Author Archives: Ellie Taylor

Beginner’s Graduation – Cirencester parkrun

To mark the end of the beginners course this week, RSE took to Cirencester parkrun, to run, to cheer (with pom-poms!) and to support fellow club members as many completed their first parkrun!

After the run, it was then on to Somewhere Else, for a well deserved breakfast roll and coffee. Homemade cakes were also available to purchase in aid of RSE’s club charity, the Great Western Air Ambulance.

• David Witnall – 20:16 – 2nd overall!
• Paul Robertson – 22:23
• Phil Southworth – 22:28
• Daniel Chiechi – 23:21
• Mick Bagot – 24:52
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 25:58
• Tim Wainwright – 26:38
• Ellie Taylor – 26:41
• Prelini Udayan-Chiechi – 27:04
• Kirsty Pitts – 27:32
• Jo Beames – 27:34
• Wayne Edgington – 27:49
• Jessica James – 40:22
• Gareth Roberts – 29:26
• Richard Marshall – 30:23
• Anne-Marie Davies – 30:29
• William Gardiner – 30:30
• Richards Edwards – 30:34
• Kathryn Cowdall – 31:04
• Jess Osbourne – 31:20
• Amanda McIlroy – 34:45
• Louise Hayes – 34:46
• Sue Navin – 34:58
• Hannah Truman – 35:01
• Sallie Clatworthy – 35:48
• Sylvia Warman – 35:50
• Nikki Van Wyk – 36:58
• Amanda Ball – 37:00
• Portia Bigger – 40:21
• Penny Athawes – 40:22
• Caroline Joynes-Creed – 40:23

A huge thank you also to those who turned up to cheer runners in at the finish line or complete a lap in support – it’s safe to say it was the loudest crowd Cirencester parkrun has seen!

The Grizzly 2022

The Grizzly is a race that lives up to its name, tough and hilly. Describing this race as multi-terrain doesn’t quite do it justice – think pebbles, mud, river-crossings, bogs, fields and more! Take a look at the course video here. Runners had options for a 9 mile (cub) or full 20 mile option.

A huge well done to the RSE members who took part in the run!

• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 4:28:35 (watch time)
• Carol Sworn
• Andy Sworn
• Elaine Chapman

Official times are still to be released.

It’s safe to say I was under trained, under prepared and under no illusion that was going to be fun.
The bogs were awesome, the hills were brutal but the views made it all worthwhile.

Kevin Joynes-Creed

Imber Ultra – 33 Miles

Mark Manley and Lesley Hinsley are clocking up the ultras this year, this time completing the Imber Ultra in Westbury. The route takes runners across the Salisbury Plain before heading across the Imber Range Perimeter Path and on to the German Village and Warminster. This is another tough run, with around 3100 ft of elevation!

[It was] Fun!
Salisbury plain is interesting – very exposed and quite hilly (3100 feet). Wouldn’t fancy it in the rain! Just love being out in the country doing ultras and Lesley is such good company and doing so well

Mark Manley

Mark and Lesley finished in an impressive time of 5:59:45! Excellent work both of you!

Minchinhampton 10k

Hills are the theme this week and it’s unsurprising that a race around Minchinhampton is not flat! The course starts starts in the centre of Minchinhampton and heads in the direction of Avening, with a long descent down Hampton hill. As runners reach the hamlet of Nagshead, runners are faced with a 1.5km climb back up to Minchinhampton and through the golf course.

RSE club members achieved some excellent results on the course:

• Ben Mutlow – 47:41
• Sarah Hancock – 53:01 – 1st LV45!
• Anne Gardiner – 55:49 – 2nd LV55!

Bideford Half Marathon

Starting and finishing at Bideford Amateur Athletic Club, this half marathon is described as ‘relatively flat’. The course boasts stunning views of the countryside as well as the River Torridge. The route is a mix of roads and the Tarka Trail, and runners are also treated to a tunnel crossing.

RSE’s Martin Sherriff ran a brilliant time 1:45:44, a new PB! He was joined by former club member, Tom Cooper (and no doubt celebrated with a beer or 2 after!).

