RUNNING: Busy week for Running Forever and Taunton Running Club

The biggest contingent headed just up the road to Thurbear School for the Hydro Harriers’ Piddlewood Plod trail 10K.

Twenty-seven donned their red and white, and were in good form, with members taking First Female (Caroline Norris in 46:17) and First Female Vet (Sallie Durnan in 51:00) trophies.

First club member home was Ben Timpson, seventh in 43:50.

Other finishers were:
Steve Cooper (49.52); Adrian Edwards (52.03); Dave Bullock (52.25); Arthur Lewis (53.55); Ron Foord (53.55); Brian Bandyszewski (54.25); Lisa Denson (57.43); Mercedes Thorne (58.30); Malcolm Boon (59.25); Steph Andrews (59.34); Sally Tuer (60.51); Jo Lowe (62.07); Peta Aspden (62.17); Robb Murr (62.28); Chris Higgins (63.44); Lin Lewis (65.06); Helen Phillips (66.51); Louise Mills (69.12); Kerrie Bawden (69.51); Phil Wilson (74.29); Val Perigo (78.52); Claire Allison (78.52); Sarah Holloway (80.23); and Lisa Windsor (80.23).

Sunday also saw Yeovil stage their full and half marathon.

Well done to Ray Tutton for a 1:39 time in the Half and to Ann-Marie Compton (5:00) and Eliza Brodie (6:02) for the full 26.2 on a very hot day.

Further afield, Wayne Tomlinson recorded a 38:29 PB in the Hull 10K.

Keith and Kathy Thompson took on the 53-mile Race to the Tower Ultra.

Keith made it up to the Tower in 13:55, while Kathy did 38 miles before succumbing to dehydration and the heat – still a super achievement.

Victoria Woods took on the Rainbow Run 5K for the CHSW charity.

Two club members took part in the Endure 24 relay this weekend.

Ali Bisatt’s team took fourth place overall with an amazing 36 of the five-mile laps completed.

Ian Bawler’s team, running for MND, lost members due to injury but still managed 22 laps during the time.

A couple of members added a bit of a swim and a cycle this weekend.

Tanya Lewis finished Ironman Stafford 70.3 in 5:31, with Heather Pearce finishing in 5:52 on the same distance up in the Lakes.

This week’s Parkrun tourists went to Torbay and Killerton, while 41 members were at Longrun Meadow, with new PBs for Sally Tuer, Simon Denson, Bryany Beale and Jane Beagle.

***

LAUGHTER: Taunton Running Club's Matt and Sharon Pearse, Helen Prescott, Stephen Causley and David Hewton.

IT has been a busy week for the Taunton Running Club All Blacks.

Last Tuesday saw the graduation of the final group in the current Couch to 5K programme, as Hannah Wolverson, Chloe Boobyer, Clair Bunyan, Annabella Fortune and Sue Hamley ran the 5k around Longrun Meadow.

This takes the participants in the TRC Couch to 5K programme to more than 100 runners over the year.

The next Couch to 5K programme starts on July 17, and aspiring runners can register at www.facebook.com/groups/TauntonCouch25K.

Wednesday saw the All Blacks win the Taunton Deane Volunteer Group of the Year award.

This award was for the volunteers and group leaders in both Wellington Running Club and Taunton Running Club, who give freely of their time helping others keep fit, making a real difference in the community.

On Saturday, Kris White Represented Taunton Running Club in the Goldenstones Aquathlon.

Further afield, five All Blacks – Matt and Sharon Pearse, Helen Prescott, Stephen Causley and David Hewton – tackled the Cotswolds 113 Half Iron Man Triathlon.

Finally, a team of more than 30 All Blacks attended the annual Piddle Wood Plod from Thurlbear Primary School.

The 10km course was particularly tough on one of the hottest days of the year, and for many of the team, this was their first 10K race.

Piddlewood Plod results:
Tony Summerhayes 45:29; Darren Wakefield 50:13; Chris Nixon 50:21; Nicole Orme 58:09; John Allinson-Smith 58:24; Jo Ellis 1:01:31; Jo Lowe 1:02:07; Jason Routley 1:02:27; Eleanor Rigden 1:02:29; Caroline Barratt 1:02:58; Helen Robson 1:03:35; John Cottenham 1:04:47; Trevor Stark 1:04:52; Samantha Lewis 1:05:34; Jenny Palmer 1:05:35; Nikki Coulthard 1:05:59; Maxine Nixon 1:05:59; Joy Lake 1:07:50; Hannah Phillips 1:07:52; Abigail Hamley 1:10:05; Louise Hacker 1:10:06; Kat Kemendi 1:10:18; Tracy Noble 1:11:56; Tanya Hall-Palmer 1:12:11; Kerry Lang 1:12:58; Julie Burton 1:13:04; Sarah Frost 1:13:18; Yvonne Summerhayes 1:18:03; Suzanne Templemead 1:22:22; Stephanie Smith 1:24:20; Hannah Darley 1:24:20; Tara Payne 1:26:18.

TEAM: Taunton Running Club at the Piddlewood Plod.

***

IT has been a week of extremes for Just Run Taunton, as members ran at the weekly Longrun Meadow 5k as well as at Endure24, also known as the ‘Glastonbury for runners’.

Taking place at Wasing Park, Endure24 is a unique event in the running calendar, as it mixes serious ultra-running with a 24-hour team relay race.

The course is a five-mile woodland and trail route, which is incredibly scenic, especially at 4am as the sun rises, ending with a loop around the race village.

Ian Bawler (40 miles) and Ade Marchment (35 miles) ran for ‘RunMND’, who had more than 50 runners taking part.

June is Motor Neurone Disease awareness month and MNDA is the chosen charity of both runners.

Over at the Piddlewood Plod 10km, Dan Brice, who was wearing the ‘Just Run’ vest for the first time competitively, finished in a very respectable 11th place in a time of 45:59.

Following him were Michael Kemp (36th, 51:07), Kevin Dunn (54th, 54:00), Wayne Brooks (58th, 54:59), Chris Wyatt (77th, 59:19), Julie Gilbert (78th, 59:20), Fiona Lewis (112th, 1:03:35) and Louise Aquilina (144th, 1:09:51).

***

IAN Salter was the first Hydro Harrier home at Longrun Meadow Parkrun, last Saturday, in 19m 55s.

Rowland Lyons returned a satisfactory 24:13, followed by Charlotte Norman in 29:34.

Andy White, running with his family, cruised around Markeaton in 28:55.

Two hardy Harriers braved the Staffordshire 70.3 Ironman on Sunday.

Chris Perring put in an excellent combined time of 5h 1m 11s, with club-mate Andy White completing the three disciplines in 6h 00m 43s.