This adventure race at Osmaston Manor, Derbyshire on Saturday 29th March, consisted of one or two laps (our guy did two, it must be said!) of a trail and mud 5K run with over sixty challenging obstacles in the full race distance.  Obstacles included mud, water, tunnels, monkey bars, fire, giant walls, cargo nets, balance beams, hurdles, jacobs ladders, tightropes and the assault course.    

Report by our very own “Bear Grylls”, Dave Kemp:

It was a fabulous mud churning event in Ashbourne! 1 or 2 5km laps with 26 obstacles per lap and very much cross country with 2 river crossings and have I already mentioned…lots of mud! We entered a 9 person team of 6 blokes, 3 women, all associated through work, networking or socially. We had a strict get everyone round as a team at the pace of the slowest therefore had plenty of time for fun and stupidity! Less thought out the early call to do a Gambole after every obstacle!

Everyone finished alive…in a very modest 2:07! Next event is in June!

More details can be found at

http://xrunner.co.uk/events/wild-thing-mud-run-obstacle-race/

Sunday 23rd March marked the start of the 2014 off road series, with the Seven Pools 10K. This is a cross country run around the seven pools (hence the name…) in Sutton Park.

The weather really didn’t know what to do with itself, with a short but sharp downpour just prior to the start of the race at 11am, then bright sunshine (but cool) with the odd bit of rain throughout, then just as our final runners were coming in, a sudden hailstorm!

There was a brilliant display of sunny yellow vests however.  Jon Wolfe was first home in 39.58 and Cass Jackson first lady back in 49.13,  with excellent performances put in by the whole team.

“All the elements today. A really lovely (muddy) run!” Lorraine Amos

“Great support from everyone and a lovely soggy run!” Cass Jackson

Results can be found here: http://www.7poolsrun.org.uk/results/

One of the first half marathons of the year went very well with some excellent performances (and lots of PBs). Also more hills than some veterans remember!  A cold start to the day soon gave way to a very warm and windy course, making those hills extra challenging!

Here are the results:

http://www.chiptiming.co.uk/results/?sport=1&year=2014&event=177&race=95

As always many thanks to our supporters too.

Glorious weather greeted 4 Lichfield running club members at the Stafford 20 mile race on 9th March. The Stafford 20 is ideal for anyone who is preparing for a spring marathon which was the case for all 4 runners from Lichfield. The course is a three lap route with the first lap being a longer 8 mile loop with some tough inclines and a very steep decline to test you out early on. You then complete two 6 mile loops which the same tough incline from the first lap. I think it goes without saying that the third time up this hill was rather challenging. With the unusually warm temperatures at this time of year a few more drink stations would have been appreciated by all so taking this into account some impressive running by the Lichfield quartet.

The results are as followed:

On what must be the warmest sunniest day of the year so far at a balmy 17 degrees, this year’s Fradley 10K was a world apart from last year’s miserable drizzle.  There was an abundance of yellow vests on show with some excellent times and several personal bests recorded.  A big well done to all our runners!  And you are a handsome bunch – see photos below!

Click here for the full results. 

The following report from this fast and flat Manchester race is by “our kid” Andy Walsh.

I decided to enter a notoriously fast, high standard 10k race in a bid to push myself out of my comfort zone at the start of the year – and see how my training is going after being injured for most of the winter. The field for this race is absolutely insane…both races were won by Olympians (Nick McCormick and Helen Clitheroe), and the first 7 guys home completed in less than 30 mins (winning time was 28:56). It was a bit scary seeing so many national standard runners warming up and then fly off at the gun, but it was inspiring and also meant that there were plenty of people around my pace to drag me round.

The course itself was amazing – quiet, slightly windy, very flat country lanes – only a couple of slight inclines and canal ‘hump’ bridges to negotiate. I seemed to have given a bit too much respect to the fact that there were clearly loads of amazing runners there, and started quite far back – meaning that my first kilometer was slow as I had to try and pick through some slightly slower runners. I then got back on target pace in km 2, and pushed on from there…and finished with a really strong last 2km and a big pb – 36:51 by the chip. Way beyond my expectations, over a minute quicker than my previous pb. I finished 177^th out of 1000 with that time, which is quite mind boggling – it just shows that there is lots more improvement to be done!

