Last news of the year! 28/12/2014

Despite the festivities members of Sandbach Striders running club enjoyed a wide range of running activities over the Christmas period. On Christmas Day there was a special 5k parkrun at Astbury Mere.  

Sandbach Striders at Christmas Congleton parkrun

This week's news 22/12/2014

This week saw the second anniversary of the start of the free weekly Congleton parkrun. 

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

This week's news: 14/12/2014

Last week also saw the usual mid-week running club replaced by a special festive Mulled Wine run. Taking inspiration from the annual Marathon du Médoc, a popular marathon amongst the Striders which has runners traverse the vineyards of Bordeaux drinking wine en route. 

Sandbach Striders Mulled Wine Run

This event had Striders run between various locations around Sandbach sipping mulled wine and snacking on festive related foodstuffs.

Race Report: Vale of Clywd Half-marathon 07/12/2014

The Vale of Clwyd Half Marathon is a small race that starts and finishes in Llandyrnog, North Wales. 

A brief pause from the rain in the Vale of Clywd

Race Report: St Lukes Hospice Oulton Park 10k 07/12/2014

Three striders braved the wintry showers and cold north westerly winds to take part in the St Luke’s Hospice 10k at Oulton Park. 

Mat memorising the route

Race Report: Newcastle Dales Dash 07/12/2014

Staffordshire County Council,  aided by Newcastle AC, held there annual 'Dales Dash'
10k run on Sunday 7th December. 

Tony on the downhill stretch t the finish line

This week's news: 07/12/2014

It has been yet another varied week of races for the members of Sandbach Striders running club. 

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

This week's news 30/11/2014

As Christmas draws closer there are fewer running events for the members of Sandbach Striders running club to participate in. 

Isobel Bennett at the gates of Telford Park

Yet 16 members turned out to run the free weekly 5k parkrun at Astbury Mere near Congleton.

This week's news 23/11/2014

Members of Sandbach Striders running club ran in three different variations of the popular free weekly 5k parkruns. Firstly, Isobel Bennett was in Shrewsbury  to run the Shrewsbury parkrun based at The Quarry parkland near Shrewsbury town centre. Isobel finished in 29:54. 

Isobel Bennett at Shrewsbury parkrun

Race Report: Goathland Trail Marathon 08/11/2014

Some of us enjoy reading race reports; in fact some of us positively love them. If you have done a race don’t feel put off and don’t think others aren’t interested as with the comments I get from mine I can assure you they are well read and received, so get your pens out. 

Race Report: Autumn Shakespeare Half-marathon 16/11/2014

Having heard and read a number of very positive reviews about the Shakespeare Marathon that is run in April, I signed up as soon as I saw the Shakespeare Autumn Marathon being advertised. 

Race Report: Cultural Tour of Stoke-on-Trent 02/11/2014

A report of the Ten Mile Running Tour de Stoke on Trent 2nd November 2014

Lining up in Hanley Park ready for the off

Having run no more than about 8 miles previously (not including the 10.5 mile Striders Treasure Hunt) I thought this event would be the perfect chance to push myself a little bit further. 

This week's news 17/11/2014

Members of Sandbach Striders running club continue to turn out in force at the free weekly 5k parkrun at Astbury Mere each Saturday morning, this week especially so as it was the 100th anniversary of this popular event. 

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

New personal best times were recorded by Heather Carter, Nick Hogan, Kelley Underwood, Grant Stanning, Amy Norman and Jan Walls. 

Race report: Blackpool Illuminations 10k Chippy Run 07/11/2014

On the evening of the 7th November 15 members of Sandbach Striders embarked on a 10k run taking them through the Blackpool Illuminations. 

Isn't it always the case that a weirdo sits next to you on public transport?

This week's news 10/11/2014

Last Friday members of Sandbach Striders running club made their annual trip to Blackpool in order to run the 10k distance of the illuminations. Despite the torrential rain at the start of the run all 14 Striders made it safely from Starr Gate back to Bispham thanks to the umbrella hats they had all been issued with before the run.

Striders at Blackpool Illuminations

This week's news: 03/11/2014

Members of Sandbach Striders running club once more participated in a broad range of events last weekend. 

Denis Culloty and Terry Coppenhall at Congleton parkrun

On Saturday it was the turn of the free weekly 5k parkruns. There are now 298 of these popular events run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of runners.

Race Report: 25/10/2014 Snowdonia Marathon

Having run this race in 2013 a couple of weeks after joining Sandbach Striders I already knew what a popular and tough race this was so as soon as the 2014 race opened in January I signed straight up.

Race Report: Halloween Hellraiser 26/10/2014

The Halloween Hellraiser is organised by South Cheshire Harriers.  It is always good to support local races, and this year’s event was as enjoyable as ever.  

Frankentom emerges from the graveyard

This week's news: 26/10/2014

14 Striders ran the free weekly 5k parkrun around Astbury Mere at the weekend. 

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

Six Striders managed to record new personal best times. Craig Edwards, Stella Stilwell, Tim Woods, Lindsay Beech, Tracey Howe and Jan Walls all managed to beat their previous parkrun times.

