Newsletter June 2005 Sorry this newsletter is a bit late- in my defence I was waiting for some more reports but, like parts of the UK there has been a drought in terms of report writing!! Any way Claire, Jenny, Alice and Rob have come up trumps so thanks to them. Rob's report on the Manx Mountain Marathon makes me feel tired just reading about it! He says that people who finish with dignity have his respect - well you certainly have ours Rob - it sounds a really tough one! I think I'm still recovering from the London Marathon which I found really tough so I don't think I'll be taking up Jenny's challenge - read her report to find out what it is! A reminder that, thanks to Grahame, kit is normally available at the club on a Wednesday evening. Finally if you want to do the EXMOOR SEAVIEW 17 on the 31st July you must enter soon. Entries close on 21st July but if you want a place on the bus from Minehead to the start you must hurry up and enter. Entries are available online from www.mineheadrunningclub.co.uk Results I have put in as many results as possible but I don't always get to hear of the ones you enter outside of the area so apologies if your result doesn't appear. Please email Pete with your results as soon as you know them or give me a copy at the club on Wednesday evenings. Sherborne Castles 10k MT 20th March 2005 Position Number Time Name Category Club Age related % Pace Min/km Pace Min/mile 1 233 00:34:36 Tristan Cooper Male Senior Wells City Harriers 77.9% 00:03:28 00:05:34 9 193 00:38:47 Rob Ellis Male Senior Langport Runners 69.5% 00:03:53 00:06:14 90 183 00:48:28 Trevor Howells Male 40+ Vet Langport Runners 59.8% 00:04:57 00:07:58 There were 224 finishers Bath Half Marathon Sunday March 20th 2005 Position Time Chip Time Name Club Category Number 1 1:02:53 Simon Tanui Kenya SM 47 556 1:33:34 1:33:20 Peter Jones Langport Runners MV50 7577 967 1:39:39 1:39:02 Tony Rudge Langport Runners MV45 1165 1647 1:47:46 Liz Martin Langport Runners FV45 720 3801 2:07:55 Kathryn Rowswell Langport Runners FV45 5113 3826 2:08:16 Jane Brookhouse Langport Runners FV45 2658 3974 2:10:02 Susan Morris Langport Runners SF 5602 Easter Bunny 10K 28th March 2005 Position Number Time Name Category Club Age related % Pace Min/km Pace Min/mile 1 241 00:32:24 Martin Cox Male Senior Bristol and West 83.2% 00:03:14 00:05:13 14 147 00:35:55 Matthew Hill Male Senior Langport Runners 75.1% 00:03:36 00:05:47 41 295 00:38:17 Steve Brown Male Senior Langport Runners 71.8% 00:03:50 00:06:10 66 140 00:40:39 Russell McArthur Male Senior Langport Runners 66.3% 00:04:04 00:06:32 Barton St David 5K multi terrain 3rd April 2005 Position Race No Name Club Category Time Resident 1 129 Lock Tom Unattached Junior Male 0.22.32 Course Record 11 166 Howells Deidre Langport Runners FV45 0.33.53 There were 13 finishers Barton St David 10K multi terrain 3rd April 2005 Position Race No Name Club Category Time Resident 1 247 Belcher Pete Royal Marines Senior Male 0.35.32 Course Record 13 229 Hill Jim Langport Runners MV50 0.44.36 26 252 Howells Trevor Langport Runners MV40 0.51.14 37 246 Parr Michael Langport Runners MV70 0.55.37 There were 45 finishers Taunton Marathon 3rd April 2005 Place Time Name Team Race Age Category Race number Overall race position 1 02:46:20 Pearce Martin Taunton AC M40 153 1 36 03:27:04 Jones, Peter Langport Runners M50 179 39 There were 165 finishers Taunton Half Marathon 3rd April 2005 Place Time Name Team Race Age Category Race number Overall race position Men's 1 01:13:05 Zarkadas, Christos Academy Fitness Studio SM 1653 1 Men's 127 01:32:51 Crabtree, Jason Langport Runners SM 1019 132 Men's 163 01:35:58 Brain, John Langport Runners M60 1648 170 Men's 176 01:36:29 Moffett Dave Langport Runners SM 1589 183 Ladies 8 01:36:54 Farley, Bev Langport Runners F40 3004 190 Men's 192 01:37:29 Rudge, Tony Langport Runners M45 1208 201 Men's 369 01:48:49 Gold, Paul Langport Runners SM 1801 411 Ladies 41 01:48:15 Tibbatts, Joanne Langport Runners SL 3376 399 Ladies 160 02:03:38 Rowswell, Kathryn Langport Runners F45 3133 730 Ladies 179 02:06:06 Brookhouse, Jane Langport Runners F45 3387 762 Ladies 227 