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 DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - Xmas disco and buffet on Friday 10th Dec 2010.

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SUBSCRIPTIONS 2010 - 11 SEASON

Are now due to bring in line with UK Athletics and DK Rugby Club. They will run June to May. ALL monies MUST be in by the end of AUGUST or you won't get your UK Athletics number. As we are losing two months, the fees are reduced to £30 and £50 dual.

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SUNDAY 25th JULY – ENVILLE ATHLETIC 10k M.T.

WEDNESDAY 21st JULY – VIC MUSGROVE FAST 5k (Well 3mile actually.)

Dave Norman reports "It’s weird, give something a descriptive prefix and it seems to come true. Take the characters in “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”. One was a decent, respectable, upright citizen, the other was a wicked, corrupt individual and the final one had a face like a rat catchers dog. And where races are concerned the Badger Bite makes you feel like your legs have been chewed off, the Suicide 6 makes you feel like topping yourself and the Mow Cop Murder Mile make you want to kill someone else. So call something fast and you are more or less guaranteed a pacey race.

The Vic Musgrave Fast 5k is certainly not named ironically like Robin Hood’s Little John, it’s lightning fast from the off. The course helps with some long down hills and sweeping bends but it’s the quality of the field and the fact that it’s eyeballs out right from the gun that makes this a rapid race. This year’s version was no different with the best of the home club lined up at the front charging off on the B of the bang, or the H of the honk with the remainder streaming after them straining every muscle to keep up.

As advertised by its title the course was quick. Starting on the road leading to the Town Park before turning right down a long sweeping bend and then following the paths around the park itself. Passing the finish, before going out on another loop to include a long hill before a sharp right to reach the path leading to the finish and a long half mile stretch to the line.

The usual hoops were out in force with an under trained Dan Smith getting up amongst the Telford runners to finish in 25^th in a time of 17.39, Dave Norman lead home a group on MV40 runners which a full gas sprint coming home in 18.07 in 39^th place. Rob Sannwald continued his good form finishing in 19.11 in 60^th, Ian Hopkins ran a solid 19.38 in 68^th place, Richard Jones, in 20.27 and 91^st,  had enough to hold off Brian Russell, in 20.31 and 92^nd and Richard Sannwald managed a creditable 24.42 in 165^th finishing in the rain.

With Dan Smith in 6^th and Rob Sannwald in 8^th in the overall standings in the Senior Men's category the blue hoops are really mixing it with the cream of Shropshire. With Dave Norman moving up to 2^nd, Ian Hopkins in 6^th and Richard Jones in 8^th in the 40-44s and Richard Sannwald in 9^th in the 55-59s things are looking promising for some good end of competition standings with one race to run.  Again the hoops will be looking to finish the series with credit by turning out again at Madeley in the final 5k of the series, as with all these Sexarathon races, the same faces will be there, the same rivalries will be renewed and there will be the mild whiff of series long retribution in the air.    

SUNDAY 18th JULY – FAN Y BIG HORSESHOE FELL RACE

SATURDAY 17th JULY – PEN Y FAN FELL RACE

Colin Downey had an eventful week running Frampton on Monday (2 minutes faster than last year at Frampton & only 20 seconds behind Brian Morris.) He then ran the Stiperstones on Wednesday. (See Brian’s note about the weather. Took a tumble in the bracken with bruises & cuts to show for it.)

Now it was time for two more fell races this weekend. He just about made it in time for the start of the Pen Y Fan, as there were no directions to the field high up in the Brecon Beacons. The organisers were putting on two events this weekend with the long run on the Sunday.

Saturday was a blast up Corn Du along to Pen Y Fan & down. With 1930 feet of ascent crammed into 3.5 miles this is a real calf & lung buster. The spit times have highlighted to me that I need to work on my up hills. At the summit in 42:14 I was in a disappointing 67th of 75 runners. Downhill was a different story picking up 7 places being 32^nd fastest of the 75 on the descent in 14:57. The total time of 57:13 being almost 3 minutes quicker than when I ran this before in 2006.

Pasta loading tonight ready for tomorrow’s race - Fan Y Big 10.3 miles / 2200 feet.

WEDNESDAY 14th JULY – STIPERSTONES FELL RACE

I accompanied Colin Downey to the furthest of the Summer Series Fell Races to the Stiperstones Inn near Shrewsbury. I left it until the last minute to see what the weather was going to be like, and rang him to say I'd go........big mistake.

We headed through Bridgnorth to Church Stretton where upon Colin blasted his way up the pass around blind bends as though we were on the big dipper. He then proceeded to murder a pigeon who didn't realise he was as mad as a hatter.

We got to the pub with half hour to spare, and I immediately went up the lane to a point where you can see the photo was taken from. I wasn't going to go any further. It then started raining with ten minutes to go, and with just a polo shirt and a light windcheater on, I began to worry.

No need, it stopped and the runners came by. I ran (yes ran) back down to the finish by the pub and waited for the runners to come back, and then it happened...... the bloody heaven's opened. I was drenched and was heard to shout "bloody hell Colin, where are you". It may have been worse language than that. Colin arrived and we decided to come straight back home. He put the car heater on bless him to dry me out causing the windows to steam up. As we returned along the A5 a brilliant sunset appeared through the back window, with lovely blue sky all around us. Sod's law. The last race is the Ragleth in Little Stretton on 25th August......Any takers ?

MONDAY 12th JULY – FRAMPTON 10k

Dave Norman reports from Gloucestershire. "Pick a year, any year from the mid 1990’s until now, look at the line up for Frampton’s Monday night 10k road race and there will be a number of hoops in attendance. There may not be a high number but it will be a number. There have been bumper years when DK have taken a decent squad and years when the hoops struggled to reach double figures but there has been a presence time after time. Frampton has been a regular Monday night trip, a regular away fixture for years and for good reason, for its welcome, for its reasonably fast course but above all for the craic. Not a great deal changes from one year to the next, same faces, the same course, the same pubs, the same landlady saying if she’d known the race was on she’d have got more staff in,  and the same haphazard travel arrangements, it’s a DK tradition.

And in true DK tradition the night started with a small cluster of runners gathered together in the DK Rugby Club car park waiting for a coach to arrive. As the minutes ticked by and the expected departure time came and went transport was noticeable by its absence. Twenty minutes of nervous glancing at watches until it arrived, barely stopped as the group dived on and was away south in seconds. Making good time DK arrived in Gloucestershire just under an hour before the off and were ushered onto our regular parking slot on the village green. Plenty of time to stretch our legs, chat to the locals and try a quick warm up before assembly at the start. The whole group of nearly 500 runners assembled on the road that bisects the village and whose only reason seems to be to join the two pubs together. In typical Frampton fashion the whole group then regularly had to move to the verges to give access to passing tractors of which there is always at least two. It’s one of those unwritten Frampton laws. With a brief word from the organisers, mainly to say that the silage lorry that was blocking part of the course has now been moved, we were off with a blast of his air horn. We were so far into the country that we expected the air horn to Moo rather than honk.

A mad dash from the start took us past the duck pond and cricket pitch and the crowds assembled on either side. They were out in considerable number, the whole village must have been cheering, burglars must have a field day. The course then took us left, over the swing bridge that crosses the river and out into the country lanes. A few twists and turns accompanied by country smells from the fields,  a brief uphill, a downhill that took us to the three mile mark and a run alongside the Severn estuary to the water station. Turning back towards the village we had more lanes to negotiate before heading the way we had come, back over the swing bridge and a sprint across the village green to the finish.

The DK turn out just reached double figures but with spectators there were a bakers dozen hoops out, a coach worth of runners and associates. Kevin Duckworth was first back in 22^nd in a time of 37.14, Dave Norman equalled his DK p.b. in 38.33 for 33^rd place, Craig Brown with 41.05 in 59^th just held off Rob Sannwald in 41.11 for 61^st. Richard Jones finished in 43.41 for 93^rd place, John Andrews was 111^th in 44.49, just ahead of Richard Froggatt in 114^th in 44.59 picking up a notable scalp. Brian Russell ran 45.19 for 119^th, Colin Downey was 112nd in 45.38 and Richard Sannwald brought the hoops home in 251^st place in 52.10.

In true DK fashion we were first to the cider tent, first in the showers and first in the bar and last home. Another typical Frampton night, it may be a hassle to get there but it’s worth it."

SUNDAY 11th JULY – TIMBERHONGER 10k

Ian Hopkins reports "Not having run this race before I made a short trip down the M5 to Bromsgrove for the Timberhonger 10k. Car parking was in a flat field that is part of an urban park. I arrived early and was surprised to see a fun fair and various stalls being set up for a carnival. The race was supported by a 2k fun run.  The 10k started at the end of Timberhonger Lane.  The 1st k was twisting and uphill followed by some undulations and then downhill to 3.5k. Then there was 2 x 2k loops. Water was provided on the loop so was passed twice ( a relief on quite a hot day). After the second loop return was back up the lane. From a low point of 68m at 6k it was undulating till 7.5k then 1k uphill to the high point of 114m at 8.5k
Over the hill and back past the start for the final 750m in the parkland for a time of 43:59. With the carnival in the park there was quite a crowd to cheer runners at the finish. A good run on traffic free lanes."

SUNDAY 11th JULY – SOAPBOX SPECTACULAR

Steve Bartley reports "At the height of the running boom nearly every race I ever entered, except for the traditional club cross country season, was a road race. I did get into fell running but at the time fell running, to most folks in the Black Country, was shrouded in mystery. Most runners believed that fell runners were grizzly farmer types who ate a raw border collie every day for breakfast and lived in remote caves on misty moors. I came to learn that the truth was very different; most fell runners were much weirder than that!

There was a bit of variation in as much that race distances varied and some courses were a bit hillier than others but mostly you ran on tarmac from start to finish.

As we got into the nineties the Fun Police decided that there was the potential for every runner in almost every road event to die a horrible death. The police wanted paying, Council Highway’s departments couldn’t take the risk and God forbid if the race route  passed by the entrance to a superstore after Sunday trading was introduced, ‘Though shalt not obstruct a Sunday shopper from Tesco’s bid for World domination’, even if it was only for one hour a year!

Now before you all start saying here he goes again the grumpy old so-and-so I actually think that in some ways the problems put in the way of road race organisers was a good thing. The difficulty in staging road races actually made organisers think of alternative ways of staging events.

Runners can now race trains and horses round Wales, run half marathons taking in the scenic delights of the canal from Wolverhampton to Birmingham, run around the grounds of stately homes, country parks, meadowland, forest tracks and National Parks. You can take on Para’s training routes, race along tracks where only steam trains used to run and complete a race without leaving a beach. Multi-Terrain is the future, I’ve tasted it!!

I find myself being drawn more and more to these types of events, especially the smaller ones, mainly run by local enthusiasts for local runners. A perfect example being the recent Killerton Kanter, no massive sponsors, no great expense, no fuss.

It’s a bit like why I’d go to the Leveller’s Beautiful Days Festival instead of going to Glastonbury. A pint of the local real ale is £2, you can eat without taking out an extension on your mortgage and you don’t need the Hubble Telescope to see the band!

I often just follow links on club sites dipping into their race diary and details of club events looking for the unusual.

Recently I clicked on the web site for Croft Ambrey Running Club. Apologies to the good members of Croft Ambrey Running Club but I have to admit that I had never heard of it and didn’t know where it was. However, I discovered that Croft Ambrey Running Club in conjunction with Ludlow Runners were organising the inaugural Soapbox Spectacular 5 mile Foot Race.

The race takes place at Richards Castle on the Hereford/Shropshire border a few miles outside Ludlow. The race was described as five miles (approx) over multi terrain. I couldn’t find anything else on the net to give me a clue what it was about other than it ran in conjunction with the Richards Castle Soapbox Derby.

Entering the race on-line for £6 also gives free entry to the Soapbox Derby, now that’s what I call a bargain!

After watching the thrills and spills of the morning session of the Soapbox Derby I joined the field of 35 runners for the start on Hanway Common, with spectacular views to the Shropshire Hills to the north, the Welsh mountains to the west and Clee Hill to the east, with the Malverns visible a little further south.

I seemed to be the only entrant who didn’t know everyone else as all the runners appeared to be from Croft Ambrey or Ludlow Running Clubs. However, I was made most welcome as a couple of runners actually took the time to ask me where I was from!

After being led across the race track the organiser led us down to the field in front of the Soapbox Derby spectators and picked a spot in the middle of field as the start point.

Starting at 1,000 feet above sea level, on the common the course followed a figure-of-eight with stunning views all round, running through the forest, over the common, past the old 14^th century church, under the castle that gives its name to the area, and looking down on the magnificent Goggin valley.

We then climbed back up to 1,000 feet for the finish on the common.

If you are looking for a race with accurate distance, big field, T shirts and medals then this isn’t for you. However, if you are looking for a great day out with activities for all the family with car club displays refreshments and all the excitement of the Soapbox Racing with a 5 mile run In the middle of the day then get your entry in next year.

The event organiser even emailed me personally to thank me for coming all the way from the West Midlands, and saying that he hoped the day out in Richards Castle made the journey feel worthwhile. You won’t get that in the London Marathon!

I finished in around 45.39 in 21st position.

Me and Deb had a bostin' day out and we will be back next year."

SCOTTISH TOUR

Colin Downey took part in 4 fell races in Scotland over the last 8 days, squeezing in some hill walking when no races were on, including the 2^nd & 5^th highest mountains in the UK (Ben Macdui  & Caingorm &) last Thursday.

Saturday 3^rd July 

-          3am start from home to arrive in Fort William in good time for the 2pm start of the Meall an T-Suide the first of the “Triple Hirple” organized by Lochaber Running Club. I don’t think they have a training run that is without hills. Sorry, what’s a hirple a hear you ask? Apparently it’s a Scottish word meaning stagger. The race starts in Fort William FC ground & is a straight up & down run. 5km / 1,575 feet. This is a steep grassy hill where on a wet day, involves a careful selection of  Finishing 41 of 51 runners in a little over 51 minutes.

Sunday 4^th July

-          12 noon start for the Half Nevis. 9.6km / 2,200 feet. Again the start is the football ground. I ran the full Ben race in 2006 so knew what to expect &, I was a little faster in reaching the top of the burn in 56 minutes. Finished 59 of 72 in 1 hour 31.

Monday 5^th July

-          with quads crying out from the last two days I did a recce of the route in the morning before lining up in Fort William High Street for the blast up Cow Hill. 3.2km 920 feet. Runners completing all three races received a commemorative mug.

Everyone was very friendly & welcoming.  

 Saturday 10^th July

-          David Shepherd Memorial Glamaig Hill Race. 4.5 miles / 2500 feet. From Sligachan Hotel, Skye.

Having walked down this hill last year, I wanted to take part in this race having read about the history in the hotel.

This terrain has a real mix which I haven’t experienced all within in the same race. A short, 300 metres on road, before a leg sapping run across boggy ground, to reach the foot of the hill. Then, a very steep unremitting climb on a mixture of grass, rock & scree, often having to use all four limbs to gain progress. The regular shouts give warning of a runaway rock as it bounces past you. Just when you think you have made it, an easier angle then reveals a further final steeper rocky scree climb.

Some prefer to return the same route, but the majority, take the quickest route heading left off the summit, to take on the boulder / scree slope. Thoughts when descending are as mixed as the terrain, with the exhilaration of speed, the thought this is the quickest I have come down a mountain & if I trip, some serious damage will occur. Each stride length being often matched by the shift in scree as you plant your foot. Pain came in several guises as toes were thumped into the shoes & rocks battered your ankles.

Conscious of advice before the race not to drift too much to the left (or face a longer return on the bogs) was taken on board & the sight of a vague path in the scree traversing across the mountain proved a good choice. This linked several strips of short grass to the foot of the hill. Tired legs were not quick enough to stop a trip into a nice wet bog before coming onto the road & a final sprint to pick up a place to finish 87 of 107. 

http://www.carnethy.com/ri_results/glamaig/glam_2010.htm

Carnethy Hill Runners organise the race & the following from their website, gives a little history of the race.

In the summer of 1899 General Bruce (a future leader of an early Everest expedition) brought Gurkha Harkbir on leave with him from the Himalaya.

 The estate owner, McLeod of McLeod, heard of an extraordinary run that Gurkha Harkbir had done from the Sligachan to the summit of Glamaig and back in one and a quarter hours. He refused to believe it and had a heated argument with some local gamekeepers (who presumably had witnessed the ascent). Bruce offered to resolve the dispute and asked Harkbir to do it again. He did, and knocked twenty minutes off the alleged one and a quarter hours. It is recorded that he did it in bare feet.

Almost simultaneously in 1987 the Campbell Family, owners of the Sligachan Hotel and David Shepherd (a member of Carnethy Hill Running Club) had the inspired idea to commemorate Gurkha Harkbir's run with the race as it is now. David was tragically killed in an accident on the family farm before his idea was actioned & he is commemorated in the title of the race.

In 1995 a Gurkha team took the winning place in the race and were the fastest team and the record is now a staggering 44mins 41secs by Mark Rigby set in 1997 (wearing shoes ! ), who descended from the summit to the hotel in approx 13 mins (a descent time that was equalled by Brian Marshall in winning the 2005 race). Brian won the race again on Saturday for the 8^th successive year. 

WEDNESDAY 30th JUNE – IRONBRIDGE 4

SUNDAY 27th JUNE – KILLERTON KANTER

Steve Bartley was inspired by comebacks from the likes of Take That, Duran Duran and those ‘monsters of rock’ the Nolans I have been quietly clocking up the miles to make my latest comeback (Comeback No. 43!).

After completely knackering most of my moving parts in recent years from a combination of falling down mountains and carrying ridiculously heavy weights around Para’ assault courses I made the decision in January to actually concentrate on just running!

