May 2019 review

parkruns

This month saw our members clock up 246 parkrun finishes in 45 parkrun events. Our members visited 27 different parkruns in month including 19 in Wales with the others being Buckingham, Crosby, Dartford Heath, Isabel Trail, Longrun Meadow, Lydney, Milton Keynes and Thornbury.

There were 27 parkrun PB’s including Aled Hughes, Catherine Robinson, Jay Howells, Maria George and Sian Jenkins who all notched up 2 parkrun PB’s each in the month. Aled smashed the 19 minute barrier for the first time with a 18:46 whilst Sian Jenkins double means she now has 17 parkrun PB’s in 32 parkruns and has gone from 42:43 to 29:31 over the past 15 months.

Our other parkrun PB-ers were Abbiegayle Lumsden, Adrian Pearce, Andrew Hughes, Anthony Kavanagh, Chris Bimson, Claire Williams, Dawn Apsee, Heather Morgan, James Beynon, Judith Jeeves, Leanne Puleio, Nicola Cornock, Paul Barrett, Paul James, Sara Davies, Steph Iveson-Holmes and Wayne Randall. A couple of highlights include Adrian smashing his PB with an 18:16 making him the fastest current member in the club over 5K. Another PB for Chris Bimson means he now has 10 parkrun PB’s in just 17 parkruns so far with 9 of those PB’s being this year.

In case this has passed you by, Swansea seems to be the place to go if you are on form and looking for a PB with 8 of our members getting a PB there this month. I know a few others including our Chairman Chris Pratt who’s 5K PB has been set at Swansea parkrun.

Finally, this month saw Diana Purnell and Brett Bonell celebrate their 50th parkruns.

5K

The first day of the month saw 36 runners at the first race of the Aberavon 5K series. Ryan Evans lead the Phoenix runners back with a speedy 18:58 despite a headwind for half of the race. Jonathan Tidball, Sarah Davies, Paul Barrett, Chris Stanlake, Kaye Pedler, Alexis Barrett and Stephne Puddy all bagged themselves PB’s. A huge well done to Elaine Nash and Philippa Nash who completed their first race with the club as well.

Karl Johnson and Nige Rees ran the Cardiff Race for Victory 5K. This was the second race of the day for Karl who had run the Newport 10K that morning. Nige Rees  got a new PB of 24:39.

We had 6 runners at the Swansea Bay 5K where Niki went sub 19 and claimed the fastest 5K time of anyone in the club for this year with a 18:54. Shawn Cullen claimed a new PB to add to the growing list this year with a 25:40.

We also had 6 runners at the first of the SSAFA 5K series where Aled ran 19:03 followed by seasons bests from Chris Pratt (21:27), and David Kembery (21:50). Nick Harris notched up yet another event along with Karl Johnson and Dawn Hopkins clocked a sub 25 with a 24:52. 

The final event of the month was the Merthyr Mawr Lane 5K with 57 members completing the course. Adrian Pearce led the way in an impressive 18:37 whilst Aled Hughes and Niki Puleio were next up in 18:56 and 19:00 respectively. For the second year in a row Simon Williams got close to a first sub 20 with 20:16 whilst I was next up in my best time since the same race last year with a 20:33.  Final results are still to be confirmed so these are provisional times but it looks like there were multiple PB’s set including for Denise Bradley who picked up her second top 3 age category placing in just 4 days.

5 miles

A rare 5 mile event with the Porthkerry Multi Terrain 5 miler. It was also the latest fixture in the club trail championship which is proving very popular this year as we had 28 entrants. Adrian Pearce led us back followed by Aled and myself. Sarah Davies was our first female followed by Emma Loyns and Denise Bradley. There were multiple PB’s with so many running a 5 mile race for the first time with the club including Luke Jones, Steven James, Sarah Davies, Jo Gamba, Nige Rees, Paul Barrett, Dawn Hopkins, Sharon Pritchard, Alexis Barrett, Nicola Cornock, Stephne Puddy and Andrea Self.

We had 12 runners at the Tonmawr Hilly 5 miler where Adrian Pearce led our club members back in 33:30 and was 2nd in his age category. Steve Loveluck was 3rd in his age category whilst April’s female runner of the month, Anneliese Loveluck was 1st female overall. Denise Bradley was 2nd in her age category. Unsuprisingly given the course, the PB’s were for those either running their first 5 miler or those that had only run a similiarly tough 5 miler previously. There were PB’s for Jonathan Tidball, Sian Jenkins, Nicola Cornock and Stephne Puddy.