I’d recommend this race to anyone looking to push out a new pb and get inspired – really well organised and friendly race, insane competition at the top end (but lovely course and great marshals if you’re not at that level!) and probably the best course that I have run on. I will definitely go back next year. And be faster.

Report by the intrepid Clive Lamb on his recent 10 mile night run over Exmoor.  For more information on this race please visit http://www.wildrunning.co.uk/

Saturday 1st March I arrived at South Brent village hall, Dartmoor for a 6pm briefing with around 150 other trail runners with various levels of equipment! Feelings of apprehension were surfacing having never run off road in the dark before. Some of my kit was brand new and somewhat cobbled together whilst my fellow runners looked like they might be attempting the Spine rather than a little jaunt across the ‘moor’. Oh I also forgot to mention that the first 5 miles would be uphill…….

It was a mass start at dusk, torches on, with 5 mile entrants (Mild Run) and 10 mile entrants (Wild Run) side by side – and a dog called Parsley. The race itself was started by Adharanand Finn who wrote ‘Running with the Kenyans’.
I try to hold back on the steep tarmac section immediately as we set off and quickly realised, after about a minute that this was going to be tough with at least another 50 minutes of the uphill section.

The first trail section was littered with loose fist sized rocks and we slowed down to a single file jog. As the pace picked up the first casualty went down in front of me having been hit by the unseen low hanging branch. Another runner went to his assistance and I adjusted my light to check for any other obstacles and moved on.

As we laboured on uphill I hooked up with a suitable pacemaker (my usual race trick) and started passing other runners. I was feeling strong and the Mild Runners were starting to veer off to complete their course.

Despite the course being marked with fluorescent alpine poles on moorland sections, things started to get confusing with a split in runners. Some going for a more difficult uphill route and others taking a slightly easier path. I went for the harder route only to realise the runners I was following were coming back down having made the wrong decision!!

Once we were back on the right path we entered the ‘moor’ proper. This is where the fluro markers were invaluable as they were the only features in the boggy terrain. It took all your focus, balance and strength to stay upright!

By this point I was feeling really good and had passed a few runners who had taken me at an early stage, I had also stopped thinking about the shin deep ruts of mud! The last kilometre or so was down country lanes and then it was the finish line! I stopped to clap a few people over the line and then went to join the party in the village hall – live music, home baking and masseurs!!

Results were really pleasing, 16th overall, and third in my age group with a time of 1 hour 36 mins. Just need to decide where to do my first trail half marathon !

You will be pleased to know that Parsley the dog also completed the course but had to join his owner slightly later than anticipated. Parsley got lost during the race but made it back on his own and turned up at the local pub where him and his owner were reunited!

Centurion Grand Prix – Jo Palmer takes fourth lady

The 2014 Grand Prix kicked off on Sunday 2nd February with the Centurion 5 mile race.  A good start to the year, with some excellent performances.  The race is a regular one and well organised, consisting of a flat 3 lap route round a lake, all off road through an urban park. The run is one of a monthly winter series all on the same route and designed to measure improvement through the season.  Despite the dry, sunny morning, after the heavy rain the tracks were extremely muddy and there were two sections of ‘water bath’ making for a wet run with squelchy trainers!  Steve Rivers was the first LRC man home, followed by Neil Weyham, who continues to improve fast, scoring a new PB at 39.07.  Congratulations to Jo Palmer who put in an amazing run to finish 4th lady and win a prize, with her impressive mileage over the Christmas and New Year period paying dividends.

February Grand Prix results.