By the end of February I had two tight calf muscles, put my back out, and developed a swollen right foot that on occasions looks like a blown-up marigold glove!

However undeterred I have been plodding on.

At times I almost found myself agreeing with Victoria Wood who once said that running was for those who were too unintelligent to sit down and watch the TV!

So …. Feeling much healthier and a little bit lighter, but miles away from any kind of race fitness, I decided to enter my first race (when I say ‘race’ that’s what it said on the entry form, for me it was a faster-than-normal training run on the rocky comeback road).

To avoid the World athletics media (It was really to avoid Brian Smith once again shouting “Wait while I fit the wide lens”) I chose to travel 180 miles (a short mid-week trip for Colin Downey!) to take part in the Killerton Kanter along with fellow caravaner and running partner, Tom Williams.

The race takes place in the beautiful grounds of Killerton House, an 18th-century National Trust property in Devon. The race distance is six and bit miles on an undulating cross country course over parkland, open fields and woodland trails (bit of a potential ankle twister!).

It was relatively fast (for some!) and flat for the first mile-and-a-half through the hillside gardens before heading out along a gradual, mile-long track climbing, for what seemed like an eternity, to the highest point in the park. From then on it was ragged tracks, woodland paths and some heavy-going climbs, running up the garden’s main hill from three different directions.

The course included a ‘squeeze bridge’ just wide enough for me to squeeze across, kissing gates, cattle-trodden mud dips and slopes so steep that there were steps in both directions.

Enthusiastic race marshals supported the runners around the course. Some of the marshals in the wooded areas had tambourines to attract your attention (brilliant idea).

The killer hills, boiling hot weather and terrain were never going to be conducive to fast times for any of the runners, this being proved by the winners time of 40 minutes.

Tom came home in 63^rd place with a time of 52.39 and I waddled over the line in 84^th position with a time of 56.50.

Great T shirt at the finish with a picture of a cartoon ‘Road Runner’ (beep beep!) on the front and a big football style number 10 with the words ‘World Cup Kanter’ on the back (sorry for mentioning the World Cup!).

If anyone is down South Devon way at this time of the year I would recommend you give it a go but make sure that you get in plenty of hill work before.

SB Cake Rating: Lovely selection of cakes pre race from the National Trust Café but none available at finish so 0 out of 10. The lack of cake was made up for by bostin' fish and chips from the chippy in Newton Abbot!"

SUNDAY 20th JUNE – WOMBOURNE HALF MARATHON (OR WAS IT 12.6m?)

Dave Norman reports “Some people like things short, some people would prefer things a little truncated. Just ask Snow White and she’ll show you seven people who would be prepared to argue that short is better than long. On a very hot June Sunday short was definitely better than long, long would have meant another few minutes toiling in the heat, at least short meant we could all stop. There were many comments that the Wombourne Half was short, some say as short as half a mile depending on whose Garmin you looked at, but was it really that short and did it really matter that much?

The arguments started almost as soon as runners crossed the finish line and stared at their watches in disbelief but the organisers stated it had been measured and re-measured and was accurate. If it wasn’t for various sat navs and Garmins we would have happily accepted the half marathon distance for what it was and claimed a good time. In days gone by, without the aid of Garmins, races that were the forerunners of the Forerunner would have been advertised as a half marathon and no one would have questioned the validity of the distance but now as soon as the finish line is crossed there is analysis and comparison, accusations and questions, measurement and re-evaluation as times and distances are reviewed against past performances. Claims that the race was short and counter claims that sat navs may have lost their signal and that they are not an accurate measuring device are perfectly valid arguments. But comments and criticisms over the distance overshadowed what was a well organised event.

For a first attempt the organisers should be proud of what they achieved.  The course was a spectator friendly mixture of roads around the village, country lanes and a bit of the railway track to bring runners back to the village. Decent support, three well manned drinks stations (although that last one could have been better placed), crucial roads closed to traffic and plenty of marshals as the course meandered through Wombourne out towards Trysull and Seisdon, skirted the lower end of Lower Penn and back towards the village. And as you would expect from a local event it was well supported by the blue hoops.

Kevin Duckworth brought the hoops home in 7^th in 1.17.34, Dave Norman was 27^th in 1.24.15, Paul Richards came home in 1.26.14 for 38^th place, Steve Wood was 63^rd in 1.30.56, Mark Homer finished in 1.32.10 for 68th, David Fennell was 70^th in 1.32.28, Peter Hood was 74^th in 1.32.59 and Mick Quane finished in 1.34.27 for 82nd. Helen Tromans claimed the 3^rd lady prize and 89^th overall  in 1.35.31, Darren Marklew finished in 1.36.38, Dave Wilkes in 1.37.46, Ian Harris despite threatening to go home and go back to bed before the start ran 1.39.04, Andy Litchfield ran 1.40.08 on virtually no training, Carol Fisher finished in 1.43.05, Norman Johnson in 1.44.39, Andy Page in 1.52.26, Preston Grundy in 1.53.18, Claire Fisher limped home in 1.55.01, Karen Doy finished in 1.56.44 and Sally McConville ducked under two hours in 1.58.54. Alison Whitehouse came home in 2.01.49, Dana Proffitt in 2.02.11 and Rachel McGrath finished in 2.05.34.

So the big question over whether it was short or not was never really answered. Times would suggest it was a little shy of the full distance, organisers say it was accurate but really who cares? It was a decent race run over a nice, varied course and after having run a near half marathon distance in the heat who would really have fancied going a little further? Certainly not many, most of those who crossed the line were just grateful it was over.”

THURSDAY 17th JUNE – ACTION HEART 5K

Dave Norman reports – Whatever date the Action Heart 5k is arranged for you can guarantee it will be hot. For the last couple of years we have been “blessed” with baking hot weather, even before the venue was moved to Baggeridge from Himley we could have days of torrential rain only for the sun to come out in time for the off. This year was no different, with the mercury touching the mid to high twenties or gas mark 4 in old money, the field assembled in dribs and drabs ready to do battle with each other and the heat. Even at 7.00 it was hot, too hot to run, just about right for sitting outside the café eating ice cream.

The familiarity of the course was a mixed blessing, we knew the route well but that meant we knew how unpleasant it could be. Starting in the man made bowl for the cavalry charge up the hill, through the bottleneck of the gate and down passed the lake before climbing, climbing, climbing up the dusty, rock strewn path to the trig point. A moment to catch your breath on the brief flat of the summit before careering downhill and looping round to the merciful shade of the woods. By this point you could just about breathe again, allowing the slight gradient to assist as you passed two miles. You’re almost home as you cross the wooden footbridge over the thin trickle of water back onto the path proper, following the track up a couple of short, sharp hills to the finish. It may be hard but it’s over with reasonably quickly and at least we know where we are.

The hoops were few, in fact the field was rather sparse compared to previous years, down on quality and down on numbers. Dave Norman was first back in 12^th place in 21.42, Stephen Morris was 17^th in 22.27, Gareth Smith was next back in 24.27 in 25^th, Tom Cobb was not far behind in 24.27 in 28^th. Tom Williams put his good warm up to good use running 25.28 for 38^th place, Colin Downey was 48^th in 26.17, Carol Fisher finished in 26.38 for 52^nd, Claire Fisher was 60^th in 27.31, Nicola Baker was 63^rd in 27.58, Sally McConville was 75^th in 29.41, Jeremy Cobb was 96^th in 32.36 and Nicola Campbell- Nichols was 121^st in 36.10.

By the time most had finished the heat was going out of the day and it was perfect for running, it was a shame most of us had put a decent shift in by then and suffered the heights and heat of Baggeridge. So with the race dust still caked to our shins and our vests still stuck to our sweat soaked backs we headed home, some via the café for an ice lolly, some via the chip shop and some via the pub. It’ll probably rain next year.

SATURDAY 5th JUNE – DARTMOOR DISCOVERY

NEWEST MEMBER - MARTIN CARTER AT THE PLYMOUTH HALF MARATHON

Photo's are of Martin Carter who lives in Plymouth but was borne and bred in Lower Gornal and comes up once a week to work.

Martin is proud of his roots and decided to join Dudley Kingswinford. Upon receiving his club vest he took on his first half marathon at Plymouth and finished happy with a time of 1 hour 55 minutes. He promises to keep us informed of his next exploits.

TUESDAY 8th JUNE – GAVIN TIPPER 5k

MONDAY 31st MAY – WINCLE TROUT RUN

OUR SAL COMPLETES THE COASTAL TRAIL SERIES

COASTAL TRAIL SERIES. (NOVEMBER 2009 – MAY 2010.) 

Sally McConville reports  "Cast your mind back to last Autumn.  Dark, cold and long nights were approaching. As a sun loving person I hate the winter – what can I do to break up the long dark months?? I know – I’ll enter a Coastal Trail Series!

So there it was – decision made. I entered the Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series – www.endurancelife.com. This is a series of 7 races held once a month for 7 months from November through to May. You can choose to run 10k, half marathon or marathon distance and you can enter them on an individual basis or the challenge of completing all 7. This is called the 7x7x7 – 7 races over 7 months in 7 stunning locations around the UK coast. Not content with one, I entered all 7 at half marathon distance.

All of the courses were extremely challenging but all in the most beautiful locations – some I never knew existed.

November took me down to Charmouth in Dorset to run around the Jurassic coast.

December was in the Gower Peninsular.

January was in Portland with the last 3 miles running along Chesil Beach! [For those of you who know Chesil beach you will not be surprised when I say that 3 runners broke their ankles that day as they battled with the pebbles].

February took me to Beesands in South Devon and March to Little Haven in Pembrokeshire. April was all the way down to St Just in Cornwall where I ran through areas  littered with the old disused tin mines and finally, May took me to Parracombe in Exmoor.

I ran along beaches, on tiny coastal paths, through moorland and more mud than I have ever seen in my life [and I’m a country girl by origin!!]. It was all absolutely stunning and each race made you so glad to be alive and thankful to be able to enjoy such scenery.  There were many lung bursting ascents and wonderful fast descents.

All of the routes are along National Trust areas of outstanding beauty. A percentage of your entry fee is donated to the National Trust and when you run along the beaches you are encouraged to pick up one piece of rubbish and drop it in a recycling bin provided by Endurance life. This series they donated over £8,000 to the National Trust.

All of the events were very well organised and everyone was very friendly. There were not many women who entered all 7 races and not many women my age in the whole competition so a real camaraderie developed. You wore a ‘dibber’ on your wrist which you had to register at various checkpoints on the route which, as you crossed the finish line enabled you to be handed a print out of your time and also proof that you had completed the whole route [and not took a short cut across the moor]. You did not have to navigate with a map but you did have to follow the arrows along the route as marshalls were only present at the water stations.  

The last race was a couple of Saturdays ago – yes-  that really hot Saturday so the heat added to the challenge that day. It was really quite sad when they came to an end but you gained a real sense of achievement –and a special t shirt for doing all 7 races!

I would thoroughly recommend the series. This year it starts in September as they have increased it from 7x7x7 to 10x10x10, with some new locations. 

For me it was going to be a one off once in a life time thing. But I enjoyed it so much I am going to give it a miss this year [it is a real commitment to make, going away once a month, getting accommodation, food etc] but enter the 10x10x10 2011-2012 series.

Anyone fancy coming with me?"

MONDAY 31st MAY – MYNYDD MYFYR HILL RUN

Nineteen hours later Colin Downey lined up with just over 70 other runners for this hill race stating in Trefonen (2 miles west of Oswestry). Only 500 feet of climb in this 4 mile race which I managed to run it all. A filled roll, cake & tea for £1.50, bargain. 

http://www.oswestryolympians.co.uk/seniors/senior_homepage.htm   Photo's c/o/Alastair Tye

SUNDAY 30th MAY – COBRA CLASSIC

Dave Norman reports "There are some climbs in the Tour de France that take your breath away, some epic mountains that just resonate with history. Names such as Arcalis, the Col du Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux. Climbs so high and hard that they don’t even have a number to categorise them, they are what the French call “hors categorie”, beyond numbers, beyond breathlessness into pain, into lactic acid build up, into oxygen debt. There are two similar climbs for runners in the Cobra Classic 10k. Whereas most 10k’s with the word undulating in the description may have a couple of easy hills in them, they are mere speed bumps where the Cobra is concerned. Coming just after the 5k mark where you already have half a race in your legs they leave you gasping and in some case retching at the summit, and that’s if you make the summit without walking. At least it’s a little easier now the race has been reduced from a 14k to only 10 in the last couple of  years, taking out another steep incline up to the monument and back down the to finish. But easy is all comparative, it doesn’t feel easy.

The race stated in the shadow of the Hagley obelisk, a shadow criss crossed with scaffolding due to work taking place. The course ran alongside the by-pass for a spell where runners had to dodge the spindly branches of overhanging tress before turning left to run through the side streets and past the drinks station before the climbing starts. The “hors categorie” hills of Beecher Road East and Clent View Road take you to the 6k marker before a bit more road work before  cutting across a field and taking to the country lanes to the finish.

For a local race there were only a handful of blue hoops toeing the line in the 140 runner field. Dave Norman was DK’s King of the Mountains finishing in 12^th in 41.25, Ian Hopkins was 26^th in 44.39. Helen Tromans was 33^rd overall finishing in 46.26 and holding off a fast finishing Amy Hearn (unattached) to claim 1^st lady by only 13 seconds. Richard Bate put in a sprint to finish in 47.18 for 38^th, Rob Kennard was 46^th in 48.05, Steve Wood struggled round suffering from stomach problems in 48.31 for 48^th, Liz Hadley was 56^th in 49.51 to claims the 3^rd lady’s prize, Carol Fisher was 68^th in 50.07 and Claire Fisher and Andy page finished a second apart in 55.00 and 55.01 for 83^rd and 84^th.

Despite the climbs, despite the burning sensation in the thighs and despite the breath rasping in your throat by 6k this is certainly a race that deserves a better turnout. The friendliness and general easy going nature of the organisers and the words of encouragement from the plentiful marshals make it a joy, or at least goes a long way to balance out the pain. It may not be the wind blown moonscape at the top of the Ventoux, you don’t have the cheering crowds and names painted on the road but running through some of the housing estates where children are cheering you on with a backdrop of houses draped with The Cross of St George it could be. It certainly feels hard enough."

SUNDAY 30^th MAY – CROCODILE 8

Colin Downey travelled to Burghill in Herefordshire for this 8 mile race.. A mile on road section, before a queue at the kissing gate at the church into the orchard. Fields & then 100+ steps up onto the hill known locally as the crocodile. The forested ridge gave respite from the afternoon sun before a fast muddy downhill section, fields then a mile & half road section to finish.

http://www.crocodile8.org.uk/results.htm

WEDNESDAY 28^th MAY – THE BULMERS BASH

Colin Downey again reports "Whilst at Westonbirt, I met the only other Midlands runner, Richard Baker from Amazing Feet. Richard trawls the running club web sites more regularly than myself & told me of a new race organised by Worcester AC that was to take place on Wednesday. This was meant to be, as when I looked at my work diary, I was already due to be in Malvern late afternoon. A short drive then, to Bulmers Cider Apple Orchards at Wichenford, not far from Great Witley / Martley.

I had some funny looks turning up in suit & tie followed by the comments from other local club runners I know, of , “I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on”.

The heavy rain confined us to our cars before relenting as start time approached.

The race route map looked like spaghetti but proved to be well signed & marshalled. All but 300 metres was off road, through the orchards with some nice gentle hills Runners from Amazing Feet, Worcester, Black Pear & Droitwich were among the field. The race was over 6 miles in length &, if run again next year deserves bigger support. Finished in 29^th of 68 in 50:02."

http://worcester-ac.co.uk/Results.htm#

MONDAY 26^th May – WESTONBIRT 10k

Colin Downey reports "A superb warm Spring evening running around the arboretum at Westonbirt, Nr. Tetbury, Gloucestershire. This race at first on goods tracks has a slower 2^nd half, as the paths weave in & out of the trees. The race has grown considerably since I first started to make the trip down with the field having 682 runners. The tracks were so dry that the start resembled a cattle stampede with clouds of dust created. Finished in 48:01 in 144^th."

http://www.cirencester-ac.org.uk/

SUNDAY 23rd MAY  - WOMBOURNE SPRING 10K

Dave Norman reports "Have you ever seen the film “Bridge over the River Kwai”? The one where British prisoners of war are forced to work in blazing heat on a railway line while brutal guards force them on beyond breaking point. Where the white hot sun bakes their shoulders red raw, the dust sticks to their sweat stained skin while they bend to their task showing no weakness, resolutely battling against the brutally of the conditions, never surrendering until they lie gasping the breath rasping in their narrow chests, totally spent. The Wombourne Spring Classic was a little like that.

Despite the weather, or possibly because of it, there was a decent field assembled for the 10k, complimented by a good number of entries for the 6k and fun run. Quantity and quality were both high for a low key race and the prizes on offer clearly swelled the field. The course was as in previous years, a lap of the football pitch to thin the runners out before they left the school grounds onto the railway track towards Wolverhampton. Running through the shadows of the trees was pleasant but brief as the shade soon became sparse and there was little respite from the near mid day heat. Leaving the track for the country lanes towards Trysull only emphasised the heat, with the sun reflecting off the tarmac, the hedges keeping in the heat everything became a struggle. As the route took the field over the canal at Awbridge even the murky water looked inviting. The runners then cleared a stile, followed a path through a field, running downhill with only another stile at the bottom to halt your forward momentum. More lanes and back on the railway again towards Wombourne, a brief lap around Wombrooke Park to make up the distance before finishing on the school field.

