West Country Ultra Flat 50 miler
Tackling an Ultra is an incredibly hard challenge, both physically and mentally. It’s even harder when you take a slight detour and 50 miles becomes 53! Not to be deterred, Nadine Brown kept in positive spirits to complete this fantastic challenge (only a month after a hilly marathon in Dorset!).
Starting in Taunton, the route takes you along 15 miles of quaint canal path, before you reach the River Parrett and then it’s on to join the West Somerset coast path. The Flat 50 does have some hills, but compared to the Hilly 50 version they run on the same day, they certainly aren’t as challenging! The route finishes just past Butlins in Minehead.
I was unprepared for having to navigate the course as believed it would be well marked (but both Rob and Ollie have since informed me that there isn’t a race organised by Albion Running whereby they haven’t got lost!) However, apart from this, it was a good run and I am very pleased to have completed my first 50 miler.
Nadine Brown
Nadine finished the course in an unofficial time of under 11 hours (results are TBC) – fantastic running, Nadine!
Worcester Marathon
Beginning in Six Ways Rugby Stadium, Worcester marathon follows a two lap course, crossing through Oddingley and taking in the countryside around Worcester. Completing the course in a fantastic time of 4:54:10 was Sarah Hancock!
First one of the year. A lot of fun!
Sarah Hancock
Well done Sarah on a great run!
A half marathon in time for a 1st Birthday!
Setting herself the challenge to complete a half marathon before her son’s first birthday was Zan Futter. As races were either cancelled or postponed, Zan took to the streets around South Cerney – what better way to complete a challenge than around the beautiful scenery at the water park!
Zan complete the run in a brilliant time of 2:05:07!
It felt really good from the get go. Pacing was good as was aiming for around 6min/km but unfortunately just lost the pace in the last km which was a bit frustrating, but still super happy!
Zan Futter
Zan celebrated with a medal and podium made by her husband!
Sutton Park Half Marathon
Part of the Birmingham Running Festival, the Sutton Park Half marathon is one of 3 races held in the 2,400 acre National Nature Reserve in Birmingham. The half marathon takes on a hilly 4-lap course around the park, a tough route for runners!
Linda Edwards took on the course, completing it in an excellent time of 2:11:48!
It was tough. I had been aiming to do a half marathon and stupidly realised after entering there was more climb than Bourton hilly half! – which I wanted to avoid at all costs. [It was] a lovely well organised race (but they don’t advertise the hill profile). It was loops so the hills kept on coming!
Linda Edwards
Hullavington Half marathon and 5k races
Hullavington races have been a club favourite over the last year due to their Covid safety procedures… that and their excellent cakes! Starting and finishing in Hullavington village, the half marathon is described as ‘gently undulating’, and takes runners through rural villages including Grittleton and Alderton.
It was a great turnout for the event from RSE, with club members Liz Farooq, Andy Masser, Jo Wood and Tom Razazan completing the race.
I found it tricky – a lot of uphill and it was really hot but the lemon drizzle cake at the end was amazing!
Liz Farooq
More up than down so it felt (!) and was accurately described as undulating but scenic. Very few big roads – crossing the M4 and back taking in many pretty Wiltshire villages. The most amazing cakes and a amazing ‘plane’ medal (which actually spins!) – a nod to the Hullavington airfield. Highly recommended!
Jo Wood
It was good to be back racing and see some RSE faces also!
Tom Razazan
Official times are still to be published, but here are the unofficial times:
- Tom Razazan – 1:37
- Andy Masser – 1:41:03
- Jo Wood – 1:50:05
- Liz Farooq – 2:01:38
The Hullavington 5k event is described as ‘pancake flat’ and ‘fast’, so it’s no wonder that Rosie Oates set her sights on the race! The race is a 1-lap road course that follows countryside just outside Hullavington.
Advertised as flat but it felt like a constant, gradual uphill. Every corner I was thinking ‘it will go down now’ but it just didn’t 🤣 so more like little undulating! really lovely quiet lanes to run on though and well organised too!
Rosie Oates
Rosie finished in an (unofficial) speedy time of 20:55! She also came 1st lady overall! 🥳
Thank You Coaching Team!
We’ve been secretly gathering some feedback from the club on the Faster, Fitter, Stronger effort programme, so that we can give a massive thank you to our coaches!
Get to Know the Club – Runner Profile
Vicki Mason
When did you start running?
Running was always something I “had to do” in order to pass a fitness test for work but it always felt forced and I didn’t gain much enjoyment from it. That changed in 2016, my youngest daughter was almost 2 and I wanted to reclaim some time for me. I entered the Race for Life 10k in Cirencester Park that summer as something to aim for and I realised that I actually enjoyed it. After that I entered the Bath Half and I’ve continued to enjoy new the challenges that running provides.
When did you join RSE?
I trained for the Bath Half on my own over the winter and it was a struggle to find time to run in the day light as I didn’t like the idea of running alone in the dark. I found RSE and had wanted to join for a while and once I’d plucked up the courage to attend a club run, I realised that it didn’t matter what pace I ran at I’d be welcome. Despite not being regularly able to attend twice weekly I love the support and encouragement that being a member of the club provides.
What motivates you to run?
Initially it was about having some head space and something for myself away from the family and work. Then chasing a new PB motivated me to get my trainers on and put in the effort, but now it’s about the enjoyment of being out, sometimes with company, other times with a podcast, exploring the beautiful countryside. Currently I’m enjoying the challenge of trail running, increasing the distance and seeing what I’m capable of, whilst setting a healthy example to my girls. Oh and I love cake 🧁 so that definitely motivates me to run!
Proudest running achievement?
Probably running the virtual London Marathon last year. It was a bit of a spur of the moment decision to enter and thankfully I was able to convince another Club member that running our first marathon with 40 days notice was a good idea. We laughed, chatted and moaned our way around the 26 miles in the wind and rain, but I loved every minute of it. And the support of club members in Cirencester Park at the end was amazing!
Favourite RSE moment?
Any race with good club attendance, such as the Cricklade Half. As I’m not the fastest runner there’s normally a crowd already at the finish line by the time I get there, and the cheering and support makes you feel like a winner; that feeling of community and inclusion is what makes RSE so special.
A change to Wednesday Efforts
Due to a lower than expected demand for efforts, we have decided to consolidate our 19:05 efforts into one session rather than two. Anyone booked onto a 19:05 session, which is due to be cancelled, will automatically be booked onto the session due to remain. You will receive confirmation emails once the bookings have been swapped over.
We are of course keeping a close eye on how any lifting of restrictions may affect us, however at 5pm on Sunday the dept. for culture, media and sport have still issued no update on group sizes permitted for outdoor sport. If this changes we will of course put plans in place as soon as possible.
