Happy Sunday and welcome to this week’s Weekly CARC Update, which I can confirm is back to normal with plenty of running of content to fill your quiet Sunday evenings with!
We’ll start the week off with Greg, as he prepared to take part in the Challenger South race of the Winter Spine. This challenge was 108 miles from Edale to Hawes along the Pennine Way and, at -8°C and plenty of snow on the ground, it was not going to be an easy one. Regardless, this didn’t dampen Greg’s spirit and enthusiasm. “I was moving well; the snow was only ankle deep and I was making good progress. This was going to be a great race,” he says on his race report, which you can read here. However, the snow would soon deepen to the point where “progress was very very slow and incredibly tiring,” but Greg would keep on going, pushing hard over the next 24 or so hours before disaster would strike with a painful hip. “It wasn’t long before my power walk slowed to a shuffle and eventually to an excruciating dead stop. Frozen to the spot in the middle of the road my hip was screaming at me and I simply couldn’t move my right leg. It was as though my right foot was glued to the floor. And so, sadly, the Challenger South had beaten me once again.” Well done to Greg for getting as far as he did in such harsh conditions. That is an achievement in itself. If you missed the link earlier on, you can read Greg’s full and very detailed race report here.
Onto training and our Juniors were back on Monday evening after their Christmas breaks, with our Seniors taking to their sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday consisted of an Away Day Run around Mortimer Forest and surrounding areas. This was led by Kelly. On Thursday, with Eric at the helm, it was all about Long Intervals around the easy access loop at High Vinnalls.
On Wednesday, Sam J took part in the Sir Sefton Branker XC in Buckinghamshire. He finished the 10k race in 37 minutes (a big course PB!) and in 5th position. Well done, Sam.
Thankfully, the weather held up this weekend with the majority, if not all, Parkrun events taking place as usual on Saturday morning. With just over 10 Crofties running, it was Steve who would be the leading Croft runner at Ludlow Parkrun, finishing with a time of 22:24 in 3rd place. Naomi was our 1st female and 2nd female overall. Jamie and Guy volunteered. Over in Hereford, it was a Parkrun milestone for Saffi who took part in her 50th Parkrun. She finished 3rd female overall and 1st in her age category. Sue W and Rob W also took part. Eric and Bronwyn headed over to Builth to run at Groe Parkrun where Eric would finish 1st in 18:22. Bronwyn was 3rd female overall. After XC earlier on in the week, Sam J ran at Ross-on-Wye Parkrun. He finished 1st in 17:37. Oliver M was down in Cardiff this weekend, taking part in their parkrun. He finished in 22:22 – a new Parkrun PB for this junior runner! Finally, Stu and Liza were up in Cheshire where they took the opportunity to run at the Delamere Parkrun. They finished in 26:01 and 27:20, respectively! Well done all on a busy Parkrun day!
While our seasoned runners were out running Parkrun, our Prepare for Parkrun group was well underway on Saturday morning over in Shobdon. Sam has given us a little update on what’s been going on:
“Thanks to the nicer weather we were able to go ahead with our Prepare for Parkrun group on Saturday without having to risk slipping on ice! We did some loop back runs, strides and pyramids, while mixing in efforts and rest/recovery. We think everyone enjoyed it and we are looking forward to the next sessions before we take on Ludlow Parkrun at the end of February! If anyone wants to join us, it’s not too late. All sessions are suitable for any ability. Drop us a message on Facebook if you’d like to come along!”
On Sunday, Lou P headed up to Cheshire to run in the 41st EET Four Villages Half Marathon hosted by Helsby Running Club. Despite the freezing temperatures, Lou finished in 02:03:47. Brilliant running, Lou!
Also on Sunday, CARC Junior; Saffi, took part in the next Sportshall League Event. She would go on to take 1st place in the 4 lap race, 6 lap race and relay. Well done, Saf!
Rounding out this week was the final weekend of the Croft Choc-o Challenge – a casual challenge for Croft runners to try and complete over in Clee Hill. A small group headed up to Titterstone Clee on Sunday morning for a social run before plenty of chocolate, cake and coffee. Well done to all Crofties who took part in this year’s challenge! I can admit, I never did find the chocolate.
Well done all, it’s nice to see some running normality! The upcoming training schedule will be live on our Facebook on Monday morning. In the meantime, don’t forget, we’re always on the look out for your race reports for the website, so get posting them on Facebook or send them to either Sam H, Huw or myself (Bronwyn).