10K

The first weekend of the month saw the second Newport 10K with 39 runners from the club. Niki Puleio ran just 3 seconds outside his PB with a 38:11 despite having run London Marathon just a week earlier. His time is also the fastest 10K in the club this year. Neil Price chipped a few seconds off his PB to come even more agonisingly close to his first sub 40 with a 40:07. Running side by side throughout, Chris Wonka Williams had the better finish to beat me and finish as our third runner in 43:28.

Sarah Davies was our first female in a PB time of 48:48 meaning she claimed a 5K and 10K PB’s in the same week. Jo Gamba also bagged herself a PB with her first sub 50 clocking at 49:19. Our third female finisher was Emma Loyns who had only travelled back from Florida the day before.

The huge PB list included Simon Harrison, Gareth Davies, Jay Howells, Alun Job, Paul Iskander, Dawn Hopkins, Phill Iveson, Sian Thomas, Amanda Taylor, Steph Iveson, Sara Davies, Tammie Baker, Deb Edwards, Catherine Robinson, Nicola Cornock, Maria George, Cath Griffiths and Claudine Nicholson. Well done to Chris Stanlake and Alexis Barrett who also got 10K PB’s just 4 days after setting new 5K PB’s.

The Swansea Epic 10K saw 6 of our runners complete the tough off road course with Chris Richards claiming his first sub 1 hour 10K and Dawn Wright completing her first race as a Phoenix.

Niki Puleio was back in action again and ran a 38:47 with David Kembery our only other finisher in 46:24. Shawn Cullen ran the tough, off road, Brecon Beacons 10K whilst a week later, Steve Loveluck, Denise Bradley and Karl Johnson completed the Builth Wells Trail 10K.

Karl made it a weekend 10K double doing the Caerphilly 10K the day after whilst David Kembery made it three 10K races on consecutive weekends. Nige Rees ran a PB of 53:23 whilst new members Tyler Howells and Abbiegayle Lumsden came in with a PBs of 58:00 and 1:08:51 respectively. There were 11 Ogmore Phoenix Runners in total at Caerphilly.

Another couple of 10K’s to finish off the month as Dawn Hopkins ran the Vitality London 10K whilst Karl, Sharon Pritchard and Debbie Bennion completed the Treforest 10K.

Half Marathons

Julie Ransom ran the Milton Keynes Half Marathon whilst Liz Davis and Liz Sim ran the Bath Two Tunnels Half Marathon early in the month. Sally Pensom ran the Chester Half Marathon whilst Gary Loo scored a PB and first sub 2 Half Marathon at the Great Manchester Run. Sharon Pritchard ran the only local Half Marathon of the month with 4 laps of 3.3 miles at the latest Infinity Running event in Margam Park.

Finally, Shawn and Julie completed the Liverpool Half Marathon on the final weekend of the month.

Marathons

Just a week after the heroics and excitement of the London Marathon, we had 11 runners at the second running of the Newport Marathon. Wayne Hayhurst took another few minutes off his marathon best coming in at 3:20:54 – an incredible improvement considering before this year he hadn’t run under 4 hours. Steven James also notched a PB with a 3:33:38 with Ryan Evans coming in at 3:39:52 in his first marathon.

Keith Coleman just missed out on the sub 4 with a 4:03 and next up were Gregg Harris in 4:19 and Dan Clark in 4:36. Anthony Kavanagh ran a 4:44 PB whilst Emma Marshall was paced round by Chris Pratt in a PB time of 4:49 which was a huge improvement on her time from the previous year. Peter Walsh completed the course in 5:11 whilst Jamie Puddy completed his debut marathon in 5:21.

Chris Pratt was back in action for his 5th Marathon in just  10 weeks (plus the Vale Ultra thrown in for good measure) at the latest Infinity Running event in Margam park where he completed 8 laps of the 3.3 mile course to make up the marathon distance. A 4:11 finish time being his fastest of the 5 despite the usual stops for photos and a bit of chatting along the way. He’d also run 10 miles the day before with me and Jo Gamba down to Porthcawl parkrun.

There were yet more Marathon heroics at the Liverpool Marathon where Amy and Chris Roberts returned for a second year. Despite a reported challenging headwind for the final few miles, Amy got another PB and set a new club age category record with a 3:51:49 whilst Chris came in just over the 4 hour mark with a 4:05:03.

