Sandbach Striders

There was an excellent turn-out at the free weekly parkrun around Astbury Mere on Saturday, with 13 Striders running the three laps of the picturesque lake.

Tony Taylor continued his excellent return to form with a new personal best time. Garry Pheasey also
earned the bragging rights over his wife Clare by also running a new personal best time. Elaine Wood, perhaps spurred on by the presence of her son Charlie who also ran the course, managed to run a new personal best time. Long-time member of Sandbach Striders, Cate Bannerman also continued her return to fitness by running her second ever parkrun.

The full results were as follows:

19:03 Tony Taylor
20:45 Martin Coleman
23:01 Lindsay Beeston
23:19 Michael Escolme
23:23 Garry Pheasey
23:23 Terry Coppenhall
24:24 Heather Carter
26:10 Clare Pheasey
26:10 Catherine Greaves
28:51 Elaine Wood
30:42 Isobel Bennett
30:53 Eve Roberts
36:12 Cate Bannerman

Johanna Bulley and Jill Young at the London marathon

On Sunday the biggest event of the runners year happened with the 34th running of the London Marathon. Amongst the 36,000 entrants were five members of Sandbach Striders. Rick Kelso-Davies earned himself a new personal best time. Steve Treweeks finished the course in an excellent time, just three months after recovering from invasive cancer surgery.

Rick Kelso-Davies and Johanna Bulley at the London marathon

3:34:16 Rick Kelso-Davies
4:00:58 Johanna Bulley
4:15:13 Steve Treweeks
4:31:08 Jill Young
4:47:13 Mat Simister

Steve Treweeks at the London marathon

There was a first for Sandbach Striders at the weekend when Jason Bulley was invited to participate in the Pyangyong marathon in North Korea. Known officially as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon this race was opened to foreigners for the first ever time. Joining just 200 other runners from around the world Jason ran four loops around the centre of the city of 2.5 million, starting at Kim Il Sung Stadium, moving past the Arch of Triumph, the Friendship Tower and the Kim Il Sung University area. They then crossed a bridge to the east side of the city and wound their way along the river bank to the stadium.

There is no internet access in North Korea, so results and photos will feature next week.