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

At the last race in the Staffordshire Moorlands summer trail series, three Striders ran the off-road circuit of Rudyard Lake. This beautiful stretch of water was built as a feeder reservoir for the Caldon Canal. Once a popular Victorian resort, with hundreds of people arriving by train, today it provides the perfect setting for trail runners. Rudyard Kipling's parents loved this area so much that they named their son after the lake. Darren Varley was first Strider home in 9th position overall in a time of 30:51, Tony Taylor was next in a time of 32:24 finishing first in the M50 category. Paul Nicholls followed closely behind in a time of 44:18. Tony has written a race report for this event which can be read here.

At the free weekly 5k parkrun at Astbury Mere near Congleton, six Striders participated in the ever-popular three lap event.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

The full results were as follows:

00:19:25 Tony Taylor
00:20:20 Terry Coppenhall
00:24:35 Duncan Robertson
00:26:23 Darren Varley
00:26:59 Denis Culloty
00:28:04 Helen Child

Meanwhile Michael Escolme ran the Worsley Woods parkrun near Eccles, Greater Manchester in a time of 32:17.

Mary Chadwick and Michael Escolme at Worlsey Woods parkrun

Also in action near Manchester was Denise Dowling, who travelled up to Heaton Park in North Manchester to participate in the Spartan Race, a challenging and fun obstacle race over a 5km course. 

Denise Dowling at the Spartan Race

Tom Mayell was in the village of Snailbeach in Shropshire to run the Eastridge Trail Race, a half-marathon distance route with over 2300 feet of climb. Tom finished the course in a time of 2:11:24. Tom's view of the race can be read in his race report. 

Tom and Adam Mayell at the Eastridge Half-marathon

Also opting for a half-marathon race was Andy Thomas who travelled to the ‘Vegas of the North’ Blackpool to run this popular seaside Half-marathon along the promenade with the Golden Mile and the stunning views of Morecambe Bay. Andy finished in a time of 1:31:50 coming 14th overall and first in the M50 category. You can read Andy's perspective in his race report here. 

Andy Thomas at the Blackpool Hilton Half-marathon

This weekend also saw the long awaited return of the Potteries Marathon in Stoke-on-Trent. Starting and finishing at the Britannia Stadium and completing a challenging 26.2 mile route around the city, the new route aims to follow as closely as possible the original route from the marathon. Three Striders completed the route, with Heather Carter earning a new personal best time. Martin Coleman and Heather both finished in a time of 3:25:39 with Fran Gilchrist coming in just under the four hour mark in a time of 3:59:19.

Martin Coleman, Heather Carter and Fran Gilchrist at the Potteries Marathon

Kate Jayden completed her tenth marathon in ten days in the Great Barrow Challenge based in the village of Barrow Suffolk. Running an impressive 262 miles over the ten days Kate was one of just 16 runners to complete this event this year.

Kate Jayden at the Great Barrow Challenge

Karen Wright completed her first half-marathon at the Wales Half-marathon in a time of 2:33

Karen Wright at The Wales Half-marathon

At the Long Course Weekend in Wales two Striders complete an ironman distance event over three days. Jason Bulley finished in a combined time of 14:12:41 and Cheryl Hutchins in 15:45:23

Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Holmes Chapel and beyond for over ten years. As well as a varied running programme the club has an excellent social calendar and for those runners looking to improve, Sandbach Striders have a number of fully-qualified running coaches to offer advice on training and ensure the safety and well-being of its members. They also organise the Sandbach 10k, a popular local running event which this year in its tenth anniversary promises to be the most fun and family friendly running event in the North-west. Entry details can be found at www.sandbachstriders.co.uk