Sandbach Striders

Last Thursday the annual running of the Mow Cop killer mile was run. 
 

Karen Lovatt the Mow Cop Killer Mile

This extremely touch one mile ascent of Britain’s fourth steepest road hosts multiple
events on the same evening. Steve Farnell decided that once up the challenging course was not enough and instead elected to enter four of the races, the maximum possible for an adult competitor. Karen Lovatt and George Nicholls sensibly elected for just the one ascent. At the time of writing results had still not been published.

Steve Farnell and George Nicholls at the Mow Cop Killer Mile

On Saturday at the free weekly Congleton parkrun, it was a successful day for the ladies of Sandbach Striders running club. Firstly, Sally Murray had the accolade of being the first of the latest Couch to 5k graduates to complete the 5k course; she completed the course in just 28:36. Isobel Bennett and Cate Bannerman also both recorded new personal best times.

19:10 Tony Taylor
22:17 Lindsay Beeston
24:44 Andrew Gibson
28:36 Sally Murray 1st
29:16 Isobel Bennett
29:17 Terry Coppenhall
32:43 Cate Bannerman

Meanwhile club chairman Michael Escolme ran the parkrun at Hanley park in 23:35

Also on Saturday eight Striders travelled to Bala to battle the rain and wind and participate in the annual Bala Challenge, a charity walk that is also open to runners around the beautiful Lake Bala. Tom Mayell and Karen Lovatt ran the 14 mile version with the rest of the Striders tackling the 20 mile route.

Rear: Gordon Hutchins, David Parr, Tom Mayell, Karen Lovatt, Jason Bulley. Front : Cheryl Hutchins, Johanna Bulley, Martin Gunther

In Wales and in action at the same time was Mat Simister took on one of the most challenging marathons in the country on Saturday, running the Excalibur marathon in Wales in 5:37:31 Excalibur traverses the spectacular Clwydian Range of North Wales and includes over 5,500 feet of steep ascent.

Mat Simister at the Excalibur Marathon

On Sunday, Liz O’Keeffe ran the annual 10k race at market Drayton in Shropshire. Amongst a crowd of 1790 runners Liz recorded a time of 55:46 to earn her goody bag of 24 yoghurts, processed meat products and a pint of real ale.

Liz O'Keeffe at the Market Drayton 10k