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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 relay option, Kevin Feeney and Ron Seward took the crown in the male category finishing in 4:37.06.

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

Ax Minster means business

After a gap of five years the Minster Challenge returned on Saturday with Axe Valley Runners dominating both podiums in the 12k multi-terrain race.  Rich Hardy in 48:32 and Karen Eyre in 1:01.30 were the winners with AVR also taking the first seven male spots and five out of seven of the first female finishes.

It is a very challenging route, starting and finishing in Axminster, which then meanders out of the town into the beautiful surrounding countryside with climbs up Stammery Hill and Lodge Lane and a return via the aptly named Evil Lane! Despite the beautiful weather on the day runners faced a lot of mud, camber and flint underfoot.

Completing the men’s podium were Max Richardson, second in 49:04 and James Green, third in 49:35.  AVR also had almost a clean sweep of the men’s age group crowns with Rich Hardy, also first M40; Ryan Snell first M45 in 51:20; Richard Jackson, first M50 in 1:05.14; Rob Collier first M55 in 53:00; Ian Kinnersley first M60 in 1:04.59; Mike Wadsworth first M65 in 1:05.03 and Kevin Feeney first M70 in 1:20.45.

On the women’s side, Kerry Board was third in 1:03.47 with Eleanor Wood fifth and first F65 in 1:07.54.  Other age group winners were Karen Eyre, first F50; Jacqui Stokes first F45 in 1:10.06; Sarah Coates first F35 in 1:10.36; Ann Coston first F55 in 1:16.56; and Ragnhild Richards first F60 in 1:17.00.

Big thanks go to Ruby Red Running for reviving the event, Axe Valley Academy for hosting and AVR for providing the MC, Haydn Boehm.  There were 87 finishers in the 12k race with 5k and children’s races also available. For the AVRs the race formed part of this year’s club challenge.  Full results.

Yeovil Half and 10k

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning for the Yeovil Half Marathon and 10k which both start and finish in the centre of the Somerset town.  Five AVRs popped over the border to take part.  The routes are tough and undulating on country lanes surrounding Montacute House, the beautiful NT mansion house adjacent to Ham Hill.

In the 13.1 miler, Joel Seward came in a fantastic fourth place, nabbing a PB, of 1:14.57 which sets him up very well for the London Marathon in four weeks.  Matt Hewer, also with eyes on the Capital’s big race, was 20th and second M45 in 1:20.51.  Simon McClennan ran an excellent 1:32.47 to finish 93rd and secure himself a PB.  Ron Seward finished in 1:53.16, fourth M70.

Meanwhile in the 10k Fiona Seward finished in 1:01.13 and third F70.

 

Coastal Splendour

Cathy Brenton took part in the Total Coastal Half Marathon on Saturday with a finishing time of 3:26:43 for the tough 13.1 miles of the South West Coast Path between Torquay and Shaldon.

The race started at Preston Green, then meandered through Torquay, onto the SWCP towards Babbacombe so the views were stunning but the terrain very challenging.  The weather was perfect and helped especially with the last three hardest and toughest miles into Shaldon. Cathy, who finished in 60th from the 85 who took part, describes it as a great event with a generous cut-off and well organised by Winding Paths.

Not contend with 13.1 miles, James Hawker and Patrick Rosello took part in the ultra, 50k event which started in Kingswear, also following the Coast Path through Brixham and Paignton before joining the half marathon route to finish in Shaldon.  Patrick was 45th in 7:14.43 with James 57th in 7:47.51 with 116 completing the longer race.

Gloucester Half

Matt Frost completed the Gloucester Half Marathon in 1:20.30, 38th place in the event which starts and finishes in Gloucester Park in the cathedral city.  More than 1700 took part in the race with the route taking runners around the city centre passing the cathedral before heading out on closed roads and the canal towpath.

Seaton parkrun and beyond

It was another sunny day in Seaton with 223 finishers at the parkrun.   AVR’s Debbie Whiston was first female finisher in 21:00 and second on age-grade with 77% despite using it as part of a three-hour marathon training run. Lily Sibley nabbed another PB of 34.03.

Out and about Tom Parsons enjoyed Chippenham parkrun; Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard completed Frimley Lodge parkrun; Craig Tiley took part in Lydiard parkrun while Sean Vinnicombe enjoyed the beautiful but challenging Lanhydrock parkrun in Cornwall and John Whittaker ran Exeter Riverside parkrun.  Sam Miller and Tony Smith completed the stunning Mount Edgcumbe parkrun, surely in everyone’s top three events.

