Congleton Parkrun (5k) – Sat 9th Feb
Eleven Striders, along with several family members ran this weeks Congleton parkrun at Astbury Mere. There were 125 finishers and a very close finish between Chris Coppenhall and relatively new Strider Tony Taylor, with just two seconds between them in sixteenth and seventeenth places. There were also six new personal best times.
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| Congleton Parkrun - Chris Coppenhall, Jason Bulley, Michael Escolme, Danny McLaughlin, Heather Carter, Christiane Bunte, Terry Coppenhall, Matthias Bunte, Sophie Bunte, Evonne Foulkes, Helen Culloty, Tony Taylor, Unknown and Denis Culloty. |
Mad Dog 10k – Sun 10thFeb
This was the third Mad Dog 10k event and once again was organised by Southport Hesketh Round table, this is a not for profit event with all proceeds going to various local charities.
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| Steve Treweeks, Karen Lovatt and Liz O’Keeffe at the Mad Dog 10k |
Starting at the Stanley High School in Southport this very popular race has twice been voted the best 10k run in the UK by readers of Runners World. The course is flat and fast so has great PB potential.
The race has swelled in numbers since that first event 3 years ago, and this year close to 2,500 'Mad Dogs' are to be unleashed on an unsuspecting Southport. The course has been changed slightly, giving a better start and a greatly improved finish with a straight run of around 400 metres to the finish line.
The thing about this event that ALWAYS strikes you is how happy everyone is to be there - it is a real 'feel-good' event; and the marshals and volunteers are so happy and positive that it makes it a pleasure to attend (even in near zero degrees and rain).
All in all another great day, with a fabulous technical race t-shirt (in the inimitable Mad Dog style), a very full goody bag and an ace medal from a well organised and happy race.
Five Striders entered this year’s race, their finish times were, Steve Treweeks (43:28) a fantastic new PB by over two minutes, Tom Mayell (47:37), David Parr (54:15), Liz O’Keeffe (54:45) and Karen Lovatt (61:18).
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| Steve Treweeks in his newly presented t-shirt |
Congleton parkrun #8 (5k) – Sat 17-Feb
Six Striders ran the 8th Congleton parkrun at Astbury Mere on Saturday morning and EVERY STRIDER ran a personal best time.
Tony Taylor (19:51), Rick-Kelso-Davies (21:22), Robert Kettle (24:33), David Parr (24:51), Denis Culloty (25:50) and Danny McLaughlin (27:18).
Telford parkrun #1 (5k) – Sat 17-Feb
Striders Chairman Michael Escolme ran his 49th parkrun and 18th different course at the inaugural Telford parkrun held in Town Park.
The course began near the Visitor Centre; you are then directed around one large lap and one small lap of Randlay Pool. The course is fairly flat, fast and firm under foot, consisting of mainly tarmac surfaces but with wide natural footpaths in places.
It was very well attended as befits a town with a large running community and there were pre-race announcements by the mayor and the local MP.
Michael ran 21.59 and came 3rd in his category.
Hardmoors Trail Marathon – Sun 17-Feb
The Hardmoors 26.2 is a series of Trail Marathons based around the North York Moors and the Cleveland Heritage Coastline. The race series includes 5 races with 3 distance choices, Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k.
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| Michael at the Hardmoors trail marathon |
The first race of the new 2013 Hardmoors Trail Marathon Series started and finished in the beautiful village of Osmotherley with a distance of 27.5 miles and 4000 feet of ascent. This was a very hilly and muddy battle over the North York Moors in and around the Cleveland way.
There were approximately 170 starters on the marathon course and Michael finished in 5:50 (tbc).