This Week's News: 25/04/2016

It was the iconic London Marathon this weekend and it is difficult to watch 40,000 people run 26.2 miles across London and not be inspired by the amazing efforts of all involved.  Five of our club members did their own bit of inspiring by taking part but marathons aren't for everyone and whether you are running one mile or 26.2 miles, it can still be a personal achievement. The club is two-thirds of the way through the Couch to 5k programme and participants are now running for 25 minutes constantly when they couldn't run for two at the start of the programme. 

Sandbach Striders at Congleton parkrun

The weeks racing began with Darren Varley taking part in the Milford Murder on Thursday.
The race  was two laps of Cannock Chase heathland and woods above Milford Common and with some fast downhill sections it is billed as being ‘not for the faint hearted’! Darren finished the course in 39:40.

Darren Varley at Milford Murder

The sunshine on Saturday  morning encouraged nine Striders to take part in a free parkrun around England and Wales.

There were five Striders at Congleton parkrun this week with Lynsey Astles earning herself a personal best time.  The full results were as follows:

20.20 Heather Carter
26.30 John Wright
26.36 Lynsey Astles
31.41 Duncan Robertson
32.10 Barbara Evans

The Fair was in town at Hanley Park but Mik Escolme didn’t clown around, completing the Hanley parkrun course in 35.

Mary Chadwick & Mik Escolme at Hanley parkrun

Paul Barnett ran Warrington’s parkrun Victoria Park this week, completing the course in 23.38.

Julia Dunlop was back running the Conwy parkrun which she completed in 31.06 earning herself a PB for that course.

Julia Dunlop at Conwy parkrun

To begin the celebrations for Shakespeare’s birthday Paul Nicholls ran the Stratford-upon-Avon parkrun coming home in 26.25

Paul Nicholls at Stratford-Upon-Avon parkrun

Finally, Liz O’Keeffe is still making the most of the Bulgarian sunshine, running the Varna parkrun in 25.23, a personal best for her. 

Liz O'Keeffe at Varma parkrun

Away from the parkruns, Alice Bober ran a 10k in Regents Park, a race organised by MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières).  Alice finished the course in around 55 minutes.

Alice Bober at Regents Park 10k

Sunday was, of course, the London Marathon, the most iconic road race in Britain, if not the world. Five Striders were lucky enough to get a place from a mixture of club places, good for age qualification and charity places.  

Sandbach Striders at the London Marathon

All the Striders did amazingly well and loved the atmosphere surrounding the whole weekend.  Full results were:

3.59.28 Johanna Bulley
4.13.45 Christiana Bunte
4.28.20 Chris Holden
4.33.08 Nigel Fishwick
4.41.45 Lucy Lee

Lucy Lee at the London Marathon

Paul Nicholls continued the Bard’s birthday celebrations joining Paul Barnett in the Stratford-Upon- Avon Half Marathon, an undulating race starting and finishing in Stratford-upon-Avon and traversing the surrounding countryside. Official results are yet to be published but Paul Nicholls completed the course in 2.05.40 and Paul Barnett in 1.47.42.

Paul Nicholls and Paul Barnet at Stratford-Upon-Avon Half Marathon

Nearer home, Six Striders ran the Whitley 10k organised by the Whitley Village Hall Race Committee. The race follows a course through beautiful Cheshire country lanes. 

The full results were:

44.11 Tom Mayell
52.22 Matt Woods
53.38 Helen Childs
54.33 Emma Riley
57.22 Elaine Woods
58.54 Wendy Barnes

Sandbach Striders at Whitley 10k

Finally for the week, Steve Fallows took part in his first triathlon of the season at U Swim Boundary Park in Knutsford. Steve finished 10th overall.  

Steve Fallows at the Boundary Triathlon

His results were:

Swim 1000m 15.49
Bike 56k 1.51.41
Run 10K 46.05