Black Knights Do It Again

From Linda:

Thank you everyone that ran my 14ish mile route today. Ok I'll accept the abuse about Stone Lane!! 😬😬. Marathon training can be such a struggle and it's great that as a group we can encourage, support or be entertaining whilst we run through the miles. It's always a struggle on your own so why don't you join us next week? It will be 16 miles but I will try to do a shorter cut off points, as well. Route to be confirmed later in the week. From Goldenstones at 08.45hrs next Sunday. Hopefully we can have a faster group and a slower group but it will be continuous. See you there.

Dark Knights back in Devon

From Matt:

With THIRTEEN Dark Knights out to play, it looked ominous from the start that things might go awry. A small matter of getting everyone to share lifts (very much like trying to herd cats once again) was organised days in advance. We roll with the punches, so things changed on the day, but we set off in high spirits.
With a certain someone going wrong on the course last year, we were determined that everyone was to get it right this time – “Don’t go wrong” was the phrase of the day!
Closed roads were to be avoided, but the SatNav proved perfect and only slight detours made the trip down interesting. Totnes was achieved and we parked just metres from the door of race HQ. Coffee and cake in a local café and Matt realised he was missing vital clothing for the trip home, so a quick tour of menswear shops was organised…but no-one got lost in town.
With the race looming, various loos and loo-paper was hunted down although Steph had volunteered to “shake”, and then came the obligatory race briefing where clear and non-confusing routes were clearly explained with lots of winks and nods in Matt’s direction, and the speech was finished with a rousing “Don’t go wrong!”
Popping outside we were met by a spitter spatter of rain, but this proved to be a little annoyance as we walked through the town to the start…but no-one got lost here either.
Three, two one, GO! And we set off up the murderous path out of Totnes. It’s a real steep scramble with lung busting gradients that wind and climb tortuously, and we’d already been warned that there was up to five hills like this depending on which distance you were planning to do…6.5K, 10K or the half marathon.
Finally the hill eased as we reached the peak and the path joined a road dropping gradually from the top. A marshall stood guard for the 6.5K cut-off point which, first Pippa Howarth, and then Katie Brooks, took for the dash back to Totnes through Sharpham Estate. Pippa took a great first place, with Katie fourth in her age-group. No-one had gone wrong…yet.
Charging on, the road wound steeper and steeper down until, turning right onto a rocky path down to the hamlet of Bow. Before the junction were two bright yellow signs with arrows directing runners to either the 10K or half-marathon, while in the junction were another two bright yellow signs with arrows directing runners to either the 10K or half-marathon. Rob Jones and Richard Howes decided this would be an ideal place to go wrong!
Kirsty Norman had already sprinted across Bow bridge and charged through Ashsprington to head for home. Kirsty was third in her age-group, with Steph fourth in hers. Rich H and Rob J hung their heads as they crossed, gentlemanly, just behind Steph, while Richard Dodge finished 5th age-group, and Anita Rufus 8th in hers.

Meanwhile, actually leading the race (!), Richard Bateson had turned right at Bow and, after running along the river for a while, met the slopes of Postbox Hill. Notorious for it’s incessant gradient, it is a hill to be endured, only to be outdone in it’s unpleasantness, by the knee deep ford which soaks and freezes your feet! Mud and gravel oozing out of their trainers, first, Nathan Gardiner was in hot pursuit followed by Tim Howes. Matt was struggling with the slippy terrain and getting tired with trying to maintain balance, but was determined that John-Paul Humphreys would not catch him.
More hills, more mud and then a wood with little route marking. Just one extra sign would have been comforting, but a good sense of direction kept everyone sweet. The final slog back to Totnes was daunting and saw calamity hit Richard…going the wrong side of a stile meant first place was lost never to be re-gained, but second overall on his Wild Night Run debut was an excellent result! I am sure we will see him back to redeem that error.
Team second place was achieved through Richard, and great runs from Nathan (13th overall, 5th age-group), and Tim Howes (26th and 7th). An exhausted Matt crawled home 34th, but still 3rd in his age-group so could still be hanging in there for a race series triumph, while J-P, also exhausted, was similarly pleased to see the lights of Totnes and managed 39th (12th age-group).

