Congratulations Chester Marathoners!

A HUGE well done to all the Sandbach Striders who ran the Chester Marathon today. 

There were some pb's, some new admissions into the Marathon Club and lots of individual stories, some of which will be published here over the next few days.

In the meantime here are the interim results.

Race Report: Brussels Marathon 2011

It was with some trepidation that I looked out of my hotel window on the morning of Sunday 2nd of October and saw bright blue skies and a vivid sun haze staring back down at me. Running a marathon is a difficult enough proposition, especially when your fitness level is questionable and your confidence is low. So the thought of setting out on this Belgian odyssey in 26°C heat was not one I was particularly relishing.

Pre-race near the  triumphal arch  in Parc du Cinquantenaire

Having run this race in 2010 the course should have held no real surprises for me. although over the past twelve months I'd somehow forgotten just how many long uphill drags the course seemed to contain. The route starts a couple of kilometers outside the centre at the beautiful Parc du Cinquantenaire. It begins with a large circuit of the city then a long out and back to a park near to the airport before heading back through the Parc du Cinquantenaire, and back into the City Centre. The last section winding it's way through cobbled streets before finishing in spectacular style in the stunning Grand Place. Support was sporadic although quite vocal, that is until we arrived back in the City where large, loud crowds lined the streets to urge the runners over the finish line.

Helsby Half Marathon Entries Now Open

Helsby Half Marathon Entries are now open!

A quick heads-up from Grant that entries for the Helsby Half Marathon are now open - and are filling up fast.

 

We normally send a sizeable contingent to Helsby, so don't risk missing out and enter soon!

You can enter here (Shell aren't sponsoring it this year, so the name is different.)

<-- Here we are after the 2011 race.

Additional information about the race is available from Helsby Running Club's website here.

Race Report: Great North Run 2011

What a great weekend... an excuse to visit old friends and a beautiful area of the British Isles!

Claire and Catherine

Saturday: The weekend started with a day trip to York (well...Clare worked and Catherine shopped!) followed by a leisurely drive up country through beautiful Yorkshire villages... Saturday night consisted of babysitting 5 and 7 year old boys (whilst M&D celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary) whilst following our tried and tested pre-race routine of red wine, nibbles and pasta.

Sunday (race day): At around 7am, feeling slightly dehydrated (we blame the celebratory pink bubbles – those bubbles steal body fluids you know!) and we headed for South Shields, to park the car near the finish and catch the metro to the start...

The start: following all the usual pre-race carbs, fluids and loo stop we fought (literally!) our way into the starting cages and we were ready for the off! Just over 9 minutes

Race Report: Hanley Parkrun #1

I used to run Parkruns quite frequently when I found myself close to Greater Manchester, the race at Bramhall Park being a particular favourite. I found the regular fast-paced runs were a helpful addition to my training schedule and added a bit of variety to the gentle plods around the same old Sandbach roads. Parkruns are very well organised events and are free to enter (a quick registration on-line is all you need.) So I was very excited when I happened to stumble upon the news that a Parkrun was to start in Hanley.  

Club Handicap Results

Congratulations to Steve Pepper on winning the 2011 Club Handicap Race!

Full results are available here

Sunday 25^th September meant it was time for the much anticipated Sandbach Striders handicap challenge. 

A simple concept really, well, sort of simple, but let me explain how it worked. A couple of Wednesday’s back, I was asked along with other club members, to run the 10k race route as fast as I could. Simples? after all we are a running club, and running is what we do, so, so far so good.  Then, when having completed the run each runner had his/her time recorded and we could get on with socialising whilst the organisers amongst us namely Catherine and Claire pulled out a lap top and started entering data. 

Race Report: BH5K Naked Run 2011

Is there anything less attractive than a man stood completely naked apart from wearing a pair of socks?

Yes there is.

28 men stood completely naked apart from wearing socks (some odd), in a car park, and wearing a full range of off road running shoes.

Oh yes, and one person wearing a pair of those vibram five finger running shoe thingys.

It should actually have been 29 men stood in the car park but there was one lonely figure sat on a nearby picnic bench clinging to his discretely positioned towel like a child not wanting to let go of the security of his mother's hand.

Yep, that was me.

