Author Archives: Ellie Taylor

Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon

It was the 10th Anniversary of the Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon, a race celebrating the iconic landmarks of Newport and a visit out to the historic town of Caerleon and back. The course follows the river Usk on a 1-lap undulating route.

Running for RSE was Liz Farooq, who completed the course in a brilliant time and was not far off a new PB!

• Liz Farooq – 1.56.27

I completed the Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon in 01.56.27, 17 secs off my PB 😬 Only my 2nd time under 2 hours though so I’m happy. It was a great race. Half town, half country, well supported. Undulating with some twists and turns but you can’t argue with a piper in an underpass and a load of freebies at the end (including beer) 😁 Heads up – don’t put your car park ticket in your running belt. It gets a bit worn and sweaty and the machines don’t like it! The kind car park attendant at the barrier did let me out for free though!

Liz Farooq

Gloucestershire Cross Country Over Farm

It was the forth and final round of the Gloucestershire Cross Country league. The run took place at Over Farm near to the river Severn, and the course takes runners around the Over Farm grass air strip and then around the adjacent fields. The route is relatively flat (in the grand scheme of cross country races!) and offers quick times to finish the cross country.

Well done to Fran Penny who finished the 6.4k race with a brilliant time of 32:34!

The last race in this winter’s league, with some added wildlife too! Ostrich patrolled the fence on the walk up to the start line, and the starter’s instructions included ‘don’t touch the electric fence it’s keeping the pigs in!’
The 2 lap course was mainly field edges with a small winding section through some trees.
I really enjoyed completing all 4 races in this year’s cross country league, each provided a different challenge. Looking forward to next year!

Fran Penny

Imber Range Perimeter 33m Ultra

Starting at Leighton Sports Centre in the town of Westbury at the north west of the Imber Ranges, this ultra follows a unique course which is accompanied by the explosions of the Salisbury firing range. The route follows the Imber Range Perimeter Path, passing iron age hillforts, bridleways and the most remote parts of southern England.

Seasoned Ultra runners, Mark Manley and Lesley Hinsley, took to the course!

• Mark Manley – 6:00:17 (Unofficial)
• Lesley Hinsley – 6:00:17 (Unofficial)

Imber Range Perimeter 33m ultra. It runs all around the perimeter of the Salisbury plain firing range, always just through a fence to your left. Quite exposed, and almost 3000ft of elevation.

Mark Manley

Starting at Wesbury over the Salisbury Plain, [the course goes round] the Imber Ranges 3,000ft hills, very cold 🥶 and bleak in places. [It’s] usually very muddy, cold and wet, but we were lucky today as it was dry underfoot.

Lesley Hinsley

Devon Grizzly

Hosted by Axe Valley runners, this multi-terrain race follows the East Devon coastline and countryside for some incredible views. This year, the race was named ‘I Fought The Claw’, a hint to it’s grizzly course, with beaches and bogs to navigate. Despite the tough route, the race attracts over 2,000 runners a year to take part.

Taking on the challenge for RSE was Andy Sworn and Zoe Markham-Lee!

• Andy Sworn – 4:30 (Unofficial time)
• Zoe Markham-Lee – 4:55 (Unofficial time)

I ran the 20 mile Grizzly race today across undulating countryside between Seaton and Branscombe in Devon. It was a cold day but the going was pretty nice due to the recent dry weather. There were the customary muddy bogs and beaches to traverse and many inclines including the Stairway to Heaven up from Branscombe beach. It was altogether a very enjoyable run again (my 14th Grizzly race) and finished in just under 4 1/2 hours.

Andy Sworn

That was really tough and my foot blew up at mile 18. But there was no way I’d not finish! I’ll send a few photos. Plus… you run all that way and no medal! There were pirates, bag pipes and bogs. But no medal!

Zoe Markham-Lee

parkruns

Lydiard parkrun

• Anne-Marie Davies – 27:40

Plymvalley parkrun

• Felicity Crotty – 36:43

Seaton parkrun

• Andy Sworn – 29:24

Cirencester parkrun

• David Witnall – 20:42
• Jon Campbell – 22:47
• Phil Southworth – 25:12
• Steve Sandercock – 25:18
• Sue Navin – 29:03
• Maria Yates – 29:04

Witney parkrun

• Taryn Hancock – 35:44

Save the Date!

