IT’S SUNDAY, and we’re back with another Weekly CARC Update to fill your Sunday evenings with.
As per usual, Monday was a trip to Wigmore School, where our Junior runners were working hard with their training sessions coached by Kelly and Eric. For our Seniors, Tuesday saw the first training session of the year take place on Bircher Common; a firm indicator that Summer is well and truly on it’s way! Sam the session with a focus on long intervals.
As for Thursday, it was a Sprint focused session at High Vinnalls in Mortimer Forest. Tim got our runners working hard, focusing, not only on their sprints, but their sprinting postures as well, while even throwing in a little bit of the Parkrun course for good measure.
This week also saw the next race in the Inter-Club Championship take place. The Batch Bash Fell Race was ran on Wednesday evening, with plenty of Sky Blues joining our usual fell runners for a run up the Shropshire Hills. Despite the drizzly weather, it was a stunning display from our runners, with many scoring high in their age categories. Well done, Croft! You can read a race report from Guy here.
Taite M – 1st in the Junior Race
Saffi R – 2nd in Age Category (Junior Race)
Nigel Taylor – 1st in Age Category
Gary Pearson – 3rd in Age Category
Joe Lynch – 3rd in Age Category
Jo Marriott – 1st in Age Category
Liza Austin – 2nd in Age Category
Guy Whitmarsh – 1st in Age Category
Sam Harper – 1st in Age Category
Gary Gunner – 2nd in Age Category
Steph King – 2nd in Age Category
Tom Davies – 3rd in Age Category
Ali Davies – 3rd in Age Category
And, they weren’t the only Croft runners racing on Wednesday evening with both Mark P and Reachel running at the Elan Valley 5k Road Race. Mark, who was running for his first claim club, finished in 21:57. Reachel finished in 33:24. Well done both.
On Saturday, we had plenty of runners out and about at different Parkrun events.
Steve P, who finished in 4th, was first Croftie across the line at Ludlow Parkrun. Toby and Joe joined him in the top ten. Jo T was second lady and first for us, with Naomi not far behind her. There were no PBs this week, but we did have Tom D and Steph K out on the course volunteering.
Elsewhere, Jo M ran at Hereford Parkrun finishing in 22:47. Eric, who was debuting in Telford, finished first in 16:21. And, Sam J, who is currently in Wales, took part in the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve Parkrun adding another first place to his name. His time was 17:23.
Guy was also playing tourist on his Parkrun in Bushy Park this weekend. He finished in 27:56. This is his report:
“I seem to have become a parkrun tourist, without intending to, but staying with a daughter in Teddington I couldn’t resist the temptation of running at the ‘cradle of parkrunning’ (not the first Croftie I believe to have done this). Finding the start was easy – just follow the hundreds of other runners converging on the park. At the start I struck up conversation with another runner, to ask which direction we were starting off in, because lost in the crowd I couldn’t see beyond bodies. Despite the throng of 1527 other runners, and setting off separately, I next saw this same runner in the finish funnel, when we had finished, one second and four places apart. I was 720th, in 27.56. Running in such a mass event was a new experience. For at least the first 4 km I was either swept along or dodging other people, and when we came to a flooded section of path we all had to plough on regardless, unable to choose a best path through. Strangely, I think I prefer the Ludlow course.”
On Sunday, Mark P and Eric (both running for their first claim clubs) as well as our own junior runner; Jamie, took part in the Newtown 10k race.
Eric – 2nd Overall – 32:28
Mark P – 2nd in M60 Age Category – 45:17
Jamie – 50:03
Emma and Greg were on the Isle of Skye this weekend taking part in the Skye Trail Ultra. This is what Greg had to say on their effort:
“Em and I ran the Skye Trail Ultra this weekend – a truly epic route – just watch the video and you’ll see what I mean. We manage 93km before being timed out but that was quite far enough for us. I’m sure we could both have finished the full 125km but but we were chasing ever tightening cut-offs for over 40km pushing ever harder in to the night but time caught up with us. A fabulous experience nonetheless – definitely recommended.”
As per the occasional Sunday, a small Croft group went out for a social run. This week’s adventure was ran up around the Wigmore area. It was a run/walk, with 17 miles of mixed terrain and very temper mental weather!
Sunday also marked this year’s Crocodile 8 Multi Terrain Race; a Croft favourite that has seen Croftie, Bryan Davies, take part in every one of them to date. The thundery and rainy weather made the section through the woods exceptionally slippery. With just under 2 miles on lanes most were in a dilemma about what shoes to choose. Those that opted for their grippiest trail shoes definitely made the right choice! As ever for this friendly race there was a big Croft turnout. Nigel T was first Croftie across the line. Steph K was out first female. Full Croft results are, as follows:
Nigel Taylor – 1:11:25 – 2nd VM55
Neil Powell – 1:16:13 – 3rd VM50
Toby Spicer – 1:18:40
Dave Millichap – 1:25:34 – 3rd VM55
Steph King – 1:37:15
Huw Williams – 1:40:50
Anna Bromley – 1:44:37
Carol Powell – 1:46:33
Sue Purvin – 1:49:22 – 2nd VF60
Roland Preece – 1:50:18
Theresa Jones – 1:57:53
Alison Davies – 2:05:09
Hayley Millichap – 2:06:55
Tom Davies – 2:10:18 – 2nd VM75
Bryan Davies – 2:12:20 – 1st VM80
Clare Preece – 2:13:20
Junior Croftie, Saffi, was out taking part in the Junior Croc 8. She finished 2nd female in 19:41 and was 1st FU13.
Great job this week, Crofties! Please remember that our upcoming training sessions will be available to view on our Facebook page every Sunday evening. 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).