Tiring and sore

Martin Sheriff

We feel your pain, Martin! Well done on a great run.

Hullavington H20

We all know what a it means when a race website says ‘undulating’, but the picturesque countryside around Hullavington more than makes up for a few hills. Stampede Sports host races of different distances across the year, and today was the turn of their 20 miler, which follows a 2 ‘unequal’ lap course. These races are popular amongst RSE members, in part for the excellent selection of free cake that runners receive at the finish.

• Cheri Edwards – 3:12:40
• Jon Collins – 3:13:11

Well done both of you, and we hope you enjoyed the cake!

parkruns

Seaton parkrun

• Andy Sworn – 31:50

Bolberry Down parkrun

• Darren Jenner – 24:48
• Felicity Crotty – 30:33

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂

Arctic Sweden – Ice Ultra Marathon

This extreme challenge crosses 230km of Swedish Lapland, in temperatures reaching as low as -40 degrees. Surrounded by forests, frozen lakes and mountains, runners are expected to wear head torches due to the short daylight hours, meaning entrants spend much of their time running in the dark.

It takes an incredible ultra runner to enter the challenge, let alone finish all 230kms, but RSE’s Andy Sampson did just that!

Arctic Circle Ice Ultra – Done. 5 days and 230km of suffering relentless powder snow, ruthless Arctic blizzards in the -30s, multiple punishing mountain climbs, endless frozen lakes and vast undulating pine forests, to then sleep in secluded log cabins with log burners for heat, head torches for light, crystal clear lake water for drinking and, if lucky, a hole in a wooden box, with a seat. But in return, the reward was scenery as epic as it was brutal; complete silence in the utter wilderness; profound solitude under an aurora filled night sky, entirely cut off from humanity. It was, truly epic.

[It] was the hardest but best race I’ve ever done

Andy Sampson

To put how tough this race was into context, Andy has previously completed the Marathon Des Sable and Comrades!

The Terminator

This challenging, multi-terrain race is held in Pewsey, Wiltshire, following approx. 12 miles of muddy, hilly fields. Notoriously tough, the course starts gentle across the canal towpath, before hitting the hilly climbs across the Wiltshire hills. The race boasts some stunning views and great marshalls.

Four RSE members took to the course, finishing in brilliant times!

• Kirsty Pitts – 2:14:40
• Janet Daniels – 2:14:41
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 2:47:13
• Caroline Joynes-Creed – 2:47:13

I loved it! It was certainly tough but the route was fantastic and the views were stunning… thank goodness for the sunshine 🌞 This year the route was shorter than previous years which cut out the river crossing, which weirdly I was looking forward to 🤣 Janet and I kept each other going all the way and went over the finish line together.

Kirsty Pitts

Well done to everyone running, and to Kev and Caroline who stopped to help with a medical emergency at the start before continuing the race.

Wokingham Half Marathon

Starting and finishing in Cantley Park, Wokingham, this race is tipped as fast and flat, attracting over 2,000 runners to the course. The route takes runners through the town centre of Wokingham before following rural roads to the villages of Shurlock Row and Hurst.

Running for RSE was David Witnall, Nadine Brown and Ellie Taylor.

• David Witnall – 1:30:37
• Nadine Brown – 1:49:16
• Ellie Taylor – 1:51:16

A quick Half Marathon course, but it is a case of knowing the route to chase that quick time! The first half of the race is fast, owing to the decline in elevation but the last 3 miles, the elevation has to be regained and rhythm can be interrupted. I enjoyed the challenge though – I’ll have to return to get it right next time!

David Witnall

A lot more undulating than the description makes out! It was a lovely course though, and great to see so many crowds cheering the runners on.

Ellie Taylor

Bourton 10k

The Bourton 10k is a popular race amongst RSE members for its flat, fast and picturesque route. Held in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, the course consists of 2 laps of the village plus 1 smaller lap.

Well done to Anne Gardiner and Paul Coates for taking on the challenge, as well as Liz Hulcup who volunteered as tail runner!

• Paul Coates – 49:12
• Anne Gardiner – 52:07 – A New PB!