Ultra Marathons

Steven James took on the Brecon Beacons Ultra. A 32 mile race with an eye watering 6700 feet of elevation. That’s more than double the elevation of Snowdonia Marathon and over testing, tricky terrain. He completed the course in 6 hours 50 minutes before going on to run the Porthkerry 5 miler the next day.

A week later Steven was back in action, this time running the latest Infinity Running event with an aim of using it as more long run training for an upcoming Ultra of even longer distance. Steven ended up managing 12 laps of the 3.3 mile course within the allotted 7 hour cut off (finishing after 6 hours and 36 minutes) and incredible kept up a 10 minute mile pace throughout, ending up covering 39.3 miles.

It’s difficult to find the words for what one member did this month so I’m just going to put the details and then a couple of comments I put on Facebook before and after the run. Nick Harris took on the Dragon 100 mile race. Starting in Rhossili Bay in the Gower and finishing in Cardiff Bay following the Coastal Path but also throwing in Afan Forest for good measure which helped bump up the elevation to around 9000 feet.

I started another tracking post to follow his progress and wrote this just as he was starting at 6pm on Saturday evening… “Absolutely crazy to think that whilst we’re having our evening meals tonight, Nick will be running. Whilst we sleep tonight, Nick will be running. When we have breakfast, do our morning run and for the entire time our Newport Marathoners are running – Nick will still be running. Sunday lunch, afternoon and possibly even bedtime tomorrow, Nick will still be running. Incredible.”

29 hours and 28 minutes later Nick finished and I wrote this… “He’s rewritten the history books again. I’ve been fortunate enough to know Nick Harris since he first joined the club in 2013. He started out at the back. Within a year he went from back marker to our fastest runner in the club breaking several club records and winning Runners Runner in 2014 in his first full year with the club. He’s run well over 400 events for the club and took on every challenge possible. This week has pretty much summed Nick up… a fell race, a 5K, 1 miler and a 100 miler. He will take on any challenge. The mental strength to run 100 miles is just beyond what most of us could comprehend, let alone the physical side of moving forward for a 100 miles and seeing darkness fall twice. Above it all, a genuinely lovely, unassuming guy. A gentlemen. A supporter. St Nick. Our Phoenix.”

Other races

From a 100 miler to 1 milers. A day before his 100 mile race started, Nick warmed up with the Cardiff Summer Series 1 miler along with new member Joe Hill. Later in the month, Dai James clocked a speedy 5:27 mile at the Steve Jones 1 mile series in Bryn Bach along with Aled Hughes and Karl Johnson.

Aled and Nick were on a mission with events this month with them being our only runners at the Lady Windsor race and joining several others for the Whitford Point Multi Terrain race. Aled was joined by Adrian Pearce and David Sheard to take on the 3000 feet of elevation included in the Cader Idris Mountain Race whilst Leanne Parsons completed another tough off roader with the Preseli Beast Bach.

Bridgend County Running League

I had to save the best for last. The first race of the 2019 Bridgend League saw our attendance record at a single event smashed as we exceeded 100 runners for the first time with 114 members completing the course.

At the front end, I think I can safely say we had our strongest 15 scorers to date with another golden find by Neil Price who introduced his mate Gareth Battle to the club who was our first finisher, followed by Niki, Ryan Evans, Adrian Pearce, James Littlewood, Paul Smith, Aled Hughes and Neil Price. Our top 8 finishing in the top 22 positions overall and every one of them capable of a low 19 minute 5K time. The remainder of our top 15 was made up of Wayne Hayhurst (just 3 days after his amazing Newport Marathon time), Gareth Richards, Saul Harris, myself, Luke Jones, Kris Denholm and Gareth Davies. Several more came in close behind.

The course at Ogmore Castle was amended slightly from last year to start further down Golf Club Hill meaning an even longer climb to start with before a couple of miles running on the trails and fields at the top before a fast descent including some tricky rocky and sandy sections. Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security though as the final half mile or so included a steep narrow incline and a very muddy and slippery finish. A massive well done to everyone who took on the course and completing it.

For the competitive amongst us, the excitement grew as we realised we’d had an incredible team performance with so many of our top end finishing in high positions and the incredible turnout meaning we would have one of, if not our best event score ever. I am very proud to announce, Ogmore Phoenix Runners won the first event of the BCRL. If you are reading this having run for us at that event, you made that happen. One of the best things about the BCRL is that every single finishers makes a difference to the scoring no matter if you are the first or final finisher so well done to every single runner.

