Running is a funny sport that has grown in popularity immensely over recent years. It doesn’t really matter whether you consider yourself to be a “racing whippet” out to get a personal best at whatever distance you choose, or a “back of packer” happy to chat to other runners, whilst taking in the sights and sounds around you. The Peelers are such an eclectic mix of people and the races and events that they get involved in reflect this!
On Thursday night (4th November) and Friday morning (5th November) Mike Shelton ran in the Market Harborough Tunnels Run. This is a unique 5 mile out and back race which required competitors to run through the dark and atmospheric 422 m long Oxenden tunnel. The race on the Thursday evening started at 7.30 pm and Mike Shelton completed this in a time of 35:47 and 21st place. The Friday re-run on the same course started at 6.30 am and he completed this race in a time of 36:47 and 25th place. Very consistent running!
Also on Thursday 4th November, superstar V70 runner Bob Donovan completed the Enigma Running Caldecotte Lake trail marathon at Milton Keynes. The race required runners to complete multiple laps of the path around the lake up to marathon distance, which he completed in a time of 5:47:46. “It was very cold and windy today!” was his only comment after the race …
On Sunday, Val Lawson ran the Dark & White Events Grindleford trail run, which had been postponed from earlier in the year due to Covid. The 9.1 mile run included 1168 ft of ascent and covered very varied terrain. She completed the course in a time of 2:09:04 and 4th out of 5 runners in the F60 category.
At the Canicross Midlands 5k event at Marston Lodge, Rob Mace ran with Axis finishing in 4th position and then ran the 3k course with Molly where they finished in 2nd place. Neal Dempsey also ran the 3k course with his dogs, Banana and Hugo, also finishing in 2nd place in his category. Helen Dempsey competed with Minstrel and Sydney, gaining good experience at the distance.
Disappointed not to be able run the New York marathon that he had trained so hard for (travel restrictions to the USA were lifted the day after the marathon was held), George Hope ran his own version of the marathon around the streets of Tamworth! He completed his 26.2 mile course in a time of 4:31:22, all the more impressive due to the lack of supporters and refreshments out on the course!
There was a brilliant turnout of Peelers at Saturday’s parkrun, perhaps because there were fewer local races to tempt them this weekend. Running at the club’s parkrun “home”, the first Peeler to cross the line was the ever-reliable Ben Dorkins in a time of 21:50. He was followed by Chris Bennett in 22:58, Richard Satchwell in 23:16, Darren O’Leary in 24:23, Stella Martin in 26:22, Simon Gordon in 27:34, Darren Truman in 28:46, Chris Taylor in 29:00, Sophie Galloway in 30:09, Sandra Ingram in 30:27, Jackie Tierney in 30:31, Clara Walton in 30:39, Claire Guffick in 30:57, Roger Eastaff in 31:47, Sarah French 35:26, Nicola Bannister in 38:27, Alison Dolphin in 38:32, Wendy Bowyer in 39:31, Stephen Andrews in 41:22 and Christine Norris in 45:55. Club member Mike Shelton was Race Director for this parkrun on Saturday.
Parkrun tourists this week included Marcus Fairburn with a time of 26:47 at Conkers; Andy Pickard in 26:18 at Concord, Sheffield; Garth Cox 23:36 at Chasewater; Ian Cooper 25:57 at Babb’s Mill and Tanya Murphy in 31:24, also at Babb’s Mill; Joy Sykes in 28:36 (course pb and 1st in age category); Lisa Vickery in 32:34 at Beacon and Michael Stevenson in 31:11 at Dallas Burston polo club in Southam, Warwickshire.
Finally, a keen and enthusiastic group of Peelers were able to take part in some formal structured training at Tamworth Athletics Club on Wednesday evening, lead by Tamworth AC coach Derek Bolton. The Peelers relished the opportunity to run on the quality track at the athletics club and all benefitted from Derek’s coaching expertise.
