This was my third year of running the Wissey Half-Marathon and it was another well organised and enjoyable event. The race starts and finishes near Oxborough Hall and the route is mainly along country roads taking in the villages of Beachamwell, Barton Bendish and Boughton. Mile 9 proved to be no easier than in my previous runs here, with a long steady incline that seems to go on forever this time with the added bonus of being into a reasonably strong headwind! However Mile 10 is always quite nice, with an enjoyable downhill section before the push towards the finish. The weather was pretty warm and humid with temperatures in the low 20s and this meant that conditions were challenging and on a personal level I was unable to get close to my PB time. There was a noticeable reduction in participants compared to previous years, with the race around 75% full in line with many local races in recent times. This did not affect the atmosphere however with a buzz around the village green and start-line and excellent support from the marshals around the course.
Three Jags took part in this year’s race with Rachel Jackson and Iwona Litwiniec both having excellent runs. I was involved in a close battle for 5th, 6th and 7th places at the end, with only 4 seconds separating these places in a sprint finish. I finished in 6th place between two Ryston runners and taking 3rd place in the M40-44 age category.
Visiting the Leicestershire area I noticed a road closure for a race on the 4th September… Intrigued I googled and found it was part of the Leicestershire Road Race League (LRRL) and the grande finale. There are 6 races in the league all with different distances. This was an 8 mile ‘rolling’ course it states ‘it will test the legs and lungs but will reward with the beautiful countryside’.
The entry limit was 500. I was lucky enough that it wasn’t full and managed to get a last minute entry to complete my training for the GNR.
The weather had cooled down nicely and there was a pleasant breeze and during the race a few spots of rain. The race started on a farm and we had plenty of cows to cheers us on as we headed out of the farm drive onto some quiet country roads, passing through several villages. The course was indeed rolling and formed a lollipop shape, there was a beast of a hill at mile 4 (well I think that’s what I called it!) that was a mile long. It was tough going but so pleased that the hill training we do as a club had paid off. It was a great course and well marshalled. I was the only Jag competing but it was well supported by many of the local running clubs.
I completed the course in 1:13:46 and was 9th in my age category.
8 jags took part in this yearly 5k race , the first since covid on a hot sunny day a relevantly flat course around the village of Hainford. Winners time was17mins 72 secs
72 people finished the race . It was good to see that new club Aylsham runners picked up some prizes presented by Iwona Lake.
There was a childrens race as well
It was a very low key event turn up on the day , fill a form in pays your money , get your number & good to go. No chip timing,
This is how fun races in the 80s/90s
Well done to the people of Hainford for putting this on & raising money for their village hall
The Framlingham 10k is a really lovely event hosted by the Framlingham Flyers in their picturesque home town. The race starts in the town centre and heads out onto country lanes via the town hill. It is a two lap undulating course with good support and marshalling along the route.
Yesterday the start was at 11am and the conditions very warm to put it mildly. There were plenty of water stops though and a little shade at points round the course. The climb up the hill the second time doesn’t seem too bad but at the third count the end can’t come soon enough.
Unfortunately once you have conquered the town hill for the third time you are taken through some grassy paths to run round a rather large playing field. This can actually feel longer than the hill!
I was the only Jaguar participating yesterday but there were a few other Norfolk vests on show.
The age categories were 10 year groups and I managed to claim first FV50 with 47.55. I was rewarded with a lovely wooden plaque showing Framlingham Castle and lunch in the Castle Inn!
Sandra Roberts
Name
Time
PB
Standard
Sandra Roberts
47:55
First Timer, 1st in Age Category and New Club Age Category Record!
I found this race when looking for a 20 miler to add to my training for the London Marathon. The usual choice of the Wymondham 20 was not an option for an Autumn Marathon so I decided we could have a nice weekend break enjoying the lovely seaside resort of Morecambe and do the Trimpell 20 as well. Anyway I managed to convince Jackie, Ellie and Ben that it would be fun, haha!
