This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Accept settingsSettingsWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Privacy Policy
Ferocious Fast Friday
The City Runs organised Fast Friday 10k lived up to its name despite the most challenging of weather with runners facing a wicked headwind for two miles on each lap and torrential rain throughout most of the second half of the race.
There were excellent performances from the seven AVRs who competed in the Good Friday event on Exeter riverside.
In fourth place in a magnificent PB was Joel Seward in 33:36 who also scooped the M35 winner’s prize. Max Richardson stormed home in 21st in a massive PB of 35:21 with Matt Hewer in 31st in 36:57 and third M35. Both Tony Smith and Carol Austin won their age categories with 41:28, first M55, and 48:06, first F60 respectively. Angela Kerr was second F65 in 55:26 and Georgie Ryan secured a PB with her 58:45. Full results
Boston Baby
Rich Hardy and Matt Frost completed the Bank of America Boston Marathon on the 129thrunning of the famous 26.2m event held on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April. The race is the only marathon major that requires qualification so the standard is always remarkably high.
Just a week after setting a brilliant PB (2:36.02) at Newport marathon, Rich Hardy ran another superb time finishing in 2:41.26, 890th and 95th M40. Matt Frost finished in an excellent 2:51.43, 2440th place. More than 30,000 completed the marathon with John Korir of Kenya taking the win, despite a fall near the start, in 2:04.45 with Sharon Lokedi, also of Kenya, taking the women’s crown in a course record of 2:17.22.
Bank Holiday bonanza
With club challenge points up for grabs and conditions perfect on Easter Monday some 66 runners took part in AVR’s Bank Holiday 10k time trial. There were (unofficial) PBs galore, camaraderie and some completing their first ever 10k as well as some fast times securing the Club Challenge points. Full results.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
For once the sun wasn’t playing on Saturday morning but the wet and windy weather did not stop 381 parkrunners starting the weekend off with a 5k run. Second finisher was Andrew Snook in 18:29 and Eleanor Wood was second on age-grade with 90.1% for her 23:41.
Big thanks and congratulations to Ron Seward who celebrated his 100-volunteer milestone on Saturday.
In the States, Matt Frost secured a J at Jamaica Pond parkrun in Boston prior to the marathon. In Europe Debbie Whiston was second woman in Oberwald parkrun in Germany in 20:42. Closer to home, Sam Halls and Rob Collier ran Cardiff parkrun; Helen Boehm took part in Upton House parkrun in Poole; Rupert Pady completed Tilgate parkrun while Lee Brooker enjoyed Simmons parkrun.
And finally …
Best of luck to all those running the London and Manchester marathons next weekend. Enjoy the experience!
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.
Record breaker!
It has yet to be ratified but AVR’s James Ashforth, aka Rusty the robin, set a new world record for the fastest half marathon dressed as a bird in London on Sunday.
The London Landmarks Half Marathon was a warm-up race for the big Guinness World Record attempt at the London Marathon later this month. Unfortunately due to a medical incident Sunday’s race was 700m short of the 13.1 miles, half-marathon distance so James is awaiting confirmation that his 1:54.28 stands. Both races are part of a challenge to raise money for Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity which is very close to James’ heart. Read his story and donate here.
The race is run around Westminster and the city of London featuring landmarks such as the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge with nearly 20,000 finishers.
River Deep Mountains High
With many AVRs focussing on Spring road marathons there were fewer than usual taking part in JP’s Exe to the Axe, a challenging 22 mile race from the mouth of the Exe in Exmouth to the mouth of the Axe in Seaton. The route provides runners with many hills to climb and descend but also some stunning views of the Jurassic Coast as they meander along the South West Coast Path through Budleigh, Sidmouth, Weston, Branscombe and Beer before reaching the seafront in Seaton where, for the first time, runners had to finish on the pebble beach! It was a beautiful sunny day and as well as the 22-mile option, there were relay and 11-mile Exe to the Sid or Sid to the Axe races also on offer.
Ed Bower was first AVR home in tenth in 3:24.16 with Tim Lenton on his tail in 11th and first M50 in 3:24.31. Sue Hayes, running with son, Will, was first F50 in 4:08.21 with Eleanor Wood, first F60 in 4:13.15. The latter three were awarded with beautiful slate clocks for their age group wins.
In the Sid to the Axe, definitely the harder of the two shorter options, Richard Coffey was fifth in 2:36.50 despite a slight detour costing him an extra mile.
Full results
A special mention to Jeremy Slade who decided to do a training run in the opposite direction but not content with the Axe to the Exe he then added the Exe to the Sid on as well, some 35 miles in total!
Powering it in Powderham
Four AVRs took part in the Power Run at Powderham Castle near Exeter on Saturday. There were five and 10-mile races available around the magnificent private estate of the historic castle. The multi-terrain route takes runners past the stunning Belvedere Tower, around the American Gardens, Deer Park and Old Plantation.
In the 10-mile race Cath Brenton finished 99th in 1:52.55 with Rachel Hiscock 108th in 1:58.45 while in the five-mile race Fiona Seward was 56th in 53:59 and first F70 with Shirley Salter 84thin 58:20. Both races, organised by City Runs, attracted 125 runners.
Ilminster 10k
This well organised race in South Somerset is in aid of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary. It is a scenic but undulating course with the backdrop of the Dillington Estate and finishing through the historic Ilminster Town Square.
Five AVRs took part with first home Gavin Smillie in 46th in 47:22; followed by Cliff Marriott in 139th in 58:25; James Childe in 152nd in 1:00.05 then Ann-Louise Childe in 1:01.44; and Jools Elsom in 199th in 1:07.02.
The 238 finishers all received excellent goody bags and even a bottle of local cider for their efforts.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
The sun shone as always on Saturday for Seaton parkrun with both first finishers coming from AVR. Rich Hardy set a new PB, and the second fastest ever Seaton parkrun from an AVR, with his blistering 16:27 which was also second on age-grade with 84%. Debbie Whiston, first female, finished in 20:23. Joel Seward was second finisher in 16:43. There were also PBs for Ann-Louise Childe in 27:26 and James Childe in 28:42.
Out and about Tom Parsons enjoyed Higginson parkrun in Marlow; Tony Smith and Sam Miller secured a U for a second alphabet at Upton Court parkrun near Windsor; Tim and Amie Sibley, closing in on their alphabet took part in Vogrie parkrun in Scotland; James Ashforth enjoyed a shake-out at Hackney Marshes parkrun before the London half marathon; Simon Dimmock ran Hogmoor Inclosure parkrun; Jon and Gill Day spun round the curly-wurly of Somerdale parkrun; while Sam Halls and friends enjoyed her birthday run at Greendale Farm Shop parkrun where the mud is currently dry!
And finally …
Following her excellent pacing at Seaton parkrun on Saturday, Innes Fitzgerald celebrated her birthday yesterday by smashing the European Junior 5k record to win the Bristol Track Club 5k