What a week of training and racing…
The Juniors kicked all the activity off with a meet and retreat style session on the newly marked out track at Wigmore. They all worked really hard and the rain just held off. Kelly led the session with Liza and Tori there to help.
The Seniors followed at Wigmore on Tuesday evening. Eric led a short interval session, again around the newly marked out track. Although it felt far from Spring training with a cold wind and pretty solid rain for the second half of the session. Huw led a hill session on Thursday evening on Bircher Common.
Wednesday evening saw the first race of the Hereford Couriers 5k series. The course is a pretty flat two lap loop starting and finishing by the race course. The race is run in two waves – the first starting at 6.45pm being those likely to complete the race in under 20 minutes and Wave 2 starting at 7.15pm for everyone else. There was some fantastic running by Crofties, some of whom were racing a 5k for the first time (other than Parkrun). Fantastic running everyone. The results were:
Ludlow Parkrun was cancelled on Saturday due to the road closure on the High Vinnals raod (how long are those road works going to take?) but many got their weekly fix by heading off to Queenswood with a few gaining PB’s for the experience – Jamie in 25.45, Naomi 26.51, Rob 29.20, and Jayne Hayward 45.49. Adrian and Karen Coffey travelled to Groe – with Adrian clocking a PB); Janet took part at Haughmond Hill and got a PB in 33.21; The Bowers family ran at the Riverside Walk parkrun in Hay on Wye and Vanessa got a PB in 30.37.
The sun came out on Saturday and so did the ‘sky blues’. It all kicked off at 7am at Craven Arms with Emma Jones, Gareth Leek, Joe Lynch, Paul Parker and Steve Partridge starting the 80k ultra Shropshire Way event. They all did brilliantly…Gareth completed the distance in a blistering 8hr 45mins can coming in a super impressive 5th place. Paul and Steve were home at 9.45pm and Emma and Joe were home at just after 4am this morning.
There were only two crofties competing in the Mammothon (26 mile) distance. Sam Mayglothling set a blistering pace and was home in 3hr 54 minutes bagging a 2nd place. Nigel Taylor clocked an impressive 5hr 11mins. Both had the added bonus of a heroes welcome at the Wart Hill checkpoint which was manned (and womanned) by a fantastic Croft crew, well done to the team for flying the flag for Croft!
There were only two crofties competing in the Mammothon (26 mile) distance. Sam Mayglothling set a blistering pace and was home in 3hr 54 minutes bagging a 2nd place. Nigel Taylor clocked an impressive 5hr 11mins. Both had the added bonus of a heroes welcome at the Wart Hill checkpoint which was manned (and womanned) by a fantastic Croft crew.
Tom Powell and Paul Lewis took on the Half Mammathon. The results aren’t yet out but I know Tom took a massive 25% off her previous course time finishing in 3hr 4mins.
Sunday saw the second race in this years Club Championship with 11 running the 10mile Martley Madness race. There has been really positive feedback about the event and the positive vibes must’ve given everyone a spring in their step as there are some great results.
Sam Juson 00:58 1st overall 🥇
Miles Davis 01:22:13 1st MV 50-59 🥇
Mike Bending 01:25:32 1st MV 60-69 🥇
Richard Coltart 01:28:55
Jamie Symonds 01:31:23
Jo Marriott 01:32:15 1st FV 55-64 🥇
Liza Austin 01:33:44 3rd FV 55-64 🥉
Steph King 01:41:06
Janet Hill 01:58:07
Huw Williams 02:01:15
Mike Hayward 02:02:53
Simon Norwood was the sole Crofty flying the flag at Manachester Marathon finishing in 3.33.29.
Saffi Reid was running at Newport Running Festival – a double celebration for her, 1st U16 girl in the future challengers 1 mile and 1st overall in the 1 mile fun run in a PB time of 5.27.
Phew, what a lot to go into this weeks round up – but there is no rest for Croft runners as we move into the week ahead which sees the first of this years Handicap Bryan Markham series races taking place on Tuesday evening.
As ever, if you have anything you would like included in the newsletter or weekly roundup, please send them to Bron, Tori, Sam H or Huw before 6pm on Sunday evening.