Welsh magic for AVRs in Newport
Three AVRs popped over the border to Wales on Sunday to take part in the ABP Newport Marathon Festival. The Festival provides opportunities for a 10K, half and a full marathon on one of the flattest courses available whilst taking in the stunning scenery of the Gwent Levels, coastal wildlife and picturesque medieval Welsh villages. With conditions also good on the day all events saw some fast results posted and new course records in the women’s marathon, men’s and women’s half marathon and women’s 10k.
Rich Hardy and Ryan Snell opted for the full marathon with both achieving excellent results. Rich Hardy came in tenth in a brilliant PB of 2:36.02 which he hopes will have earned him a London championship place for next year. Ryan Snell was 26th, a superb first M45, in 2:40.15 which he was delighted with after injury forced him out in Valencia in December. Nearly 3000 completed the 26.2 mile event.
In the half marathon Matt Frost, using it as a final long training run before Boston marathon, finished in 1:27.06, 55th place with 1600 completing the race.
Summer up and running in Yeovilton
The Yeovilton 5k summer series takes place every second Wednesday of the month from April to September and this year forms part of AVR’s club challenge. With conditions good this week, nine AVRs took part in the first event with some excellent results. The race begins and ends at RNAS Yeovilton and is a fast flat route on country lanes.
First AVR home in an excellent 12th place and in a shiny new PB was Max Richardson in 17:03 followed by Matt Frost in 18th in 17:28, also a PB. Tony Smith in 49th in 19:21 and Carol Austin in 102nd in 23:26 both secured their best 5k times for many years. Matt Chenery in 119th in 24:19 also nabbed a PB while Angela Kerr was 143rd in 27:21, first F65. David Cull came in 36th in 18:43 with Jason Potter 55th in 19:40 and Sam Miller, back from a long injury, 148th in 28:35.
Bath to Bristol by foot!
Why take the train when you can run it? The Bath and Bristol Railway series follow the route of the original train line from Green Park Station in Bath to Bristol Temple Meads. There are 50k, marathon, 25k and half marathon options with all routes flat and fast with historic and active nods to the route’s heritage along the way. Running alongside the Avon Valley Railway runners also pass many restored signal boxes.
AVR’s Karen Eyre and Jacqui Stokes opted for the 25k race with Karen Eyre taking first F50 in 2:12.25, 34th overall, and Jacqui Stokes, 61st, third F40 in 2:21.25 with 135 completing the 25k option. The events are very well organised by Relish Running Races but be prepared for tunnels, tarmac and flat running.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was a chilly start to Saturday but the sun again shone for Seaton parkrun and for Joel Seward who stormed to a PB in 16:34, second finisher. Third female was Karen Eyre in 21:14 and second on age-grade with 83%. With good conditions there were a host of PBs with Simon McClellan breaking the sub-20 barrier to finish in 19:54; Lee Brooker in 24:00; Ann-Louise Childe in 27:18 and Lily Sibley, celebrating her birthday with a PB of 34:02.
On the road David Cooke took part in Sale Water parkrun in Manchester; Craig Tiley enjoyed Woolacombe Dunes parkrun while Jon and Gill Day tackled the challenging Great Yarmouth North Beach parkrun. Rupert Pady was an excellent fourth finisher at Uckfield parkrun in East Sussex; Liz Curling took part in Carlingwark Loch parkrun in Scotland with Vicki Wraight visited Greendale Farm Shop parkrun.
