Catch up on the latest Striders' news!

 Catch up on all the latest Sandbach Striders news from the previous month, courtesy of our resident press secretary Perry Wyatt.


Macclesfield Half Marathon – Sunday 30th September

Strider Martin Gunther completed his first race since joining the club in 1:41:50

 

Hanley Parkrun – Saturday 6th October

This was the 52nd Parkrun at Hanley. Paul Barnett finished in 23:11, Paul Nicholls in 25:52 and Pauls son George Nicholls finished in 29:17.

Chester Marathon – Sunday 7th October

2012 was the 3rd MBNA Chester Marathon, one of the fastest growing races in the UK. Growing from 1,000 entries in 2010 to 4,000 in 2011, the race was limited to 5,000 runners in 2012. The race starts and finishes at Chester Racecourse close to Chester city centre, which provides a spectacular backdrop and outstanding facilities for both runners and spectators.

Two Striders ran this year’s race, Giles Hodges finished in 3:28:09 and Grant Stanning in 4:36:19

Tissington Trail Half marathon – Sunday 7th October

The Tissington Trail, the site of a former railway line from Ashbourne to Buxton, runs along a 13 mile route from Ashbourne in Derbyshire. Surrounded by beautiful countryside the traffic-free trail is ideal for a cracking half marathon. Running one way is slightly downhill - the other is slightly uphill. And the decision was taken to run the race ... down rather than up! That means you've got gravity on your side virtually the whole way down the course! This was a rare opportunity to run a half marathon in Derbyshire without hills!

Two Striders ran this race, Heather Carter finished in 1:34:15 (A new PB) and Rick Kelso-Davies finished in 1:38:40

Congleton Half Marathon – Sunday 7th October

 

Hosted by Congleton Harriers, this was the 29th Sting-in-the-tail Congleton half marathon. The races consist of a single lap circuit taking in town and country roads, starting at Congleton High School and finishing at the end of Black Firs Lane (200 metres from the START). Four Striders ran, Christiane Bunte (1:54:41) a new PB, Perry Wyatt (1:54:56), Paul Nicholls (1:55:52) a new PB and Liz O’Keeffe (1:56:09) a new PB and 1st Lady Vet V55.

Oulton Park Duathlon – Sunday 7th October
 
Finish the season with a thrilling sprint or standard distance duathlon at one of the country's finest motor racing circuits.

Strider Alan Pearson entered the standard distance event which consisted of a 2 lap run (8.61km) followed by 9 laps on the bike (38.76km) and finishing with a 1 lap final run (4.307km). Transition was in the pits and the race is held entirely on the traffic free race track giving you the opportunity to really see how fast you can push your bike on the straights and round the banked hairpin! Alan’s times were:-

Run1 (00:36:32)
Transition 1 (00:01:42)
Cycle (01:17:11)
Transition 2 (00:01:01)
Run 2 (00:19:18)
Total time 02:15:47

Brussels Marathon – Sunday 7th October

The Brussels Marathon is a popular distance and a tough marathon with a profile that makes it most suitable for serious runners. The Brussels Marathon is not for the unprepared or inexperienced marathon runner. It is a very hilly race that will challenge even the fittest participant.


The race begins in the Cinquantenaire Park in the centre of Brussels and the finish line is at Grand-Place. Brussels is a charming city whose Old Town is quite popular with travellers. The race passes through many of the greener parts of the city as well as the woods and out to the beautiful Africa Museum before pointing runners back to the city.
 
Strider and Chairman Michael Escolme completed this tough marathon in 3:38

The 6th Rab Mountain Marathon – Saturday/Sunday 6-7th October

 

This is a two day wild country mountain marathon in Wooler, Northumberland.

One of the major events Dark & White organise, this annual two-day Rab Mountain Marathon run under FRA (Fell Running Association) rules and guidelines is a classic mountain marathon and navigational challenge in the mountains for solos or pairs; all courses are set up on a score basis with a time limit therefore fitness, event strategy and navigational skill is the key to success.

Competitors have to be self sufficient for the two days and stay at a remote campsite on the Saturday night. Strider Chris Brumby finished in a fantastic 33rd place.

Hanley Parkrun – Saturday 13th October

Eighty six runners took part in the 53rd Hanley parkrun on Saturday morning and there was a good showing from Sandbach Striders with ten taking part.

Steve Treweeks (21:39) New PB, Martin Gunther (22:31) First timer, Paul Nicholls (24:58) New PB, Perry Wyatt (25:31), Robert Kettle (26:16) First timer, Jill Young (27:16) First timer, Chris Brumby (27:16) New PB, Ellie Brumby, Karen Lovatt (30:08) First timer, Liz O’Keeffe

Hanley Parkrun – Robert Kettle, Paul Nicholls, Chris Brumby (front), Steve Treweeks, Perry Wyatt, Karen Lovatt (centre), Martin Gunther, Liz O’Keeffe, Ellie Brumby and Jill Young (rear)

Liverpool Marathon - Sunday 14th September

As part of his five marathons in 29 days Strider Grant Stanning joined more than 5,000 runners on the streets of Merseyside for the annual Liverpool Marathon.

