Bath Half Marathon, 25/03/07

Angie Sadler reports on an excellent run in Bath...

Four Tewkesbury AC runners completed the course. After a chilly start the conditions were ideal for the 10,000 runners! Fist home was myself Angie Sadler 1hr 27mins (ran really well!) 5th Lady Vet
Stuart Buchan 1hr 30mins 29sec
Phillip Howells 1hr 43mins 58sec
Martyn Cox 1hr 57min 17sec

Stuart adds "I took my place amongst a field of over 8,000 runners for the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday in pretty good running conditions. I managed to maintain a good pace all the way round and a good sprint finish enabled me to record a VERY pleasing time of 1:29.55, just breaking the 1hr 30min mark for the first time! A PB by just over 3 minutes and a place of 516 (out of 8,165 finishers).

"The race was well supported with some great crowds cheering you on around the course, plus of course my own personal cheerleaders which made all the difference in the finishing straight!

"After the recent injury niggles and a poor Gloucester 20 run it was a real confidence boost before London to run such a good time and more importantly with no injury worries."

Forest of Dean half marathon , 25/03/07

Eight members turned out for the annual Forest Of Dean Half Marathon. Although the morning was a little chilly we all soon warmed up after tackling the many climbs. There were many good results with my 'training advisor' Clive Baker having yet another excellent run coming home first for Tewkesbury in a great time of 1:21:06. Clive also picked up 3rd place for V40 category. Only seconds behind was one of our newest members to the club, Luke. He is also in great form clocking a time of 1:22:32. Next home was Barry who is training hard for London and ran a pleasing time of 1:37:15. Chasing Barry was the much improving Dan who said he was hoping for a sub 1:45 but finished in a great time of 1:37:41. This is also good London training for him.
Next back was hubby Stu who ran with myself (but this time i let him beat me to the line!!). He had a very comfortable run finshing in 1:38:54, i then crossed the line in 1:39:20. I was very pleased with this as again it was a good prep run for London and was over 3 minutes faster than last years time. Carol also had an excellent run finishing 2nd in the V50 catorgory in a time of 1:43:24, also quicker than her time last year.
Leaving the best to last, Rob J had an excellent run as this is one of the furthest distances he has raced for some time.He finished in a time of 1:45:09.

Overall 'Chip Times' and places:
11th Clive - 1:21:06 (3rd MV40)
18th Luke - 1:22:32
176th Barry - 1:37:15
183rd - Dan - 1:37:41
212th - Stu - 1:38:54
220th - Cathy - 1:39:20
322nd - Carol - 1:43:24 (2nd LV50)
359th - Rob - 1:45:09

Rhayader 20

Three Tewkesbury AC members braved the annual “Round the Lakes” 20 mile race in Rhayader, Wales. On a fine spring day, bathed in warm sunshine under clear blue skies, the three intrepid athletes set out on this undulating trek around the Elan valley. The race is one of the most picturesque events on the calendar, but it’s not for the faint of heart - with almost 2000 ft of ascent and descent, this scenic event provides a testing environment for any runner to pit their wits. The notorious 800 ft steady climb between miles 4 and 6, into a strong and steady headwind, did its best to sap both energy and will, but this presented little challenge to the battle hardened combatants. The wind refused to be quieted and continued to buffet the runners for the majority of the remaining miles around the lakes. Heavy cloud cover and light drizzle greeted many of the entrants before the Elan valley was finished with them.



First club member home was Angie Sadler with a masterly display of hill running in a time of 2:25:17, showing no ill effects from her recent marathon and ultra-marathon exploits. Her time was sufficient to take 2nd place Lady and first LV45. Next in for the club was Barry O’Driscoll, who successfully completed the course in 2:41:32 as another of his hard training runs in preparation for the FLM. Third member home was the evergreen Philip Howells in 2:57:07, just 4 weeks ahead of his 60th birthday and with plenty of ultra-training in his legst. With races like this under their belts, and marathons in London and Tresco to look forward to on 22 April, the Tewkesbury contingent can take great heart from their individual performances.



Positions



48th Anglie Sadler 2:25:17 2nd Lady, 1st LV45

139th Barry O’Driscoll 2:41:32

228th Phillip Howells 2:57:07



410 finishers – winning time, a remarkable 2:00:44.