There were a handful of hoops out while others went for a Sunday morning stroll from the club admiring the bluebells in Baggeridge. Kevin Duckworth was first back in 37.56 for 6^th placed, chased down by Steve Holdcoft running his first race for 18 months in 38.14 for 7^th. Dave Norman was next back in 41.23 in 14^th place, Richard Smith was 23^rd in 43.31, David Fennell finished in 44.16 for 25^th, Brian Russell finished in 47.05 for 34^th and Darren Marklew was 47^th in 49.16. One of the clubs “founder members”, Norman Johnson ran an excellent 50.49 for 57^th, Jim Bibb was 73^rd in 54.09, Zoe Marklew finished in 1.02.06 and Rachel Melbourne in 1.16.31.

As runners took cover in the shade of the trees and watched the remainder of the field toiling many of us felt like we’d built a railway rather than just run along it. The major difference was that we had far more bananas."

It was good to meet up with old friend Norman Johnson at the Wombourne Spring 10k. Norman was a DK stalwart some years back with a p.b. Marathon time of 2 hours 35 minutes. Norman is over 70 now and is pictured with Brian Russell and Jim Bibb who are both well into their sixties. So there is a 200 years combines age.

They say "Start em young". Steve Holdcroft's family start off on a 2 mile fun run around the fields of the Leisure Centre. Sponsoring the race was Sainsbury's.

TERRY HICKMAN

It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of another ex D.K. runner, namely Terry Hickman at the young age of 59 years.. (Seen here on the extreme right of the photo at the Milford 10 race and few years ago.)

in the photo are Paul Bradley (now with Stourbridge RC), Dick Blackburn, ?, ex Chairman Pete Smith, Mick Edwards and Terry Hickman

SUNDAY 16th MAY  - FAIRFIELD HORSHOE (9 miles - 3,000 feet)   

Colin Downey reports from his third race in a week "A long trip up the M6 for the Fairfield Horseshoe. I met up with Craig Lewis of Amazing Feet who had encouraged me to run it as he had enjoyed the run lat year.

I had seen from my Lakeland walk book that the approximate time for the circuit is 5-6 hours.

Starting at Rydal, to avoid distressing walkers on the usual path, we went a short distance up the valley to then with both lungs & calf muscles protecting, gained the ridge at Nab Scar. Visibility was excellent & whilst warm at the start, the temperature on the ridge were just about perfect for running.

Then, Heron Pike, Great Rigg to Fairfield. We then headed around to Hart Crag. A rocky descent to Dove Crag & then a long descent to High Pike & onto Low Pike returned us to the car park. However we then still had a soul destroying one mile run on the rough gravel track to the finish.

With runners thinning out, I was enjoying the scenery & the thought that all the hard work had been done. My mood changed briefly as the marshal at Dove Crag asked me if I was the last. Having been pleased at passing at least 10 people on the ridge to Fairfield I managed to remain civil, confirming I was mortally offended & that there were a decent number behind me.

Finishing in 2 hours 24 minutes, I was still back in time for the presentations with Rob Jebb taking 1^st"

SUNDAY 16th MAY  - BRATHAY WINDERMERE MARATHON

Nigel Worthington reports "Not getting into London this year I ran Windermere instead on 16^th May.

Organised by the Brathay Trust , a charity which works with disadvantaged young people , and based at the |Brathay estate on the banks of Windermere just outside Ambleside, it is a smallish event this year attracting 1200 entries and about 900 starters.

Organisation was faultless with chip times texted to you within minutes of finishing. The course runs around Windermere,first looping around Esthwaite Water before coming back to  Newby Bridge at the southern end of Windermere and then up the east coast of the lake on slightly busier roads. It is very scenic but definitely undulating.

Lots of good quality accommodation near by and the trust hold an open day in the estate on the day of the marathon with jazz band , beer tent  BBQ and  many activities for all. Pleasant weather made it a fantastic day.

I came back in 4hours 30 minutes and tucked into a beef burger and beer. Added interest was the 12 people who had run 9 consecutive marathons over the course in the preceding 9 days, competing with us on the final day for the 10th and last , the Brathay 10 in 10 . Might interest our ultra runners?"

SATURDAY 15th MAY  - BRITISH MASTERS ROAD RELAYS

Dudley Kingswinford entered a team of three in the over 60's event. Brian Russell took the first leg to 18th position with a time of 20:22 for the 5k course around Sutton Park. Tommy Williams ran a 22:04 but dropped the team down 8 places whilst Malcolm Pillar on the third leg ran 19:53 to bring the team home in 20th place in this National event.

WEDNESDAY 12th MAY  - CARADOC CLASSIC FELL RACE

Colin Downey reports "Meeting up at the Park Tavern, Mark Skidmore & I travelled to Church Stretton for the 2^nd of the Summer Fell Race Series. Phil Johnson had also travelled over. A real difference from the first in the series on the Wrekin. The Wrekin is all on hard track & runable all the way whereas Caradoc is a hand on knee ascent on the steep grassy climb.

The sunny evening was a contrast to last year where the mist was so thick that several runners got lost.  Conditions were near perfect which meant you could trust the grip of your shoes for a speedy descent. Phil was 1^st home finishing  31:46 (53rd), Mark 33:46 (74^th) , with myself (87^th) in 35:32 well pleased recording my best time in this race."

MONDAY 10th MAY  - BERKELEY 10k

Colin Downey started the week with the Berkeley10k. Berkeley being a small village about 9 miles south of our well loved Frampton race. A nice sunny evening.

The course has been accurately measured and certified & is largely flat. It consists of an outward leg of about 1 km, two laps of 4 km each and a return to the finish. The race is run on quiet, pleasant country lanes. The course starts outside the former Berkeley Power Station touches the outskirts of Berkeley Village and passes the rear of the famous castle. Finish is outside the Sports and Social Club. I improved on last year’s time, finishing in 45:14. 95^th of 234 runners

WEDNESDAY 5th MAY  - DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD 10K

Dave Norman reports "Sometimes you take a bit of a gamble and it pays off, sometimes you take a punt and you are surprised at the results, sometimes you do something a little out of the ordinary and you wonder why you didn’t do it ages ago. Admittedly the gamble that DK took prior to this years 10k was somewhat forced on them with the Police advising that things would have to change after last years event. With the scale of the race causing problems at road junctions the Police viewed this as an accident waiting to happen and stepped in before they were forced to. Negotiations started to take place almost immediately after the last runner had crossed the line twelve months ago to ensure that things were different this year.

With the necessity of closing the Mile Flat the course had to be amended, the start was moved and this enabled the second of two major punts to come into place and the possibility of chip timing was mooted. The more it was considered the more sensible it sounded but it was something new and understandably people are scared of “new”.

Not all was new. As usual the pre-race arrangements went like clockwork; there is a nucleus of people at the club who have been involved in organising the event for so many years to some extent or another that it always seems to work like a well oiled machine. At least this is how it appears to an outsider, but like a swan gliding effortlessly across the water it disguises the amount of hard work that goes on just under the surface. There are people who are always “on the car park”, or have a set position to marshal and by working so hard this allows other club members to take part in the race and then muck in where other tasks need doing after the event. With so many club members out on the course ensuring that the race went off without a hitch it was surprising how many were able to pull on the hoops and compete.

Kevin Duckworth was first back for the club in 36.04 for 14^th place with Dan Smith in 30^th and 37.42 not too far behind showing no ill effects from their marathon performances. Phil Johnson was 42^nd, claiming an age group prize in 39.11, Dave Norman put his marathon training to good use in 39.39 for 56^th. Craig Brown finished in 41.13 just in front of Rob Sannwald in 41.31, Malcolm Pillar in 41.39, Darren Flavell in 41.53 just pipping Keith Bate by a second, Ian Hopkins finished in 42.15, Mick Quane in 42.42, David Fennell in 42.51 and many, many more too numerous to list here.

With the chip timing proving a real benefit, particularly as it involved a credit card sized piece of plastic on the reverse of the number that could be discarded and didn’t need to be cut off and handed in, the results were ready within seconds of runners crossing the line. When they had collected their glass and goody bag and their heart rate had returned to normal runners knew exactly how quickly or in some cases how slowly they had covered the 10k course. Positions and prize categories were decided and by the time runners had been able to have a shower or get themselves a pint (this second task proved a great deal harder than the first and was the one main complaint of the evening) prizes were being presented, envelopes were being given out and with only a small amount of tidying up to be done the event passed into history until the same time next year. The new course was a success, the chip timing had worked, the gamble had paid off and yes, most of us did wonder why we’d never done this years ago."

SUNDAY 25th APRIL  - VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON

Dave Norman reports "The day dawned early for those taking part in this years London Marathon, when you are running in the pinnacle event of the British road racing year you have to get up early. In fact in some cases you have to get up before you go to bed, or at least it seems like it.

After a restless night for most and an early breakfast we boarded the coach to Blackheath Common in perfect running conditions, cool, overcast, ideal. A brief drive took us to the drop off point in the shadow of the hot air balloons and we assembled a little in awe, a small band overwhelmed by the scale of everything around us. The organisation, the size of the start banners, the crowds, the enormous bulk of Churchill the Insurance dog in hot air balloon form. Everything about it was huge, including the length of the queues for the toilets and the size of the rain drops that started to fall about three quarters of an hour before the off. The ideal weather conditions soon became less than ideal as the heavens opened and our poor planning was exposed to the elements. The bin bags came out and were hastily pulled on over ragged T shirts to keep us out of the worst of the rain, with no available cover it was a case of making the best of it and trying to stay as dry and as warm as possible. Luckily the rain ceased as the crowds made their way to their starting pens overwhelming the small group of marshals put in place to check pen numbers and meaning that people destined  for pens 4 and 5 were in pen 3 and better. As the bin bags were ripped off and old race T shirts discarded and thrown over the barriers, the packed fields shuffled towards the start banner with the clock ticking ever nearer to the off. A few quick words of encouragement and we were away although away suggests a bit of pace, a bit of speed, there was none of this as the pen jumpers and the general size of the field impeded significant forward momentum. As runners darted to the side of the road for a further toilet stop (it’s strange to see a big purple Tellytubby urinating up a chain link fence, that’s not something you normally see on CBeebies) the field moved through the suburbs and narrow side streets of Blackheath like a living breathing animal.

After three miles things eased up a little and by the time the blue and red starts merged, with much booing and hissing, the majority of the field was able to run relatively freely proceeding in a more swift manner past the landmarks you always see on the television. Past Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge and past The Tower of London and into Canary Wharf. The sites flew by in a blur as the miles were ticked off, the mathematical half way mark was reached and passed and then the psychological halfway mark of twenty miles and the long painful slog along The Embankment to Parliament Square. The point where cramps start to get hold of you, your brain stops being able to calculate numbers and it becomes a case of survival. You take the penultimate turn under the uncompromising glare of Winston Churchill and shuffle nearer and nearer towards the finish, 600 to go, then 400 then 385 and finally you take the last right hand bend at Buckingham Palace with 200 to go and the finish is in sight and mercifully you can stop.

With a sizable group of blue hoops on the Action Heart coaches for the weekend there was a number of decent performances. Kevin Duckworth ran his tenth London in a row in 2.50.59, Dan Smith just failed to break three hours on his debut running 3.01 and a few seconds but his name is missing from the results, Paul Richards was just shy of his target time in 3.15.38, Dave Norman ran 3.19.40 on his debut despite cramping up badly along The Embankment, Heather Fisher ran 3.29.32, Mark Homer finished in 3.35.22, Phil Smith ran 3.36.24 on a leg and a half, Stephen Morris finished in 3.51.37, Frankie Warrington qualified for next year in 3.58.29, Ann Law ran 4.00.49, Donna Turner 4.04.35, Ian Harris 4.08.11, Claire Fisher 4.25.37, Julian McEvoy 4.46.08, Karen Oakley 4.46.16 and Amy Robins in 6.34.09. Apologies if anyone has been missed as the website is not the most user friendly.

After a brief period slumped in Horseguards not knowing whether your legs are still attached to your body and wishing at times that they weren’t, it was a painful walk to the tube station. Down far too many steps for a brief journey to Hammersmith for a massage a shower and some food and to compare notes on how everyone had survived before the long coach journey with ever stiffening legs towards home. Not one person said they wouldn’t do it again next year, not one runner was too mentally or physically scarred or scared, you can guarantee the majority of us will be logging on to enter the 2011 when the ballot opens on the 4^th May."

SUNDAY 25th APRIL  - KINDER DOWNFALL FELL RACE

Peak District.  9.6 miles. 1970 feet of ascent

SATURDAY 24th APRIL  - HAWKSHEAD LAKELAND TRAIL

Richard Froggatt reports "As the cream of the club headed south to take part in the Virgin London Marathon, the clotted cream headed north for this cheeky little trail run in the stunning Lake District. At a distance of around 15K (10.28 miles on the Garmin), this was going to be a challenging event, made even more difficult by the blazing sun and testing climbs.

The race started at 2pm in the Hawkshead showground, which lets be honest, is a field. There was plenty of entertainment, including a bouncy castle, face painting and one of those strange local bands that was a cross between the Grimley Colliery Brass Band and Ripon City Morris Dancers. The band played as we set off along a small lane but very soon on to a narrow farm track before climbing through woodland and then in to beautiful meadows and countryside, with fantastic views of the surrounding fells.

Then followed a downhill section to the small village of Far Sawrey where there was a welcome drinks station before climbing again via an off-road trail. More woodland, then downhill to run alongside Lake Windermere (not the town side). This was probably the easiest part of the run, being fairly flat and on good surfaces, but then the sting in the tail. The Coffin Trail. This was a brute of a hill, not a grass grabbing fell running hill, but at 12K it was long enough and steep enough to slow you down to a walk. Once at the top it was pretty much all down hill back to the field, I mean showground, and to the finish.

The organisation of this event from the car parking, entertainment and marshalling was first class, the only downside being the lack of shower facilities. This was a real family event. Before the main race, fun runners and walkers set off on the same course but 45 minutes earlier for the Hawkshead Challenge, and there was also a mini fun run for the little ones. About 550 took part in the main trail race and about 400 in the challenge event. Each finisher of the race received a decent technical tee shirt, with various sizes available.

Underfoot conditions were testing at times with some areas of lose stone and uneven rock. The steady climbs also added to the difficulty but the stunning views more than made up for the discomfort. The 2pm start also made it doable in a day.

The Hawkshead Trail is part of a four race series in Lakeland, the other three take place in June, September and October all over similar distances. For further information visit www.lakelandtrails.org

It appears that we were the only two blue hoops in attendance, I therefore had the honour of being first DK male home in 1:43:41 and Mrs F being first DK female in 2:04:37. "

WEDNESDAY 21st APRIL  - WREKIN STREAK

2.75 miles. 810 feet of ascent. Colin Downey reports  "For me, the Wrekin Streak fell race formally marks the end of Winter & the start of mid week races.

The Streak is the first of the Summer Shropshire Fell Series & being the shortest attracts a decent size field. All the race is on a firm surface.

Whilst a bit chilly at the Forest Glen start, once on the ridge the early evening warmth made for an enjoyable run (well enjoyable downhill).

First DK runner home was Ian Hopkins in 24.17. On his heels was Rob Sannwald in 24.29 who after 3 years of buying by me finally agreed to give fell running a go. Rob’s dad Richard, older & wiser came along not to run but walked to the summit to support the DK lads. I was pleased to pass Mark Skidmore as we neared the summit but, used to falling down stairs, he quickly came past me on the descent & finished in 26:14. Despite being 30 seconds behind Mark in 26.44, I was pleased to run all the way & over a minute quicker than last year.

Back in time to met up with the usual DK lads rehydrating themselves in the Park Tavern. 

The next race in the series is on Wednesday 12^th May – The Caradoc Classic at Church Stretton is 3.5 miles with 880 feet of climb.

SUNDAY 18th APRIL  - MIDLAND MASTERS RELAY

WEDNESDAY 7th APRIL  - LILLESHALL 5m

Dave Norman reports "Some things change, some things stay the same. With a General Election around the corner all we hear is change, change, change. One party is all for changing this, one party wants to change that, everything that we had previously been able to rely on is now up for grabs as one party tries to gain an advantage over the others. Not one of the political parties mentioned the biggest change that would affect entrants to the first race of Telford AC's successful Sexarathon Series, the fact that the race would be reduced by just over a mile from 10k to 5 miles, it’s a good job the runners knew what was going on. With the tortuous laps around the rose gardens at the beginning and end of previous races now redundant this was a more straightforward out and back course over decent tarmac, with a few pot holes in places to avoid but no dreaded cone to run round. The majority of changes were considerably for the better.

The start of the race was at the finish, which may sound obvious but was again a change from previous years. A bit of a bottleneck, rather cramped and a little tricky with runners running into the back of others and clipping heels as 250 plus runners tried to follow a path that was only a car width wide until the race turned left onto the main driveway and the field thinned out things became easier. With the first mile predominantly downhill the pace at the front was swift with the leaders mainly in the fluorescent yellow of the home club well to the fore. The route turned right at the small road junction towards a main road, before turning back into the ground of the National Sports Centre and a long two mile drag all the way up the drive to the finish.

There were a few hoops in attendance on a night that started off warm and ended up freezing. Dan Smith showing how well his marathon training is going with a fantastic 29.26 for 17^th place putting him right in amongst the Telford runners. Dave Norman was next back in 31.34 for 34^th place having started off at a blistering sub 6 minute mile pace and passing Phil Johnson (31.49 in 36^th) within the last half mile. Phil Smith was 47^th in 32.21 after running the first mile in 5.58, Rob Sannwald kept his good form going with 32.32 for 51^st place, Ian Hopkins ran 34.13 for 81^st just in front of Richard Wheezy Jones in 34.24 for 85^th. Paul Rowlands and Richard Sannwald had a battle with Paul finishing strongly 10 seconds in front, in 41.30 for 172^nd with Richard in 41.40 for 175th to bring the hoops home.

