Storm Kathleen certainly didn’t deter and damper the Peel Road Runners spirits this week with many of the club attending races, despite the weekends very blustery conditions.
At the first BDSL race of the season the club were out in force at the ‘Run in the Forest’ held at Conkers Waterside Centre in Derbyshire. Held over a 5-mile course almost entirely off road, compromising of some hard packed trails and canal tow paths, the route takes in some of the fine scenery the National Forest has to offer.
Wayne King was first home in a fantastic time of (30:57); followed by Martin Hollamby (31:49); Emma Pick (34:23); James Stretton (36:23); Phil Neale (37:17); Darren O’Leary (39:25); Mark Boffey (39:39) (PB); Tim Mudd (40:49); Ian Orton (41:17); Chris Bennett (41:18); Lisa Stretton (41:29); Kirsty Welsh (42:35); Simon Gordon (44:06); Billy King (45:36); Darren Truman (45:55); Michael Hughes (48:04); Joanne Sharman (48:55); Sarah Boffey (50:30); David Fern (51:16).
Whilst Luke Collins and Michael Shelton tackled a very muddy Challenge Event ‘A Coventry Way’. The Challenge is a 40-mile circular long-distance trail with the route starting and finishing at the Heart of England Social Club in Meriden. The majority of the route is off-road and passes through mainly agricultural land in Warwickshire and Solihull. The Challenge is held annually, with Luke and Michael finishing in a very impressive 9 hours 30.
With a city centre start and finish, Jacqueline Sheasby completed the Sheffield Half Marathon in a very impressive 2:15. The event boasts a stunningly scenic route with views of the Peak District on some very challenging hills.
Also finishing in an impressive time of 2:15, Lisa Ellen took to the streets of London to see all the sites in the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Through the City of London and the City of Westminster, passing St Pauls Cathedral, Guildhall, Tower of London and along the Thames to Big Ben, the route was also filled with musical performances, DJ’s dancers and much more.
Cathedral to Castle
With the return of the 7th local Lichfield Cathedral to Tamworth Castle run, the Peelers were out again for this much loved event. Covering a 10-mile multi-terrain course from Lichfield Cathedral, passing through Hopwas Woods and finishing at Tamworth Castle. First Peeler back was Allen King with a fantastic PB time of (1:16:08); followed by Helen Chyla (1:34:08); Andrew Gillman (1:34:26); Natalie Walker (1:34:42); Stuart Hatton (1:35:14); Sophie Galloway (1:36:19); Emma Petricca (1:43:34) (PB); Val Lawson (1:50:31); Laura Bowyer (1:51:35) (Frist 10 mile event and PB); Wendy Roe (1:59:19) (First 10 mile event and PB); Claire Guffick (1:59:20); Michael Ball (1:59:38) (First 10 mile event and PB); Helen Dempsey (2:06:19) and Neal Dempsey (2:06:19); Roger Eaststaff (2:07:48); Lee Guffick (2:07:49)
Parkrun events
The busy weekend didn’t put the Peelers off attending many of the local Parkrun events too. Many runners attended the local Tamworth Castle Grounds Parkrun. Allen King was the first Peeler back in an impressive (21:56) followed by Phil Neale (22:09); Garth Cox (25:08); Roger Lloyd (25:20); Simon Gordon (26:05); Judith Matthews (26:25); Joanne Harvey (29:33); Sophie Galloway (33:48); Emma Whorwood (36:01).
There was also a strong attendance at Kingsbury Waterpark Parkrun too. With Claire Guffick the first Peeler to cross the line in (28:27); Jacqueline Tierney (28;50); Lee Guffick (37:03); Nicola Bannister (43:04); Alison Dolphin (43:18); Wendy Bowyer (46:02); Vickie Bowyer (46:03)
At Cannock Chase Parkrun Emma Pick ran (24:13), whilst at Warwick Racecourse Parkrun Michael Stevenson ran (37:05)
Further afield at Blyth Links Parkrun Joe Sykes ran (31:47), whilst at Wollaton Hall Parkrun Ian Orton run (25:33), with Michael Hughes coming in at (48:39); whilst at Battlestead Croft Parkrun Tim Mudd crossed the line at (26:17).