Squirrels Hit the Ricky Road

Lucy O'Connor, Paula Holm, Caroline Thrussell and Dervla Downing

​Scenic ten-mile race provides the perfect setting for another strong showing from the North Herts Road Runners.

“A lovely course although very hilly, and we got stuck behind a steam engine rally for a fair part of the way - interesting but smelly!” reported prize-winning Caroline Thrussell at the end of the Ricky Road Run 10-mile race. Caroline, and a group of other North Herts Road Runners, took on Sunday’s scenic race, which made its way around the Chiltern villages of Chorleywood and Little Chalfont. “We were all thrilled with our times.” added Caroline, and well they might be. On the day, NHRR’s ladies won second place for the team prize and Caroline, who completed the course in 1:17:29, was the first woman in the V55 category. She not only broke the club’s record for this race but she also won the County Championship too. Paula Holm also had a race to remember. Finishing in an impressive time of 1:10:49 (a four-minute personal best), she was third lady overall as well as being third woman in the V35 age category. Not bad for what Paula described as “the second hilliest race I have ever done!” Dervla Downing ran a PB of 1:20:07, and Lucy O’Connor came second in the V55 category in a time of 1:21:49. Russ Hagan ran his first ever 10 mile race in 1:28:54 and Jane Tyler, who is recovering from a cycling injury, finished in 1:46:30.

In North Wales, the Snowdon Marathon Eryri attracted another group of hardy Squirrels. Sue Foot was the first V65 and ran a time of 4:44:58. “I think we were all happy with our finish,” said Michelle Grudzinski after the race. “My time of 5.13.59 was an event PB by just under 3 minutes. For the others it was the first time doing the event.” They were Paul Bowal (5.03.39), Miranda Morgan (5.13.43) and Andy Grudzinski (5.33.40).

Sue Vaughan and Joe Summers were more North Herts Road Runners to get age category wins at the weekend. Sue ran at the Great Denham parkrun on Saturday morning. Despite starting off a little quicker than intended, she managed to keep the pace up and finished first in her age category in a time of 25:41, 53 seconds off her previous PB! “Very happy with this result after a solid block of training recently,” said Sue. “I celebrated with a healthy breakfast at a nearby café! No bacon rolls for me!” 

Meanwhile Jo Summers took on the Bury St Edmunds Marathon. “No idea where this came from,” said Jo, “but having run no further than 11.2 miles in the last 10 weeks and rarely managing a weekly total of 20 miles in the last 6 weeks I somehow managed to run this in 3.45. That's my quickest time for two and a half years - and I've only gone quicker 10 times in 213 runs! Think it must be the 'run every day' training method kicking in!” Jo was 4th lady on the day and the 1st woman in the V50 category.

Now autumn is here, not only does that mean the start of cross-country season, but also ‘canicross’ season. Canicross is essentially cross-country running with a dog (or dogs) attached to you! “Yes, it’s a real sport and it is so much fun!” said Jillian Boys, who took part in the Loki 10k trail run in Thetford on Sunday with her chocolate lab Poppy. The two managed to bag a new PB together – 47.58. Poppy celebrated with a good dunk in the river afterwards.

Niccolo Bassani went off to Luton for the Love Luton 10k. Niccolo was pleased with his time of 42:07, and had the chance (for the third time ever since he started running) to hear the speaker call his name and club just before the finish line. “That did really make my day,” he said. Adam Wilson ran the half marathon at the same event in a time of 2:03.