So all change but some things remain the same as Telford AC's series just follows the same blueprint year after year, a little bit of tweaking, a little bit of bowing to public demand but only minor changes and mainly for the better. There’s certainly no point ripping things up and starting all over again. If it’s not broken then don’t try to fix it."

SUNDAY 4th APRIL  - EXE TO AXE

(over 20 miles & 4000 feet of climb)

Colin Downey reports "Every two years I forget about how tough it is & do the 300 mile round trip to run the Exe to the Axe. Depart home 5am to ensure early for the 8.30am coach that takes the runners to the start at Exmouth. A real runners race with all very friendly & it was good to discover Carolyn & Richard from Cobra were also running as well as a lady from Halesowen AC.

Marshals at the drink stations but no more are required as the simple instruction is to follow the acorn signs & keep the sea on your right.

A nice warm up for the first 6 miles to Budleigh Salterton then it gets progressively tougher, made worse this year by the very muddy conditions. On then to Sidmouth, where you start to envy the tourists with their ice creams, and those sitting outside the pubs. On again to Branscombe, Beer and finally Seaton."

1st Apr: No to the pavement tax!

It has emerged this week that the Government are considering introducing a new road runners levy from next year.

SUNDAY 28th MARCH  - CLEEVEWOLD M.T.

Colin Downey was at this great challenging multi terrain race on Sunday 28th March. The race was 14.5 miles this year as the race had to be diverted round some very fine black cows grazing on the top of Cleeve Hill Common. The views were superb towards the Vale of Evesham and the Welsh Mountains. This is a very friendly, locally supported race with a t-shirt and a bottle of locally brewed beer at the finish.

STEVE BARTLEY WRITES:-

Don't know if you have the Black Country Bugle but I have had quite a few full page articles in recently.

Hopefully, in the near future, some of these articles along with other short stories that I have written will be in the form of a book.

The majority of the stories are humorous fiction but all based on real Black Country places, events and people - names changed to avoid embarrassment!

Be good if you could give it a plug on the web site when ready.

Anyway - I was doing a bit of writing around running and didn't know what to do with it so if you want to put it on the website as a humorous piece then go ahead.

As Follows:

TWICE AROUND THE WORLD AND STILL TOO SLOW!

It suddenly dawned on me recently that I have been running for 30 years (not non stop Forrest Gump stylie of course!). To be honest I have had periods of inactivity during this period of various lengths due to lack of motivation or interest or injuries but, for the majority of this time, I have been training at some level.

So if you look at 30 years training and average the weekly mileage out to a conservative average of, let's say 30 mile per week, I have run 46,800 miles!

This means that I am 3,004 miles short of running around the World twice!

Now you might be wondering where this going? Well, In January I started my latest of very many running comebacks! Last Sunday, to test how my training was progressing, I furtively ran round the DK 10k course, It took me 56 minutes.

46,800 miles training to run a 10k in 56 minutes!!!

Twenty years ago I ran the DK 10k in 35 minutes 15 seconds off the back of a measly 15,600 miles training! That means that I have ran 31,200 miles to get 21 minutes slower!

Now if I start looking for excuses I am twenty years older and around two and a half stones heavier so I have worked it out (at this stage I did realise that I really need to get out more!) that every pound put on equates to around 0.6 minutes slower or every year older equates to around 1 minute slower.

So, to win the stupid bet that I made with my best mate that I could still run under 40 minutes for 10k this summer, I reckon I need to lose 1 stone 12.6 pounds or get 16 years younger!

I suppose I could train harder or cut down my cake consumption but hey, after nearly running around the World twice I think I deserve a cake!

David Bedford, the great English distance runner who occasionally put in 200 miles a week in training, once said “Running is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting. 90 percent of it is slog and drudge” and at times over the last few months I have had to agree.

I Hope this inspires everyone to keep putting the miles in!

G R A H A M   S H I N T O N

SUNDAY 21st MARCH  - STAFFORD HALF MARATHON

Dave Norman reports "Isn’t it just typical? You train all through the winter in freezing cold weather, driving winds, lashing rain and then what happens when you want to put this to good use? The sun comes out and turns the whole of Staffordshire into a tropical paradise for a day. Just when you don’t want a tropical paradise this is what you get, doesn’t fate just mess you about?

With the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky conditions were perfect………for spectators, not so good for the actual runners more used to arctic conditions than the warm weather experienced on the day. For the first time all year there were no pre race deliberations about what to wear, this was pure and simple vest and shorts weather. Although try telling that to the man in the Scooby Doo costume, or the person dressed as a Dalek.  With crowds a dozen deep around the Market Square the field was channelled away down a side street to wait for the off, almost like an embarrassment that had to be hidden away in the shadows before bursting out into the sunshine. This took the attention away from the minutes applause for runner, David Barlow, who died after finishing last years race. Those who had taken the time to read the race literature knew what to expect, those who had not heard the shouted instructions from the organisers just knew that people were clapping but had no idea why. With a local radio broadcasting to the masses around the first corner it just seemed a shame that many couldn’t pay their respects in a more organised manner.

With chip timing there was no immediate necessity for the start of the race to be the usual mad scramble but the tightness of the narrow street guaranteed that some pushing and shoving was inevitable as the field charged around the first corner into the sun and passed the cheering crowds. As runners tried to get into a good position there was a fair amount of checking and weaving to avoid bollards, bins and various other items of “street furniture” before a right hand turn to the end of a road, around a bollard and back the way we had come. Far from ideal but at least you got to see how many runners were behind you (or in front). As the route took the field out of town towards the villages of Milford and Tixall and the field thinned out a little the biggest danger was the competitors on hand bikes rather than those on foot, as runners were able to pass them as they toiled up the hill there were no significant problems however as they were able to free wheel down the descent they passed runners again. With no road closures out in the country they were forcing runners right into the gutters for fear of getting taken out from behind by a low slung projectile. Soon, with the brief hills behind this no longer became a problem, it was just the weather and the distance to contend with. And that was enough.

There was a good representation of blue hoops in attendance. Dave Norman was first back in 65^th place, starting well but tiring to finish in 1.26.43, Gary Bonner was 92^nd in 1.29.36, Rob Sannwald ran a fantastic debut over the distance to record 1.33.21 for 140^th place, Phil Smith put his marathon training to good use for 149^th place and a time of 1.34.07, Mark Homer ran 1.35.45 for 183^rd position, Helen Tromans was 223^rd in 1.37.24, Neil Edwards was not far behind in 1.37.29 for 227^th, Steve Wood was 240^th in 1.38.03, Robert Kennard ran 1.39.39 for 285^th, Ian Harris ran 1.45.18 for 442^nd place, Liz Hadley was 552^nd in 1.48.55 and Richard Bate was only just behind in 1.49.11 for 559^th, Helen Hickman finished in 1.50.27 and Cindy Froggatt in 2.06.15.

The times may have been faster if the weather had been a little more of what we were used to. The man in the Scooby Doo costume had the right idea, sitting in his garden on the course with a box of Stella, it was just surprising that more people didn’t join him."

SUNDAY 21st MARCH  - IRONBRIDGE HALF MARATHON

Steve Bartley sent in this report from 1984 when we were all a lot younger.

Wolverhampton Marathon,  1984 - Race Report - Better late than never!

During a clear out I came across an Express and Star 'Wolverhampton Marathon Special' from 1984 and I thought it was about time someone put a report on the DK site. Of course, at the time of the event we didn't have the interweb, in fact I'm not sure that not many of us had a telephone!!!

Looking through the results it brought back memories of some old friends who used to meet every Sunday morning outside the church at Himley for the Sunday long run. Runners from several local clubs would all meet up and on some Sunday mornings it felt like there were more runners than in some race events!

Looking through the results I recognised some names from around this time. I'm sure there are several who ran the race that I have missed or forgotten (There were over 7,000 runners and it has been 26 years!) so I apologise to them. Some are still on the running scene.

This year's Wolverhampton Marathon attracted a field of nearly 7,000 runners.

Despite the biting winds and chilling rain the town took on a carnival atmosphere with marching bands and cheer leaders spurring the runners on. First runner across the finish line was Dave Ellis in a time of 2 hours 22 minutes and 47 seconds (strangely Dave went on to become my boss 20 years later!). Close behind in second place was Tipton Harrier, John Wagstaff, who I believe once ran all the 3,000ft  peaks in Snowdonia and then ran them again in reverse just for fun all on the same day!).

The first lady home was Lesley Watson in 2.45.37 (described in the Express and Star as "the stunning auburn-haired 34 year unmarried Lesley Watson who looked as attractive at the finish as when she started." (try getting that published now-a-days!!!).

Several of the 'Sunday Morning Himley Group' took part in the marathon, some of the older club members may remember them, quite a few are still running today.

John Bayliss (age 38) from Stourbridge and Dudley Harriers came home in 2.33.28 and his club mate Norman Johnson (41) finished in 2.38.03.

DK's Pat Oakley (34) finished in 90th place 2.39 .42.

Sunday morning regulars Jeff Taylor (36) finished in 2.43.44, Larry Woodhall (33) in 2.44.29, Roger Lunn (38) in 2.44.47, Colin Hunt (45) in 2.44.48 and the legend, 'Big Les' Les Johns (38) (I once had him breathing down my neck for the whole of the Tipton 10 and it was like having a leaking steam pump behind you) finished in 2.47.10.

DK's Hugh Gore (39) crossed the finish line in 2.48.18, John Satchwell (29) in 2.50.06, DK's Steven Kelly (36) in 2.54.09, DK's Eric Perks (49) in 2.56.47.

Ultra Marathon running legend and World record holder Ron Bentley (53) finished in 2.57.55.

The most disappointed runner on the day must have been Robert Dyson from the RAF who finished in 3.00.01!

DK's Richard 'Dick' Blackburn (41) finished in 3.03.25 and his club mates Tony Hale (43) and John Pegg (42) finished in 3.06.56 and 3.06.57.

Brian Smith (38), at the time running for Tipton Harriers, clocked 3.10.44 and I (26, I can't remember ever being that young!)) crossed the line just behind him in 3.10.49.

Other DK runners I picked out were Clive Feist (37) 3.20.57 and James Bibb (43) 3.21.00.

710 runners broke 3 hours.

The heading on the pages doesn't give a precise date, it just says 1984, but I'm pretty sure it was run the same weekend in 1984 as next weekend, the day after the clocks go forward."

SATURDAY 20th MARCH  - RHAYADER 20

Ian Corns reports from Wales "Whilst the majority of the DK hoops were dispatched to Shropshire and Staffordshire for respective half marathons, Frankie Warrington and myself set off for mid Powys for the 20 mile slog around the beautiful lakes and dams of Wales.
The race starts at 1pm just up the hill from the Leisure Centre with a 2 1/2 lap rep taking in the local cemetery- a somewhat morbid jolt of what lay ahead. After 2 miles we then passed through the centre of Rhayader, down the hill into the parish of Llansantfraed Cwmdauddwr....don't worry about trying to pronounce it, just do the run next year, it certainly helps to pass the time whilst tackling the 'fatherless hill' that you then encounter. That hill is a climb of some 800ft, reaching the summit of Penrhiw-wen at 1600ft. The effort is certainly worth it, but only on a clear day, we were drowned in deep mist and fog. As they say what goes up, certainly does come down, and in this race  the road drops steeply for the next couple of miles, making your legs work overtime to cope with the sharp decent. For the next 10 miles or so you run alongside the reservoirs which supply our Brummie friends there bath water. After a further 5 miles or more we then go our separate ways, the water has a 73 mile trip towards the second city, whilst the now heavily laden legs of runners have another 2 gruelling miles to endure. Just when you think the end is nearing appears another hill, perhaps just at a  time when you could least do with one. It is not a particularly big hill, but it really makes you dig deep to find that last real effort. Once at the top, a nice drop back down into the village sees you home and a satisfying and much deserved shower followed by tea and cake in the cafe.
Frankie Warrington came home in a time of 3 hrs 16 mins in 309th place followed by myself in 3hrs 18 mins in 312th, knocking 10 minutes off my previous years time. There were 400 finishers, the last being in a time of 4 hrs plus, the winner coming home in a time of 1 hr 58.
The winning time this year was some 10 minutes slower than the course record, set some 19 years ago. All i can think is that must have been some quick Mountain goat. If you haven't done this run before and are preparing for a marathon then i certainly would recommend you try it, but be prepared for a lung buster of a start......but it is worth it."

SUNDAY 14th MARCH  - FRADLEY 10k

Photo by Paul Foot

SUNDAY 14th MARCH  - STAFFORD 20

Dave Norman reports "Today was all about repetition, repeating laps of the Staffordshire countryside and the repeating voices in the heads of the competitors saying “training run, training run, training run.” With London only six weeks away it would be stupid to have reached this stage and leave your best marathon effort behind in Stafford particularly after some of DKs more experienced marathoners had stressed how important it was not to get too involved in the situation, not to charge off and get competitive, no to do anything stupid. With a trio of highly tuned hoops on their way to Stafford all the talk was of how sensible they were going to be, how this was going to be all about the experience of running 20 miles on the road, about testing drinks and gels without the regrouping, without the stiles and without the possibility of a wrong turn here and there on a normal Sunday morning run. Although it seems a strange concept this was a run not a race, a run with a number pinned to your vest, training, training, training.

As soon as the hoops reached the venue things changed slightly for one of the party, Kevin Duckworth, who knows a thing or two about Spring marathons hoping to bring his London appearances into double figures in April, suddenly saw a challenge. With Tipton fielding a strong squad Kev’s eyes narrowed, the spaghetti western music started playing in his head and the athlete who was happy to take things steady and use this as a training run turned into the clubs major gunslinger. With a steely glint in his eye he was ready to hunt down any unsuspecting runner and gun them down, or at the very least run them down.

With a course made up of three laps, an eight and two sixes, it was perfectly designed to ensure that everyone knew what was coming next even if what was coming next was long hills and biting winds. With the course heading out from Stafford University up the long drag past the county showgrounds before turning through villages into the teeth of the wind on a long loop before heading back towards the start running in the gutter of the main road while wing mirrors passed at speed inches from your elbows. You knew what was coming and could mentally prepare for it even if you weren’t looking forward to it. The first lap was about getting into a comfortable rhythm, a second lap about staying sensible and a final lap about hanging on before the finish.

With competitive Kev running a frighteningly quick 2.06.47 for 12^th place there was never any question of who would be first back for the hoops. Dan Smith and Dave Norman, still sticking religiously to the training run mantra, ticked off seven minute miles for the first two laps. Dan’s youth enabled him to pull away on the final lap to finish in 2.20.05 in 42^nd with Dave finishing in 2.23.01 for 48^th place.

With another 20 miles in the bank and a few lessons learnt in preparation for London it was another step closer to the ultimate goal. But after 20 miles the thought of doing another six was a formidable prospect, whatever distance you run from 5k to half marathon and beyond the thought of doing more is alarming. Your brain knows you are going to run a set distance and mentally it’s hard to continue when everything in your head is screaming at you to stop. Your head says 20 so you do 20, if your head says 26 you do 26. In addition whatever was produced today was in the midst of heavy training, no tapering, on a hilly, windy course having to run long stretches alone. There were so many things that will be different in April, which is why for most this was simply training, training, training."

	Photo's by Mike Elwell &   Bryan Dale

SUNDAY 14th MARCH  - KILOMATHON

Ian Corns reports that he has Just got back from running the world's first ever Kilomathon.

Martin Williams (Tipton Harriers) set the first ever Kilomathon world record by winning the inaugural 26.2km road race, in a time of 1hr 26mins.  It was  an extremely tight race, crossing the finish line just 3 seconds ahead of Christopher Wilson from Paisley with Tim Hartley finishing in third.
The Kilomathon got underway at 9am with 4,200 runners setting off from outside the Nottingham University grounds on a dry, bright day with temperatures around 11 degrees. The race took us towards Long Eaton and on through Draycott before passing through the very scenic grounds of Elvaston Castle. The final stages took us through the village of Alvaston before heading along London Road to the finish line close to Pride Park Stadium in Alvaston Park.
The world's first Kilomathon saw thousands of entrants come from all over the UK and Ireland and attracted runners from European countries such as Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, and the Netherlands. Some had even travelled from as far as the United Arab Emirates, Canada, USA and Brazil, and indeed Kingswinford!
I completed the course in a time of 2:26:21 which for me was very satisfying, placed 2026th so by my calculation under half-way. For the first time ever in my running career, i found myself behind slower runners, when stewards opened a pen to allow predicted slower runners ahead of us quicker ones at the start!!!!! Time was lost by yours truly when a comfort break was necessary after only a couple of minutes into the run, as although the weather was a barmy 11 degrees, there was a chilly wind, which we had had to stand around in waiting at the start.
The next Kilomathon will be in Scotland in October, followed by Northern Ireland and Wales in 2011.
The kilomathon is a good prep race for London, or in my case Stratford. It was generally well organised apart from the baggage trucks at the end when signs showing race numbers could not been seen and created a bit of a stampede.
Anyway onto to Rhayader and 20 miles next Saturday where i'm sure there will be more hoops. At the moment, i am the 2026th best Kilomathon runner in the world...get in."

PHOTO'S FROM THE PAST - 1989

Brian Russell sent in these photo's from the Reading Half Marathon in 1989. Note the time and he was a vet at 42.

SUNDAY 14th MARCH  - HOGWEED HILLY HALF

Colin Downey reports "If you prefer your Half Marathons in rolling English countryside then look no further than the Hogweed Hilly Half.  The race is in the delightful sleepy village of Norton, Nr. Chipping Sodbury in South Gloucestershire.

