Another Fabulous week of running at Croft Ambrey Running Club. Bronwyn is a very busy lady, so it’s up to me (Sam H) this week so if anything is left out – it’s all my doing.
It’s great to have the juniors running on a Monday evening at Wigmore School. We have such a great group coming along and a huge thanks for all the hard work that Kelly and Eric put into helping these new runners enjoy their sport.
It was a busy week for run leader Tim this week who lead a social run around the woods at High Vinnals and an interval hill session at Croft on Thursday. Both great sessions to keep us all running on these dark winter evenings.
Saturday morning saw the Prepare4Parkrun group tackling hills again – this time at Shobdon Wood. They made short work of getting up the straight, steep track right at the start of the hill – breaking it down into 10 second intervals breaks it down into easy steps and has made them realise what fantastic runners they are! They were rewarded with the arguably rather more enjoyable downhill run at the end of the session. Only one more session left before they tackle Ludlow Parkrun on Feb 22nd, which they are all going to be very well prepared for!
Talking of parkrun – this Saturday saw four croft runners in the top 10 at Ludlow parkrun with Oli Tomlinson getting a PB in 23.19. Scott Jones took a little trip to Cannon Hill parkrun in Birmingham on Saturday – not a small event – 673 people took part. Huge congratulations to Scott for coming first across the line with a PB of 16.53.
Steve P, Mike and Jayne Hayward and Saffi took part in Hereford Parkrun. Steve finished in 20.30, Mike 27.34, Jayne 42.38. Saffi was second female.
Our hardy Fell runners were out on the Titterstone Clee Fell run – 4.1km for those that can navigate the shortest route and it is straight uphill from Clee St Margret, round the trig point at the top of the hill and then straight back down to the finish.
Guy says “We arrived at Cleeton St Mary, on the east side of Clee Hill, in mist, with a sprinkling of snow on the ground, but at least there was little wind.
My first mistake was to take my usual route straight up from the start. Nearer the top the sheep tracks I planned to follow were covered in snow, and anyway progress was getting harder. Depressingly I met a runner returning from the top when I was still five minutes or so from turning round. The trig point eventually appeared out of the mist, and Gary too, who had got there 20 seconds before me, and was soon lost again in the enveloping mist. I concentrated on following footprints in the snow, my second mistake! Tim made the wiser decision to use his compass to direct him towards the finish. Halfway down, I was noticing footprints becoming less frequent, and headed off right at every opportunity, knowing that the mistake of those that get lost was generally to head straight down. Too late I spotted an unexpected hedge in front of me, then met another runner coming towards me, in the wrong direction, so persuaded her to follow me (she’d been reading her compass upside down). As we got nearer to the finish she got ahead of me, and once we’d finished there was no word of thanks. One more runner turned up shortly after, meaning I wasn’t actually last.
Gary meanwhile had got thoroughly lost in the mist, and was rescued further along on the road and brought back by car.
Results:
Tim 23rd 35.21 – third in age cat
Flora 35th 38.02 – third in age cat
Guy 42nd. 46.28 – winner of age cat
Gary dnf
Sunday morning saw a few Croft runners taking on the new venue for Wye Valley Runners Muddy Woody race at Queenswood. The race more than lived up to its name with runners racing up and down muddy tracks – one lap for juniors and two for seniors. There were lots of muddy runners at the end hosing down their trainers!
Croft results: Saffi Reid finished first U13 girl (single lap 34.21), Liza first FV60 in 1.20.14, Jamie First U17M in 1.22.30, Rob Wood 1.33.46 second in his age cat, Steph King 1.38.04, Sue Wood 1.53.19.
Flora and Tim were out on the fells again on Sunday morning – this time at the Long Mynd Valley Race. A bit further this time at 18k with 1300m of ascent. Tim finished in 3.00.53 and Flora in 3.15.12. Fantastic running!
There was less mud around for Jo Marriott who was taking part in the Farnborough half marathon – it was a bit chilly but I am sure she soon warmed up and finished in 1.42.29
A group of Croft Runners took part in a more social run on Sunday morning finishing their 2 hour road run with a bit of snow drop spotting in the churchyard at Stanton Lacy Church where they were serving homemade cakes and refreshments.
If you haven’t read it yet, make sure you make yourself a brew, put your feet up and read Emma’s account of her amazing Arc of Attrition debut on the website here. Only half of those that started the Arc finished, and Emma was the only finisher in her category. You’re made of tough stuff Emma!