This month saw 620 results recorded with 246 parkruns and 374 race finishes. Our members attended 36 different races in month with everything from 1 mile to 100 miles and from flat road races to a race over one of the Welsh 3 peaks. Incredible. Now it’s over to our Chairman, Chris Pratt, for his runners of the month.

Chairman’s Runners of the Month

I’ll launch straight in this month with my first accolade.  It won’t take long to work out who it’s going to…

100 miles.  Rhossili to Cardiff Bay with a little detour up around the Afan Forest thrown in for good measure.  It sounds like a car journey, that you might consider for a day trip.  For one of us it was an adventure.  Start time was 6pm Saturday evening.  He ran through sunset.  He ran through the night and as our Captain said in a Facebook post as we were all getting up out of our beds on Sunday morning, he was still running.  Changes of shoes, socks and various items of clothing were necessary during the journey.  Various members of the club turned out to support him at multiple points along the route.  The sun approaching Porthcawl wore him down to reveal an almost broken man to supporters there.  With refreshment and a subsequent drop in temperatures he pressed on and showed amazing endeavour to keep going all the way along the coast.  To put it in perspective he reached the end of Vale Ultra having completed almost 70 miles and then had to run it in reverse on incredibly tired legs.  The support crew built as he approached his goal.  With odd shoes on his feet he arrived at Cardiff Bay at 23:45 on Saturday night to rapturous applause from supporters both present and at home watching live.  An epic performance.  A story of true grit and determination.  A 100 mile PB of 29 hours and 28 minutes was in the bag!  Not only this but he also did a flurry of events during the week and even a parkrun on the Saturday morning before the 100 miler kicked off!!  Amazing stuff and such a worthy winner of the Chairman’s Male Runner of the Month accolade for May.  Mr Nick Harris.  We salute you.

There have been lots of ladies doing amazing things this month.  We’ve had PB’s left, right and centre.  We’ve had long distances covered.  Very difficult to separate all the huge achievements.

But it’s not always about big achievements.  Sometimes it’s just being able to get out there that makes a difference.  Someone who has had a year of hardship.  Long term injury had plagued and it was a struggle to get out and get the miles in.  Despite that there was a resolute person battling along behind the scenes.  Walking at club sessions and helping to bring on our walking section.  Staying connected by social media and attending social gatherings.  But quietly, in the background, she was running.  Helped by osteopathy to re-commence the journey, she took advantage of a challenge through a charity she held dear and set a target.  Nobody was in on it.  It was something she tackled quietly in the background.  The target was 50 miles.  She ended on 73.  Rekindling a love for something so long missed.  Social miles completed with friends and longer runs than had been tackled in a long while.  At the same time completing a leadership course to give even more back to the club joining the ranks of wonderful leaders we have within our midst.  A story that warms the heart and an accolade to a determined soul.  Riding out such long periods of injury is tough.  This brings to mind times when we need to rally to support those within our midst who are struggling.  A huge hats off to my Chairman’s Female Runner of the Month for May, Jayne Bissmire, for her determined focus in the face of adversity and her fight to get back into the running groove.  Well done Jayne.

Weekly Waffle – 28th May 2019

The warmer weather continues…

Training early in the week attracts a record number up the valley to recce Blackmill’s Beast on a warm summers eve…

Events appear on the calendar in abundance as the year progresses.

A few took a mid week trip to the Welsh capital to cover 5km in the evening sun to raise a few pennies for a respected armed forces charity while clocking up decent times.

Training continued to attract good numbers.

A couple rounded off the week with an impressive round trip clocking up even more events to their “Talley”.

parkrunday arrives.  It never fails to draw many out in numbers.  Many locations.  Many runners. All doing their thing, whether it’s running faster or just getting it done.  

Tick tock.  Sunday comes round.

The Liver Birds oversee half and full marathoners battle tough conditions to record admirable results.

The rain plagued all and a hilly tour of Treforest didn’t escape it’s fair share but all who tackled came away victorious.

5 hilly miles attracted a good club contingent to brave the elements with significant placings as a result.

Bank Holiday weekends never end there and as we said goodbye to the weekend we welcomed one more effort in the English capital to add to the weeks endeavours.

Temperatures remain high but the conditions swing, but none of it dampens the spirit as high numbers yet again make training as well as taking part in events.

The Phoenix spirit present in abundance.

On a week where we welcomed new leaders into our midst and we continue to develop.  

We build and bond.

Keep walking.

Keep running.
Keep socialising.

Keep looking out for each other!

#lovethisclub
#loveourclub

Weekly Waffle – 19th May 2019

As the year progresses and the weather improves, events appear in their droves.

