This week's news: 27/07/2015

As the summer holidays begin the number of organised running races decreases, as such members of Sandbach Striders mainly participated in the free weekly 5k parkruns that continue to grow in popularity around the country. Striders took part in five different events.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

At the Congleton parkrun ten Striders completed the three lap of Astbury Mere with Rick Kelso-Davies earning himself a new personal best time.

Race Report: Race to the Stones 11/07/2015

I’ve always tried to have the mindset that you should try and find the positive in every situation, no matter how bad. 2 years ago I received my first ever DNF during a 100 mile ultra, the positive? It would lead me to join the Sandbach Striders a couple of months later to reinvigorate my running. Shortly after we found my wife would be having some operations over the next year and I took the decision to take a break from ultras as I wouldn’t have the time I needed to train, the positive? I’d spend a year training for shorter distances and smashing all my PB’s.

Race Report: Potteries Marathon 05/07/2015

You’ll have run a marathon already. You’ll already be marathon fit, it won’t feel that hard. Why not just enter it?”

Outside the Britannia Stadium raring to go

Or at least that was the advice from some ‘friends’ in the Striders earlier in the year, trying to talk me into joining the first Potteries marathon for twelve years. A few months later, and two months after the London marathon, I’d entered it but I was seriously doubting their advice. The training for London felt a long time ago, and I definitely hadn’t trained for heat. Seven Striders were on the start list but unfortunately only three had been able to make it on the day. So it was me, Heather and Fran who met up at the Britannia stadium. The stadium with enough capacity for 30,000 fans was open for about 1000 runners, so the facilities at the start were probably the best of any race I’ve ever been to.

This week's news 20/07/2015

It was an uncharacteristically quiet week for the members of Sandbach Striders running club. Despite that Striders took part in four different parkrun events and two longer distance events.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

At the free weekly parkrun at Congleton thirteen Striders completed the three laps of Astbury Mere, with Martin Gunther earning himself a new personal best time.

Race Report: The Wild One 19/07/2015

The Wilde one is a multi lap marathon in Worcester. It gets its name from the very sad and sudden death of Black Pears Runners Stephen Wilde and hence the club put on a memorial race in aide of the local children’s hospice. 

Predictathon 2015 Results!

Congratulations to the 40 Striders who finished the Predictathon 2015! A big thank you also the marshalls who gave up their time to help make the event possible and keep everyone safe out on the course: Isobel, Jan, Moe and Steve.

The winners: Karen & Philip

As ever, there was the full spread of predicting ability. Competition for the worst prediction was just as tough as that for the best. This year's wooden spoon was given to Hannah who was at something of a disadvantage having never ever run the course before.

Race Report: Bollington Nostalgia Hill Race 12/07/2015

On what seemed a pleasant Sunday morning, I made my way to Bollington for there annual 'Nostalgia Hill Race', a charity race in aid of the Bridgend Centre  (formerly 'Bollington Drop In Centre). This is a 7.11 mile multi terrain race with bits of everything literally! roads, cross country, fell and canal towpaths, its also a very hilly race climbing up to 1200 ft.

This Week's News: 13/07/2015

Sandbach Striders participated in five different weekly 5k parkrun events around the country. Closest to home were the nineteen Striders who completed the Congleton parkrun. Rick Kelso-Davies and Karen Wright both earned themselves new personal best times.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

The full results were as follows:

This Week's News: 06/07/2015

Members of Sandbach Striders running club have a reputation for participating in a diverse range of events and this week has been no different.

Darren Varley, Tony Taylor and Paul Nicholls at the Rudyard Trail Race

Race Report: Blackpool Half-marathon 05/07/2015

Sunday morning at the seaside it must be the Blackpool Hilton Half Marathon. This race was organised by Fylde Coast Runners and has been run for the last 16 years in aid of "Hilton in the Community Foundation". The weather was hot with a strong breeze coming from the south east. After a quick briefing from the organisers we were off. 

Race Report: Eastridge Trail Race 04/07/2015

I signed up for the Eastridge trail race, not fully appreciating what was in store!
I knew it was a half marathon, and that it went up onto the Stiperstones ridge, but that was about it.

The race started and finished in Snailbeach, south west of Shrewsbury.  It was an early start from Sandbach to get there in time for 10am, but I managed to persuade the family to accompany me on the premise that there would be "things to do".

Race Report: Rudyard 5m 02/07/2015

'Rudyard', is race five of the Staffordshire Moorlands Summer Series, a 5 mile trail race around lake Rudyard. Three 'striders' were in action for this race, speedy Darren, Paul and myself. We arranged to meet at the club car park, and made are way there. Torrential downpours in the afternoon didn't make the race too appealing, however by time we'd arrived the rain had stopped, the sky turned blue and it turned into a glorious evening.