Storm Bert ain’t stopping us.

Written by David Jones on 28/11/2024. Posted in News

Susan Hunt with Florence’s Duomo in the background

Just the three reports this week but goodness me talk about varied. Many thanks to Susan Hunt, Dave Parkin and Kate Sergent for providing these excellent reports.

Susan Hunt competed in her 43rd marathon, yes 43rd, in Florence, my favourite city in the world ( apart from Birmingham obv!). She somehow managed to run each 5k quicker than the previous one. How does she do that ? Well done Susan and here’s to the 44th.

What to say about Dave Parkin’s adventure. The aim was that in 24 hours he had to get as far away from the start on foot as he could, measured in a straight line distance by a satellite tracker. There is no pre-set route, no support, and no end point.

Hmmm.

Anyway, those who know Dave will not be in the least bit surprised that he, together with his run (and walk) buddy completed the task with considerable distinction.

Our very own Thelma and Louise, Kate Sergent and Sarah Odell competed in the 9 Locks Challenge despite the efforts of Storm Bert to put them off. Okay unlike Thelma and Louise they didn’t choose to drive off a cliff at the end but the whole thing seemed quite a challenge for our intrepid twosome. There is a laugh out loud moment in Kate’s report but no plot spoiler from me, you’ll just have to read it.

Good luck to our senior XC runners this weekend with the ladies competing at Betley Court near Stoke and our men at Burbage Common. I’m guessing it might be muddy underfoot.

Take care.

David Jones

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Local parkrun done – just the marathon to do now!

Florence Marathon

Report – Susan Hunt

Florence is known for its outstanding art and Renaissance architecture. Happily, for the last 40 years it has also had a marathon so I headed there with my running friend, Linda.

Our first day was Friday. We didn’t find time for any of the 72 museums; spending the day browsing the Expo and touring local sports shops in search of a caffeine gel.

The next day we jumped on the 6am train to Lucca, famous for its ancient architecture. More importantly, its 16th century city walls are the venue for a stunning parkrun, with views of the mountains on one side and the medieval city on the other, which wildly surpassed our expectations. High on post-parkrun euphoria, we carbo loaded on waffles and pizza before heading back to Florence for the inevitable pasta dinner.

Marathon day dawned (a perfect calm 8-12 degrees).

We congratulated ourselves on the location of our VRBO flat: a mere five minute walk from the starting pens; although we wondered how we’d cope with its steep 33 step ascent to the front door post-race.

My expectations of my performance were fairly low: I hadn’t done a long run for 6 weeks (my plans first scuppered by a rolled ankle and then a horrendous cold); but I was excited at the prospect of a 26.2 mile city tour.

I started conservatively, mainly concentrating on not repeating my ankle roll on the cobbles (which have accumulated a lot of potholes and cracks since the 14th Century).

The route is designed to stay within the city so there were lots of switchbacks and loops. The hot tea available at every drink station seemed really popular but I wasn’t brave enough to try it until the finish (Lordy it was sweet!).

I have no idea how or why but, as the miles ticked by, I just felt better and better. My original aim was to stay at around 10 minute miles for a 4:20-30 finish and I reached halfway in 2:08 anticipating a slow down. But the expected fade never came and, by some miracle, I felt the best I have ever felt at 20 miles. My biggest challenge for the final few miles of a marathon is normally to stay conscious and keep going but for this one it was to find a way to graciously pass the slower runners who were in my way on the narrow city streets, without succumbing to elbow-use.

I eventually (after 26.74 miles by my watch) crossed the line in a triumphant 4:11:07. I later discovered that for the first time (in 43 marathons) I had run every 5k faster than the one before.

I danced around with excitement in the finish area until Linda crossed the line, in her fastest time post-COVID. Those who know me know that I’m not a hugger; but we hugged and literally jumped for joy!

We sprang up those 33 steps like young gazelles and, once showered and changed into our stylish Finishers’ shirts, headed into the City to show off.

The Daves
(how long did it take you to come up with that name Dave?)
Dave Parkin right with run buddy Dave

Escape from Meriden

Report – Dave Parkin

Approaching midnight on the evening of Friday 15th November, I, along with my race partner Dave and about 300 others, found ourselves on the village green in Meriden, near Solihull. The annual ‘Escape from Meriden’ was about to commence.

The objective of the race is delightfully simple – you have 24 hours to get as far away from the start on foot as you can, measured in a straight line distance by a satellite tracker.