Hosted by the Hogweed Trotters the race is in its 7^th year, my 4^th. Usually about 260-280 runners take part.

The course is very testing and not for the faint-hearted but, if you enjoy going up and down hills as I do, then this is a race you should consider running. Get there a little earlier for tea & cake.

The first testing climb comes in the second mile, after which the course undulates until miles 7 to 9 when Kilcott has to be overcome. Kilcott is a hill that never seems to end - it just goes on and on and on - with a nice dogleg in the middle to tease you into thinking that you’re approaching the summit when in fact you still have ½ mile more to climb. But from there the final 4 miles are almost all downhill but save a little for the final hill at 12 miles.

I had a bit of a disaster last year crawling round in 2hrs 13mins but the extra training in 2010 has paid dividends with this year 1hr 56min. All the Hogweeds & locals runs repeat “whatever you usually run for a half, add 10 minutes for this one!”

SATURDAY 13th MARCH  - BARRY 40

Ex member Andy Richards enjoying life down in Cardiff.

WEDNESDAY 10th MARCH  - NATIONAL POLICE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tony Price send in a quick report on last week's Police national championships.  I am looking forward to returning to Summertime Monday on Wednesday night training on 29th March

SATURDAY 6th MARCH  - CARDING MILL CANTER

Colin Downey and Mark Skidmore in the Carding Mill Valley.   Photo's by Alistair Tye.

SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY - ACTION HEART 4.9

Dave Norman reports "It’s often said that if you can’t say anything good about something you shouldn’t say anything at all, if that’s the case, from a personal point of view this should be very brief as the Action Heart 5 was more bad than good, more negative than positive. But I should put my own personal prejudices to one side, abandon my own negative experiences and focus on the positive. In a field of nearly 600 runners and walkers not everyone will have suffered in the same way I did, although you could argue, quite rightly that it was my own fault I had a bad experience but you can’t help looking for someone else to blame.

With building work taking place at the rear of Russell's Hall Hospital the start/finish area was a bit of a mess, whereas in the past the access road behind the hospital had been a clear thoroughfare allowing full unimpeded access, this year was different. With a large area of road fenced off the usual easy route was blocked resulting in the field having to squeeze their way through a narrow gap between buildings to come out on the other side of the blockage. This was something most people were completely unaware of until they approached the start, those allowing enough time to make the start line found that the start line wasn’t where they expected. This resulted in a crush, frustration amongst runners, a slight reduction in the length of the race by yards and soured for some what is normally a well organised event. You could argue that the majority of the field had no problem, that most made it to the start line in time and suffered no inconvenience but when a good proportion of runners end up having their race significantly damaged before the “off” because of something we were totally unaware of until it was too late you can’t help feeling hard done by. I wasn’t on my own in getting stranded at the back as a sizable group made it between the buildings in time to see the rear of the field disappearing, running into the back of the race and having to make up ground by zig zagging through the tail enders. There were many in the same position, only able to make progress when the course turned left at the top of the hill onto the dual carriageway and the course opened up a little. As I was able to cut through the field and get into a reasonable position and settle down at least it gave me an opportunity to see the rest of the blue hoops in the field.

Despite my bad start I made up enough ground to finish 36^th in 31.53, Darren Marklew finished in 32.44 for 53^rd place, Steve Wood was 61^st in 33.35, Stephen Morris was 69^th in 33.53, Mick Quane finished in 34.25 for 77^th, Darren Flavell was 81^st in 34.34 after a bad start, Katherine McEwan finished in 34.55 for 87^th, Helen Tromans was 94^th in 35.17 pulling away from Brian Russell who finished in 35.22 for 97^th, Craig Brown had a worse start than anybody but still finished in 35.29 for 100^th. Gareth Smith was 107^th in 35.43, Carol Fisher won the FV50 prize coming 182^nd in 38.44 just in front of Liz Hadley 3 seconds behind in 185^th, Catherine Quane was 270^th in 41.55, Jim Bibb ran a great race in 273^rd in exactly 42 minutes. Nicky Baker was 277^th in 42.08. Zoe Marklew ran 46.27, Jeremy Cobb finished in 47.59, Jo Poskitt 48.09, Claire Fisher limped home in 48.39 with sore shins and Enid Brazier was 588^th in 1.12.21.

In the great scheme of things did the bad start make a great deal of difference? A good two dozen plus were held up and suffered inconvenience, some suffered more than others, in percentage terms there were more runners pleased with the start than were disappointed but the lack of communication and the race going off an unheard of few minutes early soured the whole event for some. I suppose you’ve got to be philosophical about it, there are other races, it’s not like we need an enquiry, it’s not like we were looking for weapons of mass destruction, or gun shots from a grassy knoll because it doesn’t really matter. But it does. " 

SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY - THE TERMINATOR

Colin Downey reports : Travelled down to Pewsey, Nr. Marlborough, in Wiltshire for The Terminator, an 11 mile off road event which I did a few years ago.  

A course for masochists, the event attracted 586 runners. After ¾ mile through the town we are directed across fields with several water crossings & gluey knee deep mud before having some respite along the canal towpath.  Heading across country again we then reach “the gulley”. This is a ½ mile climb through a steep sided gulley where the Cotswold stone base ensures that you are running all the way through the stream coming down after all the rain. As a result you have no feeling in your feet for the next 10 minutes.  

The climb onto the ridge is followed by 3 or 4 steep climbs up & down culminating in a scramble up, round & down the Pewsey White Horse, this being one of the landmark chalk figure cut out on the hillside. More rutted mud leads eventually to the road where runners are sent through the waist high river rather than be allowed to cross the bridge. A final ½ mile on a muddy footpath to the finish. 

The day was capped off by a girl accidentally hitting the accelerator rather than the brake in the car park & ploughing at speed into several cars.

QUINEY'S ON HOLIDAY IN EGYPT.   Sharm El Shiz' 

SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY - MIDLAND WOMEN'S XC LEAGUE

SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY - BIRMINGHAM XC LEAGUE

Dave Norman reports "There’s a scene in the film “Chariots of Fire” where Scottish sprinter, Eric Liddell is training in the highlands, charging across the foothills of the mountains with abandon, relishing the punishing demands the rugged scenery is making on his body as he pushes himself to the limit. If you could ignore the other near 200 competitors and get a Vangelis based soundtrack running through your head the cross country at Malvern Common was very similar. With the spine of the Malvern's looming over the course, clumps of pine trees, little stone bridges and the silence, only the sound of your own tortured breathing, the painful splash of your shoes in the mud and the occasional noise of a passing train heading towards Worcester Foregate Street to spoil the image.

In true Division 2 fashion as with every other race this season this one was brutally tough and very fast, this time over four laps offering a variety of underfoot conditions. From the start you raced across close cropped common land before reaching a hill with a narrow muddy gully cut into it’s face by countless feet, a gentle slope towards a stream, through the water and across what must have been the streams flood plain before crossing the narrow trickle of water again, up a punishing hill, a flat stretch before a severe downhill where the ground dropped away on occasions forcing runners into involuntary leaps before heading on a twisting and turning, tree root ridden path through woods to the start. At no point was there time to get your breath back, no point where you could relax and let gravity assist. Even the steep downhill was so harsh that if you did relax you were swamped by others streaming past you. This was a course where you had to have the hammer down all the time or you would find yourself slipping down the field.

With the blue hoops status in this division slipping away and with an impossible task ahead of us it was a last hurrah. Typically this was to prove the best points tally of the season, too little, too late. Kevin Duckworth powered round the tough course in 39.19 for 44^th place, Dan Smith and Dave Norman traded places throughout,  with Dave in front on the odd laps and Dan taking the lead on the even laps and crucially staying in front at the finish for 86^th place and a time of 41.46 compared to Dave’s 92^nd and 42.07. Gary Bonner finished in 43.41 for 106^th place, Tony Price was 114^th in 44.35 and Rob Sannwald troubled the scorers with a fantastic performance for 117^th and an A team 6^th in 44.43. Phil Johnson ran a superb 45.56 for 130^th despite having raced The Valleys fell race last weekend, Paul Richards finished in 142^nd in a time of 47.13 despite suffering from stomach pains, Colin Downey finished in 53.19 for 179^th and Richard Sannwald was 184^th in 55.15. Although Brian Lane had completed a couple of laps he did the sensible thing and pulled out due to illness.

So another season drew to a conclusion with the blue hoops dropping down to the Third Division after finishing 17^th of 18. Throughout the season both quality and quantity have been an issue and DK have struggled to compete at this level, even if today’s best points total had been duplicated at the three other venues it would still have only been enough to place us one position higher and the outcome would still have been the same, relegation. But it’s not all doom and gloom, DK had clearly been punching above their weight in the rarefied atmosphere of the Second Division, struggling to hold their own against the younger and the considerably faster, next season could see a wholly different scenario. A scenario that ends with some Saturday afternoon success, something that Liddell would approve of."

SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY - STOURBRIDGE STAGGER

Dave Norman reports "When the race organiser stands at the start line and announces that the course isn’t too wet you must wonder what he uses as a comparison, it’s like saying the Pope’s not too Catholic, or the economy is not too knackered. I suppose it’s all comparative, it all depends on where you set the bar, but when some runners complain of losing shoes on parts of the course it suggests that the pre race announcement was a little optimistic. There were places where it was wet, not your proper cross country wet but still wet enough to describe the going as good to soft with more than a little moisture in the wicket. There were patches of thick, cloying mud, deep puddles and oozing, squelchiness so in anyone’s book wet. There were also sandy stretches, tracks through bone dry fields, some road, a bit of everything to ensure the “multi” in multi terrain applied throughout, maybe those were the bits he was referring to.

The course was made up of the usual loops around the countryside between Stourbridge and Hagley, a lap of the park to thin the field out before crossing the road, running alongside football pitches, through an estate, over the golf course, to the frustration of one golfer who was angrily mashing his 3 wood into the turf as we ran past, and out into the country proper. For those who were new to the event the variety was staggering, for those with previous there were still the little surprises as you can never seem to remember which bit comes next before you actually reach it. With a handful of lung bursting hills strategically placed to ensure they arrived just when you are at your weakest it’s never as easy run, the distance of 10 ish miles and the harshness of the course in places makes it a real test, even more remarkable that the winner, Ross Jones from Wolves and Bilston managed to break the hour.

As expected for a race just on the doorstep the blue hoops were numerous, Dave Norman finished in 23^rd in 1.13.15 with a bit before and a bit after clocking up 18 miles on the day, Darren Marklew was not too far behind in 1.17.15 for 48^th place, Tony Price finished in 1.17.49 for 50^th place, Steve Wood was 54^th in 1.18.02 just in front of David Fennell in 1.18.15 and a place behind. Mick Quane was 63^rd in 1.19.32, Keith Bate proved he can still do it in 1.20.08 for 69^th with Neil Edwards just behind in 1.20.21 for 71^st. Mark Homer finished in 1.20.56 and then ran home, Helen Tromans ducked just inside the top hundred in 98^th in 1.23.45, Heather Fisher finished in 1.24.46, Robert Kennard finished in 1.24.56 taking a couple of notable scalps in the process, Brian Russell came home in 1.25.07 having lost a shoe at some point, Carol Fisher was 151st in 1:30:11 while Nick Wood did exactly as predicted finishing in 1.30.17 in 153rd place, Liz Hadley came home in 1.33.07 followed by Claire Fisher, Ian Corns, Cath Quane, Sally McConville and Farah Hunter-Coley.

As the temperature dropped to around freezing and the mud hardened on our trainers, our legs and in some cases our socks we were left with one thing to remember. When a race organiser says the course isn’t too wet it’s akin to Noah looking out of the window and suggesting it’s a little damp."

SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY - CARDING MILL CANTER FELL RACE.

SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY - TITTERSTONE CLEE FELL RACE.

ON SALE NOW - NEW FROM MARTIN AT MAPLE   Rain jacket, fluorescent , water repellent, windproof and breathable embroidered and printed. £23.00

ON SALE NOW - NEW FROM MARTIN AT MAPLE   Long Sleeve Coolmax Training Top at £10.95 and Short Sleeve Top at £9.95

WISH YOU WHERE HERE !!!

Colin Downey sends in this photo from

Mount Toubkal 4167 metres – Atlas Mountains, Morroco.

SATURDAY 30th JANUARY - MIDLAND COUNTIES AA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPS. 

Dave Norman says "Stafford Common is bleak at the best of times, doubly so when the wind is whipping in direct from Moscow and we are shivering amongst the club tents erected alongside the finishing straight providing scant cover for the hardy half dozen from DK. While our numb fingers struggled with safety pins with numbers front and back of our vests and chips to be velcroed to ankles the elite bounced around amongst us, all long limbs and boundless energy doing warm up laps and extravagant stretches while we shivered. A warm up lap was called for. Although this got the blood following a little closer towards our extremities it only served to give us more concern over the state of the course, a course churned into porridge in places by previous races, frozen into thick ridges in others. A course that we always thought would be brutal and now we had confirmation. The fact that we were running it anticlockwise instead of the usual clockwise direction only added to the feeling of trepidation.

With over 350 runners in the field, many of them considerably better than the best the blue hoops could muster, there was a greater focus on the elite and as the race started many of these bounded up the hill, only to be seen again as the course wound around the common. With parts of the course bone hard and others so muddy a hippopotamus would shy away for fear of trench foot it was a route of extremes that wound in an out for three huge laps before a cruel finish that seemed to go on forever. Three brutally long laps through ankle deep mud with the sun reflecting off surface water preventing you from picking a best path, there wasn’t a best path. In and out of a bomb crater whose sides got slicker as the afternoon progressed and a final long loop towards the finish with the tape disappearing over your left shoulder before reappearing in front of you nearly half a mile later.

The hoops managed to field a team of six with Kevin Duckworth bringing the club home in 152^nd in a time of 51:34, Dave Norman was 188^th in 53.28, Dan Smith finished in 56.10 for 231^st place, Rob Sannwald had another good race in 59.25 for 268^th despite suffering from mild frost bite, Brian Russell was 298^th in 1:03:00 and Colin Downey finished in 338^th in 1:10:04.

After some shivering and struggling to unfasten clogged laces with frozen fingers and pull clothes on over muddy legs it was a case of packing up and coming home. This wasn’t a place to hang around, with no showers available and the only heat coming from whatever the car could produce we headed home. We must have reached Wall Heath by the time we could all feel our fingers again."

SUNDAY 24th JANUARY - MIDLANDS MASTERS XC CHAMPIONSHIP 

Dave Norman (who else ?) reports "Youth and talent are no match for age and experience, the enthusiasm displayed by those less mature is no substitute for sheer, bloody minded stubbornness. The Midland Masters cross country made it perfectly clear that old runners never die, they just run fewer laps.

With runners young enough to fall into the under 40s age group and old enough to qualify at M80+ the range of ages and abilities was huge. The one thing everyone had in common was they were all runners, all pulling on a vest, all pinning a number to the front and all competing against others their own age, against the clock, against the course. The clock may tick relentlessly on marking time but any time spent running round muddy fields, through woods and along paths is time well spent. Better than sitting around doing what people expect you to do as you get old, listening to the wireless and worrying about your heating allowance.

A small contingent from DK were in attendance to tackle the course around football pitches, through woods up a steep but mercifully short hill before a narrow path took the field out across a footbridge over a stream, alongside the canal before returning to the football pitches for a total of just over 8k. Unfortunately not enough of the blue hoops were there to make up a team but enough to at least make their presence felt. Dave Norman was first back in 35.35 in 18^th place and 5^th in his age group. Malcolm Pillar was 36^th and 7^th M60 in 39.52 and Brian Russell despite suffering from a cold was 41^st and 9^th M60 in 41.30.

With some competitors taking around an hour to complete the course some people’s stubbornness and determination was there for all to see. They may have shins like hacksaw blades, thick knotted veins sticking out of their calves like maps of the motorway network, they may take longer than average to warm up and get the blood flowing through their veins, they may not be as sprightly as some of their younger rivals but that does not make them any less worthy of regard in fact it makes their efforts even more commendable. The tireless enthusiasm, the commitment they put into the race made lesser mortals need a sit down with a cup of tea and a biscuit. "

SUNDAY 24th JANUARY - TELFORD 10k 2009

Mark Homer reports "Its traditional that the last Sunday before Christmas, anyone looking for a late season 10k best heads for Telford. Not this time though as the race was cancelled twice due to the weather so, at the third time of asking, we found ourselves lining up for the 2009 Telford 10k in the middle of January 2010.

To make the race quicker the elite runners (sub 40 minutes) were given their own start 45 minutes before everyone else. This also meant that the not-so-quick runners in the mass start had the opportunity to sample the atmosphere nearer the front of the race, at least for the first 100m!

This is effectively a downhill race – the first quarter of a mile being run down a steep hill before two loops of 3 miles around a lake and along a track.  Not the most scenic of courses and anybody off to a slow start in the mass event was hindered by limited opportunities to overtake, but definitely a course with PB potential.

The DK contingent lined up in the mass start and all finished within 2 minutes of each other. First home for DK was Darren Marklew (109th in a time of 42:14), followed by Mark Homer (117th; 42:43), Andy Litchfield (118th; 42:44), Robert Smith (134th; 43:54) and Robert Kennard (136th; 44:00).    

Special mention to a couple of old Sunday morning training partners, Darren Perry and Andy Williams running for Tipton, who after finishing the elite race stopped behind to encourage the DK runners through the last mile. Thanks guys it was much appreciated (at least it was as soon as we had finished the race!)"