Our numbers now swelling, there isn’t a single event that goes by without seeing at least one Phoenix taking the plunge!

Midweek events are commonplace…

Before the weekend even arrived a few headed way down West to tackle a multi-terrain course.  Others headed way up north to fly around a 1 mile course around the side of a lake.

Events being clocked up…

Before the weekend arrived the Phoenix descended on our favourite curry house to occupy the whole restaurant for an evening of great food and great company!

Saturday.  parkrunday.  While some got their regular fix with personal bests aplenty, others had made their way to mid Wales to tackle a Royal 10k course on the trails some of whom still snook in their constitutional on the way. 

A few more had made their way further north, parkrun included, to climb a significant peak in Snowdonia and all completed the task with honours.

The sun set on a glorious day and rose again, despite the forecast…

A half in Chester was tackled with guts while another in Manchester led to a PB.

There was safety in numbers as a 10k with hills was completed in style in the home of cheese.

Another brave couple headed back to Snowdonia to tackle a seriously hilly half and came back victorious with their spoils.

A local event drew a few away to tackle a variety of distances from extreme half to ultra marathon.

Four of our midst stepped up to the plate and spent the day learning.  Committing time to the club to learn how to lead training sessions and help to develop us all into becoming better runners.

And all the while we saw our 4th highest attendance of the year at training and not least our heroes continuing their running journeys.

What a fantastic week to be a Phoenix!

Great numbers at events.

Great numbers at training.

Great experiences had by all.

Continuing to do what we love and share the experiences of doing so.

Keep it up guys, you’re doing great!

#lovethisclub
#loveourclub

Weekly Waffle – 12th May 2019

We’re in a period where events come along in a flurry…

Multiple Summer Series are appearing on the calendar…

Wednesday saw the first fixture of the Bridgend County Running League and saw the highest turnout in the clubs history with 114 runners taking part.  Mother nature decided to make the circumstances of the evening a little bit more difficult with a few downpours creating havoc with parking and creating a little more mud than was initially anticipated.  It takes a lot more than that to keep the Phoenix down and huge numbers turned up to be involved in a significant result for the club!  

The Phoenix definitely flew very high over Ogmore Castle!

Thursday saw smaller numbers head up the valley to train – to be expected after such huge numbers racing the night before.  It didn’t, however, stop a few heading west to tackle a 5k summer series event on the seafront with significant placings and personal bests achieved.

Friday saw another event completed.  One of the attendees was our intrepid 100 mile finisher of only a week ago who clearly wasn’t going to sit back and rest his weary legs having completed all three races on the calendar during the week!

Already an eventful week before arriving at the weekend.

parkrun on the cards for many.  A change in weather saw the sun rise early and raise our spirits once again.  Long runs to the start line were witnessed in abundance.  A wide variety of locations, as ever, were completed.

One lone runner faced the Beast in a race where the profile would be enough to put fear into a lot of runners.  Suffice to say The Beast was tamed!

Ultra marathons often occur on Saturdays.  As a result they give adequate respite before heading back to “normal” life on Monday.  Any race that takes place in the Brecon Beacons will bring with it a serious elevation profile.  One of our own took on the challenge and completed such an event in a very admirable time in the warm conditions.  Another event in the build up to something even bigger.

The sun went down on a hot day and rose to reveal similar conditions…

Numbers headed to a Park near Barry to complete a 5 mile course with a couple of testing hills thrown in.  Admirable performances all round.

Another band headed in the opposite direction to cover a Toughrunner 10k course sending photos back with big beaming smiles from a job well done!

Some ventured across the border to run admirable times in a history city half marathon that makes full use of converted railway tunnels, one over a mile in length, which provide lighting and music to serenade you on your way.

Others also headed far afield to an event that provided financial help for a wildlife trust.

While all of this was taking place our improving group saw big numbers turn up to progress their running.  Admirable stuff.

Lots of events on the calendar now and with our increasing numbers we see many being completed every single weekend.  

It truly is great to see!

Keep up the good work you lovely lot!

Laters…

#lovethisclub
#loveourclub

Weekly Waffle – 5th May 2019

Some weekends will always stand out as special…

Not long ago we celebrated a huge club turnout for the coastal race to Ogmore by Sea…

Last week we saw incredible performances in London – an event we can all share in the excitement by tracking and following TV coverage.  

This week many events have occupied our attention…

Tuesday saw some attend training while a brave few headed to a tough hill race.  Admirable performances all round with one achieving an accolade at regional level for excelling.