Race Report: Gawsworth 10k 2011

Liz

Liz - still going strong

Gawsworth 10k. The race itself is a bit like our race (The Sandbach Super 6). It starts off on the grounds of Gawsworth Hall going through undulating country lanes, then it takes you off road through some fields and on to some paths, cross a few styles and go over a railway bridge (like the one on the Sandbach Super 6). 

You finish back on the field. The race is well attended every year and is very popular with some local runners. 

It’s nice to get off road and is very scenic.

Liz

http://www.gawsworth.com/homepage.html

Race Report: Marathon du Médoc 2011

On September 10^th 2011 the Sandbach Striders, represented by Jason, Alan and Mr & Mrs Noah (aka Michael and Grant) undertook what is billed as ‘The Longest Marathon in the World’ around the vineyards of the Médoc region of France.

It may not actually have been the longest (except for Mr. Noah, who spent an extra couple of kilometres searching for his ark at one drink stop), but it sure felt like it, with temperatures in the high 20s. However, the fiesta atmosphere kept us going (the French really know how to party)

Monsieur et Madame Noah et son arche.

The day began with a parade of the runners in fancy dress, which may not have been compulsory, but you’d have looked pretty out of place in plain clothes. Then, after a fly past by the French air force (well 2 of them anyway), the race began.

To get us in the swing of things, the first stop for wine tasting was as 1km and PB’s were measured on a breathalyser rather than a stopwatch as we staggered our way around about 25 chateaux (including Chateau Lafite Rothschild) listening to the bands, and sampling the wine and local cheese, meat and oysters at most of them.

Trip to the inaugural Hanley Parkrun

This Saturday (24th September 2011) sees the inaugural Parkrun event in Hanley. 

For those that don't know Park Run is a weekly 5k run series with regular runs taking place every Saturday all across the country. The races are marshalled and organised by volunteers and are free to enter. 

Registration is free and also, when registered you are issued with a barcode that allows you to enter any Parkrun across the country, for example if you were on holiday or travelling with work.

Register online here

I'm planning on making the journey down this Saturday - leaving from Sandbach around 8:15. If you fancy joining in, let me know.

Michael

Race report: Hell Up North 2011

Well the time arrived, the time that serious trail runners from all over the UK wait all year for. Thankfully the Striders were taking it as seriously as a budget airline takes customer care. All this became Evident at the 8-45 am meet up at the clubs training camp. 

First to arrive was Christiana whom had roped/persuaded or I get the feeling possibly beaten her husband in to entering this event.  A sort of feeling that you can only really get when you see a grown man wearing a white robe that Jesus Christ himself would have been proud to wear, a beautiful white number that hung loosely off the shoulder, worn with such aplomb. 

Then there was the Chairman, Terry & near namesake Perry, in a sort of Terry & Perry comedy sketch, waiting nervously for their outfits to be fitted. Along came the bulk of the Ladies with Claire, Catherine and Andrea armed with wonderful fetching dress’s for the aforementioned Terry & Perry and a few other brave hardy husband/friends that had been roped in for the expedition. 

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Myself? I opted to go for playing baby in a lovely all in one pink night suit complete with Bib and Dummy, adapted and designed by my good lady. The only strange thing was that I actually managed to get another club member to wear one as well!! (Thanks Paul).

So back to the serious stuff, last year I completed the hell up north where I first met the Sandbach Striders doing the course in tu tu’s. At that point I knew I had to join a club that appeared as fun as this. On arriving at the course it was great to spot a huge banner showing the very striders that ran the race last year and we strategically placed ourselves for photos in front of the said banner. 

10k Race Announced - Sunday 16th October 2011

Sandbach Striders Running Club

10K & Family Fun Run

Sunday 16 October 2011 -11.00am 

Download Entry Form

or enter online at Runners World 

 

10K multi-terrain race

Half (approx) mile family fun run starts (10.20am)

RACE H.Q. ELWORTH CRICKET CLUB, ELWORTH, SANDBACH

Drinks station, Changing and showers, On-line Results.

Prizes to 1st three males and females

Individual prizes in all vets categories

Prizes to 1^st Sandbach residents (male and female)

 

Entry Fees:  Affiliated £8   Unaffiliated £10

Closing Date for Postal Entries: 5^th October 2011