Photo: Marc, Michael and Andrew at The National Cross Country Championships (photo shared by Sarah W)
Another busy fortnight for QRC members with events taking part in parks and woods, on road, track, fells and moors and as well as our Run and Talk event with a difference, at West Park.
16th February: QRC Run and Talk Session (West Park)
Organised by our Mental Health Champions Diane Lockhart and Brian McLaren and assisted by Malcolm Hewitson, this year’s QRC’s Run and Talk was a fun event with a difference. Groups set off from West Park, and followed clues on a map to find information before returning back to the pub for some refreshments.
Congratulations to AJS who finished in 1st place, Rob’s Angels who finished in 2nd place and Just Happy Runners who finished in 3rd place.
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Happening every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
Well done to everyone involved – a good time was had by all!
16th February: The Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon
Starting on Bridge Road North and finishing at ‘The Club House’ Oak Road on Wrexham Industrial Estate, this classic race is popular with some of the fastest runners in the region, as well as those tackling the distance for the first time. It is a well marshalled course with plenty of support.
Ed Griffiths completed the race in 1:34, earning himself a shiny new PB.
16th February: Saturn Who Framed Roger Rabbit Love Run
This is a 7 hour Time Challenge event which allows participants full control over the distance they want to run. The minimum distance is 5km, which is part of a full lap. Usually, a full lap is 4.37 miles (7km); however, the weather conditions resulted in a change to the course, a 3.28 mile lap and a rolling start instead of a mass start. Entrants ran as many or as few of these laps as they wished in the 7 hour time limit. The course is along a beautiful stretch of the River Wear with views of the Cathedral and is classified as a trail run. It is fully signed so no navigational experience is required.
Chris Bowe completed his first marathon distance in 6:18 and 2nd in age category; Helen Clark completed the half marathon distance in 2:24, followed by Nigel Eddy (2:30 and 2nd in age category) and Heather McLean completed 8.7 miles in 1:54.
22nd February: parkruns – Marshall Drive (Brotton) and Darlington South Park
At Marshall Drive Diane Lockhart finished in 10th place overall and was 2nd female finisher in 28:05. Meanwhile, Diane Vaughan broke the parkrun Club Record in her age category, finishing in 23:30.
22nd February: National Cross Country Championships (Parliament Hill, London)
With the London skyline as the breath-taking backdrop and thousands of athletes taking part, Hampstead is the place to be for one of the biggest dates on the athletics calendar. The National was first hosted at Parliament Hill in the 1950s and since been known as the ‘home of English cross country’. The famous uphill start makes for compelling viewing as a sea of athletes jockey for position, on one of the toughest courses in the country.
Marc Ellis completed the extremely muddy 1200m event in 1:02 followed by Andrew Vernon (1:09) and Michael Thompson (1:23)
22nd February: Inov-8 High Cup Nick Fell Race
This well-marked 15km fell race (1509 ft of elevation) on the edge of the Eden Valley, takes runners to the dramatic High Cup Nick landmark, before returning mostly along the Pennine Way into the scenic village of Dufton.
Emily Beaumont completed the event in 1:51 followed by Scott Beaumont and Simon Rek (2:05) and Helen Clark (2:17).
23rd February: London Winter 10k
This race is officially the UK’s largest 10k road race. The route passes the city’s most recognisable landmarks including the National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Gherkin, The London Eye and Big Ben. En route, there is live music and larger-than-life winter characters. The event raises vital funds for Cancer Research UK.
John Dunne completed the race in 46:54.
23rd February: Snake Lane 10 miles
This popular and well-established road race is a fairly flat and fast 10 miler which as the name suggests, has a winding stretch that snakes its way through the countryside at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Mike Kipling was first Quaker finisher in 1:05, followed by Carys Samuel (1:16, PB), Lou Trainor (1:17), Rob Gillham (1:18), Brian McLaren (1:18), Ian Hart (1:22, 1st in age category and club record for age category), Dan Orton (1:23), David Nalder (1:25 and 3rd in age category) and Juliette McLaren (1:43).
23rd February: Stuart Pailor Memorial Old Monks Trail Race
This is a 5.5 mile multi terrain race, starting and finishing at Hart Village, Hartlepool.
Steve Snook completed the event in 47:03 (3rd in age category).
23rd February: Lilla’s Revenge
This is a ten mile trail running event on the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors, over part of the iconic Lyke Wake long-distance path. Along the way, runners visit Lilla Howe which is home to a cross of the same name which is believed to be the oldest one on the moors and are treated to views stretching out to the coast at Whitby onto Ravenscar, Scarborough Castle, and the Wolds, all the way round towards Blakey Ridge right to the coast of East Cleveland.
Karen Dove completed the route in 2:52.
23rd February: Consett Canicross Trail Series – Born to Be Wild II at Hamsterley Forest
This 5k Canicross event at Hamsterley Forest, promised mud, hills and obstacles on the trails!
Alex Mathers completed the event in 19:33 in first place, followed by Helen Clark in 29:14. Their combined achievements helped their team to secure a 2nd place overall.
Special mentions:
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!