It’s a beautiful location and great atmosphere. 700 runners today and, from this year is also part of the England Age Masters – so lots of very good runners there. There were queues for the car park so I should have left home a bit earlier- gave me a good warmup run to catch registration!

Anne Gardiner

Excellent running!

parkruns

19/02/2022

Hampstead Heath parkrun

• Jenny Hoffmann – 32:21

Chippenham parkrun

• Darren Jenner – 24:49
• Felicity Crotty – 32:15

Melksham parkrun

• Phil Southworth – 22:22

Stratford Park parkrun, Stroud

• Jon Collins – 44:32

26/02/2022

Tamar Trails parkrun

• Darren Jenner – 24:56
• Felicity Crotty – 31:42

Weymouth parkrun

• Kathryn Cowdall – 29:50 – A New PB!

Cirencester parkrun

• Michael Bagot – 24:41
• Steve Sandercock – 25:29 – 1st in age category!
• Andy Sworn – 27:17
• Anne Gardiner – 27:39 – 3rd lady overall and 1st in age category!
• Carol Sworn – 27:43
• Wayne Edgington – 27:53
• William Gardiner – 28:18
• Louise Hayes – 31:17

Tetbury Goods Shed

• Elliot Gardiner – 22:05 – A New PB!
• Cheri Edwards – 24:11
• Vicki Mason – 26:34 – A New PB!

Stratford Park parkrun, Stroud

• Jon Collins – 30:09

Marine Parade parkrun

• Phil Southworth – 22:07

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂

Big Bear 6 Hour Challenge

Hosted by Big Bear events, this time challenge invited runners to complete as many 3.3 mile laps as they can. The course was held Ryton Pools Country Park and follows an off-road route

Fresh from their ultra in December, Mark Manley and Lesley Hinsley took on the challenge, completing a massive 36.3 miles in 6 hours and 25 minutes!

[It was the] first ultra of 2022 for Lesley and I on Tuesday. Big Bear 6 hour challenge at Ryton Pools near Coventry…. The challenge is Run as many 3.3m laps as you can start in 6 hours so it’s a mental challenge as much as an endurance challenge. Lesley and I did 36.3 miles in 6:25, with it being her furthest distance to date.

Mark Manley

We managed 36 miles in total, making us 4th and 5th out of a total of 200 runners. It was in the beautiful Ryton Park. 1,800 ft taking you up on the way out and back down. Even though it was round and round the same loop, it was lovely scenery and Mark kept me going, as usual.

Lesley Hinsley

A huge well done to Mark and Lesley!

Mayhill Massacre

The Mayhill Massacre includes 9 or 15 mile options for tough cross country run featuring tough climbs up Mayhill near Huntley, Glos. The race boasts some stunning views and great scenery.

RSE were lucky to have 3 runners taking part in the 15 mile event, which actually came up short at around 12.7 miles! Official times have not yet been released, but here’s a sneak peak of who ran and their times:

• Nadine Brown – 2:41:19 – 2nd lady overall!
• Andy Sworn – 2:41:19
• Carol Sworn

Throw in some very muddy trails some great scenery and the open plain at the top of Mayhill and you have a recipe for an enjoyable morning out!

In reality the route was short and a lack of marshals was noticeable leading to a little confusion amongst the runners. However, everyone finished with a smile on their face.

Nadine Brown

Well done Nadine, Andy and Carol on a tough run!

Welcome to the Club

It’s always lovely to see new runners sign up to RSE! Here’s what a few of them have to say:

Welcome to the Running Somewhere Else!

Parkruns

Cirencester Parkrun

• Andy Sworn – 27:20
• William Gardiner – 27:42
• Kathryn Cowdall – 32:11
• Caroline Joynes-Creed – 32:30
• Kevin Joynes-Creed – 32:32
• Vicki Mason – 34:01
• Nadine Brown – 45:26
• Anne Gardiner – 56:27

Tetbury Goods Shed Parkrun

• Darren Jenner – 23:32
• Tarryn Hancock – 29:01
• Felicity Crotty – 29:35

Babbs Mill Parkrun

• David Witnall – 20:05 – 1st overall!
• Ellie Taylor – 24:36

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