Kit Report: Garmin etrex 20 navigation GPX assistance

Whilst waiting to read the upcoming race reports from the new members the chairman requested I thought I would add a quick kit report to the mix. 

Race Report: The Summer of Triathlons

My summer flirtation with Triathlons – 2014

Racked and ready to go at Blenheim.

Little did I know at the end of last year when certain members of our “extraordinary running club” would entice me to try a new relationship, that I would fall truly, madly, deeply in-love with the art of Triathlons.  Now here I am on a chilly October evening, reflecting on my summer’s love affair.

This week's news: 20/10/2014

14 members of Sandbach Striders Running Club were amongst the new record attendance at the free weekly parkrun at Congleton. Philip Truman and Tracy Howe both ran new personal best times and Frances Dulla ran her first parkrun since joining Sandbach Striders. 

Sandbach Striders at the Congleton parkrun

This week's news: 13/10/2014

There was a huge turnout at the free weekly parkrun at Congleton this week with eighteen members of Sandbach Striders running the three laps of Astbury Mere. 

Race Report: Congleton Half-marathon 05/10/2014

The starting point for the race was Congleton High School, when I arrived it was a hive of activity with a great atmosphere. 

Fran and Craig make upping the pace at mile 12

Race Report: Blenheim Triathlon 08/06/2014

Over the past couple of years the Blenheim Triathlon had proved popular amongst Striders wanting to dip their toes into the world of Triathlons.

This week's news: 06/10/2014

Seven members of Sandbach Striders running club braved torrential rain to run the three laps of Astbury Mere at the free weekly parkrun. Denis Culloty earned himself a new personal best time as did Kelley Underwood and Amy Norman.

Terry Coppenhall, Lindsay Beeston, Kelley Underwood, Rick Kelso-Davies, Amy 

Norman and Tracey Hale at Congleton parkrun

This week's news 28/09/2014

This week the free weekly 5k parkruns proved to be popular with the members of Sandbach Striders running club. 18 Striders ran the event at Astbury Mere near Congleton.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

Race Report: Macclesfield Half-marathon 28/09/2014

It's been a long time since I had a go at the half marathon distance and with so many ultras and Marathon distance races ahead of me I thought it would make a nice change to have a go at my favourite distance. 

Fun at the start

Race Report: Tough Mudder 14/09/2014

So whilst a large contingent of my fellow Striders had decided to take a trip to France to ‘run’ the Marathon Du Medoc, a race which involves around 20 wine stops and fancy dress, I, for some bizarre reason had decided to run Tough Mudder, a race involving various obstacles, masses of mud and oh yes, electrocution!

Race Report: Sandbach 10k 21/09/2014

As a Striders newby I wanted to run this years 10K as in future years I'm sure I'll want to help marshal the event. 

Fran sprinting over the line to a new 10k personal best

Sandbach 10k - Photos & Videos!

Photographs from the Sandbach 10k are now online!

They can be seen on our Flickr gallery and downloaded for free, visit  https://flic.kr/s/aHsk3pwkhr

Also just in case you haven't yet seen it, here is a view of the 10k from a somewhat unusual angle!




For best results click here to view the video directly on YouTube and then select the settings from the bottom right hand corner and choose 720p HD

This week's news 22/09/2014

It was all smiles this week at  Sandbach Striders running club as the club once more hosted the popular Sandbach 10k race.

Tracey Hale looking very pleased to have finished the Sandbach 10k

Sandbach 10k Results

Congratulations to all of the runners who competed the Sandbach 10k today.  We sincerely hope that you enjoyed your day and we hope to see you again in the future.

The results can be seen at :

Entries on the day at the Sandbach 10k this Sunday.

Sandbach 10k - 21st September 2014

Entries on the day will be taken* 

The start of the 2013 Sandbach 10k

Entry is just £12 for affiliated runners, £14 for non-affiliated runners

Start time: 11:00am

Family fun run: 10:20am

Race Report: Gritstone Grind 35m Ultra 07/09/2014

I’d always insisted that I’d never run an ultra event, a marathon was as far as I’d ever go. ]

The start at Kidsgrove station

Then last year someone set up the Gritstone Grind, 35 miles through and over Mow Cop,

This week's news: 15/09/2014

 Saturday saw the 30th annual running of the Marathon du Médoc in Pauillac, France. 

Sandbach Striders at the Marathon du Médoc 

For the fourth year in succession members of Sandbach Striders took their place on the

Race Report: Adur Riverfest 10k 25.08.2014:

This race was definitely in the category of ‘well I’m here so why not’ rather than one that I’d been planning for years. 

The Adur on a sunny day (photo from Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust website)

I was visiting my parents in Shoreham (on the Sussex coast near Brighton) on the bank holiday weekend. Coincidentally, a local group were planning to set up the town’s first river festival that weekend, including local exhibitions, markets, live music and a variety of races around the river. 