Wednesday saw decent numbers on the track and improving down in Pandy Park as well as a significant contingent heading down west to the increasingly popular 5k on the seafront.

Good numbers turned up on Thursday night for a pleasant evening climb up the mast in Lewistown.  Lighter nights make these hilly sessions more accessible and it’s great to be doing them again.

Friday drew a couple up to Cardiff for a one mile event as part of an annual series.

Even before the weekend arrived we already had a huge number of events in the bag and decent training attendance!

Saturday brought the usual flurry of parkrun visits.  On the seafront, up the valley and beyond.  “May the 4th”, when it falls on a Saturday, always attracts Star Wars themed attire (as you might expect) and parkruns up and down the country share in the initiative.  Home locations were no exception but a few in our midst went the extra mile and travelled to Tredegar House where there was an abundance celebrating the occasion!

One of these parkrunners was set to take a much longer journey later the same day.  The equivalent of 33 parkruns back to back. 100 miles, plus 2.5 for good measure just to be sure!

I’ll set the scene… 

6pm.  Rhossili Beach car park.  A collection of brave souls prepared themselves for an epic journey along the coast to Cardiff Bay.  As if that wasn’t enough it would also wander up into the Afan Forest, at night, just to add some elevation and make up the distance to the scheduled 100 miles!  Nerves, excitement and wonder at what would be their fate!

As our esteemed captain said, while we’re having our tea – he was starting his run.  As we went to bed he was running.  When we woke he was still running…  

As the sun rose many were up from their slumber to head to Newport for the second running of the dual distance event.  The Phoenix were out in their numbers with the lions share doing 6.2 and the balance covering 26.2.  Great conditions made for an amazing event with great times and big smiles across the board.  First timers also earned their stripes at the event.  Phoenix volunteers aplenty gave up their time to line the outlying roads around Newport to support those taking on the challenge of the day.  Without doubt, a great day out for the Phoenix.

Two intrepid souls had taken a trip across country to the home of the Dons and tackled a double distance event there.  Great performances at both 5 and 21 metric units!

And while all that was happening, he was still running.  

Fellow Phoenix met him along his route.  60 miles as he entered Porthcawl he had support and all the way through the stepping stones at Ogmore Village to the car park where he gained more support with some running short stages with him to boost morale and keep him going.  79 miles in at Llantwit he received some cheers and was sent on his way after some well earned refreshments.  More supporters joined the trek at Porthkerry, 88 miles.  Shoes hurting so changed to continue with odd shoes.  Hot dogs and drinks consumed he went on his merry way.  Joined for some of the run from Barry to Sully where more had joined the support crew as he hit 95 miles.  Off he went at a jog and a run back from the finish to Penarth Pier gave him company for the last few miles to record an amazing finish of his second (and last I am told) 100 mile event, this time as a solo effort!  Almost 10,000ft of climbing and a distance of over 104 miles in the end!  A superhuman effort.

With all good intentions a 50th birthday party within the club was missed by those who followed and supported but in true Phoenix spirit the sentiments of those present was sent via the wonder of technology to will him on as he made his last few steps.

And while all this was taking place, almost lost in the excitement, were two lonely souls who represented the club admirably at the Race for Victory 5k in the Welsh capital. An event that slipped under the rader with all the activity taking place elsewhere, but not to be overlooked!

It’s weeks like this that rally the troops.  That put that Phoenix fire in the belly.  

As much as we love to run we love to support.  When events have tracking everyone can get involved.  Some of the excitement of London was recreated at the weekend as attention switched from following finishing times in Newport to tracking one heroic runner on his epic solo journey.  An amazing feat of both physical and mental endurance.

I say this a lot to people when they gasp in awe at these “crazy distance” events.  It’s all relative.  We all started somewhere and the journey to standing on the start line of a 100 mile run is long and arduous but with a huge amount of dedication and commitment it is amazing what becomes possible.  

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Always remember that you don’t have to have these huge goals in mind.  Your dream may be just to be consistently doing parkrun and if it is, that is fine.  We salute you for just lacing up your trainers and heading out of the door.  

If you do have aspirations to go further or faster, draw on the inspiration of our incredible members who push the boundaries and challenge themselves to discover exactly what they are capable of. 

Dream.
Believe.
Achieve.

Those words again ringing in our ears as the efforts turn into memories and we turn our attention to what next week will bring…

Whatever it is we shall meet it head on and continue to support each other through it.

As you were.

#lovethisclub
#loveourclub