Ben was instructed to look after the children while we ran the 20 miles. Thankfully the wind dropped from the previous day and we had excellent conditions for the 11 o’clock start. I always enjoy seeing all the different club vests and this time from the northwest and further afield for a change.
Ellie and I set off like we were running the Wroxham 5k!!! We never learn! After we had run about 2 miles I realised I hadn’t even started my watch, another rookie error.
The course was mostly traffic free and followed tarmac paths alongside the river Lune which we crossed back and forth several times. It was a nice flat route but my early pace took its toll at about mile 16. The only thing that kept me going was that I realised that if I could maintain a fairly modest pace I could still get a PB and an age group record.
Ellie didn’t fare much better, her intolerance to gels struck again and she had to take time to throw up!!! Jackie found to her cost that jumping from 13 miles in training to this 20 miler, wasn’t the best idea and paid for it.
I was able to hang on and get my PB and club age group record in 2:27:03.
Ellie struggled in with a smile on her face and continued heaving up after she had finished in 2:35:21.
Jackie finished in 3:18:56, battered and bruised but not completely broken.
All in all a good race and fast course, if you pace it right, haha! Well worth the trip to stay in the lovely Morecambe.
A warm summer evening saw seven Jags run in the Reepham 10k, a race over a mixture of quiet country roads then back along the Marriot’s Way, finishing at the recreation ground where we were met with the cheers from the wonderful supporting Jags.
In a field of 253 runners, great running from Jack Stuttle saw him come home in 3rd overall with a time of 34:45, Adele Bushell was the fastest female Jaguar coming home 6th in her age group sneaking under 56 minutes in 59:59.
The finish saw us getting a wooden medal and a bottle of water – unfortunately not a bottle of beer from the sponsors Panther Brewery – with lots (and lots) of cake available afterwards so thank you for the great organisation Reepham Runners.
Myself and Sonja White were the only 2 silly enough to enter this race as we both needed to for the Grandprix series. Tough hot and humid sums up this Sunday morning run with a horrible uphill climb in the last 2 miles . Think it Was 1st time for both of us in this event and more than likely my last. I finished just outside my pb with a time of 01:42:28 and Sonja who was carrying a injury with a respectable time of 1:56:35.
The SVP ultra is renowned for being a hottie but running in the middle of a heatwave was an additional challenge. Setting off from Sudbury at 12:30 along a shady trail was shortly followed by long stretches of relentless 34 degree sun. Eleven miles to the first checkpoint was a challenge with 900ft of elevation. The SVP crew threw on an amazing grazing bar at the CP1 in Lamarsh and refuelled, we set off to shouts of encouragement doused in hoses of water. Onwards though beautiful Suffolk countryside, albeit burnt to a crisp in most places and still the rolling hills kept coming. Through CP2 at mile 19 with again much encouragement. The worst of the hills behind us. En route supporters kept popping up in the middle of nowhere offering water and ice cubes. Some small offering of shade was much appreciated. At checkpoint 3 in Stratford St Mary we had done a marathon. Our arrival was announced on megaphone to the whole village. At this point it was just 5.5 miles to the finish. With restored energy and motivation we set off knowing we would complete the course. The latter day sun had reduced in intensity and shadows offered welcome respite from the days heat. Past Flatford Mill, which was barely noticed by us we continued. Finally arriving at the village of Brantham, finishing with huge support and real encouragement from all. 32 miles and 1600ft of elevation in the bag. Finishing 10th and 11th out of 38 ladies an added bonus with Sharon 3rd in age group and Karen 4th in age group. A third of the 50k runners retired during demonstrating the challenging conditions of this event.
The Organisers of this event were second to none with info on every element of training and preparation available prior to entry. The SVP crew were just awesome hosing us down at every checkpoint, medics checking us over and water replenishment being done for us. For a first timer this was so much more enjoyable than expected. If you fancy having a go we would recommend this one.