parkruns
This month saw our members complete 304 parkruns across 72 parkruns and 46 different locations. International tourism included Johnson’s tours going for the Scandanavian special day event (on a Thursday) where 8 of our members visited Ekebergsleetta parkrun before the Sarah D and Dawn went off to do Gdansk two days later whilst the rest did Zamek w Malborku.
Helen Griffiths celebrated her 50th parkrun (over 10 years after her first) whilst Lee Dunbar-Bowen celebrated his 50th parkrun later in the month. Gwyneth Steddy, Emyr Bissmire, Wayne Hayhurst and Darija Keenor all ran their 100th parkruns.
On the speedy side of things, John Burridge was first finisher at Aberfields despite recovering from knee issue, Jamie Verran set a new club record for most first finishes at the most different parkrun venues with first finishes at Trelai and Aberfields. Carys and Alison picked up female first finishes at Maesteg during the month, whilst Bethan Moor was first female at Cosmeston Lakes parkrun.
Races
May saw the start of the 5K season with several big events during the month. We started off with the Cardiff Race for Victory which has become the biggest 5K race in Wales over the past few years. This year saw a record 33 members take on the speedy course around Whitchurch which has led to several PB’s for club members over the past couple of years. New member, Dan Richards was our first runner across the line in 16:40, catapulting him straight into number 4 on the clubs all time fastest 5K runners. We had 8 runners come in under the 20 minute mark in a field that saw hundreds of runners achieve the same feat. Carys Bissmire was our first female in 22:29 on the same course she set her PB a year earlier. She was closely followed by Claire DB.
A few days later was the first of the Swansea Bay (Paul Popham) 5K series with usually calm conditions on the coastal out and back helping several runners achieve PB’s including Rhodri Thomas with his first sub 19, finishing in 18:57. Rhys Bradley ran a superb 22:49 PB, Megan Rand bagged a PB of 27:20, Teri Leigh Roche came in with a 28:00, and our 2022 Runners Runner Laura Worrall smashed her PB with a 38:36.
We also had the first SSAFA 5K event of the year with a highly competitive field where half of the runners finished in sub 20! Like the Race for Victory 5K and Swansea Bay series, the SSAFA course definitely lends itself to PB attempt and this race saw some incredible performances. Of our 13 runners on the night, Jake Tasker was keeping himself fresh for some upcoming events but still ran 16:45 for our first finisher across the line. Jamie Verran popped up with 18:21 PB and Niki Puleio helped pace Scott Gray to a 18:41 PB. Katie Plimmer continued her outstanding improvements at all distances with a 21:19 PB and out of nowhere, Sarah Davies smashed her PB by over 30 seconds, joining just a handful of female runners in the club with a sub 23 time, finishing in 22:54.
The big 10K event of the month was the Cardiff Bay 10K which attracted 46 of our members. Dan Richards led us home in 35:08 which puts him 3rd on our all time list at that distance. Jamie Verran ran his first sub 40 with a 39:44 just a few weeks after running a 40:19 at Newport 10K and just a week after being one of only two members at Caerphilly 10K along with Fiona Drysdale. Another member in form is Ceri Jones who ran a sub 45 PB followed by PB’s for three relatively new members, Jonathan Matthews, Ben McCrum and Gemma Richards. Lee Dunbar-Bowen, James Marsh, John Batchelor, Megan Buckle, Caryn Hicks and Ria Ross complete the PB celebrations for this event. For those that didn’t fancy a flat 10K, we had three members at the Gorseinon 10K on the same day with Wayne Hayhurst, Rya Davie and Melinda Thomas taking on the bumpy course down West.
At the longer distances, Marina Konstantinova ran the Riga Marathon in 4:57, Alexis Barrett completed her first ultra along with her husband Paul at the HOWUM Pegasus 30 miler whilst Ashley Howells also completed his first ultra with the St Iltyds Ultra in West Wales the venue for his.
Kevin Raymond continued his hilly training with the Ras y Gader Fell Race and the 23 mile Preseli Beast. We had a further 6 runners in the 11 mile Preseli Beast Bach where Jake Tasker claimed another course record with solid performances from our trail championship regulars Katie Plimmer, Claire DB, David Sheard, Melanie Thomas and Lee DB.
Jake’s performances at recent trail championship events earned him a call up to represent Wales, creating another piece of history for the club as our first ‘international’ athlete. Jake was invited to run in France at the 26k Trail de Guerledan where he finished 3rd overall and as first Welsh athlete and helped Wales win the team prize.
BCRL
The second fixture of this years Bridgend League took us to Rest Bay where we had 87 members for the Friday evening race. Despite saying he was taking it easy ahead of a course record attempt at Rack Raid less than 48 hours later, Jake Tasker still comfortable won the race in 16:25 making it a hat trick of wins at the event. Strong performances from our top 10 men and women as well as the big overall participation meant we scored really well but did come second to Bridgend again who have more or less doubled their numbers participating so far this year.
Chair’s Runners of the Month
We all remember the first time we did something significant. When it comes to running, each milestone achieved is a cause for personal celebration. For some, the pursuit of a new discipline or new distance are the things that provide that much sought uplift.
In May, two firsts caught my eye. Not necessarily because of the distance. While admirable, it’s about the journey – because quite often the process is the worthy achievement with the final event being the “victory lap” as you’ll often hear it called.
These two stories are very different but, in some ways, similar. A focused preparation that saw the hours go in. Whether other events were targets along the way – the miles were being committed. For one, it was multi-discipline training that strengthened the legs and built the endurance. For the other it was the steadily building miles. Every time I looked up there was another run completed. Looking leaner and getting stronger. Each building to their end goal. The goals were very similar. First ultra marathon. A journey into the unknown. What happens to the legs when marathon distance is completed and the extra miles add additional wearyness to the legs. When every bit of energy is spent and additional fuelling is needed to sustain forward movement. Forward they did move. With guts to stand on the start line and determination to reach the finish. Phoenix Spirit flowing through their veins as their goals were realised having trusted in the process that let them dare to dream.
My Chair’s runners of the month for May, running different events but each longer than a marathon, are Alexis Barrett and Ashley Howells! Well done both! I have loved following the respective journeys and I’m full of pride for your amazing achievements!! Such huge achievements and I’m excited to see what the next challenges are going to be!