Race Report: Gritstone Grind 35m Ultra 07/09/2014

I’d always insisted that I’d never run an ultra event, a marathon was as far as I’d ever go. ]

The start at Kidsgrove station

Then last year someone set up the Gritstone Grind, 35 miles through and over Mow Cop,

This week's news: 15/09/2014

 Saturday saw the 30th annual running of the Marathon du Médoc in Pauillac, France. 

Sandbach Striders at the Marathon du Médoc 

For the fourth year in succession members of Sandbach Striders took their place on the

Race Report: Adur Riverfest 10k 25.08.2014:

This race was definitely in the category of ‘well I’m here so why not’ rather than one that I’d been planning for years. 

The Adur on a sunny day (photo from Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust website)

I was visiting my parents in Shoreham (on the Sussex coast near Brighton) on the bank holiday weekend. Coincidentally, a local group were planning to set up the town’s first river festival that weekend, including local exhibitions, markets, live music and a variety of races around the river. 

Race Report: Striders do Congleton parkrun 07/09/2014

The powers-that-be at Congleton parkrun recently asked local running clubs to take over the volunteering roles at parkrun for a day. 

The Striders flag rising high above the mere.

Sandbach Striders were happy to support the fantastic job the Congleton team do week-in week-out in staging such a professional and enjoyable event.

Race Report: Delamere Trail Half-marathon 07/09/2014

I didn’t think Delamere was very hilly so it was fairly easy to persuade me to enter this race. I became slightly worried when, the day before the race, I was informed that Delamere was hilly – by now it was much too late to do any hill training! 

Lou, Heather, Tony, Mat and Steph

Race Report: South Cheshire 20 07/09/2014

Having spent most of the first half of the year running various races I’d decided to take a bit of a break to focus on training for my last big race of the year, the Snowdonia Marathon in October. 

The South Cheshire 20 gave me an excellent opportunity to check out how my training was coming and do a ‘dry run’ of my pre-race preparation, if I’m honest it was a welcome break from constantly training too!

News from Sandbach Striders 08/09/2014

Eleven members of Sandbach Striders running club took over the marshalling and organisation of the free 5k parkrun held every week at Astbury Mere.

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

17 other Striders ran the three lap route with Clare Pheasey and Catherine Greaves managing to run new personal best times.

Sandbach 10k 21st September 2014 - Entries now open!

Entries to the Sandbach 10k multi-terrain race are now open!
Sunday 21st September 2014 -11.00am
Also: Family fun run - half mile children’s fun run starts 10.20am

Race HQ: Elworth Cricket Club, London Rd, Sandbach CW11 3BF

Predictathon 2014 Results

A big well-done to all of our Predictathon 2014 finishers!

And they're off!

Also a big thank you to our helpers and marshalls tonight: Perry Wyatt, Dave Parr, Martin Gunther, Craig Edwards, Jason Bulley and Jill and Andre who ran as tail runners.

Race Report: Princess Challenge 31m 30/08/2014

It’s no secret to many that I have not been at my best lately. With Winston Churchill’s black dog banging my door down there could be no better cure than to exercise (as per what I would tell clients). 

The start of the run

Race Report: Fleetwood Half-marathon 24/08/2014

For my first official race as a Strider, some may think that a half marathon was a little ambitious.  

 I set myself a personal goal of completing the Fleetwood Half Marathon several months ago.  On paper, the race is 3 loops along the promenade. Having spent many a childhood weekend on the Fylde coast, this cold either be a flat, fast course or if it was raining and windy a true exercise in endurance against the elements.  The event proved to be a nice, uncomplicated run on a rather pleasant bank holiday morning, but was 13.1 miles too ambitious?

Race Report: Run Marbury Reverse 10K 31/08/2014

I remember a conversation with Andrew Gibson during the Couch to 5K training programme.  

Amy and Lindsay all smiles at the finish line

We’d built up to running for just over half an hour non stop and I was quizzing him on running 10k races.  I listened with interest as he told me that that he enjoyed 10k more than 5k because you could get into a rhythm and just run.  I never for one minute thought that less than 6 month later, I would be running my first 10k and trying to find that rhythm.