Jamie joins the club.

I thought I had picked well until Storm Ashley decided to make an appearance. So the conditions were far from ideal and in a way it took a bit of pressure off before the race started. 

The plan at the start of the block was to aim for a 2:45 marathon. But training was going well so I decided to push the training runs towards 2:40 pace. So after refreshing the weather apps every day and finally accepting the fact that the weather was not improving, I decided I would adjust and just aim for a time between the two. 

Although the wind and rain wasn’t ideal, the wind was at least blowing in the right direction. Right in our faces on the way out which meant it would be behind us on the way back to the finish line. 

The race started with a lap around the track and then out for 6 miles before starting the two loops. I was feeling strong and the taper had worked its magic. I was running with a group and that definitely helped to take the edge of the wind. 

The first 10km flew by but the start of the loop was brutal – the wind was just relentless. But luckily I was working with a group to take turns at the front. 

I went through half way in 1hr 19mins and 30 seconds. Part of me was delighted with how the first half felt but I was also very aware this might backfire!

I continued to tick off the kms at 3:45 and took my last gel at 32k after taking on a gel every 10k. I still felt strong at this point and I had broken away from my pack and I was now running solo. 

I got to 37k and mentally told myself I just had a parkrun to go. At this point in the race, I was beginning to pick off a few runners. This is when it got tough but I managed to hold on. I finished well and ended up with a negative split, running my second half in 1hr and 19 mins and 10 seconds. 

I finished 15th with a time of 2:38:40. I was absolutely delighted with my time and performance especially given the conditions! It really couldn’t have gone any better. I think I might have caught the marathon bug! 

Alcester 10k 

6 October 2024

Report – Kevin Zwolinski

David’s regular newsletter a couple of week’s ago struck a chord with me, he made a very good point that no report on the popular Alcester 10k had been submitted.  Well David here’s mine.. My first attempt at sending it seemed to get lost in the ether but better late than never.

The race is still fresh in my mind because unlike others I haven’t run marathons and half-marathons in between then and now.   

David has given you the results, SAC won courtesy of Andy Lawrence who was 3^rd last year, and he beat a local from Run Alcester by well over 2 mins into second place.  Conclusive that, and jolly well done!

This report is a bit more about the experience of the run.

We are now getting towards the end of the road running season, and not yet into Cross Country mud plugging, so the Alcester 10k bridges the gap between those sunny days with perfectly clean, colourful, expensive, multi-brand road running shoes to very cold days with mostly muddy Inov8s (other brands are available) with tractor tyres underneath.  

Alcester is a pretty town which oozes character to the west of Stratford, and always seems to have a festive feel to it, maybe it’s the all-year round bunting down the main drag that perhaps gives that impression.

It’s a jolly little place I’d say ,and it has a Waitrose, plenty of pubs and cafes, so what’s not to like?   They also organise a really good run fully supported by the town, including all the gentry dressed in their robes clearly showing that they are behind the event.  There are lots of loos, and a very helpful and efficient team dishing out the numbers.

Over a thousand runners descended upon the town including 20 or so Stratford Athletics Club types who covered the full span of ‘the grid’ front, middle and back, all destined to enjoy the run and have some fun. 

We caught about 10 smiley folks from SAC in the photo, note some red shirts…  Clearly a very popular run, it always seems to be a sell-out.

Bethany Swain had very kindly invited the yellow shirts to bag drop in her place close to the start and to witness the brilliant efforts of her own labour in the restoration of the property.   Impressive Beth, well done. 

The mostly flat (ok – I’ll come to that) route heads out towards Kinwarton and Great Alne up a series of gentle slopes rather than hills, and it turns right at the crossroads towards Walcote village.  Now this is the bit nobody likes, it’s one of those  slopes that doesn’t look too bad, but it is steeper than you think, and it seems to go on forever. 

Then it’s down into Walcote village itself and uphill again and a right turn towards Alcester to the finish.  Sounds simple enough, well marshalled with two water stops but that long drag back is only a little over 2Km but again it goes on forever!   You think you are there in turning the corner into the High Street, but they move the finish gantry further up so it is farther then the start was to the corner.  Sneaky that!

Those that could make it were invited back to Beth’s for generous coffee and cake, others who chose to wear red on the day went to the pub.  That’s where Run Alcester had their finish reception.  It’s all out now, you know who you are…

And a fine day was had by all, and I for one will be looking forward to the Alcester 10k next year.