What an active lot you are – Day 2 !

SUAAC Image Permission

The club are in the process of updating our Comms strategy for all our public facing channels. Website, Instagram, Facebook, Newspapers etc.

A critical part of this is ensuring we have people’s permission to use their images, if required. 

When you completed the registration process to join the Club, you will have selected your options but we have taken the decision that we should conduct an annual review, in case people’s circumstances change. 

If you DO NOT wish for your image to be used as part of the Club’s public facing strategy, please email Carolyne Johnston for the juniors at juniormembership@suaac.co.uk  or Robin Langhorn for seniors at seniormembership@suaac.co.uk

You will then be added to a group that the Executive have visibility of, thus ensuring your image is not used.

The GB Ultra Wales

Report – Mark Barker

It was the longest day of the year and my longest run of the year. 53 miles of self-navigation, 3,500m of elevation, a relentless course through Southern Snowdonia. My first mountain ultra and I wasn’t confident I could finish it.

The race began and ended in Coed y Brenin Forest, where around 600 of us set off at 6am. The first 12 miles climbed steadily along forest trails and a ridge with sweeping views.   Everyone stayed tight, knowi better than to go out too fast in the heat.

Checkpoint one was the opportunity to check out the food on offer, it was going to be marmite sandwiches and small potatoes for me!   I filled my pockets, topped up my bottles, and pressed on.

The first summit was Cadair Idris and the skies opened. Rain turned to wind, then hail. Visibility was far better than my recce weeks earlier.  Descending the mountain, the sun broke through. The views were magnificent, but the terrain kept my eyes fixed downward. I’d never seen so many runners fall, I was not next to take a tumble!

By checkpoint three, I needed a break but checkpoint four, with its hot food and strict 5pm cut-off, pulled me back into gear. Eight flattish miles followed along the Mawddach Trail, an old railway line tracing the estuary and crossing a long timber viaduct into Barmouth.

I arrived at a small room tucked behind a theatre. “Where’s the hot food?” I asked. A hand gestured to some pot noodles and a flask of hot water. Not quite what I’d imagined. I picked my way around runners’ collapsed on the floor and sat with my pot noodles.

That room captured the heart of ultra running: gritty, raw, and strangely communal.  I left the noodles behind, stocked up on potatoes, marmite sandwiches, and orange slices, and carried on.

Back into the mountains. The cloud settled in and never lifted. I couldn’t see much—but at least I wasn’t overheating. After checkpoint five, only one summit remained: Rhinog Fawr. With darkness setting in, I teamed up with another runner, Alastair.   Not sure we were the best pairing, as we followed what we thought was the correct route along a dry stone wall, with barbed wire, to realise that the other runners were on the other side! 

Fog hung thick as we reached Rinog Fawr, without even realising it. We assumed we’d conquered the toughest part, until a mountain marshal near the summit directed us toward a steep descent marked by tiny orange flags.

One runner ahead fell and snapped his poles. It was a reminder to stay focused. The trail then climbed again, boulders requiring hands and knees, the flags guiding us up to the summit, like little beacons into the clouds.

At the top, relief. But what goes up must come down.

The next two miles were the most difficult part of any event I have ever done. We scrambled down treacherous, muddy rocks, over a dozen of us, slipping constantly, landing on our backsides.  Nobody had a good technique; we were all just taking one step at a time.  It took us nearly an hour to cover a mile.  The remainder of the daylight had gone and we were now reliant on our headtorches.    

At last, we reached the bottom, greeted by a marshal, shining his torch on those descending and a stretcher at the ready, although I am not sure how they would have got to anyone needing help!

It was just before 11pm. Two more miles through boggy night terrain brought us to the final checkpoint. Then, five more miles of trails to the finish. Alastair and I stuck together, navigating carefully, and in the early hours of Sunday, I saw the lights of the visitors centre, the finish line.

Fifty-three miles, the hardest terrain I’ve ever covered, I was exhausted but I loved it, it will be a day that I will never forget.   

Now a week in Snowdonia to unwind (with a hot tub!) and maybe decide the next challenge.

Malvern Midsummer Marathon

Report – Simon Penson.

On one of the hottest days of the year, four intrepid (bonkers?) Stratford runners tackled the Malvern Midsummer Marathon, organised by the LDWA ( long distance walkers association). It should have been 6 but due to injury and recovery, Annie Gardiner and Fiona Penson sat it out.

Aside from Susan Hunt (our resident marathon queen), the rest of us, Simon Penson, Katy Liddel and Bev Brigden, felt woefully underprepared but Susan assured us it was a ‘long walk on the hills-just finish’!

We set-off together in cooler conditions and made our way onto the start of the Malvern Hills. It was a relaxed affair as none of us were racing. Once on the ridge, we were rewarded by superb views and a few cheeky climbs.

Hydrating was a constant challenge but the feed stations (which we made full use of) were at just about the right intervals. 

After saying goodbye to Bev (who sensibly completed the half marathon route), Katy, Susan and I carried on in the heat of the day.  

We felt the heat made it very challenging and could  have done with more preparation and training. Aside from that, the camaraderie and banter made the day and we would not have changed it.

It was unfortunate that there was a 15^th Century Ale House just before the finish-we were sorely tempted but knew that once in, there was no way out!

I’m not sure I’d do it again. I might go for the shorter half marathon route which still covered the length of the hills, or else just schedule a social run with the Dirty Weekenders through Spond!

On a personal note, the event marked a year to the day since I’d detached 3 out of four quad muscles from my patella tendon after a stumble in the Buttermere Horseshoe Fell Race, so I was pleased to finish in one piece and with no ill effects. 

The Club Championships is the single most important competitive event in the Track & Field calendar for SUAAC because it is open to everyone in the whole club. 

There is a huge amount of effort that goes into organising and running the Championships by our volunteers and our hope and expectation is that all our athletes will prioritise the event over other activities and enter and support the club. 

Whilst the event is competitive, in some cases this is the first opportunity for an athlete, particularly the youngsters, to enjoy the thrill of competition and to pit themselves against their peers. However, it is more important to compete against the clock and the tape measure and to try to either set a personal best or improve an existing one and win points towards the age group championships. 

This year to we are again including a 5000m that will be a part of the Shakespeare series of races. 

More details for the championships will follow in the next few weeks including entry details. 

Under 20 Midland Champions 

Report – Niamh Hillard

With 32 degree temperatures and strong winds in Nuneaton, the 1500m was a tough race from the outset, nevertheless I set out in joint second place, maintaining this position for the rest of the race.

The race was set at a good place but a little challenging to battle against the winds in the back straight and with the lead athlete being just out of reach to use as a wind break.

Then over the final 150m of the race I picked  up my pace securing the 🥈 Silver Medal place with a new PB of 4.58.75; breaking that elusive 5 minute barrier for the first time.

Overall I was very happy with the race but still a lot more to do this season.

Midlands ISA Athletics Championships

A couple of weeks ago Elsie Pipitone won the 600m and 150m Midlands ISA Athletics Championships at Wolverhampton, in doing so she qualified to represent the Midlands ISA team at the ISA National Athletics Championships which were held at Alexander Stadium.

Elsie ran a massive PB of 1:49.09 to win the yr6 girls 600m final and set a new PB of 21.48 to win the yr 6 girls 150m final.

Looking at Power of 10 (not yet updated), we think her 600m time ranks her 8^th in the UK this year for U13 girls Yr1.

GB athlete Alex Bell presented the medals