Upon repairing to the pub, Kirsty was serenaded with Happy Birthday and presented cake to everyone, and then the long trip home was started. Matt was particularly comfy but felt a little chilli in his nether regions! Rob and Rich were left rueing their directional inadequacies, although this is nothing compared to “runner’s willy” apparently!
Next race is a ten mile/five mile option across Dartmoor – the most crazily exciting thing you may ever do! But if you want to experience all the thrills a little closer, the last race of the series is in Bristol…links follow.

The full results can be seen here and the next Races here.

St Margaret's Hospice

Another reason to be proud of Yeovil Town RRC as they present a cheque for £3445 to St Margarets Hospice the proceeds of last December's Santa Dash. A really well done who all those who helped, ran or contributed in any way including Mike Shead's family who provided most of the marshals, and not forgetting our newest Race Director Lindsay.
Well Done all.

Marathon Mike

Manatee 5-mile River Run

My club over here, Bradenton Runners Club, organise several races each year in the area, the MRR being one, and although it’s only a short 5 mile dash we usually run or volunteer as it’s just a few minutes down the road. The race is in a wildlife refuge called Emerson Preserve which is located on a short peninsula on Snead Island bordered on one side by south Tampa Bay and the other by the mouth of the Manatee River. The preserve is frequented by many shorebirds including pelicans, ibis, herons, osprey, egrets and cranes. Snakes, raccoons, lizards, and tortoises are also abundant. The river gets its name from the Manatees which inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico; they are commonly called sea cows and in my view look quite sad.

A Manatee 

Snead Island

The course consists of a couple of miles on a narrow trail of crushed clam shells which meanders through giant ferns, palms and banyan trees, and occasionally crosses the park road. There follows an out-and-back along an asphalt road to Emerson Point. The race had a late start this year, 8:00a.m., so we were lucky to be in the middle of a 2-day cold snap with 12 degree temps; but it did warm up later in time for the after race party. After the national anthem, sung solo and unaccompanied by a local, we were off. There was a bit of jostling during the first couple of miles as 400 runners vied for position on the twisty shell trail.

But it soon thinned out and before long we were out of tree cover and onto the asphalt, bordered on both sides by mangroves, ancient Live Oaks and tropical hardwood hammocks. About half way along this stretch we started to pass the faster runners coming back, this could have been a bit dis-heartening, there certainly seemed a lot of them before the turn-around was reached. Markers were placed at each mile and there were also a few interesting road signs to observe:

The turn-around was at the beach at Emerson Point which offered panoramic views across the bay, west to Egmont Key, and north to St. Petersburg. The last mile and half was back along the asphalt road to the finish and it was pleasing to see just how many runners were still on their way out. The last road crossing was strategically placed by another interesting road sign, especially for the over 60’s.

Not so keen on these short dashes as there’s no opportunity to slack off a bit, but did manage to hang in there, finish in the top half and win my age group. Then there was the after race party…………..pasta, barbequed pulled pork sandwiches, salad and CAKES, but no tea (or beer this time!).

Marks Runs

DINNINGTON PUB RUN

Another cold clear crisp night for pub running. Simon's run took us south over a cross roads towards Chillington. At the top of the hill we turned right and ran past this village. The lane took us to the edge of Dowlish Wake. We then ran past Ludney and down a muddy lane or track into Allowenshay. The stars were again very clear. The hedges were neatly trimmed. A steep hill took us up to Furzy Knaps. The last bit was clockwise back to the pub. Unfortunately for me, a few hundred yards from the pub, I tripped on a pot-hole, fell, and sprained my ankle. Never-the-less it was a great pub run. Thanks Simon and all.

Can you see the swelling?

Club Events

1. Tuesday Club Night is at  Goldenstones 6:15 pm 31th Jan.

2. Committee Meeting this Wednesday 1st Feb

3. Thursday Pub run is at Royal Oak Stowford at 6:30pm 2nd Feb

4.  Track night on Friday at 6:15pm  

5.  The Sunday Run will be Montacute 5th Feb 9:00 am

6. The next Championship race is  Sun 5th Feb 10k Longleat 10.00 am