Hogweed Hilly Half

Barry O’Driscoll successfully completed the scenic, undulating Hogweed Hilly Half III. O’Driscoll was participating in the event solely for the hard training it could provide as part of his FLM preparations, and hard training it proved. With over 1400 ft of ascent this scenic rural half-marathon involves several long ascents (300ft +) at mile 1 and 8, some more abrupt ascents at miles 5 and 12, frantic descents down sharp gradients (including the final ½ mile), and sporadic flat sections which mother nature did her best to complicate by throwing in some blustery cross-winds for good measure. As could be expected, this was no PB course!! O’Driscoll ran the full course, more than could be said for many, although some of the climbs instigated a pace slightly slower than walking. Nevertheless O’Driscoll was pleased to finish the course in 1:43:32 for 75th place.

There were 259 finishers – winning time 1:18:54

This is a hard but enjoyable race and the Hogweed Hilly Half IV is definitely one for your 2008 race calendar – great atmosphere, well organised and marshalled, free massage plus an abundance of post-race refreshments.

Gloucestershire Road Relays

Tewkesbury AC did the business at the annual Gloucestershire Road Race relays, which took place at Sandhurst, near Gloucester over 5km (x3).

A triumphant team of Charlotte Mowbray, Carol Cowley and Angie Sadler won the ladies event. More details to follow shortly, in the mean time congratulations to the Gold medal winning girls!

Devizes 10km - 4th March

Helena Turner set herself a new personal best time over the 10km distance. The Tewkesbury AC runner went under the hour to record 59 minutes - a "really pleasing" performance from the former Bredon based lady.

Gloucester 20m - 4th March

Wet and windy conditions greeted the Tewkesbury AC runners on their arrival in Frampton. The annual 20 mile run is staged around the villages south of the city. This traditional London Marathon (FLM) warm-up race attracted its normal 500 plus starting line-up.

The Tewkesbury runners were all set on using this event as a training race and for most, it was successful.

First in for the club was Jon Mansfield, who, under the guidance of a local physiotherapist he put her treatment to the test. Despite only running nine times this year, he surprised himself to record near identical mile splits to finish in 2hr 24mins.

Barry O'Driscoll ran perfectly. O'Driscoll was the second happy Tewkesbury AC runner to finish. His recent injury niggles appear to have left him - a major boost to his FLM preparations.

Long distance athlete Adrian Lavery had a fair race considering he has been missing out on recent training sessions.

Club Captain Cathy Dudfield finished with a huge smile as she ran over 18 miles for the very first time. Finishing a inside her target time of 2hr 40 mins, the day gave her a massive shot of confidence - ideal for her marathon debut in London.

Dudfield's training adviser, experienced marathon man Clive Baker, was a proud finisher as he recorded the same time as the improving Captain.
Stuart Buchan was hit by a trio of lower limb niggles which affected him midway through the course. Nevertheless, he crossed the line in 2hr 46 mins.

Results

119th Jon Mansfield 2.24hr

171st Baz O’Driscoll 2.30hr

243rd Cathy Dudfield 2.39hr

244th Clive Baker 2.39hr

292nd Stuart Buchan 2.46hr

Coastal Marathon, 24/02/07

Angie Sadler and Phillip Howells both successfully completed the scenic, multi-terrain and tough Coastal marathon held in Beesands, south Devon on Saturday 24th February. In complete contrast to the frigid and gale-swept conditions of 2006, the 2007 version could not have been on a milder day for February. This did not detract from the toughness though, since the route is along the rugged and spectacular coast path for the first 10 miles, from Beesands to East Portlemouth. It then strikes inland over either steep Devon lanes or fiendishly equally steep, but also very muddy, footpaths, tracks and fields until mile 23. It then retraces back along the coast past the nature reserve at Slapton Ley and a return to Beesands, with a wicked flight of cliff steps to traverse up and down in the last mile to complete the challenge!

Times were therefore slow by marathon standards, but more than respectable for the terrain. Angie run superbly as usual to finish 11th and 4th lady of 133 finishers in 4-23-34, one position lower (although in a much better quality field) but 4 minutes faster than in 2006. The winner only did a 3-58. Phillip, still feeling the hip and hamstring problems that have plagued him in 2007 so far, slipped back over an hour from his 2006 time, but still finished in a reasonable 5-47-12 and 99th place following a late start two minutes from behind all the field after being held up in the loo queue!