The Easter break has been a quiet time for races with many Peelers completing long runs for marathon training or on holiday before over-indulging in chocolate! However, Stewart Baker earned his chocolate egg, quite literally, by taking part in the Chasewater Easter Egg 10k. The race followed 2 laps of the reservoir along undulating paths and trails which he completed in a PB time of 54:37 rewarded with a medal and a creme egg!
The Peel Canicross teams were out at a very muddy Catton Hall for the weekend with Rob Mace (running with Drama and Glory) placing 1st and Neal Dempsey (running with Banana and Elvis) placing 3rd in the weekend and the overall season for the series, with Helen Dempsey also competing.
It was a particularly busy weekend for Parkruns with plenty of Peelers in action at Tamworth Castle Grounds Parkrun. Chris Bennett was the first Peeler to cross the line in 23:34 followed by Tim Clark (25:59), Natalie Walker (26:25), Zoe Schnepp (26:40), Sophie Galloway (27:06), Helen Chyla (28:36), Owen Slater (28:44), Dave Fern (29:39), And Wendy Roe (31:53).
At Kingsbury Water Parkrun a good contingent of Peelers saw Darren O’Leary finish in 24:20, Simon Gordon (28:11), Claire Guffick (32:28), Roger Eastaff (35:53), Lee Guffick (35:59), Ann Hill (36:31), Nicola Bannister (43:28), Alison Dolphin (44:19), Wendy Bowyer (44:38), Alison Perry completed her 50th parkrun in 55:10 followed by Stephen Andrews (56:42).
The Easter weekend presented an opportunity for some Parkrun tourism. At the seaside, four Peelers tackled the incredibly challenging Great Yarmouth North Beach Parkrun, considered the hardest Parkrun in the UK, which is ran entirely on energy sapping soft sand. First Peeler to cross the line was Mark Boffey in 27:06, followed by Ian Orton (29:30), Sarah Boffey (41:48) and Michael Hughes (54:25). Also, beside the seaside Mike Shelton completed Bournemouth Parkrun in (21:38). Up in the Lakes Ben Dorkins ran Keswick Parkrun in 22:13, whilst at Victoria Dock in London Jackie Tierney ran 27:11. Lee Rickards ran an impressive 17:47 and bagged a 30 second PB at Long Eaton Parkrun. At Beacon Parkrun Tim Mudd ran 24:33 and Ian Cooper completed Edgbaston Reservoir in 26:56. Garth Cox ran University of Northampton Parkrun in 24:26 whilst at Conkers Emma Pick ran in 22:12 and Marcus Fairburn 30:03.
Wednesday evening saw the club attend the final coached track session of the season at Tamworth Athletics Club, running 8 x 2-minute hard efforts. Many thanks to Derek Bolton for delivering the sessions and we look forward to returning in the Winter.