02:12:55 Byrom, Jenny Langport Runners F50 3388 863 Ladies 305 02:39:11 Frampton, Emma Langport Runners SL 3177 1004 There were 1038 finishers Paris Marathon April 10th 2005 Pos. Cat. Cat. Number Last name First name Gun position Gun time Chip position Chip time 1 SM 26 KIPSANG Salim 1 02:08:04 1 02:08:02 3200 F 37297 BYROM Jenny 25870 05h 02' 35" 25845 04h 50' 23" 22590 M 37255 MCSPARRON Paul 25872 05h 02' 35" 25838 04h 50' 21" 3408 F 45527 FOY Elisabeth 26578 05h 09' 25" 26579 04h 57' 10" There were 35,000 entrants LONDON MARATHON 17 APRIL 2005 LANGPORT RUNNERS RESULTS Overall (Gender) Race no. Name Age Club Time 5463 (4829) 25194 PETER L. JONES M50 LANGPORT RUNNERS 3:37:24 7955 (1094) 25195 JOANNE. TIBBATTS W20 LANGPORT RUNNERS 3:54:20 9591 (8117) 25196 ANTHONY L. RUDGE M40 LANGPORT RUNNERS 4:00:32 12483 (2171) 15525 ELIZABETH A. MARTIN W40 LANGPORT RUNNERS 4:12:29 19932 (4413) 13194 JANE.BROOKHOUSE W40 LANGPORT RUNNERS 4:40:17 20273 (4515) 8436 KATHRYN M. ROWSWELL W40 LANGPORT RUNNERS 4:41:35 21843 (5044) 36756 HAZEL A. CREGAN W20 LANGPORT RUNNERS 4:48:27 Shakespeare Half Marathon 2005 Sunday 24th April 2005 Position Number Name Club Category Time 1 5409 Dereje Kebede Senior male 01:05:50 351 4106 Tony Rudge Langport Runners MV40 01:46:31 There were 1786 finishers Great West Run 1st May 2005 Position Number Name Club Category Time 1 1 John Ward Bristol and West AC Senior Male 01:08:50 430 903 Tony Rudge Langport Runners M45 01:42:08 There were 2026 finishers The GR8 Wood Run 8th May 2005 Position Race No Time Name Age Running Club/Hash 1 331 50.28 Holley, Paul MS Axe Valley Runners 75 84 1:05.05 Crabtree, Jason MS Langport Runners 98 151 1:07.46 Barnes, James M40 Langport Runners 111 334 1:08.34 Turner, Grahame MS Langport Runners 124 128 1:10.00 Rudge, Tony M45 Langport Runners 209 230 1:19.50 Gold, Paul MS Langport Runners Allen Alice 237 50 1:24.16 Martin, Liz F45 Langport Runners 241 317 1:25.21 Byrom, Jenny F50 Langport Runners 245 877 1:27.43 Brookhouse, Jane F45 Langport Runners 275 149 1:37.41 German, David M60 Langport Runners There were 284 finishers The GR8 Wood run - by Alice (Was I really there?) Allen When I was asked by Liz to write this report, I said no problem - I was there, I can do that. However, now some months later, I finally get round to it, and dutifully look up the results on the Taunton Hash House Harriers web site - only to discover my result is not there!! I can only agree with the THHH slogan of 'Runners who drink' and assume they had one pint of Cotleigh too many when inputting the results! Anyway, this report was going to be called 'Bangers, Botulism and Broken Ankles' all of which will become clear later. The GR8 Wood run took place on May 8th, at Ranscombe. There was a good Langport turnout of Jason, James, Grahame, Paul and David, Liz, Jenny, Jane and myself. The setting in the woods was really beautiful, and despite the rumours to the contrary, the race even started off downhill. Mind you, that lulled us into a false sense of security, as after that it seemed to climb incessantly! The atmosphere was good though, with lots of banter - especially up the hills when being overtaken by a woman being towed along by her dog! According to the very nice T-shirt we got at the finish, we went to Cockercombe Bottom, Two Tree Bottom, Lord's Ball, Hart Hill, Dibbles Elbow and Wills Neck. I can't remember the Bottoms much, but I think I did Hart Hill at least three times. The hills seemed pretty interminable, while the marshals were impenetrable if you asked them if there was much more uphill. It was worth it though, when you finally hit the peak at the top of the Quantocks and the views took your breath away - what breath you had left. On the final downhill I came across Paul Gold, limping badly from what he claimed to be a broken ankle. I think that might have been a bit of a bloke's broken ankle, as it seems better now. Still, he did claim that it hurt more than childbirth. Good job his wife had sensibly decided not to come along for the post race BBQ - she might have something to say about that. That brings me neatly onto the bangers and botulism