“…Bonus water obstacle, namely a six inch deep puddle – you couldn’t go round it – you couldn’t go over it – you had to go through it!”  Gill Jarvis

“Great support from the LRC team and the on course marshalls” Neil Weyham

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The Spine: Britain’s Most Brutal Race – Javed’s story

 The Montane Spine Race is Britain’s most brutal race. The longest, coldest and most demanding mountain marathon in Britain. 268 miles of ice and snow, not to mention the thigh deep mud and savage winds. Competitors have 7 days to complete the race.

Javed Bhatti is one of our members who took part in the 2014 race in January.  Javed did his first marathon 33 years ago, although didn’t then start running in earnest again until 2005, when he decided to keep his wife company on her long runs as she trained for her first marathon. His story is inspirational, not to mention dramatic with some unexpected challenges, and well worth a listen. It is also relevant as a lesson for members like myself who find themselves cursing Eastern Avenue in the drizzle.

If you would like to hear more,  Javed is telling his story for our members on Thursday 27th February at 7.30pm at Saxon Hill School. He will be discussing training and preparation for the race, the kit that he took with him, some of the things that he learned (during and since getting back) and what he plans to do next.

Further details about this race can be found at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/10619924/The-Spine-Britains-most-brutal-race.html#disqus_thread

http://marvellousmimi.com/v2/2014/01/29/the-spine-race-britains-most-brutal-race-2014/

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First Time Trial of 2014

Wednesday 19th February saw our first time trial of 2014.  26 of our members turned out for the dark, cold and windy trial. (Although we mustn’t complain too much. The recent heavy rain and gales did hold off.)  Overall the performances were very good, with a number of personal bests recorded.  John Corpe was first home in 17:39, and first woman was Jo Palmer in 20:52.  Support in the form of our marshalls and timekeepers was exemplary as ever.  Well done to all of our participants!

Full results can be found on the website, and should be updated shortly.

http://lichfield-running-club.co.uk/competitions/time-trial/

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February Committee Meeting

The LRC committee meeting was held on 7th February. Topics discussed included website and social media updates, discussion around race rules, and upcoming social events. Details as follows:

Website

The website has been completely revamped and streamlined and is now live. Here you should find all you need to know about the club, including:

– how to join us and member information

– details of weekly runs, upcoming races and the monthly and yearly programme

-news section – with summaries of races and recent committee meetings as well as social news

– a gallery

We hope that you enjoy looking at the new website, and welcome your feedback about any errors or omissions. Please email your comments to  cassjackson@me.com.  To look at the website go to http://lichfield-running-club.co.uk

Facebook

The LRC Facebook page is now back up and running at facebook.com/lichfieldrunningclub

Here you will be able to find details of all upcoming events and runs. Please like the page and comment on our posts – we want to hear from you.

Race rules

it was agreed that the race rules should be changed slightly to make each series more accessible to members. Here is a summary of the changes:

Time trial – no longer need both a 5K and 5 Mile to qualify, with best 5 to count (previously 6); to be out of 100 points; target time will be a person’s PB over the previous 2 years, but in the event of a first time runner then their target time will be the PB for their age group.

Grand Prix – 5 races to count (previously 6) and to qualify for T-shirt;

Mens GP and Bob Connor competitions to be out of 100 points;

Off-road series out of 100 points, with 3 to count out of 5.

To have a look at the full race rules please go to http://lichfield-running-club.co.uk/lichfield-running-club/rules/

In addition, it has been highlighted that some members had done 6 Grand Prix events but not received a T-shirt, due to an error in the list for qualifiers. The T-shirts are now on order for this.

Finally, the committee welcomes your feedback on any of these issues, please chat to any committee member (a full list is on the website) if you have anything you would like raised.

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Social events

Friday February 28th 8pm meet at the Bowling Green pub for birthday drinks with Julia and Helen.

We will also be organising a meal out for everyone at the end of March/ early April. Date and venue to follow.

Contact Julia Woodward for information on social events.

We hope you are enjoying looking at the new Lichfield Running Club website. Here you should find all you need to know about the club and how to join us.

Please send us your feedback!