Dates to add to your diary:

• Sunday 11th June 2023: Fairford 10k

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to fill in the form below by Sunday 5pm

Lulworth Cove trail half

Based on the Dorset Coast in an Area of outstanding Natural Beauty, Lulworth Cove is is one of the most beautiful and recognisable stretches of coastline. Trail Events offer 4 distances for runners looking to take on a scenic, but undulating challenge, including Ultra Marathon, Marathon, long Half Marathon and 12k. Well done to Cheri Edwards for volunteering as backrunner for the half marathon event – a great way to see the stunning scenery!

• Cheri Edwards – 4 hours 30 mins

I was the backrunner for this race, tasked with ensuring runners stayed on course, helping anyone who needed assistance and motivating when required. It was a beautiful route with sea views for the majority of it. There was a small section on rocky/shingle beach which would have been tricky to run on!  The second half was on the South West coastal path and passed Durdle Door with the iconic rock formations, a real highlight. As the photos show it was a lovely day, although quite windy on the exposed coastal path! Highly recommend the Trail Events Company, well organised, clearly marked routes, friendly volunteers and brilliant, well-stocked aid stations.

Cheri Edwards

Dursley Dozen

The Dursley Dozen makes no bones about the type of race that entrants are signing up for, with such gems as ‘multi-terrain misery’, ‘mud, roads, more mud’ and the route having ‘spared no hills’ listed on the race website. With over 2,000ft of elevation, the route is tough, and the briefing indicated that there were 6 ‘significant’ hill climbs. And so it became the next race in our running club championship!

Hills aside, the atmosphere of this race was fantastic, from marshals to supporters, to friendly runners who were just trying to make it to the finish. The route cross every terrain possible, including grass, mud, road, and a touch of bouldering. The course has a bit of everything!

• David Witnall – 1:50:04
• Nia Glover – 1:50:56 – 2nd FSen!
• Mark Garrett – 1:59:47
• Cheri Edwards – 2:20:08
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 2:20:17
• Nadine Brown – 2:22:49
• Kirsty Pitts – 2:31:39
• Ellie Witnall – 2:31:40

Fantastic event! They’d made no secret of the tough hills in the race description but they were brutal. Steep and never-ending! Started with a huge climb up to lovely tracks through woodlands, downhill to a pond (and the support of Caroline, thank you!) up onto Stitchcombe golf course and a section of the Cotswold Way, down into woods, up in woods, through a muddy section, up another hill, around a stony quarry, more woodlands and finally the mile descent to the high street finish line. Brilliantly marshalled (including an impressive 3 water stations) and frequent pockets of support (often with sweets!), finishing with a nice T-shirt and cake at the end.

Cheri Edwards

This was a new race for me. It was safe to say it was a bit hilly and rather hard. That said the support and marshalling made the experience a whole lot nicer.

Hats off to Dursley Running Club for putting on a really well organised event, another one to add to the calendar for future.

Kevin Joynes-Creed

I’m not the best at hills, and these ones were tough (70% of the race elevation was in the 1st 3 miles!), but I’m glad I didn’t give up and made it to the finish. The route was beautiful. Thanks to Kirsty for getting me round!

Ellie Witnall

The Terminator 2023

This world-famous race is one for the bucket-list, and is feature in the World’s Ultimate Running Races. Hosted by Pewsey Vale Running Club, The Terminator is aptly named for its challenging multi-terrain course which covers 12 miles of ‘undulation’. Runners are lulled into a false sense of security with the course’s gentle start, before the route offers some seriously steep climbs. The race offers some stunning views of Pewsey Vale, however, and boasts fantastic marshalling as well as a free shoe wash!

Taking on the course for RSE was club coach, Carol Sworn!

• Carol Sworn – 2:21:23

Glorious weather, lots of hills (but not too much mud) and the chatty company all the way round of a friend from my old running club made this a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning.