The race began at Birkenhead Park in Wirral before competitors headed through the Queensway Tunnel and into Liverpool city centre. The 26.2-mile route continued around the streets of Liverpool before finishing at Mann Island on the waterfront.
 
Grant finished in 4:29:45 He now has the tough Greensands off-road marathon next week (21st), The Snowdonia marathon the following Saturday (27th) and finishing with the Déjà vu track marathon in Crewe on 4th November.

Sandbach 10K – Sunday 14th September

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Sandbach 10k multi terrain race on Sunday.

Once more we were blessed with terrific running weather, although the heavy rain of the past few weeks ensured some sections of the course had a little bit more mud than usual.

There was also a children’s fun run before the main event which involved a short warm-up then two and a half laps of the cricket pitch totalling approximately half a mile.


Thank you to all the Striders, their families, friends and children who gave up their time to ensure this event was yet again a great success. Also special thanks to Lynda Lawton who tragically lost her husband John during a marathon in Greece on April 8th for helping at the event.


Round Rotherham 50 – Saturday 20th October

The 2012 Rowbotham's Round Rotherham International Trail Event is a 50 mile run on an undulating route with over 800 m of climb through the South Yorkshire Forest.

 

Strider Chris Brumby finished in 10:36:23 and in the process ruined a good pair of Walsh fell shoes.

 

London Monopoly run – Saturday 20th October

Organised by Sandbach Striders Chairman Michael Escolme, eleven Striders went for an alternative London sightseeing tour on Saturday by doing the Monopoly run. This route involves a 15-mile-plus run through the streets of London, which takes in the sights on the London Monopoly game board.

Jason Bulley, Michael Escolme, Heather Carter and Karen Lovatt (front), Jo Bulley, Perry Wyatt and Christiane Bunte (middle), Paul Nicholls, Jo Smith, Evonne Foulkes and Terry Coppenhall (rear).

The route took us through....
PARK LANE = Grosvenor House, MAYFAIR = Berkeley Square, BOND STREET = Southeby's, OXFORD STREET = John Lewis's MARLBOROUGH STREET = Liberty's, REGENTS STREET = Cafe Royal, VINE STREET = Vine Street, PICCADILLY CIRCUS = Statue of Eros, COVENTRY STREET = Trocadero, PALL MALL = Pall Mall (junction with Haymarket), TRAFALGAR SQUARE = Nelson's Column, WHITEHALL = Old Admiralty Buildings, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE = "The Sherlock Holmes" Pub, LEICESTER SQUARE = The Hippodrome, BOW STREET = Royal Opera House, THE STRAND = King's College, FLEET STREET = "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese", ELECTRIC COMPANY = The Tate Modern, JAIL = The Clink Museum, WATERWORKS = Site of old London Waterworks, OLD KENT ROAD = Old Kent Road roundabout, FENCHURCH STREET STATION = "Coopers Row Entrance", WHITECHAPEL = Start of Whitechapel Road near Aldgate Tube, LIVERPOOL STREET STATION = Main entrance, ANGEL ISLINGTON = The Angel Centre, PENTONVILLE ROAD = Joseph Grimaldi Park, KINGS CROSS STATION = Main entrance, EUSTON ROAD = Euston station, MARYLEBONE STATION = Opposite the main entrance

Heather Carter, Jo Smith and Perry Wyatt running over Tower Bridge during the monopoly run.

Greensands Marathon – Sunday 21st October
 
Strider Grant Stanning completed his third of five marathons in 29 days on Sunday in 5:39:46. This is a testing off-road marathon from Dorking over the Greensand hills of Surrey with a vertical mile of ascent and descent. The marathon takes in some of the South of Englands highest points including Leith Hill, Somerset Hill, Holmbury Hill, Pitch Hill, Reyards Hill and Winterfold Hill, then back again.

Why 'Greensand Marathon'?

You may well ask, since one thing that you will not see is green sand. However, the entire run takes place on Lower Greensand rocks (110-120 million years old, part of the Lower Cretaceous). The sandstones contain glauconite, a green iron-magnesium mineral which was and is deposited in shallow tropical seas. However, glauconite is dissolved by rainwater, which leaves behind iron deposits, leading to the characteristic 'rusty' yellow appearance of the 'green'sands.

Grant now has the tough Snowdonia marathon next Saturday (27th) and finishes with the Déjà vu track marathon in Crewe on 4th November.