 

And finally …

Jake Smith and friends gave the Derry City parkrun team a bit of a surprise with seven of them breaking 17 minutes and Jake taking almost a minute off the course record with his finish time of 14:17.   The group were visting as part of a Stag weekend – definitely not your average stag party!  More info:  Fast Running 

AVRs racing far and wide

It was a bumper racing weekend for AVR members with road and trail, competitive and friendly events across the country, many in preparation for marathons while others targeting national honours.

British champs success for the Newtons

Graham and Diane Newton ran the Forest of Dean Spring Trails Half Marathon. The course undulates along a course of forest trails through the heart of the Forest of Dean. More than 1,000 runners took part and were lulled into a false sense of ease on the long downhill start, only to work their way back up the 750 feet of elevation to get back to the finish line. Graham had a brilliant run, coming in second M75 in 1:54:33 to take the British Trail Running Championship silver medal. Diane was very pleased to finish third  F75 in 3:09:09.

Flat Fens prove a challenge

With England Masters places at stake it was a stacked field at the Keith Hall Memorial 10k in Thorney with former international, Gemma Steel taking second place in the female race. Angela Kerr and Carol Austin travelled up to the flat, Fenland race which left the village on an out and back route on closed country roads.  After the turn at 5k runners faced a wicked headwind back into the village.

Carol finished in 47:54, 46th female and seventh F60, with Angela, 80th female and sixth F65 in 55:10.  The race was celebrating the 40th anniversary of Thorney Running Club and also celebrated the life of its chairman, Keith Hall.  There were 333 competitors.

A right royal half

A trio of AVRs took part in the Green Park Reading Half Marathon, a popular pre-London marathon race.  The fast scenic course finishes in the Reading FC stadium, home to the Royals, where a big crowd awaited the runners; including AVR’s very own Reading fan, Tony Smith!

Andy Charrington finished in 1:42.53, 1217th, seventh M65.  Haydn Boeham and Suzi Blackett finished in 1:58.28 in 2872nd and 2873rd.

 

Feighan Fury

South West Road Runners organise this ten mile event in memory of Mike Feighan, a much loved former winner of the Grizzly who tragically passed away in 2021.  The ten-mile event is a challenging, multi terrain race across the rolling hills of mid-Devon including hills, woods, trails and rivers.  AVR’s Eleanor Wood was first F60 in 1:37.55; Jeremy Larcombe finished in 1:30.36 with Alan Morbey coming home in 1:53.54.

   

Birthday celebration in Eastleigh

Ryan Snell celebrated both his birthday and a return to racing following injury at the Valencia marathon in December by taking part in the fast, flat Eastleigh 10k in Hampshire.  He finished first M45 and 55 in an excellent 35:38 in a race which attracted 2500 runners.

Oakley 20 revives Grizzly memories

Diana Burn completed the Oakley 20 mile undulating road race in 4:09 in preparation for her London marathon next month.  She was second F70.  She describes it as a very friendly race organised by Bedford Harriers,  many of whom had run the Grizzly earlier this month. She received lots of shouts of ‘the home of the Grizzly’; ‘we love Seaton’ and ‘we were there two weeks ago’ as she ran in her AVR top!. She used this as a good excuse to stop and chat at water stations! This year 50 Bedford Harriers came down for the Grizzly weekend.

 

Thames Trail

The Windsor Trail half Marathon is a guided tour of a race beginning at the foot of Windsor Castle and meandering along the River Thames passing the Royal Windsor racecourse and Dorney Lake, the summer Olympic venue for rowing and kayaking, and the spires of Eton College before heading back to finish just before the gates of Windsor Castle.  AVR’s Ian Kinnersley finished an impressive seventh in 1:43.11 and first M60, a great pre-London Marathon work out.  There were 126 finishers.

Seaton parkrun and beyond

There was a special guest at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with AVR’s James Ashforth running as a robin in preparation for his Guinness World Record attempt taking place at the London Marathon next month where he hopes to become the fastest ever marathon runner dressed as a bird.  He is running for Tommy’s following personal experiences of baby loss this is a charity close to his heart and many others at AVR.  Details and donations can be made here

First finisher on Saturday was Ritchie Durrant in 17:26 with Ann-Louise Childe bagged another PB in 28:14.

Out on the road Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley enjoyed the sunshine in Vienna at Donaupark parkrun; Tony Smith took part in Richmond parkrun; Tim and Amie Sibley bagged a D for their parkrun alphabet in at Dudley parkrun; Carolyn Nation ran the flat, fast Walsall Arboretum parkrun; Jon Day and Paul Johns completed Barnstable parkrun; and Shirley and Andy Goy took on the new Greendale Farm Shop parkrun.  Prior to their races on Sunday, Diana Burn completed Milton Keynes parkrun and carol Austin and Angela and Martin Kerr ran March parkrun.

And finally …

Spare a thought for Simon Davey who travelled back from Vietnam for the Hastings half marathon only to find it cancelled due to a police incident.