Bob Houghton was a fully active member of LRC and was most notably known for his role as co-founder and Race Director of the Lichfield 10K for 20 years, a position that he embraced with immense passion and drive. His vision was for Lichfield Running Club to able to put on a quality race that could enjoyed by all and his determination for this resulted in the 10K being consistently awarded the prestigious gold BARR standard. Under his stewardship, the participation of the race has risen from just 170 entries in its first year to the race that we have today.
In addition to his 10k commitments Bob was also club secretary for many years, mainly in the days where communication to members couldn’t just be dealt with by universal email or Facebook post. For example, newsletters would have to be written, stapled together and sent by post. When he retired from the post it was necessary to split the roles between several members of the committee.
As an athlete he was an enthusiastic participant in the Grand Prix events and the Time Trials and also compiled all the results and calculated the handicap system. He also represented LRC in many marathons, notably several London events and internationally in New York and Boston as well as making contributions to the inter club relays in Sutton Park and the Birmingham Cross Country league.
Sadly Bob lost his brave battle against cancer in June 2017.
He left the club many legacies, one of which was his list of marathon training routes, all starting from King Edwards School. They all have links to MapMyRun, detailed descriptions including toilet and water stops! I’m sure Bob would be delighted to share them with you all.
Lichfield Running Club – Marathon Training Routes from King Edward VI Leisure Centre | |||
Distance | Route | Comments / Map | Map Reference |
13.1 miles | Manor Rise – Oakhurst – City Centre – Stowe Pool – path to Eastern Avenue – Netherstowe Lane – Fradley – Alrewas – cross conveyor belt to Barley Green Lane – Huddlesford – BurtonOld Road – Manor Rise | Good half marathon practice route. Fairly flat on quiet lanes | http://www.mapmyrun.com/gb/lichfield-eng/13-mile-marathon-training-route-alrewas-route-46917754 |
13.4 miles | London Road – Shoulder of Mutton – Knowle Lane – Birmingham Road – Wall cross roads – Chesterfield – Shenstone – Lynn – Stonnall (1st rt, 1st lft, 1st rt) – Walsall Road – Triangle – Swan Island – Abnalls Lane – return home through Beacon Park | No water or toilet – fairly flat – all road. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/231922305 |
13.9 miles | Tamworth Road – Common Lane – Whittington – Burton Road – Stockford Lane – Fradley – Hay End Lane – Gorse Lane – Netherstowe Lane – Brownsfield Road – Bore Street | Lichfield Half Marathon Route | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/237624105 |
14.5 miles | Tamworth Road – Fox Inn – Leisure Centre on A513 – Elford – Fisherwick – Whittington – Tamworth Road – home | Water and toilet at Rawletts Leisure Centre – roads – Can be windy for the last few miles | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/231932273 |
16.0 miles | St John Street – Bird Street – Beacon Park – Abnals Lane –Swan Island – Cannock Road – A5190 – Chasewater Station – Loop around Chasewater – Church Street – Highfields Road to The Triangle – Hospital Road – Norton Lane Farewell Lane Return through Abnals & Beacon Park | Pleasant country route, some cross country with no serious hills. Water & Toilets at Railway Station | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/237616239 |
16.7 miles | Tamworth Road – Horse and Jockey – Bridle-path – Hints – Ford – Canwell Estate – lane to Windley – Little Hay – Weeford – Jerry’s Lane – Tamworth Road – Horse and Jockey – home | No water or toilet – some hills – mainly off main roads and some cross-country. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/231969393 |
17.1 miles | Bird Street – Beacon Park – Abnalls Lane – Chorley – Farewell – Longdon Green – Seedy Mill – Tuppenhurst Lane – Canal – Mucky Duck – footpath to Watery Lane – home | No water or toilet – Hilly start, but generally flat after the first few miles. Some cross country. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/gb/lichfield-eng/17-mile-marathon-training-run-canal-hanc-route-213880915 |
