Category Archives: Uncategorized

Testway Ultra

This picturesque 40 mile ultra takes place in the heart of Hampshire across the meandering countryside. Running for RSE was Emma Thomas, who completed her first ultra with seasoned ultra runner, Nadine Brown!

Starting in the stunning Linkenholt estate in north Hampshire finishing in Totton in the south and giving you everything Hampshire has to offer from its lovely chalky hills to its picturesque villages in the south.

It was a fantastic route, really well signed – even in the dark; as our headtorches had to come out for the last 5 miles! Emma and I ran together and bearing in mind it was her first ultra she was incredible – we were very pleased to come under our 10hour target too.

Nadine Brown

Emma and Nadine finished in a brilliant time of 9 hours 43 mins! Incredible running from both of you!

Sodbury Slog

The race website quotes this run as ‘not for the faint-hearted’ – think trail, think hilly, think mud! Taking place in South Gloucestershire, the route includes water features and obstacles on private country land, to test the resilience of runners.

Zoe Markham-Lee took on the challenge, finishing in a great time of 2.12.10!

Just shy of 10 miles. Through sheep dips, pig troughs and loads of mud and poop. A hard trail run!

Zoe Markham-Lee

As the race website writes, ‘don’t swallow the water. It’s not all water’…

Well done, Zoe! We hope you managed to get clean before the car ride home…

The Druids Challenge

This scenic challenge takes place across 3 days, covering 136km of the Ridgeway (85 miles). The route boasts 2203m of ascent as well as prehistoric sites, valleys and stunning views.

No stranger to a Ridgeway ultra run but his first time completing the Druids challenge was Mark Manley, who took to the hills for the full 3-day course. He was joined by Lesley Hinsley for Day 3, which covered 47.7k of the route – her first ultra run!

It was truly amazing 29+miles. My first ultra. I’m hooked now and can’t wait for the next one. Beautiful scenery, perfect weather. Much easier than a marathon I might add. Mark is truly amazing, considering it was day 3 for him, he just kept going. Got the bug now!

Lesley Hinsley

Mark finished in a total time of 16hours 50min, 8th in his age category!

And Lesley completed Day 3 in a brilliant 5:45:13!

Parkruns

Cirencester Parkrun

• Ollie Hazel – 21:24
• Paul Robertson – 21:46
• Paul Coates – 26:19
• Liz Hilcup – 27:04 – 1st in age category!
• Wayne Edgington – 28:08
• Elaine Chapman – 34:48

Central Parkrun, Plymouth

• Darren Jenner – 24:32
• Felicity Crotty – 30:17

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

Safety Notice

A Message from Caroline Terry, Club Welfare Officer:

Firstly, thank you to club members who are wearing hi-visual running gear including body or head torches on club nights. (any time you run in the dark!)

Please can I remind you that light coloured tops and jackets are not so good at reflecting light. So please get yourself kitted out with something that helps you see where you are going and others can see you. (the pavements & roads are not so smooth… )

It is so important to run safely. It also sends a message to the general public and upholds our good reputation of being respectful to others who use the pavements and roads. (see RSE constitution).

Thank you and keep safe.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂

Reading Half Marathon

Following a 2 year break in races. the Reading half marathon returned to the streets attracting thousands of runners. The route takes runners on a tour of central Reading and boasts incredible crowd support. The race ends on the track at Reading’s Madjeski stadium for an incredible grandstand finish.

Reading half marathon have currently only released provisional times. Here’s a sneak peak of the results:

• Mark Garrett – 1:25:54
• Elliot Gardiner – 1:55:24 (A 3 min PB!)
• Alan Powderhill – 1:56:17
• Paul Robertson – 1:57:05

Quite a flat course with only a few inclines and an epic finish line in the Madejski stadium! Awesome atmosphere at the Biggest race I’ve done so far, loved all the live music especially the live bands and the choir! The only problem was the live music speeding our pace up every time we ran past so hard to keep slowing down once it was out of earshot! 😂

Elliot Gardiner

Guy Fawkes 5 Mile

This popular Autumnal race is fast and flat, taking runners on a 1 lap route around the country roads of Tewkesbury. The run crosses the M5 twice with the village of Fiddington in between, and most importantly, there was free cake for runners at the end!

• Nia Glover – 33:40 (4th Lady Overall and 1st in Glos. AAA age category!)
• David Witnall – 33:41
• Sharon Smith – 36:58 (New PB, 1st LV70 + 1st in Glos. AAA age category!)
  • Sharon’s time also puts her 1st LV70 in the UK for a 5 mile race!
• Andy Poole – 37:15
• Paul Coates – 38:30
• Steve Sandercock – 40:11
• Paul Beaumont – 41:21
• Sarah Page – 41:25
• Martin ‘Ted’ Pitts – 41:35
• Liz Hilcup – 41:48 (1st in Glos. AAA age category!)
• Anne Gardiner – 41:56
• Kirsty Pitts – 43:59
• Linda Edwards – 44:44
• Cathy Steer – 47:57
• Vanessa Poole – 48:48

RSE also came 6th overall in the team event, with Nia, Dave, Sharon, Paul C and Steve completing the team!

Incredible times by all of Team RSE!

Parkruns

Lydiard Parkrun

• Darren Jenner – 24:44
• Felicity Crotty – 29:36

Tewkesbury Parkrun

• Andy Sworn – 25:41
• Carol Sworn – 32:05

Cirencester Parkrun

• Sarah Reynolds – 26:26
• Wayne Edgington – 29:00
• William Gardiner – 30:32
• Kate Sedgwick – 32:41

Cirencester Park Cross Country

Round 1 of the Gloucestershire cross country league took place in Cirencester Park, a new venue for the championship. The route was tough, with steep hills, mud and even more mud. The team spirit shone through though, with a lot of RSE members taking part – the XC is always a great event to support and cheer fellow members along.