bit. We had decided to bring along food for a post race BBQ, and it was fun to see James doing his best boy scout bit getting it started, while us ladies sat about drinking tea. I didn't realise you could get a fire going without a few gallons of fuel and three boxes of extra long Cook's Matches. - but he managed it very well. Very slowly, the boys got the food cooking. Mind you, our bangers might have done a little better had they not still been frozen, so that covers the botulism bit - still, I'm better now. Next year's event takes place on 7th May, and is being moved to Coombe Sydenham Country Park. It's going to be called The Greatwood MkII Black Death Run - so I think we'd better forget the bangers next year! Neroche 10K Sunday 19th June 2005 CAT SURNAME FIRST NAME CLUB AFFILIATED TIME SM Beddows Dave Bristol & West AC Y 36.53 SF Crowe Emma Langport Runners Y 52.32 MV60 German David Langport Runners Y 71.59 There were 121 finishers Plymouth Half Marathon 29th May 2005 Race Position Race No First Name Surname Time Club Cat Club Team 1 1 Simon Arusei 1:03:34 SM 560 2628 Tony Rudge 1:41:31 Langport Runners MV45 1582 1696 Susan Hall 2:08:25 Langport Runners FV45 1856 423 Tracey Monaghan 2:20:41 Langport Runners FV35 There were 2183 finishers Wells 10K 29th May 2005 Position Name Club Category Time 1 Tom bush Wells City Harriers Male 0:34:41 37 Dave Richards Langport Runners MV50 0:45:46 There were 138 finishers Wells 5K 29th May 2005 Position Name Club Category Time 1 Richard Pitt Thames Hare & Hounds MV50+ 0:18;10 36 David German Langport Runners MV60+ 0:29:25 There were 68 finishers Crewkerne 9 6th June 2005 Place Time Name Club Race age category Pace min/mile Number 1 0:50:12 Goodridge Mark MAC Senior Men 05:34:6 8 133 1:36:11 Chrascina Nicky Langport Runners FV35 10:41:0 141 134 1:36:33 Hall Susan Langport Runners FV45 10:43:5 142 135 1:36:33 Hughes Jean Langport Runners FV45 10:43:5 138 There were 139 finishers The Paris Marathon April 10th 2005 Liz (Foy), Paul (McSparron) and I (Jen) made a decision last year that if we didn't get into London this year - either through the ballot or through the club - that we would 'have a go' at Paris. And so it was! It is the easiest entry ever - you do it 'on line' and get your number almost by return and so the training began. Unfortunately Paul then got injured and hadn't run more than a few miles when the annual pre-London 22 miler organised by Crewkerne RC occurred but, as he kindly offered to run a short part of the route with me, was amazed - and very sore - when he completed the whole run in a perfectly acceptable time - so that put an end to any lame excuses about not being able to take part. We drove to Ashford, Kent on the Wednesday to get onto Eurostar and arrived in Paris, refreshed a few hours later to have a few days sightseeing before the race. Paris is a wonderful city and there is so much to see - but IT WAS COLD especially sitting on an open top double decker bus driving round the tourist attractions with red, runny noses and scarves wrapped around our ears - but see it we did and finally the Sunday run was looming. Thankfully it had warmed up a few degrees by then and we made our way on the metro to the start which was at the beginning of the Champs Elysees, a few hundred metres from the Arc de Triomphe. We started off at the back of the pack and had to wade through what seemed like an endless jumble sale as everyone just dumped their excess clothes on the actual route but eventually our feet caught the running rhythm and we were running past the best parts of Paris - Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Bastille then back along the banks of the Seine, the gardens of Tuilleries, Trocadero, past the Eiffel Tower on the other side and finally into the Bois de Boulogne before the last few miles were upon us - and there we were, over the finishing line. Liz was over the moon as she did a PB but for Paul and me 'it was the taking part that was important' - OK, so we did PW's but who's counting? Comparisons? We all agreed it was different from London - the loos were missing at the start, the crowds were missing