17.5 miles | Tamworth Road – Jerry’s Lane – Weeford – Little Hay – Windley – Little Aston – Chester Road – Stonnall – Footherley – Shenstone – Chesterfield – Wall – home | Water and toilet at garage on Chester Road – fairly flat – all road. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/gb/lichfield-eng/17-mile-marathon-training-route-213787595 |
18.8 miles | Bird Street – Beacon Park – Abnalls Lane – Chorley – Upper Longdon – Stile Cop – Hazelslade – Sevens Road – Redmoore – Chorley Road – Padbury Lane – Nelson – Abnalls Lane – return home through Beacon Park | No water or toilet – some hills – all on roads. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/231999341 |
19.1 miles | Bird Street – Beacon Park – Abnalls Lane – Chorley – Upper Longdon – Stile Cop – Brereton – Lea Hall Lane – Armitage – Handsacre – Tuppenhurst Lane – Hanch Hall – Elmhurst – path – Dimbles Lane – Little Barrow – home | Some hills – some cross country. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/232215375 |
19.2 miles | Bird Street – Minster Pool – Stowe Pool – Curborough Road – Netherstowe Lane – Black Swann – canal to A515 – path to Orgreave – Alrewas – lanes to Whittington – Dog Inn – return home through Darnford Lane and Boley Park | No water or toilet – flat easy run with some cross country. Note: Check on availability of Orgreave footpath | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/232015167 |
19.5 miles | Bird Street – Beacon Park – Abnalls Lane – Chorley – Upper Longdon – Brereton (around the back of the Wishing Well) – Lea Hall Lane – Ash Tree – canal to – Handsacre – Tuppenhurst Lane – Hanch Hall – Longdon Green – Farewell – Cross in Hand Lane – return home through Beacon Park | Water and toilet at Wishing Well – hilly finish – mainly on roads. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/232031351 |
19.9 miles | Tamworth Road – Fox Inn – Wiggington – Syerscote Lane – Haunton – Harlaston – Elford – Fisherwick – Whittington – Tamworth Road – home | Water / toilet at Rawletts Leisure Centre- flat – all tarmac. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/gb/lichfield-eng/19-mile-marathon-training-route-syerscot-route-65953496 |
20.0 miles | Bird Street – Minster Pool – Stowe Pool – footpath to Netherstowe-Eastern Avenue Watery Lane – concrete path – Elmhurst – Roundabout Garage – Hanch Hall – Tuppenhurst Lane – Handsacre – Pipe Ridware – Hamstall Ridware – A515 – Kings Bromley – (Loop) – Watery Lane – Stowe Pool – Minster pool– home | Undulating – some cross country. Toilets at Bromley Hayes Garden Centre, A515 and Curborough Craft Centre, Watery Lane | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/231818307 |
20.7 miles | London Road – Shoulder of Mutton – Knowle Lane – Birmingham Road – Wall cross roads – Chesterfield – Shenstone – Footherly Lane – Forge Lane – Roman Road (Little Aston) – Sutton Park (Streetley Gate) – loop through park to Four Oaks Gate – Mere Green – Windley TV Mast (back road) – Little Hay – Shenstone – Knowle Lane – home | Water / toilets in Sutton Park- some hills – mainly off main roads. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/232175127 |
21.1 miles | St John Street – Beacon Park – Abnals Lane – Chorley – Upper Longdon – Stile Cop – Brereton – Ash Tree – Canal to Tuppenhurst Lane – Hanch – Longdon Green – Cross in Hand Lane – Stafford Road | Some hills at start but tough hills in the last few miles | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/237624105 |
21.5 miles | Bird Street – Beacon Park – Abnalls Lane – Chorley – Dolly Makers – Gentleshaw – Rawnsley – West Cannock 5s Paths – Cannock Chase Visitor Centre – Marquis Drive – Upper Longdon – Cross in Hand Lane – return home along Beacon Street | Water and toilet at Visitor Centre – tough hilly course – some cross country. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/232191027 |
22.2 Miles | Tamworth Road – Horse and Jockey – bridle path – Hints – Canwell – Windley – Little Aston – Chester Road – Stonnall Church – triangle – Swan Island – Abnalls Lane – home through Beacon Park | Water and toilet at Chester Road Garage – fairly flat – some cross country. | http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/237608047 |