There is no pre-set route, no support, and no end point. You can enter solo, as a pair, or, completely ridiculously, a ‘chained’ group of up to 6 people, who are, quite literally, chained together at the wrist. And dressing up as convicts in orange jumpsuits is encouraged.

The mind boggles when you start to realise this means you can’t take rucksacks on or off, you can’t change clothing and, well, when you start to consider calls of nature…

The plan for Dave and me (team name, originally, ‘The Daves’) was to try and get to Cambridge, and then, if we still had anything left in the tank to push on and get to the coveted ‘black’ medal, awarded to those who achieve 90 miles in a straight line.

As the clock struck midnight, we set off, and, while still less than half a mile from the start I felt a dripping down the back of my leg. With dreadful timing, my platypus had burst, turning the bottom of my running rucksack into a small swimming pool. Well, at least it was lighter after that, but it did make finding 24hr petrol stations even more important.

Our route took us through Coventry, then Rugby, and across the M1 at Junction 16. Before we knew it, we were through our first marathon in 4:46, including two ten minute stops, which, as we realised later, is not a pace to be running at for 24hrs!

Emma very kindly met us at a quiet layby at 5am with soup and hash browns (a 3.15am alarm for her!), and we were on our way again half an hour later.

We were definitely slowing into our second marathon, and made it to Wellingborough at around 10am, catching another Meriden escapee at around the 70km mark (but he definitely went on to have the last laugh!). A tea and toast stop, and then we were into some off-road walking, before getting back on the road again.

We were met by another friend at lunchtime, who had, in a very helpful feat of logistics, pre-ordered us chili and chips in the pub. And so, by early afternoon, we were back on the road to Cambridgeshire. St Neots, which we reached in the late afternoon, marked our gold medal of 60miles in a straight line distance.

And then into our last stretch. My goodness, it was getting difficult by this point – we both had quite significant aches and pains, it had got dark and started to rain. Our biggest challenge was a long stretch along the A428 – thunderingly busy, no pavement, and hobbling along a grass verge. We did manage an impromptu diversion across some muddy fields, but, meeting up with our next support team at 6pm and having half an hour in a nice warm, dry car, we decided to call it a day.

So, all told, we managed 120km on the watch, and 103km on a straight line measure, placing us 3rd out of around 40 pairs. All things considered, a huge success, particularly given we had never run together before the event.

Definitely a lesson to be learnt on route planning in the latter stages of the race, and perhaps a slight nagging doubt that we should have pushed on further on the day, but all is well that ends well, and the decision was the right one.

Sarah Odell and Kate Sergent

Before

And after !

Complete with photo bombers.

The 9 Locks Challenge

Report – Kate Sergent

Last Sunday, in the midst of Storm Bert, Sarah Odell and myself took ourselves off to Stourbridge to take part in the 9 Locks challenge.

I loved it last year so decided to repeat.

It is a canal based challenge encompassing 9 locks heading from Stourbridge to Merry Hill. We were half expecting it to be cancelled but the text at 7 am just confirmed our numbers and said there maybe alterations to the course.

The journey there was crazy, sheeting rain, wind and flooded roads, but our only concern was what we were wearing as, despite the rain, the temperature was a barmy 15 degrees.

We boarded the first coach to the start, taking up the last 2 seats and, as we set off, after 400 metres an embarrassed couple asked the driver to stop and let them off as they realised they had got on the wrong coach. They were on a day trip to Chester and wondered why everyone was dressed in running gear.

The laughter lightened everyones nerves!

We were set off in groups of 4 every few minutes after being well briefed about the hazards and told the route was cut by 2 k as the wood section was under water. Because of this, Sarah decided to run with me , relax, and take it easy.

We took a selfie to which a group behind us photo bombed laughing saying “why do we do this??

So this takes me to the soppy bit of my report. As we set off it got me thinking. Yes why do we do this, getting up at 6.30, battling our way through floods and storms to run a 10 k??

Answers:

Running brings us joy.
It does wonders for our mental health.
It brings us achievements.
Adventures.
Fitness.
Above all for me friendship, long lasting friendships with people that care and share your joy!
It shows the best in people like marshals who stand out in all weathers to make these events happen!

So it was another morning filled with all of the above!!

We made up the mile at the finish to make our 10 k and were given hot coffee a great medal and an amazing goody bag.

Thankyou Stuweb for making it all workout just fine!!