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

Meanwhile at Congleton parkrun 11 other Striders ran the 5k parkrun at Astbury Mere near Congleton. Lindsay Beech and Amy Norman, who are both recent graduates of the free Couch-to-5k course run bi-annually by Sandbach Striders, both achieved new personal best times as did new Strider Steph Cooper.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

The full results were as follows:

19:25 Tony Taylor
21:58 Martin Gunther
23:25 Mat Simister
24:44 Paul Nicholls
24:49 Terry Coppenhall
25:56 Stella Stilwell
30:05 Lindsay Beech PB
30:20 Karen Lovatt
30:54 Amy Norman PB
31:16 Steph Cooper
34:01 Michael Escolme
34:01 Jason Bulley

Karen Lovatt and Lindsay Beech at Congleton parkrun

Mat Simister at Congleton parkrun

Chris Brumby then drove on from Rochdale to Burnsall in North Yorkshire to take part in the Burnsall 10 mile road race. Chris completed this hilly race in 01:29:31. With only a half hour break Chris then swapped his road shoes for his fell shoes and ran the Burnsall classic fell race. This longstanding race is short at only 1.5 miles but is classed as category A in difficulty by the fell runners association. Chris finished his third race of the day in 28:27.

On Sunday new Strider Steph Cooper took part in the Ellesmere 10k near Oswestry in Shropshire. The race is a mix of road and well surfaced flat trail, very gentle undulations with just one sharp turn and a hump-back canal bridge to negotiate. Steph completed the race in 01:12:18

Steph Cooper at Ellesmere 10k

Meanwhile in the heart of the Black Country ten Striders took on the 26 mile challenge of the Sandwell Six Towns. The route links the six towns that make up the borough of Sandwell, it encompasses country parks, open spaces and makes extensive use of the canal system that was the life blood of the Black Country during its industrial heyday.

Jan Peake and Craig Edwards at Sandwell Six Towns

Terry Coppenhall was first Strider home in 5 hours, Jason Bulley and Cheryl Hutchins were next in 5:12. Jill Young, Craig Edwards and Paul Nicholls finished in 5:22. Johanna Bulley and Chris Brumby (in his fourth race of the weekend) in 5:36, Perry Wyatt in 5:39 and Jan Peake in 5:52. Craig Edwards and Jan Peake both ran their first marathons after being members of the Striders for only a short time.

Sandbach Striders at Sandwell Six Towns

Also in action on Sunday was Nick Frost. Nick braved the rain and side winds to run his first half-marathon along the coast of Fleetwood, Lancashire. Nick finished in 1:57:31

Nick Frost at Fleetwood Half-marathon

Martin Coleman found time on Bank Holiday Monday to run the Shoreham River Festival 10k on the south coast near Brighton. In very windy and rainy conditions, club treasurer Martin ran a time of tbc.

Martin Coleman looking like he's just swam not run the Shoreham River Festival 10k

Entries to the Sandbach 10k on Sunday 21st September are selling quickly. Details are available on the Striders website at www.sandbachstriders.co.uk