Race Report: Striders do Congleton parkrun 07/09/2014

The powers-that-be at Congleton parkrun recently asked local running clubs to take over the volunteering roles at parkrun for a day. 

The Striders flag rising high above the mere.

Sandbach Striders were happy to support the fantastic job the Congleton team do week-in week-out in staging such a professional and enjoyable event.

Race Report: Delamere Trail Half-marathon 07/09/2014

I didn’t think Delamere was very hilly so it was fairly easy to persuade me to enter this race. I became slightly worried when, the day before the race, I was informed that Delamere was hilly – by now it was much too late to do any hill training! 

Lou, Heather, Tony, Mat and Steph

Race Report: South Cheshire 20 07/09/2014

Having spent most of the first half of the year running various races I’d decided to take a bit of a break to focus on training for my last big race of the year, the Snowdonia Marathon in October. 

The South Cheshire 20 gave me an excellent opportunity to check out how my training was coming and do a ‘dry run’ of my pre-race preparation, if I’m honest it was a welcome break from constantly training too!

News from Sandbach Striders 08/09/2014

Eleven members of Sandbach Striders running club took over the marshalling and organisation of the free 5k parkrun held every week at Astbury Mere.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

17 other Striders ran the three lap route with Clare Pheasey and Catherine Greaves managing to run new personal best times.

Sandbach 10k 21st September 2014 - Entries now open!

Entries to the Sandbach 10k multi-terrain race are now open!
Sunday 21st September 2014 -11.00am
Also: Family fun run - half mile children’s fun run starts 10.20am

Race HQ: Elworth Cricket Club, London Rd, Sandbach CW11 3BF

Predictathon 2014 Results

A big well-done to all of our Predictathon 2014 finishers!

And they're off!

Also a big thank you to our helpers and marshalls tonight: Perry Wyatt, Dave Parr, Martin Gunther, Craig Edwards, Jason Bulley and Jill and Andre who ran as tail runners.

Race Report: Princess Challenge 31m 30/08/2014

It’s no secret to many that I have not been at my best lately. With Winston Churchill’s black dog banging my door down there could be no better cure than to exercise (as per what I would tell clients). 

The start of the run

Race Report: Fleetwood Half-marathon 24/08/2014

For my first official race as a Strider, some may think that a half marathon was a little ambitious.  

 I set myself a personal goal of completing the Fleetwood Half Marathon several months ago.  On paper, the race is 3 loops along the promenade. Having spent many a childhood weekend on the Fylde coast, this cold either be a flat, fast course or if it was raining and windy a true exercise in endurance against the elements.  The event proved to be a nice, uncomplicated run on a rather pleasant bank holiday morning, but was 13.1 miles too ambitious?

Race Report: Run Marbury Reverse 10K 31/08/2014

I remember a conversation with Andrew Gibson during the Couch to 5K training programme.  

Amy and Lindsay all smiles at the finish line

We’d built up to running for just over half an hour non stop and I was quizzing him on running 10k races.  I listened with interest as he told me that that he enjoyed 10k more than 5k because you could get into a rhythm and just run.  I never for one minute thought that less than 6 month later, I would be running my first 10k and trying to find that rhythm.

News from Sandbach Striders 01/09/2014

Sandbach Striders had another excellent turnout at the free weekly 5k Congleton parkrun with 16 Striders finishing the three laps of the mere. Female Striders led the way once more with Heather Carter, Clare Pheasey and Lou Hayward all managing to run new personal best times. Oscar Hayward and Tom Stanning ran their first ever parkruns having been dragged there by Mum Lou and Dad Grant respectively.

 Lou Hayward and Craig Edwards at Congleton parkrun

News from Sandbach Striders 25/08/2014

Chris Brumby from Sandbach Striders running club demonstrated the ethos of the club by running in four different races last weekend. 

Chris Brumby and Jill Young at Watergrove parkrun

His mammoth task started at 9am on Saturday when along with his partner Jill Young he completed the 5k Watergrove parkrun near Rochdale. Jill finished in 30:11 with Chris (and dog Andre) marginally behind in 30:22

Upcoming Event: Karen's Bootcamp

Monday 1st September 2014 - The next installation of Karen's Bootcamp!

Karen will be holding another of her infamous bootcamp/fitness session on Monday 1st September for members of Sandbach Striders running club.

News from Sandbach Striders 18/08/2014

Nine hardy members of Sandbach Striders running club ran the free weekly parkrun at Astbury Mere in Congleton this week. The three lap flat course proved once more to be an ideal venue for a new personal best time as Catherine Greaves improved her best time.  

 

Michael Escolme and Mary Chadwick at Southampton parkrun

Race Report: Long Tour of Bradwell 33m 10/08/2014

Last year just before I took off to America for a holiday I ran the short tour of Bradwell. I had done so on the basis that Chris Brumby really enjoyed the long tour but suggested it was a rather tough run to be doing.