About us

Sandbach Striders was born back in 2003. Since the early days, membership has grown with a firm ethos of the club being not just about running but social activities as well. The club is affiliated to UK AAA and has its own qualified coaches. Many other special events take place on various nights too.

The club meets on Wednesdays at 18:30 and Sundays at 09:00 at Elworth Cricket Club.

Whilst many members compete in races from 5k to Marathons, the emphasis remains purely on keeping people motivated and having fun. Why not scan through our race reports to see what we’ve been up to? Having read them, you’re sure to see why Sandbach Striders has developed the motto of being

"No Ordinary Running Club!"

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Race Report: Potters 'Arf #2 11/06/2012

In the book of Revelation, St John describes a vision of hell containing a beast with seven heads, where ‘every head was a hill’. Apparently most theologians think that this was a cryptic reference to his persecutors in Rome, although last Sunday morning I started wondering if the vision of hell was of another city, also built on seven hills but in Staffordshire rather than Italy…

2½ downhill miles gone, why does everyone say this race is so hard?

I’d entered the race a couple of weeks before, when a friend of Grant’s offered to give
his number to me in return for a donation to the Find John Lawton fund. When I mentioned to other Striders that this would be my first Potters Arf, the reply was usually a sadistic laugh followed by a comment of ‘you know it’s hilly’ or ‘save something for the run up the cliff at mile 11’.

Arriving at the start, it seemed very well organised for an event of this size. As the start is in the centre of Hanley there’s plenty of parking, and a lot more for spectators to do during the race than in other events. There are also a lot more fancy dress charity runners, a lot of who set off half an hour early to walk the route. All of this, as well as the sunny weather, meant a big crowd and a good atmosphere at the start for the four Striders running on the day, viz. me, Heather, Terry & Liz.

The first couple of miles started with a loop through the centre of Hanley past the cheering crowds, then a long downhill stretch out to the shopping estates on the main road towards Longton. So a nice easy start, but I had to try not to think about coming back up the hill at the end! A couple more miles with a few ups & downs got us to the four mile point and everything seemed OK, despite the heat. The crowds helped us along too. The Potters Arf is a bit unusual for a half marathon as it’s all in built up areas so there’s never a shortage of people watching from their front gardens & shouting a bit of encouragement.

Approaching the 13 mile mark. I think she started about half an hour before me
As we left Longton High Street we rounded a bend & out of nowhere this LONG hill had appeared, stretching straight up for nearly a mile with no shade. Five minutes later I still couldn’t see the top and was being further tormented by the smell of breakfast oatcakes from the local takeaways. This was where I first had the thought ‘This Is Hell’! Eventually it levelled out, but the run was never going to be easy after that. Another few miles running through back street residential areas passed with several ups & downs. The local support was great and there were a couple of unplanned water stations as well as a very welcome hosepipe spray. Then the eleven mile mark approached. There had been a mile or so beforehand running downhill or on the flat, so the gentle hill there didn’t seem too bad. Then the signs started to appear - ‘Heartbreak Hill in 200m’…

Must try harder with the jazz hands
Again the organisers had put the hill immediately after a sharp bend so we couldn’t see what was coming. I’m not sure if that was good or bad. And yes, it was steep, not Killer Mile steep but pretty bad and long. Much as I was tempted to walk, I forced myself to keep going. Shouting ‘DON’T STOP’ at myself regularly seemed to help me, although I’m not sure what the spectators thought of it. I’ve also got a vivid memory of overtaking two very plump ladies who were dressed as ballerinas & walking up the hill complaining loudly that it was torture. I couldn’t resist telling them to try running it on the way past! At the top of the steep bit you think it’s over, but there’s still another quarter mile or so of leg sapping uphill slope before it finally levels out. The last mile isn’t too bad, there’s a bit of gentle up & down but overall it’s downhill to the finish line back in the centre of Hanley. There are big crowds there which make for a great atmosphere at the end. And finishing in just under 1h35 I was the first Strider in on the day so had a chance to wander back up the course & give a bit of encouragement to the clubmates coming in later. Terry had obviously saved a lot for the end. I tried to run the last quarter mile with him but couldn’t keep up!
It took a few days to get his time on the results list, but he WAS there!

Final thoughts. Would I run it again? Probably, for the challenge & the atmosphere although not for a fast time.  Was St John’s vision of Hell really 21st century Stoke? No. Too many friendly people about for a start. The marshals were very helpful and encouraging for struggling runners. I’m sure the marshals in Hell would be a lot less sympathetic. And I don’t know what’s in the middle of Hell, but I’m sure it’s not the oatcake & doughnut van which provided ideal recovery food!

For more information visit the Potters 'Arf website.

Martin

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