Carol Sworn

Bourton 10k

The Bourton 10k is an incredibly popular race and is a sell out every year; it’s no surprises why, as it’s set in the beautiful town of Bourton-on-the-Water with a fast, flat course. The route takes runners around 2 laps of the town before heading out on country lanes to a turning points; it’s then back to the town centre for a speedy finish.

Taking to the course for RSE were Gemma Wright and Alan Powderhill!

• Alan Powderhill – 49:41
• Gemma Wright – 50:26

It was fairly flat but not totally. My aim was negative splits which I just  about managed! It was enjoyable which I never imagined I’d say about a 10k. The funniest part was when Alan and I couldn’t find his car at the end!

Gemma Wright

Just 13 seconds off the PB, but over the moon to get my second ever sub 50! An interesting course, which is largely flat, except for the cheeky hill between 5&6k! Great day though with Gemma Wright also doing a great time.

Alan Powderhill

Brighton Half Marathon

The Brighton Half Marathon is popular for it’s coastal views and emphasis on charity fundraising, raising vital funds for The Sussex Beacon amongst other fantastic causes. The route takes runners on a tour of some of Brighton’s most iconic sights, including the Royal Pavillion, Hove Lagoon, the Brighton Palace Pier and Brighton Marina, as well as the panoramic views of city and seascape. The out and back course is fast and flat, perfect for runners of all abilities.

RSE’s Phil Newman took on the challenge in club colours, entering with his son, Austin! Phil finished in a brilliant time of 1 hour and 56 minutes!

parkruns

Lydiard parkrun

• Mick Bagot – 23:11
• Darren Jenner – 24:47
• Felicity Crotty – 31:32
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 31:33

Cirencester parkrun

• Daniel Drayton – 23:30
• Jon Campbell – 24:10
• Phil Southworth – 25:39
• Steve Sandercock – 25:50
• Paul Beaumont – 25:55
• Andy Sworn – 26:37
• Anne Gardiner – 27:13
• Maria Yates – 29:30
• Sylvia Warman – 35:20
• Ben Chapman – 39:07

Witney parkrun

• Taryn Hancock – 40:06

Save the Date!

Dates to add to your diary:

• Sunday 11th June 2023: Fairford 10k

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to fill in the form below by Sunday 5pm

Gloucestershire Cross Country – Pittville Park, Cheltenham

Cross country races are all about the mud, the hills and maybe a sneaky river crossing or two, and the course at Pittville Park in Cheltenham is no different. Taking part in the 3rd race in the series, hosted by Cheltenham Harriers, was Fran Penny and Paul Beaumont. The course was mainly ran on grassland and was undulating with 2 crossings of the stream at the end of the lake, luckily this year it was not in flood!

• Fran Penny – 34:26
• Paul Beaumont – 36:02

The course measured 6.7K, with two laps of a twisting course around Pittville Park. Lots of twists, turns and ups and downs with the added fun of running twice through the water crossing!

Fran Penny

Much better weather than last year! Still had to jump into the water a  couple of times. Well organised. Good atmosphere.  Easy to get to. Recommend it.  Am even tempted to enter the next one. And thanks to Fran’s husband for looking after my bag!

Paul Beaumont

parkruns

Plymvalley parkrun

• Darren Jenner – 25:58
• Felicity Crotty – 38:07

Cirencester parkrun

• David Witnall – 21:30
• Jon Campbell – 25:16
• Sarah Reynold – 27:24
• Cheri Edwards – 28:12
• Sue Navin – 29:12
• Maria Yates – 29:12
• Sylvia Warman – 34:31

Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun

• Vicki Mason – 30:06

Seven Fields parkrun

• Anne-Marie Davies – 28:19

Coaching Notes

The coaching team have put together some information on the upcoming Wednesday coaching sessions! Take a read via the following link:

We hope you find this informative, and if you have any questions, please direct them towards one of the club coaches.

Save the Date!

Dates to add to your diary:

• Sunday 11th June 2023: Fairford 10k

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to fill in the form below by Sunday 5pm