothing, however, matches the feeling of coming home to see The Bat Cave.  Turning the corner past Trentham RC, seeing the sea of red was like a boost of energy being injected into you – no matter how much your legs / lungs / head hurt, you’d summon up every ounce of effort to show your thanks to your team by running your heart out.  I felt great coming past our camp and, after the short uphill just past it, love nothing more than letting my legs go crazy down the uneven hill and then, as Bill calls it, ‘running off the hill’ continuing my sprint right in to the finish before confidently handing the band over to Pip, in the knowledge she is an absolute machine!

I had my ritual after each lap: breathe(!); drink a few cups of water; check the results so far and then head back to ensure Michelle knew she had 40ish minutes before she was to run again.  This arrangement worked well for our team and ‘transitions’ ran like clockwork.  The consistency of my team’s times was fantastic – even as I slowed, they seemed to speed up to compensate!  I ran my laps at 2.20pm, 6.20pm, 10.20pm, 2.50am, 7.20am and then…  The second placed team were a lap behind us after a number of hours but even when the screen told us we were two laps ahead, we wanted to make sure we weren’t caught out.  I started Lap 5 knowing that I might possibly have to run again but after several hours sleep, I felt reasonably refreshed – and our lead position spurred me on; I couldn’t let The Bat Girls down!  Finishing Lap 5, I was met by our grinning captain, Amy, who gave me a huge hug and said: “That’s it – you’re done!”  I was taken aback as I’d been doing the Maths during my  run (a common time-passer for me) and I’d realised that if I finished by 8.15am, then each of my team were to run a 50 minute 10k, I’d be off out again at 11.45am, so half-relieved, half- puzzled, I asked: “Really??” to which Amy replied: “Well, you might be…”  I could do nothing but laugh!

Our next few laps were tough.  Pip was feeling the strain of running 30 miles and her hip began to ache; Michelle’s feet were in tatters (I have so far been spared the sight but Tim insisted they were bad!) and poor Jo had struggled to eat / drink more than water for 24 hours and unbelievably ran her 6th lap completely empty.  The vision of her pale figure being supported by her husband (and our team manager), Dean, really touched us all and the emotions started to flow.  Only Amy, our tough leader, seemed to be okay but who knows what she was really thinking… Her experience in running showed as her mental strength appeared untouched.

As I sat watching the tiring runners coming past, faces lighting up as they heard cheers and saw the pom-poms, I found myself overcome with every emotion I could think of!  I was so grateful to everyone for their consideration; proud of everyone for their perseverance; elated at our performances yet worried for those friends who were battling exhaustion.  Heading down to meet Aggi after her final lap was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Knowing how hard she has worked and the battles she has encountered made her achievement all the more special.  I thought I’d hid my tears well but an eagle-eyed Shaun had spotted me and, as always, offered his support and encouragement.  Being part of The Bats, and running in general, has given me so many life-long friends – the people I turn to when I’m feeling low / anxious / worried as well as happy / elated / proud.  They have brought me through tough times and celebrated with me during the great times.  TR24 was definitely a highlight in my running life so far.

Anyway, back to my saga!  So, I sat around, milking the pity from everyone as a potential 6th lap loomed… It appeared that we had won by two laps but dared we risk stopping in case there had been an error?  It was time to man-up and hopefully seal the deal with one last lap.  As I set off, my greatest concern was missing the presentation, so although everyone was telling me to just walk, my FOMO (Michelle’s favourite phrase: Fear of Missing Out!) caused me to run as fast as my tiring legs (and throbbing toes) would allow.  Coming into the Bats’ area, I was met by Jo, Amy and Pip, who (flip-flops galore) ran in with me towards the finish.  Joined by Michelle, we Bat Girls crossed the line as one – 29 laps in the bag and we were the TR24 2018 Team of 5 Ladies Champions!

The presentation was fantastic.  Within the eight categories, Bats took five podium places and other local teams took quite a few too!  But the thing with Thunder Run, it’s not about winning a Dry Robe big enough for an entire team(!) or a trophy for the mantle piece, it’s about the cameraderie, the laughter, the friendship and support; each and every one of us should be proud and happy to have ‘made the difference’ in our own achievements and in the TR24 experience of so many people.  Keep up the great work, team!