for many a mile, the 'fun runners' were totally missing, the general atmosphere was missing (with only a few miles before finishing in the B de B there were no spectators at all - you may as well have been doing a short jog around the park) BUT, it was an excellent route, very scenic, very beautiful and interesting - and where else, at 20 miles, do you get offered a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau rather than water BUT in Paris? And at the end, you were offered fresh fruit, apricots, sugar cubes and water - body conscious to the end! Would we do it again - absolutely yes! In fact, there has been mention of Paris one weekend, London the next - anyone interested for next year????? Jenny Byrom The Manx Mountain Marathon 2005 Having studied the race calendar in Runners World magazine for an Easter marathon, both Sara and I thought a trip to Lisbon would be nice. However the excessive costs of flights at this time of year forced us to re-consider, which is how I found myself entered in the Manx Mountain Marathon (MMM) on the Isle of Man. This, I was told, would be quite a challenge since it was an off road fell run with over 8000 feet of climb to negotiate. Little did I know quite what I had let myself in for. Mike Parr kindly arranged for a friend of his on the island to advise me prior to the race, this included a guided drive around the roads which wound their way around the final fells of the course. It was at this time that I began to appreciate the severity of the terrain and just how far removed this type of event is from anything the Somerset Levels has to offer. The MMM is a 31ish mile off road course which takes in the biggest fells on the IoM. Some sections of the course are compulsory and, as such, are well marked and marshalled. However long sections are unmarked and it is down to each competitor to navigate using a map and compass. For somebody who has never used a compass and once got lost driving to Bath, this was always going to be a problem! Added to this, visibility on top of the fells often falls to 20 feet or less. Having discovered all of the above, I decided my tactics would be to not let myself become exposed (not literally) at any time and to remain in contact with other runners. I then learnt that last year, only about 80 people actually entered the race and that the expected drop out figure was some 20 to 30. The Yeovilton Easter Bunny seemed a million miles away! On the morning of the race a minibus ferried the runners to the start (not a circular course). I couldn't help assessing the opposition who all looked pretty fit and extremely well prepared (I later learnt that the race attracts some elite army regiment teams). Many of them sat studying their maps to plot the fastest course. I wasn't sure which way up to hold my map so decided not to bother. I also noticed the specialist equipment many of them were carrying....lightweight waterproof suits, super high energy foods, GPS systems - all carried in advanced back packs with built in hydration systems. My bum bag from Millets seemed a little sad in comparison! I did however boast an expensive pair of fell running shoes, but since they gave me blisters I had decide to wear an old pair of trainers that I had recently found in the shed. At the start line I had deteriorated into a nervous wreck. Some of the runners, I realised, were warming up! Each competitor had their essential equipment (of the survival type) checked, clearly they didn't care whether I survived or not. It was however a relief when we were sent on our way and the misery really began. The first 45 minutes were spent slogging uphill (for me much of it was walking) to checkpoint 1. Here competitors stamped their own cards to prove that they had reached the summit. I only now wish that I had taken the time to look back because I expect the view was quite something, but I was intent on staying in the pack...I didn't want to be forced to get my map out. From here the course wound mercilessly from one fell to the next. No sooner had I slogged up to the top of one fell then the next climb loomed up in the distance. After 