SATURDAY 16th JANUARY - MIDLANDS WOMEN'S/B'HAM XC LEAGUES

Dave Norman reports on a disappointing turnout. " With the recent cold snap finally breaking 48 hours ago, a rise in temperatures and almost a full day of torrential rain on Friday meant that a race that was in doubt a week ago could go ahead as planned. With the snow gone surface water was more of an issue particularly in places where there was ice just below the surface, lurking menacingly to catch out the unwary. Whereas a few days ago we were contemplating freezing conditions and a complete white out by start time all that remained was a decapitated snowman, his body on one side of the course and his head about six feet away on the other side. As we ran between these two remaining dirty snow boulders that marked a turn on the course it was a reminder of how different this would have been under a covering of snow.

The course was your typical twisting a turning course, more miniature moor land than parkland with tussocky grass and windblown trees breaking up the monotonous surroundings. With an icy and particularly dicey path to negotiate and more turns than a talent show it was a challenging course for directional purposes if nothing else. Luckily the organisers had the good sense to send the women out first with the men’s race following half an hour later.

Only 24 hours earlier the ladies team was short of numbers but with a bit of phoning around and cajoling they managed a full complement of four with Helen Tromans first back in 105^th in a time of 29.02 just having enough strength and pace to hold off Carol Fisher, a place and 2 seconds behind. Liz Hadley finished in 120^th place in 30.09 and Rae Moorhouse ran 32.08 for 139^th place putting them a comfortable 12^th in their division.

By the time the women had finished with the course any fears of it being hard and icy had disappeared, the corners were cutting up and boggy patches were appearing. They had left it in a right state. But with the relegation alarm bells ringing for the blue hoops this was the least of our worries and the old adage of the course being the same for everyone was never truer. With many of the big guns missing due to injury, illness, apathy and other commitments we were lacking quality at the front of the field, runners who could consistently finish in the top 100 even at this rarefied level were sadly lacking. It was left to Dan Smith to lead the A team home in 90^th place in 36.34 after a good battle with Dave Norman over the first two laps, Dan had pulled away with Dave reducing the deficit on the final lap but never getting close enough to land a blow finishing in 101^st in 36.57. Phil Johnson was next home running most of the race on his own in 142^nd and 39.39, Steve Wood charged past Richard Wheezy Jones in the shadow of the line finishing in 149^th and 40.07 and 150^th and 40.11 respectively. The blistered Mark Gallimore was only two places and 10 seconds behind to bring home the A team. Rob Sannwald exceeded expectations with a time of 40.44 for 161^st place, followed by Ian Hopkins in 163^rd in 40.55, Paul Richards 175^th and 41.45 and Phil Smith 176th and 41.46 came home together. Mark Homer finished in 42.01 for 181^st, Richard Sannwald was 208^th in 47.49 and Brian Lane was C team leader in 210^th 48.23.

With a massive total of 2252 and only one remaining fixture DK have a formidable mountain to climb to secure Second Division status for another year, at least we will go down having fielded a team in every race unlike Stourbridge who struggled for numbers again and are the only team below DK. With the relegation alarm bells getting louder and louder it was fire alarm bells that were ringing after the race as steam from the showers got into the smoke detectors and set the alarms off causing a part evacuation. The hoops were at the rear of the field for that event too.

SUNDAY 10th JANUARY - CANNOCK CHASE TRIG POINT 12

Richard "Wheezy" Jones reports "I’ve been quite tired of late and didn’t fancy getting up in time (or even almost in time) for the normal Sunday run. No problem I thought, I’ll call Stuart and see if he’s still running the Trig point 15. So having delayed leaving the house until 9am I could relax and spend a few minutes checking the details of this little jaunt. Because of extreme conditions the race has been shortened to 12 miles said the website – excellent I thought – it would have been just as cold on the normal Sunday run and now the race was no longer than said normal Sunday run (unless your name begins with Brian and ends in Lane in which case 12 might sound like a challenge). The kick in the tail was – “full kit requirements will be enforced – full waterproof coverings, hat, gloves, compass, whistle, map, cuddly toy etc. This is for serious runners only” - Oh dear, a bit of acting required then.  Anyway on an overcast snowy morning the three amigos (Stuart, Steve Wood and Wheezy) removed their silly glasses and fake moustaches

and donned enough warm clothing to look the part. How did we know we looked the part I hear you ask. Well, apart from always being paragons of sartorial elegance, we hadn’t even cleared the car park when another runner came and asked Steve for advice because he thought Steve “looked like he knew what he was doing” – amazing that rabbit in the headlight fear could be mistaken for steely determination.   Anyway, on to the race; 12.5 miles, any which way you want as long as you visit each check point in turn. This saw many of the local runners diverting off among trees and jumping streams to take more short cuts than Laney could dream of. To us townies this left a dilemma, do we try and follow the locals or stick to the more obvious path. The problem being if you head off through the trees and can’t keep up you’ll actually have to get the map and compass out. With Stuart’s navigation skills being restricted to regular pub routes only this could have been a disaster so some superhuman efforts were put in. I took the other option of waiting for the guy behind to catch up so that I could ask the way – particularly annoying as I had spent several miles catching and overtaking him to begin with. Apart from the bitingly cold wind, icy paths and 1500ft of climbing it was a lovely run and the provision of free tea/soup and cakes by Mercia fell runners added a friendly touch at the end. If the showers had been hot (or even luke warm) rather than icy it would have been a perfect event. Stuart came 41st in 1hr 40, Richard was 49th in 1hr 45 and Steve was 69th in 1hr 52. The next similar event is on the Long Mynd (similar because it’s off road, different because it has double the climbing – but you will get a comparative lie in)"

SUNDAY 27th DECEMBER - WHEATON ASTON 10k

Dave Norman reports "Christmas is all about traditions. The traditional bout of overeating, putting food on your plate that you would never normally eat at any other time of year – parsnips, twiglets and cheese footballs - falling asleep in front of the television, waking up to moan that there is nothing on anyway and it was always better when Morecambe and Wise were alive, stupid party hats, jokes that are to comedy what Herod was to child care and the Wheaton Aston 10k.

The popularity of this event is always surprising, why would nearly 400 people sign up to race over 10k during the middle of a traditional food fest, why would people tear themselves away from the tin of Quality Street to slog around cold, country lanes less than 48 hours after eating their biggest meal of the year so far.  Maybe that’s the reason it is so popular because you can leave the table and get out in the country to balance out the calorie intake. It gives Christmas a different focus, it might curtail the binge eating and drinking, it helps us remember that despite the festivities we are still runners – we may eat and we may drink but we also run. We might be mad but on the other hand we might just be the only sane ones left.

Like all traditions this one was very similar to previous years, the same course, the same names, the same faces, very little changing in 12 months. The start, as always, in the lane a few hundreds yards from the school, a few twists and turns early on through the village where the support was excellent, before going out into the country where the ice was still thick on the roads in places before passing our original starting point to finish on the school car park. Kevin Duckworth was first back for the hoops in 43^rd saying afterwards that every second of the 40.14 he recorded was painful, Dave Norman, full of cold and struggling was 49^th in 40.45, Adrian Morey finished in 42.20 for 59^th place, Mark Homer was 71^st in 43.07, Phil Smith was 86^th in 44.02, Gary Bonner, starting the long haul on the road to recovery ran 44.21 for 90^th. Robert Kennard was 125^th in 46.06, John Glover blew the Christmas cobwebs away in 50.43 for 210^th, Steph Andrews was 233^rd in 52.24, Andy Page, four seconds and two places behind was next, Ian Corns was 258^th in 53.44, Lucy brought home Team Froggatt in 54.32 for 274^th, Sally McConville was 277^th in 54.39, the remainder of Team Froggatt came next crossing the line together in 57.52, Richard being given 310^th place and Cindy 311^th. Michelle Brittain was 352^nd in 1.03.57 and Carol Yates was 355^th in 1.04.16.

With the ice still clinging resolutely to the road in exposed areas and the prospect of more snow on the way it was a nice touch to be presented with a woolly hat this year rather than a t shirt.  At least this was one Christmas present that everyone would find useful particularly as the coldest part of Wheaton Aston appeared to be a spot immediately after the finish line. So that was another Christmas tradition over for another twelve months. Time to pack this race away with the tree and the tinsel until next year when it will be unpacked again to fit into the usual festivities with the excessive eating and drinking, only this one is good for you. It doesn’t feel like it when you are sweating Baileys at the finish and all you can taste is twiglets. Maybe we should approach this more professionally next year, but then again, maybe not, we wouldn’t want to spoil a tradition."

SUNDAY 20th DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Having chiselled my way into my car Sunday Morning I looked down upon the dashboard to see a temperature reading of minus 5. I must have been either mad or enthusiastic. To be honest I was, both that is. I was looking forward to running up and over the roaches, more so now that there would be a  dusting of snow to add to the scenery. The Roaches lie just north of leek on route to Buxton and  having run races in this area before I can vouch that some of the roads  around Meerbrook wouldn't be out of place in an alpine resort. The race was to be an 8 miler with just 40% of it being on the road which started from the tittesworth resevior at Meerbrook. Snow had just started falling again as I approached the venue and at this point wasn't sure if the race was going to go ahead.  Fancy dress plays a big part in this run, and I was starting to feel  a bit out of place as the majority of runners were dressed in anything from Santa outfits, through to chimney sweeps, chickens and sheep costumes. Weather conditions were pretty dire before the start, but Staffordshire Moorlands AC announced that the race would go ahead with a revised route of around 5-6 miles that would be run around the grounds of the reservoir. So with the snow now halted  and the race going ahead we were  lined up at the start throwing snow balls at each other...childish I know....but I didn't start it......honest !   Within the 1st mile many of us had missed the turning into the woods and had to double back along a single width track before coming  head to head with the runners  at the back of the field. It  didn't really matter too much as  I don't think  that many people was taking it serious anyway. The route followed the perimeter of the reservoir though woodland and farm tracks that was undulating and twisty in places, with plenty of opportunities to throw more snowballs at people coming up the hills. Overall the race was pleasing and we had a few giggles on the way round. Probably the first time I've run a race with both humans & dogs but hey, if they are wearing a Santa outfit or a pair of antlers then why shouldn't they. Well done to Staffs Moorlands AC for salvaging the race and giving us a run out.

SUNDAY 20th DECEMBER - TURKEY TROT

SUNDAY 13th DECEMBER - MORTIMER FOREST

Dave Norman reports "There is nothing better than travelling towards Ludlow, over the hills, and past the picture book villages with their elaborate chimneys. Past the grazing sheep with the Welsh side of Shropshire laid out before you like a picnic blanket. As the mist rises, the ice thaws and the hills overlooking the Welsh borders get closer, the temperature rises and with the watery winter sun in your faces talk turns to whether to wear the long sleeves under the vest or not. To Helly or not to Helly that is the question. With a car full of anticipation and expectancy we tick the miles off because this is Mortimer, this is a classic, this is one of the favourites and after this one it’s virtually Christmas.

The morning was bright and clear, perfect conditions for a race of 10 miles and 1700 feet of ascent, the views would be fantastic if only we could raise our eyes from the path in front, away from our tortured thighs and appreciate it. With a word of warning from the organisers prior to the start about the state of the course, “it’s muddy, if you’re wearing flats you will go over”, it was a quick shout and we were off. Not the traditional whistle or air horn or even “go” but an order of “START”, possibly more in keeping with our public school surroundings.

Runners jostled for position before the path narrowed, the elbows came out and there was some ducking and diving along the fringes of the path to get past bottlenecks before the sharp descent, through woods, across a stream to the foot of the first proper climb. A steep, minutes long muddy path towards the sky. Reduced to walking with your hands on your lactic filled thighs this was the first proper test and there would be more to come. The course flattened with many slipping and sliding on the ankle deep mud, it was a case here of staying upright, many didn’t, there were numerous spills even on the flat as the mud slid away beneath you. With more ups and downs, more mud, the course wound itself towards what was referred to pre-race as “the land of the pipes” or “tellytubby land”. Three frightening drops and corresponding climbs before reaching a gravel path that twisted, turned and climbed again. The field climbed what was mercifully the last serious slope before reaching the wind blown tundra that seemed like the roof of the world and then it was all downhill. 1700 feet of climbing is a lot of up, if what goes up must come down there would be a lot of down too. And true enough the path dropped away as the tress whipped past, the mud and pine needles beneath your feet proving to be an unstable and treacherous carpet. More downhill then a mad dash along a path so flooded it was like running along a river bed. A final uphill and a charge through the forest to the finish in the tress. With only the walk back to the changing rooms at the school, a dungeon lined with pegs and the names of the children taught there – Cosmo, Sebastian, Orlando -  that was Mortimer over for another twelve months.

With two cars full of hoops we were well presented with Stuart Tromans bringing DK home in a respectable 1.24.44 for 43^rd place, Dave Norman was 68^th in 1.29.14, Mark Skidmore continued his fell running adventure in 1.40.30 for 170^th place, Richard Froggatt finished in 214^th in 1.45.01, Paul Richards in shiny new Innov 8s that rubbed his heels raw finished in 261^st in 1.50.54, the ever cheery Brian Lane was 279^th in 1.53.52 and Arthur Smith was a shade over 2 hours in 2.01.26. The two casualties, Tim Evans, a hamstring pull and a trip down in the Land Rover and Jim Bibb, a DNF due to a tight calf completed the compliment of hoops. With some of us fully embracing the fell race culture with stubbly chins passing round a bottle of malt whiskey (or possibly just starting a new culture all of our own) it was a good day and at least we all know what Paul Richards wants for Christmas – new skin for his heels or to be able to walk more than 10 feet without wincing.

SUNDAY 6th DECEMBER - CARDINGTON CRACKER

SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER - MIDLAND'S WOMEN'S XC LEAGUE

Well done to the Ladies for once more putting a team out in the Midland Cross Country League/

SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER - BIRMINGHAM XC LEAGUE

Dave Norman reports "With Gloucester hosting the latest fixture this was about as far south as we could go and still class this one as Birmingham League, even this was pushing it as we were probably closer to Bristol than Brum but Kenilworth, Coventry and Stratford can hardly be classed as Birmingham either. A muddy field is still a muddy field no matter how far away it is. As we journeyed south towards the grey skies we were hopeful that the rain would at least stay away but the further we went the gloomier the outcome.

The gloominess continued when we reached the venue, The Crypt School was certainly strangely named; worryingly there was what looked like an Anglo Saxon burial mound on the playing fields, all brightly taped as the course wound up one aide and down another, maybe that was the Crypt that gave the school its name. As far as the course was concerned apart from the bank, like Badminton but without the horses, we weren’t sure what to expect. Some had raced here before a couple of years ago but this was of no benefit, our warm up only left us dizzyingly bewildered but working on the belief that we wouldn’t find ourselves at the front we decided not to let it worry us.

As we assembled at the start it was fairly obvious that some clubs were struggling for numbers and that this could be what sorted some teams out this season. Not the quality but the quantity. Telford appeared light but still very good and Stourbridge were certainly struggling, as long as we can continue to muster enough for a team we might still stave off relegation. With eleven hoops on the start line we knew we had an A team and 90% of a B team and may make up some ground on others at the bottom of the table, particularly if everyone ran to their potential. As usual the race started with the usual mad cap dash, across the rugby pitches, over a couple of paved paths made greasy by earlier rain, around a wide loop to thin out the field before getting to the bottlenecks we had seen in our warm up. With a combination of flat stretches around rugby pitches interspersed with ditches, muddy gullies, more twists and turns than a corkscrew and the man made mound on three hard laps this was uncomfortable. Just when you felt like you were hitting a decent rhythm the organisers would throw an unpleasant obstacle at you to break this up and leave you gasping.

With Kevin Duckworth bringing the hoops home in 72^nd in 37.41 on an injured Achilles, Dale Quinney coming home in 101^st in 38.53, Karl Quinney in 119^th in 40.17, Dave Norman 128^th in 40.53, Mark Gallimore 139^th in 41.18 and Darren Flavell (in Neil Fereday’s borrowed shoes) in 42.15 for 152^nd the A team scored 711 points. Better than last time but not quite enough of an improvement to pull us out of trouble, still worryingly high compared to the competition. Ian Hopkins was 159^th in 42.49, Steve Wood finished in 42.56 for 163^rd, Mark Homer was 176 in 44.16, Rob Sannwald was 179^th in 44.59 and Richard Sannwald was 212nd in 51.59. With Stourbridge only able to field four runners and being classed as a DNF at least one of the relegation places has now been filled. With two races to go there is a chance of securing our Division Two status but with far too many of our better runners missing DK have left themselves a mountain to climb, there’s still hope if others struggle for numbers though.

With Kevin icing his damaged Achilles we settled down for the journey home watching a George Formby film courtesy of our coach driver. It was a good job we didn’t watch it on the way down, it might have given us some ideas and all many of comedy high jinx might have occurred across the muddy fields of Gloucester. And at least it didn’t rain until after we’d finished, as George would have said in his nasal northern rasp “turned out nice again”.  

SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER - MIDLAND 7 XC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Richard "Weezy" Jones reports in Dave's absence "Some people mention that races aren't what they used to be; hills aren't as high, miles aren't as long, the competition isn't as tough etc. Well, for those who follow this creed may I recommend the Midland 7m X/C at Halesowen. There was nothing modest about this event.  At the end several runners were heard to call it a good old fashioned cross country, in a tone that spoke of solid approval as well as satisfied exhaustion.

Several weeks worth of rain had been added to by an overnight deluge ensuring that the going was soft to downright boggy but further rain held off leaving us a pleasant November afternoon with perfect old fashioned mud to play in.

The courses` undulating mix of wooded paths and boggy fields that twisted and turned prevented anyone from getting a comfortable rhythm and for myself I was passed by and in turn overtook the same runners several times as different sections of hill, mud and path suited different strengths. A four lap course normally means that you can plan your final lap to take runners where you're strongest and finish with a flourish. At this race it just meant thinking about how steep (and deep) the banks were on the stream that appeared twice on each lap and how slippery they were becoming with every crossing.