Posted on by

Aggi & Paul – Thunder Run 2018

Thunder Run Mixed Pairs.

So the crazy idea of doing Thunder Run as a pair came after last years Solo effort. I managed to do 13 laps by myself in 2017 which considering the very wet weather conditions I was happy with. During a conversation some days afterwards Aggi asked if I would do Solo again next year, jokingly I said no but we can do it as a pair? Aggi, being Aggi, straight away said yes ok….. I did ask on a few occasions before registration open that she was sure? Each time was the same answer… So October came round and the registration window opened, this event sells out in a matter of hours so you have to be quick to secure your place. I sat at my keyboard hitting the F5 button in the minutes leading up to the 10am entry open time. It wasn’t long before the queue had opened and it was a waiting game to see if we could get our place. After around 15 minutes the window changed and I was able to secure our place. Brilliant! As TR24 was another 9 months away we didn’t really worry about it at this stage as we had Manchester Marathon to train for before this.

Skipping forward to May 2018 and both having a great start to the running calendar. We made a decision to step things up a level, so enlisted the help of Ben Gamble. His training plans and sports treatments really helped us to further improve. We were both running well and felt great. So it was at this point we thought to take TR24 seriously and go for a podium place. With Ben’s help we devised a plan of attack, I managed to get hold of the last three years mixed pairs results and found that if we made 20 laps, this would have been a podium spot. So our target naturally became a minimum of 20 laps.

Any endurance event or ultra-marathon needs more than just being able to run for long distances. The nutritional side is a very important factor, but can also easily be overlooked. Get it wrong and you could soon run out of energy and miss out on your target. For this, we looked towards former Thunder Run Solo winner, Janson Heath of INnutrition. Janson was happy to work with us, create our nutritional plans and he even came along with us to TR to make sure we followed his plan. He was so confident with his plan and us that he said we are not going for anything else other than to win.. We knew we were up against last years winners, so it was not going to be an easy task.

As Catton Park is only an hours drive from home, we had already made the decision to pitch the tent on Friday but not stay over for the night. We needed a good nights sleep. We arrived back at camp on the Saturday morning ready to go. I was to take the first lap, there is a bottleneck after around half a mile, if you get there too slowly it can easily cost you some valuable time.

Our start plan was to do a lap on, lap off, and try to average 1 hour laps, but mainly to run at a comfortable pace. The sun was out and another very hot day. This was going to be challenging! 12 noon soon came around and before I knew it I was off. I purposely started my first lap at a good pace, as I wanted to be clear of the bottleneck that can happen after the half mile point. Runners make a right turn onto a narrow hilly path into the woods. Last year I waited for over 5 minutes at this point, not this year though! I was straight through this section and slowed my pace down to something more sensible for the job ahead. Support as always was fantastic on the well marshalled and supported course. The first few laps in particular are always some of the best, as everyone is still fresh and excited.

My first lap was completed ahead of time in 53:27. Aggi was waiting at the changeover, so I handed over the baton and she was away with her usual excited smile on her face. The first few laps passed very quickly with both Aggi and myself very consistent on the times. Always sub one hour laps, which was ahead of our target but we both felt excellent. Janson made sure we stuck to our nutritional plan on and after the laps, this was definitely working to keep our energy levels high. The first main obstacle came up when we got to our main meal time. It was very important to make sure we had a good meal before the night laps, but this would also mean that we must be able to eat and digest the meal before running. The best option for this would be to do double laps. We had already completed 4 laps each when it got to the meal time and I would be going first while Aggi ate. We were both still feeling very good and spirts were high. As I reached the end of my first lap of the double I was passed my headtorch, although it was still fairly light we had to have our headtorch’s equipped after 8:30pm (event rules). Darkness quickly falls, especially through the woodland sections. I managed to complete my first double laps in 54:44 and 55:11 then handed over to Aggi again so she could do double laps. I had a quick change of clothes and then made my way to the camp. I enjoyed the extra long break while I ate and recovered, but before I knew it, it was time to go and meet Aggi as she completed her double laps in 57:01 and 59:10. These were night laps with the headtorch which made these times even more impressive. At this point we had completed 12 laps and all sub 1 hour. Team talk was always short but Aggi made it clear she was not keen on the double laps, and would need more time to recover. So I just said ok, let’s stick to the original plan of one on, one off and see how we go.

