Long & Short Distance Squirrels!

Doug Anderson
Midweek, on Wednesday, a group of squirrels headed to Bedford for the Doug Anderson Memorial 5k. The club recently acquired the new SOAR version of the clubs vests. This was a fantastic opportunity to show them off. The weather was glorious and spirits were high. Rhia Botha was the only female from NHRR and managed 4th place and 1st in her age category in a new PB of 19:02.
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Sam Coxon (16:25), Andrew Leach (17:03), Shahab Ahmad (17:05) and Matt Sayers (17:39) were all first in their respective age categories. NHRR men's team made up of Coxon, Leach and Ahmad, also took silver in the team competition.
 
The exceptional performances didn't stop there, also running were Shaun Allin (17:47), Oliver Parsons (19:03) and David Edwards (19:11), all coming in well under the 20 minute mark.
 
I would highly recommend this race for anyone looking for a good, friendly atmosphere and the chance to improve their 5k time.

​Storming Storeys Field
Tom Barclay gave Storeys Field Parkrun an effort, finishing in 15:26, under the parkrun club record - beating the previous record by 6 seconds. 
 
Meanwhile the week previous Tom raced the Sri Chinmoy 5K in Battersea Park. It was a strong field that dragged me to a PB in 15:34 for 16th.

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Lakeland 50
Jennie Fraser can now personally confirm that yes, the Lakeland 50 absolutely deserves its reputation as the hardest 50-miler in the UK. 50 miles, self supported. Taking in 9728 ft ascent and over 10,000 ft descent.

She described the race as having perfect weather but smashed her knee at mile 17 on a brutal technical section. Regrouped and then came the long, soul-chewing climb out of what she now affectionately calls Motherfing Mardale*.

By mile 27, Jennie rolled into Kentmere and was resurrected by the legendary 1980s disco checkpoint. Shell suits and smoothies! With 6 hours ahead of cutoff, with “only” 23 miles and 3,000ft of climbing left. The finish line was in sight…kind of… 

Peak moment: 2am at Blea Tarn, knee already busted, when her left leg suddenly disappeared into a bog. Up past the calf. Had to be slowly yanked out so she didn’t lose her shoe. Continued the race with a soggy, bog-silt-filled shoe and start of trench foot

The final ascent at 48 miles was a scramble, to clamber up and over alongside disused mines and a sheer drop to the top of Coniston Moor.

Bonus tale: she brought her trusty NHRR cup, which met the mandatory requirement of being a rigid drinking vessel. A runner from the Lakeland 100, already 90 miles deep, gifted Jennie his chair at a checkpoint when he read that I belonged to a road running club from the flat lands. Jennie reassured him that at no point, even during Mother***ing Mardale or jn the last 14 hours did I consider wanting to run a road marathon. We laughed.

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Ales and Trails 3 Brewers 10k trail race
Kris Whitmore was one of three squirrels who ran the Ales and Trails 3 Brewers 10k trail race. Enticed by the offer of a free beer to all finishers and further enthused by the most useful race medal which doubles as a bottle opener. Kris  signed up for what looked like a fun event and put in some last minute vital training at the Millstream on Saturday night and arrived at the 3 Brewers brewery in plenty of time and raring to go. 
 
As it was a trail run we were warned about uneven ground and muddy patches but in the end it was a course that was fine to run in road shoes. It was a two lap course which took the runners through a number of recently harvested fields and a couple yet to be done which made passing tough at times, undulating but nothing too taxing.
 
Kris was in a race for third place for most of the event but had to settle for fourth in the end finishing in 40:09. This did however get him the MV50 victory and to his delight rather than a trophy the prize was a pack of beers to celebrate the success later in the day. Kris collected this, his medal, pint cup and beer token and made his way to the bar to cash in for a well deserved pint of golden ale.

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Stotfold 5k 
Ian Sutcliffe ran the the Stotfold 5k challenge. This was a well organised off road event in aid of a leukaemia charity with 400 entries. My time was 33.46

Parkrun Roundup

​Bens yard, ely: Joseph Barker-sherry (27:36)

Bug Hunter Waters: Kris Whitmore (18:40), Sam Whitmore (21:17)
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Didcot: Gregor Bowie (28:43)

Great Denham: Richard Barker (28:11), Georgia Barker (35:42)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Thomas Buzzard (22:26), Dave Braybrook (27:16), Jeff Salter (31:23), Brian Judkins (39:00), Annette England (40:24)

Jubilee bedford: Richard Harbon (23:09), Matt Ankers (24:39), Bev Rimmer (31:13)

Land's End: Jane Clarke (24:43)

Letchworth: Eva Mccabe (22:06), James Dalton (23:17), Alice Noakes (26:22), Viv Lucas (27:38), Philip Flack (33:18)

Longrun Meadow: Jim Mcconnel (19:47)

Mersea Island: Laura Fairbanks (24:11)

Millennium Country: Daniel Mallett (23:10)

Penrose: Chris Stokes (21:30)

Pocket: Philippa Hardcastle (35:18)

Prospect: Jon Hunt (24:38)

Rothay Park: Andrew Robson (26:07)

Severn Bridge: Tracey Palmer (33:52)

Southampton: Matthew Sayers (17:37), Barbara Sayers (31:28)

Stevenage: Mike Phillips (20:35), Daniel Wrigley (22:11), Ian Harvey (23:21), Ian Datlen (27:29), Ellie Scott (27:50), Sheila Leavy (38:43), Vanessa Rolfe (39:04)

Storeys Field: Tom Barclay (15:26)

Valentines: Darren Matussa (21:30)