3 hours of this, I was still well in touch with half a dozen other competitors, some in front, others just behind. I had already found that runners soon disappear in the mist and that following the wrong track can send you far out of the way, which only becomes apparent when the mist lifts during each descent and reveals the other runners travelling in a different direction to you. From this point, my condition varied enormously as I suffered good and bad patches, with each period of pain being partially rectified by the consumption of large quantities of chocolate and jelly beans. At 6 hours I found myself checking my watch at regular intervals because I knew that either the course or me was close to the end. This section of the course followed a coastal path, which under different circumstances might have been quite pleasant, but I can honestly say that I couldn't care less by this time, as each step brought its own pain. At 6 and a half hours no amount of chocolate could revive me and I slipped into that state that only some marathon runners can understand. Complete exhaustion is not, I can assure you, a pleasant experience. Your sweat goes cold, rational thought proves elusive and a form of depression sets in. Runners who had previously been some way behind me began to pass me and there was nothing I could do...even a Ferrari won't go if the tank is empty and I now know I'm a Lada. The last few miles took an age but I finally made it to be greeted by a worried wife with the clock on 7 hours 2 minutes (and that's a long time). I should say, in my defence that I was far from last, but the winning time of 4 hours 52 minutes is, by my estimation, quite exceptional. In fact, anybody who finishes the MM with dignity, gets my respect. So would I recommend this race to other Langport runners? Well, not really...in order to do yourself justice in this type of event, a really demanding training schedule of fell running is required and there just aren't any fells in Somerset. Running up Wick Hill once a week is fine but it won't prepare you for this. Also, running for 6-7 hours is not easy, believe me, and I'm not actually sure how you prepare yourself for such a thing although some clearly do. However, if you're like me and can't say no to a challenge, then this really is a challenge. But some challenges you only do once so next Easter its Lisbon here I come!! Rob Ellis Athletics Meeting Bournemouth Sunday 24th April Sunday 24th April just happened to be mine and Steve's wedding anniversary. It also happened to be Langport runners first athletics meeting at Bournemouth Athletics track. What a romantic way to spend our anniversary, but hey running is love isn't it! Langport runners hired a minibus to take all the runners down since it's such a long hike. Steve set off at 8.00am to collect the minibus from Bridgwater and we set off from the Ridgeway Hall at 9.00. Charlie sat up the front with Steve me and me. Charlie's face was a real picture - he was so proud to be on the minibus that I thought he was going to burst with excitement! We arrived in Bournemouth in good time considering that the bus didn't quite have the acceleration of Steve's Porsche! I had about 20 minutes to warm up and have a nervous loo stop before the 400m hurdles. For a change there were 3 of racing and we set off at an easy pace, but at the 300m, (when I was feeling knackered to be honest) the girl in second place picked up the pace and joined me in first place. I picked up my pace as we entered the final straight and we were really going well as we approached the last hurdles. It seemed much easier to glide over the hurdles at a faster pace. We came off the last hurdle at the same time but luckily I had the better sprinting speed and managed to keep ahead of her across the finish line. With the first race and a good win out of the way I had a few hours to recover and look after Charlie. When I returned to our camp Charlie had already made friends with another little noy from Bath AC. My other races went OK and I even did the 300m at the end of the day. This is a track event that I have only done once before