The hoops had a good presence with 9 runners turning out as well as our most popular cameraman, the Eagle. Full results are on the RESULTS PAGE. First home for DK was Karl Quiney, he was no doubt excellent and near the front but to us mere mortals that was out of sight and probably not even muddy enough to count as really haven't taken part. He was followed (at a much muddier distance) by Dan Smith, Tony Price, Richard Jones, Mick, Mark Homer, Mark Skidmore, Richard Froggatt and Brian Russell.

Plenty of hot water meant a decent shower for even the most ambling of participants and for me the idea of having a coffee/refreshment stall right next to the start line was genius.

As the big man said “I`ll be back”.

SUNDAY 22nd NOVEMBER - WREKIN WRECKER

Sally McConville reports "I guess the clue is in the name  - yes –I was wrecked at the end of the 8.1 miler but, that said, it was a fantastic race [as much as my limited experience in fell running allows me to judge!], but it appeared to be well organised, very well marshalled and a very friendly and positive group of runners of all ages and abilities.

It was muddy, slippy, wet and challenging but the views once you reached the top were well worth the effort, especially as the sun had come out by the time I got up there.

First home for DK was Stuart Tromans, followed by Mark Skidmore, Richard Froggatt, Colin Downey and then myself.

 Only 167 runners braved the event , only 25 of those were women and only little me to represent DK women  - come on – come and join me next year – its so much fun getting wet and muddy!

I only joined the club at the end of the summer so I would like to take this opportunity to say what a friendly, welcoming bunch of people you are. I was very apprehensive about joining a club with not knowing anyone- but you have all made me feel so welcome – thank you."

SUNDAY 15th NOVEMBER - SUICIDE 6

 Videos of the race      Part 1               Part 2            Part 3 (no sound).

Dave Norman reports "Not matter how many times you run the Suicide 6 it’s always different. The course changes, the conditions change, the weather changes and the depth and breadth of the water changes but one thing you can guarantee is that it’s always well supported. This year was no different with over 650 competitors assembling at the start in bright sunshine, the clouds clearing after a heavy shower earlier left people scurrying for the tea shop, to warm the assembled field. It was definitely vest and shorts weather, at least that meant there was less kit to wash when you’d finished, although some decided to try to wash it mid race.

The race started on a sombre note, a minutes silence in memory of Cobra’s Mark Perry who died recently, making us realise how lucky we are to be standing in a field in the sunshine. Mark was a regular on the local circuit even though he had recently moved up in distance concentrating on marathons and ultras. He always had a word of encouragement and was always interested in what you were doing rather than just wanting to talk about himself, he will be remembered as “a nice bloke”, and that’s not a bad epitaph.

The race started with a charge up the short hill out of the bowl, through the gate and around the usual Suicide 6 landmarks. A hard slog up to the trig point, a fast slippery descent where the decision to wear road shoes was to prove misguided for some, a battle through the sucking grey clay of the glue road, the twists and turns of the single track bridle path before reaching the path towards Himley, through the gate and onto the tarmac towards the crowds at the water, waiting in anticipation of others misfortune like a baying crowd round a gibbet. But, ha, we gave them the slip, turning sharply across the stream and attacking the hill from the opposite direction, descending through the woods, through twists and turns, under and then over fallen trees to approach the water from a slightly different direction. The crowd, both plentiful and vocal had a treat, the water was filthy, deep and cold as many found from bitter experience. Helen Tromans suffering a bit of a dunking but nothing like the dunking Adrian Morey experienced – it was more bog snorkelling than running. With the worst out of the way it was a relatively easy return to Baggeridge itself, as the feeling slowly returned to your frozen legs just in time  for the last cruel ascent of the hundred plus uneven steps, at least when you reach the top you can see the finish and possibly your breakfast.

As usual with this race DK were well represented, and supported. Dave Norman bought the hoops home in 60^th place in 44.50 despite having not trained properly for three weeks due to injury, Craig Brown finished in 45.48 in 80^th place, Michael Quane put his cross country form to good use in 46.21 for 90^th place, Ian Hopkins was 99^th in 46.52, just in front of Tony Price in 101^st in 47.04. Helen Tromans finished 119^th overall, 3^rd lady and 1^st in her age category in 47.54, Phil Smith was 143^rd in 48.42, Mark Homer finished in 49.17 in 155^th, Mark Skidmore christened his bright blue Walshes with a time of 49.45 for 160^th, Nigel Warrington was 169^th in 50.04, a damp Adrian Morey finished in 50.12 in 170^th despite a reoccurrence of a calf injury at two miles, Richard Froggatt was 186^th in 50.44 not too far ahead of daughter Lucy who finished in an impressive 52.22 for 230^th. Dave Wilkes finished in 53.33, Sally McConville and Rae Moorhouse finished a second apart in 59.06 and 59.07 with John Glover just behind in 59.09. Marie Latreche finished in 1.01.04, Cindy Froggatt in 1.05.17 followed by Alison Whitehouse, Farah Hunter-Coley, Andy Page running again after a knee injury and Jane Sommerville.

Who knows what next years event might bring. The course may be similar, the weather changeable, the conditions testing and more or less the same crowd will assemble to run and the same crowd jeer them at the water. If it’s any deeper in 12 months at least there will be enough to launch the lifeboat.  

SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER - STEVENAGE HALF MARATHON

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER - BIRMINGHAM CROSS CHALLENGE

Dave Norman reports "The blue hoops were the few hoops as the cross country season kicked off with its usual mass participation, all divisions curtain raiser at Senneleys Park. With a number of notable absentees due to injury, illness, work commitments, the Snowdon Marathon and a home Wolves fixture it was a depleted team that arrived at an unseasonably warm venue. Missing possibly four or five men who would be guaranteed to challenge for A team places this was a damage limitation exercise, a case of getting a team out, not losing too much ground and coming stronger later in the season. In fact for the first time the women outnumbered the men with last season’s good female results encouraging more participants.

The ladies were off first over their 6k course, charging up the hill from the start and down through the tented village to loop around the park, through the water, zig zagging through the trees for a couple of laps before the long sweeping, slightly left handed downhill towards the finish, a sharp left, a mad sprint and over the line. First home for the hoops was Katherine McEwan finishing 56^th in 28.36, Helen Tromans was next back in 29.35 for 79^th place, Carol Fisher was 116^th in 31.37 and Liz Hadley completed the team of four in 135^th and 32.29. With the ladies even having enough for a B team, Rae Moorhouse in 32.54, Anne Law in 33.17, Claire Fisher in 34.19 and Sally McConville in 35.35, it was a good day finishing 20^th overall and 11^th in the veterans category.

The men competed over a slightly longer distance of around 10k, putting an extra loop on the course, still going through the water twice. Thankfully the course was dry compared to previous years and the water was relatively shallow, some of the blue hoops even managing to clear it in a single bound. Karl Quiney started steadily but gradually made up places coming in in 106^th place in 40.55, Dan Smith, making his cross country debut finished 2^nd for the club in 41.31 and 114^th overall, Dave Norman, struggling with injury limped round on one and a half legs in 42.13 and 121^st, Phil Johnson came in 130^th in 43.07, Richard Jones ran 43.51 for 136^th and Steve Wood completed the A team in 45.01 and 150^th. Without enough runners to complete a B team it was left to Mick Quane, running well on his debut in 45.11 and 153^rd and Mark Homer in 165^th and 46.02 to complete the compliment of competing DK runners.

With the women competing well and holding their own at this level it was the men who struggled today. Firstly for numbers and secondly with injuries. This result has left them 17^th in a league of 18 and with a mountain to climb to secure Second Division status for another year. With a number of good runners expected to return for the next race in Gloucester the DK men will certainly improve their position and they will certainly need to if they are not going to face relegation in February. But whatever the result today the hoops made sure they encouraged each other, both women and men clapped each other and shouted words of encouragement. Whether you were first back, last back or somewhere in between you were guaranteed a good reception from your team mates and this certainly won’t change even if the division we compete in does."

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER - SNOWDON MARATHON 2009

SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER - PATTINGHAM BELLS RUN 2009

Dave Norman reports "It’s autumn, it’s the Bells of Pattingham, the cross country season is only a week away. It must be time to get the Walshes and the Innov 8s out, time to plough through the mud and splash through the puddles. But something doesn’t seem quite right, it’s October, it’s Pattingham, we’re standing at the bottom of the usual field but where’s the water, where’s the mud? In 20 years there has probably never been a Bells as arid as this one, after weeks of dry, unseasonal weather the ground was like concrete, hard, desiccated and unforgiving. No water to speak of, (and no water at the finish either) just a handful of scattered puddles but nothing to get your off-road shoes dirty for. With most choosing the road shoes option for cushioning at least the usual dilemma was an easy one even if the course wasn’t.

The start was the familiar cavalry charge from the bottom corner of a field over rutted, uneven ground, trying to pick your way through tussocky grass without doing serious damage to your ankles, through the bottleneck at the end and up a hill trying to make progress through slower runners. With almost 750 entrants at the start there was always going to be a degree of congestion as the field thinned out over the first mile. There were still plenty of opportunities to make up ground if you were prepared to go a fraction either side of the path. As usual the course wound its way round fields, through a farm, up and down a few hills for its usual tour of Shropshire farmland and back to the church and again as usual there were plenty of blue hoops in attendance for one of the staple races in the DK calendar.

Karl Quiney ran a fantastic race to be first back for the club. Running the first half of the race at a steady pace using club mates as unwitting pacemakers, he reached the four mile marker and switched on the afterburners effortlessly pulling away to finish in 33^rd in a time of 47.03. Having been headed by Karl in the last few metres Gary Bonner came in a place and only two seconds behind in 47.05. Stuart Tromans finished in 43^rd in 48.01, just holding off a late burst from Dave Norman in 48.02. Helen Tromans finished in 116^th in 52.05 to continue her good form. Adrian Morey finished in 52.39 in 125^th, Mark Homer only seconds behind in 52.49 in 128^th. Steve Wood was 137^th in 53.16, Craig Brown finished in 53.28 in 144^th, Richard Smith was 169^th in 54.12, Richard Froggatt ran a solid 55.04 for 195^th, Richard Bate was 215^th in 55.56, Dave Wilkes ran 56.20, Nigel Warrington 56.27, Katherine McEwen 56.33, Brian Lane ran 56.53 taking a few notable scalps in the process, Tim Evans ran 57.23, Paul Richards ran 58.17 tapering nicely for the Snowdon Marathon, Mark Gallimore nursed his injured ankle round the course a second behind Paul. Ian Harris ran 58.43, Nick Wood ran 59.03 and Ann Law finished in 1.00.01 followed by Vicki Wilkes, Ian Corns, Rae Moorhouse, John Glover, Arthur Smith, Jim Bibb, Frankie Warrington, Colin Hubbard, Cindy Froggatt, Farrah Hunter-Coley, Carol Yates and Enid Brazier.

So the 20^th version of the Bells Of Pattingham came to a close (Arthur Smith has maintained his record of only ever missing one) and it was a rather unsettling Bells. Of the three things you have always been able to rely on in previous years, mud, cake and a pint in The Pigot, one was missing completely and another keeps reducing. Year after year there is always the same trio of certainties, but with the lack of rain and a piece of cake that diminishes in size year on year it was disturbing that the first was missing and the second is shrinking, although we don’t all run for cake you do extent more than a OXO cube sized piece. At least the third was still very much in evidence as many of the hoops made it to the pub for a pint and period of post race analysis. Can there be a better way to spend a sunny Sunday morning than to run in the warm autumn sunshine through the country and then relax and share experiences afterwards? It’s just a shame that the “on the day” entrants had to pay £16 for the privilege."

SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER - BIRMINGHAM HALF MARATHON

Dave Norman reports "How can a race be so good and so bad in equal measure, how can an event be two sides of the same coin? The Birmingham Half managed to be both. In places it was a fantastic, well organised event, in others it left you scratching your head wondering what the organisers were thinking, good and bad, right and wrong, ying and yang.

The initial signs were good, the organisers colour coding the start to ensure a relatively easy passage and with chip timing in place there was no reason to get stressed about losing time at the start. The pedestrian traffic may have been a little heavy making progress slow before things thinned out but with in excess of 10,000 runners this was always going to be the case. But then the bad, within yards of the start, an S shaped right, left and right hand bend through a tight chicane was hazardous but to throw a No Entry bollard into the middle of the chicane meant there was a chance of an impromptu game of leapfrog. Most avoided it, others didn’t. A nice downhill followed as the route took the field around the back of New Street station, a rather seedy part of the City, through the Chinese Quarter and out along the Pershore Road. A brief detour took the field past the County Ground at Edgbaston and through Cannon Hill Park before returning to the main road where the crowds were numerous, vocal and encouraging. A turn took the route through Bournville and back to the Pershore Road for a City Centre finish.

It’s amazing how you can spot the blue hoops in a crowd, even in the fine drizzle DK vests stand out, small groups huddled together in companionable pre race knots. With some decent times expected with runners targeting this race for some time it was fingers crossed for pbs. Kevin Duckworth, in fantastic pre Snowdon form was flying until suffering injury in the last couple of miles and coming home in 1.18.01, Adrian Jones was in excellent form, finishing in 1.24.49, Stuart Tromans was third back for the club in 1.25.23, Gary Bonner finished in 1.26.14 just ahead of Dave Norman in 1.26.21. Dan Smith smashed his 12 month old pb with 1.27.57, Richard “Wheezy” Jones missed out on a sub 1.30 by a single second, Darren Flavell ran 1.33.42, Steve Wood ran 1.34.29, Mark Homer 1.34.33, Helen Tromans shaved seconds off her pb in 1.35.26, Neil Edwards ran 1.37.47, Andrew Litchfield ran 1.37.50 and Brian Russell ran 1.38.19.

There were many other hoops running but the cumbersome results website makes it such a nightmare to find out who ran and how they performed. Paul Richards, Michael Quane, Richard Froggatt, Brian Lane, Tim Evans, Ian Corns and many more are lost amongst the names of thousands of others and with no opportunity to filter the results based on club entries it’s a needle in a haystack job to find names, numbers, times and positions.

What could have been a spectacular event, a chance to run only minutes behind the elite field was tainted by simple but very irritating things. The course was certainly not as flat and fast as the runners were lead to believe, the start was messy, the finish, twisting and turning past the interesting landmark of the adult cinema was a strange choice. Water stations appeared at random distances, at one point there were two within 200 yards and then nothing for what seemed like miles. After the finish you were handed all manner of items, water, a medal, a t shirt, etc and finally a bag to put it all in after you’d dropped it on the floor and with the results section of the website proving to be an unwieldy and unrewarding tool it’s impossible to determine who ran let alone who ran well. It was a race of extremes, some difficult things done well, some simple things done badly but maybe that was all about expectation. "

SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER - BREIDDEN'S HILL FELL RACE

SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER - CONGLETON HALF MARATHON

SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER - BADGER BITE

Dave Norman writes "There’s something a little other worldly about Badger. You get a feeling approaching the village down narrow country lanes, past road signs warning you of ducks crossing, past thatched cottages and the village duck pond that not a great deal has changed in years, that time itself has stood still. There seems to be a different atmosphere about the village, a welcome that you wouldn’t expect when nearly 300 runners descend on a quiet sleepy village, there’s no tutting and  huffing, no effing and jeffing when a huge troop of multicoloured vested lunatics turn up every October to charge across some fields. Instead there’s a relaxed friendliness that makes this event one of the best of the season.

Whereas last year the race took place in the midst of a torrential downpour this year it was unseasonably warm sunshine that greeted the field. Rather than the rain sodden course from 12 months ago this year the course was rock hard in places, still a tough test but a different one. With the organisers doubly blessed with fantastic weather and an even better field it was a race to savour. With the winner breaking 21 minutes, the top half a dozen runners finishing under the previous course record and the first lady also destroying the female course record this was possibly the best Badger yet.

With the hoops out in force, entering a total of 21 runners and claiming the prize for the club with most entries for the second year in succession you couldn’t move for DK. Dave Norman was first back in 22^nd in a time of 25.14, Steve Wood finished in 27.07 in 45^th, Helen Tromans was 62^nd in 27.59, Adrian Morey finished in 28.20 in 66^th, Mark Skidmore clocked 28.54 for 73^rd, Dave Wilkes sprinted for 80^th place and 29.31, Richard Bate was 85^th in 29.39, Nick Wood was 93^rd in 30.07, Ian Harris ran 31.01 for 103^rd, Liz Hadley was 119^th in 31.54, Steph Andrews was 134^th in 32.59, Jim Bibb ran 33.49 for 146^th. Lisa Bagnall Sims finished in 38.27, Linda Harper in 38.31, Karly Daniels in 40.04, Jane Somerville in 40.54, Michelle Brittain in 41.50, Karen Oldnall in 43.12, Carol Yates in 43.29 and Enid Brazier finished 264^th in 60.50.

And so to the Seven Stars in Beckbury, (that’s the one thing Badger lacks – a pub), for beer, pork sandwiches and a presentation. Again, as always, the general welcome extended from Badger to Beckbury, only tainted slightly when a milk tanker threatened to strip the wing mirrors from the cars parked in the road outside. With not far off the majority of the field packed into the two small rooms of the pub and spilling out into the car park the organisers can be proud of what they have created. A good, well organised “must do” race, a friendly event, as advertised a good warm up for the Bells of Pattingham, but unlike Pattingham this is more personal, more enjoyable, less unwieldy, less seemingly profit driven.