It was now pitch black so the headtorch was a vital piece of equipment. The course seems so different at night, in particular the sections through the woods were challenging, the trees had lots of exposed roots on the well run course. A lapse in concentration and you could easily trip on the roots and that could mean the end of the race. On more than one occasion I nearly lost my footing, kicked a tree root and stumbled. There were a few choice words spoken out loud to myself. As I approached camp I knew Aggi had said she would need more recovery time after her double laps. So I made the decision to go again. As I had two laps rest previously I felt good and needed Aggi to be as fresh as possible. I had a quick word with Aggi to say I was ok and for her to have the extra rest before making my way out for the second lap. Again these laps were both under the hour mark; we were flying. I had resisted temptation to look at the live scoreboard, although I had received a couple of updates previously from camp. At one point we were 5th. Then we were 3rd. Now I felt the need to check for myself. It seemed an age for the different categories to scroll through. Eventually the mixed pairs came up. We were in 1st place!!! I had to double check, just to make sure.. Yes, it was down to us now. We had to keep pushing and not give in. I didn’t mention our placing to Aggi as I knew she intended not to look and wouldn’t want to know at this point.

As night eventually turned to day we had managed to run through the night pretty unscathed, still running the lap on, lap off strategy, but we were both tiring now. The lap times had started to drop to over an hour for both of us, but not by much and we were still in control. We just needed to keep an eye on second place as they had gained some ground on us but were still a lap behind. Second place were last years winners, and we knew that they wouldn’t give up without a fight. Now it was a numbers game, we just had to keep moving. The problem now was that we were both hurting. Aggi was really feeling it and no wonder, she had already completed 9 laps. As I completed my 11th lap Janson asked me to go again. Aggi was asleep, she really needed an extra rest. This lap was going to hurt, but I knew we were still in with a good chance of winning. We had done too much to give up now. So I set off on what was my 12th lap and 3rd double lap, I just had to keep moving and hope that Aggi would be good to do another lap on my return.

21 team laps done, 1 more than our initial target but we still had several hours to go, Janson had been looking at the times and said if we can do one more lap each it should be enough to secure the win. Aggi was now up and about but was not in a good way. Janson had convinced her to go again though, I said just take your time and get back in one piece and we will be good. I had another change of clothes and tried to eat some food but really struggled to take anything on. I really hoped Aggi would take longer than she did to get round as I needed a rest myself. I don’t know how she managed it but came in on her 10th lap at just over an hour. 22 laps total. Second place were still fighting away at the minutes between us, I knew I had to go again. Hopefully this would be our last lap but mathematically there was still enough time for Second place to catch us.

I came in on lap 23 in just over an hour, we checked with Janson and second place had 21 laps on the board but it were just about to complete their lap 22, it wasn’t a clear enough gap for me to risk stopping. I was really struggling to move as was Aggi, but we both knew it was ours now, all we needed was one more lap on the board. It wouldn’t matter if it was a walking lap. Aggi said she would go again, Shaun Ashworth stepped forward and said he would go round with Aggi again. This definitely made a difference and Aggi completed her 11th and our team lap 24 in a slightly slower time, but that was it we had secured the top position. As Aggi came in before 12 noon I had the option to go again for one final lap… so obviously the competitive side of me won. I thought I’ll just have a walking lap with no pressure and thank all the marshals for their time, these guys had also been out on course for the 24 hours. So that’s what I did. A nice easy no pressure lap. As I approach the Stone camp for the final time, Aggi was waiting for me, we were able to complete the final few hundred yards and cross the finish line together, as the mixed pair winners of Thunder Run 2018.

25 laps completed with an overall average time of 1:00:08 bang on target for the event. We would both like to thank Ben Gamble, Janson Heath and everyone connected to Stone Master Marathoners for having by far the best set up at TR24.

Aggi Pope and Paul Glover

Stone Master Marathoners