and vowed never to run it again! But here we are in 2005 and I found myself at the start line. I was in no delusions about winning or even keeping up with the main pack, my aim was entirely different. I just wanted to get around the 7 and a half laps and finish. It wasn't long before I was lapped by almost everyone, but I was counting down the laps and eventually finished. In true athletics fashion, all the women who finished ahead of me waited and cheered me into the finish - I felt like a winner because I had achieved what I had set out to do. We finished the day helping out with long jump. Charlie and his little friend were playing in the sand while all the relays took place. Then we packed up and got into the minibus just as the heavens opened. We arrived back in Langport at 7.00pm; Steve took the minibus back and arrived home with an anniversary curry at 8.15, which we shared romantically with Charlie! What a wonderful day we had though. Well done to everyone who competed. Special mention to Bella Crowe and Rob Slade, who competed on the track for the first time in the SWAL. Rob completed the 800m in 2.36, a PB which took 17 seconds off his previous best. Pippa Baker got a PB for the 800m in 2.48 and there were excellent efforts from Jade Odierno, Annie Sampson, John Cox, Darcie Masters, Owen Astington and Josh Astington. Results of SWAL Division 2 Match 1 Bournemouth 24th April 2005 U13 Boys Darrel Basstone 100m 16.4s 1500m 6m 15.4s Josh Astington 200m 35.10s 1500m 5m28 BRONZE U13 Girls Darcy Masters 100m 18.30s 200m 29.9s 800m 3m18s U15 Boys Rob Slade 400m 70.7s 800m 2m36s 1500m 5m37.4s U15 Girls Annie Samson LJ 3m83 100m 15.1s 200m 31s Bella Crowe 800m 3m39.7s LJ 2m71 Jade Odierno 100m 16.7s 200m 34.3s 800m 3m04 Pippa Baker 800m 2m48 1500m 5m46 U17 Boys Owen Astington 3000m 11m13 Senior Men Mark Shepherd 400m 63.8s 1500m 5m09 BRONZE 3K 11m06 GOLD Gary Slade 200m 27.7s 400m 63.8s Steve Brown 3000m 10m25s Matt Bentley 1500m 6m13.9s Discus 9m51 John Cox 1500m 5m46s Discus 15m99 3000m ? Senior Women Claire Brown 400m hurdles 81.5s GOLD 100m 14.0s 200m 29.2s GOLD 3000m 14m41.9 Emma Crowe 800m 2m49.3 3000m 11m53 SILVER Events diary July to September Date Time Event Notes 10th July ( Sun ) 10.30 am Wellington 10 mile Princess royal sports Complex Wellington School. Scenic, undulating, challenging. Taunton AC/Seeability (Somerset Series event 7 ) July 13th (Wed) 7.15pm Yeovilton 5K Summer Series No 4. Flat www.yeoviltownrrc.com 31st July ( Sun ) 10.30 am Exmoor Seaview 17 Not a race but a challenging, scenic coastal point to point run from Lynton to Minehead. http://mineheadrunningclub.co.uk 3rd Aug (Wed) 7.15 pm Haselbury Trail 10K North Perrott Cricket Club near Crewkerne. 2 laps off road scenic (Somerset Series event 8) www.crewkernerc.org.uk 10th Aug ( Wed ) 7.15pm Yeovilton 5K Summer Series No 5. Flat www.yeoviltownrrc.com 13th Aug ( Sun ) 7.00pm Maiden Newton Madness 10K Maiden Newton youth Centre. Multi terrain, rural undulating www.maidennewton.info 28th Aug ( Sun ) 11.00 am Battle of Sedgemoor 10K plus fun run (11.05) Langport Arms Hotel Mainly flat 1 lap course. ( Somerset Series event 9) www.langportrunners.co.uk 29th Aug (Mon) 11.30am Baltonsborough 5.5m and junior race Baltonsborough playing Fields. Undulating road race. For info www.wellscityharriers.org.uk 4th Sept ( Sun ) 11.00am Burnham Beach 10K Brean Leisure Park, Barrow Off road beach footpaths, sand dunes ( Somerset series event 10) Burnham on Sea Harriers 11th Sept ( Sun ) 11.00 am Ash Excellent 8m Also 5K and 2m runs Ash Primary School Multi terrain scenic. ( Somerset Series event 11) Yeovil Olympiads/Ash School 14th Sep (Wed) 7.15pm Yeovilton 5K Summer Series No 6. Flat www.yeoviltownrrc.com 18th Sep ( Sun ) 10.30 am Shepton Mallet 10K plus 5K and 1K Junior race West Shepton playing fields. Gently undulating road event www.wellscityharriers.org.uk/shepton 25th Sep ( Sun ) 11.00am King Alfred's torment 7m Stourhead. Undulating challenging scenic multi terrain www.yeoviltownrrc.com CLUB HASH RUN The date for the hash run kindly being organised by Ken is Wednesday 20th July, for more details see Pete. 1of 1