Congleton parkrun (5k) – Saturday 9th March
The eleventh parkrun to be held at Astbury Mere in Congleton was well attended with 85 runners taking part. Strider Chris Coppenhall finished in 4th place in a time of 20:02 followed by his father Terry Coppenhall in 8th place in 21:52.
Telford parkrun (5k) – Saturday 9th March
This was the beginning of a very full weekend of running for Sandbach Striders chairman Michael Escolme.
Michael ran the Telford parkrun held in Town Park, Telford at 9:00am swiftly followed by the Groundhog Day Track Marathon which started at 10:00am at Telford’s Athletics stadium next to Oakengates Leisure centre. The following day Michael was running the Bolton Hill Marathon.
The parkrun course began near the Visitor Centre in Town Park. 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.
Michael finished in 23:22, and was 2nd in his category, 29th out of 132 runners.
Groundhog Day Track Marathon – Saturday 9th Mar
The 9bar Groundhog Day Track Marathon was held at Telford’s Athletics stadium next to Oakengates Leisure Centre. The event involves 105.5 laps of the athletic track and was chip timed by Chiptiminguk to ensure everyone had their laps counted correctly.
Michael finished in 4:11:38 hopefully with something left in his legs for the Bolton Hill Marathon the following day.
The Bolton Hill Marathon – Sunday 10th Mar
The race started at Moss Bank Park in Bolton. One of the toughest in the UK with an 8 hour time limit the Bolton Hill Marathon route follows some of the most beautiful trails and Country Roads on the West Pennine Moors taking you up and over Winter Hill, past Rivington Pike and Barn, through Barrow Bridge village and down the famous miners 63 steps, past White Coppice and along the famous Anglezarke Reservoir on a stunning 26.2 mile journey.
The course was hilly with a total ascent of 2997 feet and reaches 1,050 feet on the first climb at 3.8mile point. The route is 1 lap of a 26.2 mile course which starts and finishes at the same area.
Four Striders were taking part, Michael Escolme (his second marathon in two days), Jason Bulley, Joanne Bulley and Mat Simister. The going was tough due to Ice cold winds that nearly stopped you in your tracks, mud, snow and icy paths but it all added to the fun.
Their finishing times were as follows:-
Mat Simister 4:39:17
Joanne Bulley, Jason Bulley and Michael Escolme 5:41:53
Mat Simister 4:39:17
Joanne Bulley, Jason Bulley and Michael Escolme 5:41:53