If Badger is a village where time stands still let’s hope that extends to the Badger Bite too and nothing changes to spoil such a good event. This is not just a race, this is an experience and something that Robin and Sharon and everyone else in Badger and beyond can be proud of. Whisper it quietly though, as we don’t want to over publicise this event and spoil it for next year."

SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER - BURNHAM ON SEA HALF MARATHON

Ian Corns reports from Somerset "Once again the DK bandwagon hit the road and hoops were dispatched to Zumerzet for the Burnham On Sea Half Marathon.Weather was set fair for running after the previous days gales and drizzle.Talking of wind,the traditional visit to The Shah Restaurant was in order for curry,Cobra and Kingfisher.Carbing up consisted of Rice,Nan Bread and much Sag Aloo!!!The curry visit this year actually caused concern as a Chicken Tikka Masala was returned to the Galley on two occasions as the chicken appeared to be un-chicken like....how correct we were when it was found to be King Prawns!!!!

Onto Sunday morning and similar to 2008 when Gary Cooper forgot his running shoes a phonecall 45 mins from the off was received from Mr Cooper informing this year he'd forgot his shorts!!!!!!!A pair of Beach trunks were duly adapted.The race kicked off at 11 prompt,which gave us enough time to clear our heads from the previous nights activities.300 plus runners set off from the Burnham On Sea Rugby Club and headed out towards the Motorway island at Edithmead.A sharp turn down the A38 and then left around Brent Knoll and on our way to some picturesque villages.This years winner was Wells City Harrier Adrian Marriott who finished in a time of 1:08.57.Gary came home,complete with trunks in a respectable 1:36.20 in 85th position and Ian Corns,made up for a poor Kinver 10k in a new pb of 1:53.32 in 186th position.

Full credit to another well organised event by the Burnham On Sea Harriers,plenty of home made cakes available including a 105 year old recipe for Bread Pudding,which went down well with a good old fashioned cuppa at the end.There is even a bit of race commentry on the PA as you re-enter the Rugby Club by a local with the strongest Zumerzet accent you will hear,so when a running colleague Andy Collins came home he was duly announced as a Snide Strider.Whooo Arrrrr
Up the Hoops"

SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER - LONG MYND HIKE

Colin Downey reports "Completed the 50 mile (8000 feet) Long Mynd Hike at the weekend. Finished in 19 hours 47 minutes. Over an hour and a half quicker than last year. The weather was much better than in 2008. A memorable night as we were able to walk without torchlight much of the time with the full moon so bright. Thanks again to Jim Bibb’s pals Tony & Phil for their excellent route finding. They were trying to convince me that as the Long Mynd Hike is a qualifying event that I ought to enter the annual 100 miler!!"  Thanks to Colin Williamson for the photo's of Colin and Preston Grundy.

SUNDAY 27th SEPTEMBER - KINVER 10k

SUNDAY 20th SEPTEMBER - TWO RIVERS RUN

Colin Downey travelled just over the Welsh border to Presteigne in Powys to take part in the “2 Rivers Knill Nash Dash” (try saying that quickly or after a few pints).

Race number 50 for the year only had about 50 runners so good job plenty of tape to guide you around this off road event organized by Presteigne Pacers. About 8 miles through woodland and farmland tracks with the crossing of 2 knee deep rivers. Some hills within the woods to climb. Really friendly event with clubs such as Hereford Courier & Hay Hotfooters. Everyone wanting to know where Dudley was? Free tea & cake to all finishers.

SUNDAY 20th SEPTEMBER - GREAT NORTH RUN

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDESHOW

SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBER - MIDLANDS 6 STAGE RELAYS

Dave Norman says "It seems strange to see the blue hoops rubbing shoulders with the green and white of Tipton, the all black of Birchfield and the white and red hoop of Bristol. It’s like the Faroe Islands qualifying for the European Championships or a non league football team reaching the third round proper of the FA Cup, but the hoops were there and before the gun went off for the first leg they had every right to be there with the might of the Midlands. The events during the course of the afternoon would decide whether they still had a right to be there just over two hours later.

With the big clubs fielding anything up to four teams there were 85 runners on the line for the first leg of six. A mass start down the hill, around a small loop, up the long climb before turning right towards the jamboree stone, towards the Streetley Gate, around a cone and back past the keepers pool for the final uphill finish and a total of 5.847k. With DK sending a decent squad talk of us finishing last seemed very negative, but with Birchfield’s Kenyans and Tiptons recognisable speed merchants and the odd Great Britain international here and there it was difficult not to feel intimidated but with a relatively strong team out ourselves we were hopeful of a good showing. Anything between half way and three quarters of the way down the field was realistic and respectable.

The race itself was all a bit of a blur, the logistics of organising 85 teams of 6 runners to go off at the right time and in the right order was a feat to beyond.  Our new signing, Dan Smith was first off for the hoops making his club debut finishing in 22.29 handing over to Kevin Duckworth who ran the second leg in a quick 20.45. Dave Norman took over on the third leg running 22.28. Stuart Tromans ran the fourth leg in 23.13 before going round again as part of his Snowdon training. Richard Jones ran the fifth leg in 23.36 and Steve Wood brought the hoops home in 24.32 for a total of 2.17.03.

With a respectable finish of 54^th out of 85 teams the hoops can hold their heads up high in exalted company. Although we were lapped by the elite we also lapped a few teams ourselves and the risk of coming last was never a possibility right from the outset. For the hoops to be rubbing shoulders with the local quality, the regions domestic medallists, the top class midlands athletes and not be embarrassed is an achievement in itself. These are the sort of events we need to show our faces at, we need to field teams to raise the profile of the club and to perform with credit. On Saturday we did just that, not just beating some clubs B and C teams but also finishing in front of the A teams of Stratford, Dudley & Stourbridge, Stafford Harriers, Stourbridge RC and Cobra just proves we can handle ourselves in this sort of company." 

SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER - GOODRICH 10k

First the history lesson from Dave Norman. "Twenty years ago there were three types of races. Track races, the sort you would only ever see on the television during Olympic year or on a Saturday night from Stockholm or Oslo round a synthetic orange oval for the elite only in the summer. The second option, cross country, around muddy fields in winter for the proper hard men, no paths, no gravel, no tarmac just plain simple mud with a bit of grass if you were lucky. Thirdly road races, all year round for those wanting to hone their speed for track or cross country and as the title suggests on the road, 100% on the road. Move on two decades and track races are more often on gravel paths around parks, cross country is still round muddy fields but involves crossing footpaths or tackling a surface where spikes are liable to start a fire. The remaining road races only have around 80% on tarmac with the remainder on a bizarre new surface called multi terrain.

Secondly the geography lesson. On the way from Wolverhampton to Stafford just before the M54 island is the Goodrich factory home of the Goodrich 10k. A race that is hanging on grimly to its road race status but even that is under threat. In previous years the race has started in the factory itself, come out onto the A449 towards Stafford, over the M54 island towards Codsall before turning off onto B roads and doubling back on itself towards Wolverhampton. In previous years the Police have controlled the flow of traffic on the motorway island for a brief, five minute spell to allow the field to pass, it was always close to the start, the field was nicely grouped together so the time taken to cross the island was at a minimum. This year everything was different. With no Police control at the island the race started just off the A449 to prevent “an incident” however rather than have a controlled field crossing the island under the all seeing eye of the Police, what we had was a long straggling group of runners making their way to the start under no supervision whatsoever. Rather than a controlled field we had over a hundred people walking, jogging, warming up in little groups, small knots of runners crossing two motorway slip roads, entirely uncontrolled. Now we are all sensible enough to cross a road without someone to hold our hand but of the two scenarios which one is more likely to lead to “an incident”? The situation from previous years – full Police control and a slight hold up for road users or no control whatsoever and a hundred people doing whatever they saw fit at the time?

Finally after the history and the geography, time for a double lesson of games. The blue hoops were very sparse, with runners at the Lake Vyrnwy Half and the Stretton Skyline it was a small DK team adding to the hundred plus field. Dave Norman coming in first in 38.33 in 12^th place, Helen Tromans claimed the 2^nd lady prize, £25 worth of Ron Flowers vouchers, in 44.02 and 46^th overall, Adrian Morey, using Helen as a pacemaker finished a second and a place behind in 44.03 and 47^th coming back from injury and Carol Yates finished 106^th in 69.31 to bring the hoops home.

As a race the Goodrich 10k deserves better. Better support from the Police and better support from the running community to prevent it becoming another casualty and prevent it slipping away into history like a lot of other road races restricting us to multi terrain 10k courses where the chance of running a good time is about as likely as a 100% tarmac road race in another 10 years time. The opportunities to race on the road and record a good time are few and far between, lets not lose another opportunity."

SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER - PARA 10 MILE CHALLENGE

Somewhere around three months ago a work colleague mentioned to me that he had found a race that might appeal to me knowing that I was fond of unusual challenges. He told me about the Para P Company Challenge that was due to take place at Catterick Para Barracks on September 13th.
He told me that it was a 10 mile run - nothing unusual there I thought. He then told me that the course was the route that anyone looking to be accepted into the Paras had to complete - that sounds interesting I thought. He then told me that the course had steep climbs, cattle grids and water crossings - sounds like a pretty tough cross country course I thought. He then mentioned that if you want to enter you have to run in army boots and carrying two and half stone in a bergen - You have got to be completely mad to do that I thought!

 
So on Sunday 13th September I found myself on the start line of the Para 10 Mile Challenge!
 
Before the start of the race you have to weigh in your bergen and it also has to be weighed at the finish.

 
Standing on the start line I was more than a little intimidated as my fellow competitors all looked like hardened squaddies, all a foot taller than me and looking like they had been carved out of granite.
 
The nerves disappeared when the starting gun fired. All along the route there were Paras giving encouragement and it was more than welcome especially on the steep inclines that are usually used to test tanks!
 
After a mile and half I heard a loud bang go off behind me, was it a stray shell? no, one of the participants had packed his bergen with plastic bags full of water and the straps had snapped on his bag which hit the floor with a loud bang and a huge explosion of water.
 
The course wound it's way around the Yorkshire dales and seemed to be constantly uphill. At around four miles I could here gunfire and looking to my left I could see Paras training, crawling on all fours in the long grass.
 
The undulating course snaked through some spectacular scenery that at times almost took my mind off the constant pressure of the weight on my back.

 
The Paras, has you would expect, designed the course with a sting in the tail towards the end, On reaching the eight mile mark and thinking 'nearly there' we were sent through a muddy water filled ditch followed by a hill that looked like a massive vertical wall. Encouraged on by the Paras at the top I eventually scaled the climb and was pleased to here a Para shout "All down hill now". This must have been 'Para downhill' as the hills continued to the finish.
 
Entering the home straight it was brilliant to see around 30 Paras forming a line on both sides of the finish straight applauding and shouting "Good effort".
 
The civilian target for finishing is three hours and there is a vehicle that sweeps you up if you fall below this pace. I had told myself that I would be happy if I avoided being invited onto the bus so I was delighted to finish in around 2 hours 20 minutes. All the hard training over the Rowley Hills and the Wren's Nest had obviously paid off. I finished with a blister on each foot, a cracked bleeding toenail and an overwhelming sense of achievement.
 
The time you need to do to get into the Paras is 1 hour 50 minutes. I deliberately avoided doing the Para entry time for fear of being drafted straight into the Paras and sent off on the first plane to Afghanistan!
 
Deb is very keen for me to take part next year so that she can spectate - not the runners but the fit Paras that are based at the Catterick Garrison.
 
I usually look for the nearest cake at the end of a race but there were none to be seen, I guess that as far as the Paras are concerned real men don't eat cake!
 
As you would expect from the Paras the event was superbly organised and if you don't mind the three months of training with sore shoulders, stiff neck, blisters, aches and pains, and people looking at you as if you have gone mad, then I would thoroughly recommend that you give it a go.
 
All the money from the event goes to Help For Heroes and this years event raised around £50,000.
 

SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER - LAKE VYRNWY HALF MARATHON

Kevin Duckworth made a late decision to run the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon in preperation for the Snowdon Marathon and showed his training is going well finishing in 13th place in a time of 1 hour 16 mins 34 seconds.

SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER - STRETTON SKYLINER

SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER - WOLVERHAMPTON HALF MARATHON

Dave Norman reports "After the shambolic start to the Wolverhampton full and half marathons last year it was all change for this years event, a new start outside the restrictive confines of the park, a new course and chip timing for the first time to tackle the issues and frustrations that runners experienced 12 months ago. With ideal conditions, cool and overcast, there were no excuses for anyone to be slow this year unless you were using this as a stepping stone towards a bigger target and not taking it seriously.

With the Lord Mayor saying a few words, (I hope we all get a medal like his) and an exuberant count down we were off, around the first corner taking care over the speed bumps and settling down into an acceptable pace. With the crowds numerous and vocal through the first couple of miles through Chapel Ash and out towards Aldersley it felt good to run freely in a large field cheered on by spectators. These thinned out a little as the race wound it’s way around Pendeford, down little side streets and alleyways, criss-crossing the main road and allowing the runners nearer the front to see the rest of the field coming in the opposite direction before peeling off again for another dizzying tour. As the route wound its way back through the back of the Birmingham Midshires car park and back onto the main road we were back on familiar territory and back to the old course. At least we knew what was coming, a long steady climb towards Codsall before dropping back towards the last relay changeover and water station, a final climb and a long last mile towards the finish in the park. Encouraged by little knots of people here and there, with people sitting on their garden walls with cups of tea, for themselves rather than the runners, the race had a slightly intimate feel of a street party, not big so runners couldn’t identify spectators but not too small to leave long stretches of isolation.

The usual hoops were in attendance with Dave Norman having yet another battle this time with Adrian Jones, Dave finishing in 1.26.35 in 25^th and Adrian seconds behind in 1.26.43 in 27^th. Brian Russell ran a superb 1.36.16 for 117^th, Mark Homer finished in 1.39.15 in 169^th, Helen Tromans was 240^th in 1.42.52 aiming for an improvement in Birmingham, Paul Richards and Stuart Tromans continued their Snowdon Marathon build up both crossing the line in 1.45.54, Ian Corns finished inside 2 hours in 1.56.14, Mike Burrow and Sandra Wollaston finished together in 1.59.44, Sonia Edwards in 2.06.31, Farrah Hunter-Coley in 2.13.30 and Elaine Wilkes in 2.42.21. With a special mention to Dave Wilkes who took up the two lap option finishing in 4.16.12.

With the problems of last year rectified, a trouble free start and a well organised finish there were few complaints. The course may be a little flatter but with a lot of twists and turns in the first half of the race it’s certainly no quicker. With a t-shirt, a medal and a goody bag you get a good haul for your money, more importantly the goody bag doesn’t go for the energy bars and sports gels option but a packet of cheese and onion crisps and a cake, that’s a good meal in some parts of Wolverhampton. They would have gone for faggotts but the gravy would make the paper bag soggy.

Photo's from Bryan Dale

SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER - LICHFIELD 10K

Andrew Litchfield (with a name like that, he had to do the Lichfield 10k) writes "Martin Luther King may have cried, “I have a dream”:·         I want to nick his line!

·    I dream of writing a race report of which Dave Norman would be proud!  Has he missed his vocation in life? 

So, having donned my hooped vest for the first time (a new member!) yesterday, and being the only DK runner in the field (as far as I can tell?), I feel obliged to provide a few notes on the Lichfield 10k:·          

·    I had considered a build up of my first race as an affiliated runner.  I tried to liken the nerves to doing your driving test or sitting an exam but couldn’t build the tension adequately and I’m sure nobody gave me the slightest bit of attention whilst I felt self conscious that I was no longer just representing myself.     I daren’t comment on how I might look in hoops. Not even being press ganged in to running by the solicitors who sponsor the race gave me an angle, or did it?     Where do I start? 

·    Generally, a very well organised event.  Well marshalled.  Plenty of parking.  As usual, for a non-graduated start, there was a bit of a scrum at the start but after 200 metres you were on roads wide enough to allow overtaking.

·    I’m not running for t-shirts and goody bags and they rarely change my opinion of a race (Ashby 20 excluded where they give you an excellent sweatshirt!).  The banana and water were appreciated.

·    As I was on the way back from an injury I was pleased with 45:03 and 128^th place.  Hopefully, there are faster times in my locker.  

Alternatively, as I was encouraged to run by someone at Anson’s, the race sponsors:

“Had he heard correctly?  Did a solicitor just offer him cash?  Was it a bribe?  He was so surprised that such a dubious bunch were not trying to fleece him of his worldly possessions that he had accepted before even realising they wanted something in return.  They wanted him to put one foot in front of the other for ten kilometres!

They must have offered a similar gesture to 700+ other runners because nobody in their right mind would pay a solicitor an amount of money that would leave them scratching their heads as to what they received in return?  Certainly, nobody would have paid for the pleasure of crawling up that ridiculous incline at 5.5km?

So, having been “press ganged” in to wearing my blue hooped vest for the first time I survived to recall the experience!

PS: It is acknowledged that entry fees were not paid for the benefit of the race sponsors but why let the truth get in the way of a better story?

WEDNESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER - MADELEY MATCHMAKER

MONDAY 31st AUGUST - WINCHCOMBE 10k

You can't keep a good man down, and Colin was again on his travels as he headed south down the M5 to take part in the Winchcombe 10k on Bank Holiday Monday. Both 5k & 10k race set off at the same time. Both the start & finish were from within the grounds of Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe (about 4 miles north of Cheltenham). Colin took part in the 10k race of which about
half road /half off road. The route climbs 500 feet to local high point of Belas Knap.

WEDNESDAY 26th AUGUST - RAGLETH INN FELL RACE

Colin Downey completes the Summer Fell Race Series in Church Stretton.