• Nia Glover – 34:27
• Rosie Hartland – 36:16
• Elaine Chapman – 38:47
• Jo Wood – 39:15
• Sharon Smith – 39:26 (1st F LV70)
• Fran Penny – 39:31
• Paul Beaumont – 40:17 (3rd M LV70)
• Carol Sworn – 42:47
• Vanessa Poole – 52:40
• Linda Edwards – 52:41
• Kate Potter – 54:18 (3rd F LV70)

In places it was walking only because the mud was so deep!

Sharon Smith

Well done to everyone who ran!

A note from Dave Witnall, Club Captain:

Well done everyone who turned up to the first event and gave it their best – it was tough conditions but that’s what makes Cross country unique. We have another taster session on the 14th November, and the next Gloucestershire XC event is held at Wotton Park on the 12th December – although this race is slightly undulating over open fields, there are less hills than Cirencester Park. There’s still the possibility of very muddy patches and a wade through very large puddles! In the meantime, if you have any questions, worries or just want to debrief how Saturday was for you, please feel free to approach me at club.

Run Upcote

Described as one of the most beautiful races in Gloucestershire, this 5 mile race crosses a mix of bridleway and trail paths. Held at Upcote Farm near Withington, the route boasts some stunning Cotswold views. There was a fantastic turnout of RSE members, with 10 club runners taking on the muddy trails!

• Sharon Smith – 51:35
• Cheri Edwards – 54:27
• Liz Hilcup – 58:51
• Kirsty Pitts – 59:40
• Janet Daniels – 1:04:26
• Vicki Mason – 1:05:15
• Caroline Joynes-Creed – 1:06:01
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 1:06:01
• Becca Wilson – 1:10:19
• Kate Potter – 1:10:27

Great local trail race with stunning local scenery. Hills – one called “Bastard Hill”, woods, fields and a herd of deer jumped out in front of me – truly in the country. Loved every minute of it. Yes, really! So lucky with the weather as the sun shone 😊

Becca Wilson

A fantastic trail race near Withington the route took us around fields, through woods and along trails with plenty of mud and puddles along the way. Loads of fun! 😀 At the beginning of the race one of the signs had blown away and there were no marshal’s so everyone ended up doing an extra half a mile 🤣

Kirsty Pitts

Upcote is a challenging 5 mile trail with what feels like far more uphill than down. The wet & muddy conditions combined with a mistake from the front runners resulting in an additional kilometre made today’s race quite a bit more challenging than it needed to be. Overall, I’d say it’s a great race and as it’s only 20 mins up the road, it’s well worth the trip and highly recommended for next year…

Kevin Joynes-Creed

Upcote didn’t disappoint. Torrential rain welcomed us, a shedload of mud and hills, plus a surprise extra circuit of the field making the distance well over 5 miles!

Sharon Smith

Chester Zoo 10k

An interesting and unique opportunity for runners is Chester Zoo 10k, where entrants can spot rhinos and giraffes as they run through the famous park. The scenic route takes in the surrounding countryside before finishing back in the centre of the park.

Running for RSE was Felicity Crotty, who finished in a brilliant time of 59:40!

We saw some camels on the way out and finished with a trip into the zoo!

Felicity Crotty

Westonbirt House 10k

On the bucket list for runners in Gloucestershire is the Westonbirt 10k, a beautiful race through the grounds and surrounding area of Westonbirt House. The course is mixed terrain, finishing directly in front of the historic Victorian building. Anne Gardiner and Libby Butler ran for RSE!

• Anne Gardiner – 54:17
• Libby Butler – 58:33

A beautiful course with some definite ‘undulations ‘ and very muddy sections in the grounds. I really appreciated having the pacers and remembered other RSE members’ warning about the steps at the finish line!

Anne Gardiner

It’s a beautiful course, and first time I’ve run 10k without stopping this year so better than comfortable!

Libby Butler

Brilliant running both of you!

Westonbirt House Half Marathon

Alongside the 10k option, Westonbirt House also hosted a half marathon, following a similar course. This event takes runners on 2 laps of the Tetbury countryside. After running 2 half marathons and a marathon last week, RSE’s Zoe Markham-Lee crossed the finish line with another new PB under her belt!

• Zoe Markham-Lee – 2:02:42

Heavens opened at the start of the race and midway. I think the rain and the wine made me run faster!

Zoe Markham-Lee

Zoe also completed a 250k challenge for the month. Incredible running, Zoe!!

Parkruns

Cirencester Parkrun

• Andy Sworn – 25:24
• Michael Bagot – 25:14
• Steve Sandercock – 26:09 – 1st in age group!
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 28:22
• Caroline Joynes-Creed – 31:47 (A new course PB!)
• Elaine Chapman – 35:31
• Vicki Mason – 36:17

Tetbury Parkrun

• Linda Edwards – 28:26
• Taryn Hancock – 29:22
• Cathy Steer – 29:29

Berkley Green Parkrun

• Mark Garrett – 19:22

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

Halloween Fun Run

This week also saw the return of the Halloween fun run, a spooky event that saw club members dressing up in their scariest costumes and running around Cirencester, much to the amusement of the locals! This year, club members Phil Scoble and Ollie Hazel gave a haunting tour, recounting ghost stories of the Cirencester buildings. A social at Somewhere Else followed, with fantastic food, a charity contest and great company.

A huge thank you to Phil and Ollie, as well as Linda Edwards and Nadine Brown for organising, and Sarah Page for the charity contest!

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