Featured events in this month:
- Sunrise to Sunset Challenge
- Keyworth Turkey Trot
- Bedford Half-Marathon
- Sneyd Christmas Pudding 10 Miles
- Midland Women's Cross-Country League Race 2
- Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League Race 2
Sunrise to Sunset Challenge - 27 December
| 2 | Alix Critchley & Paul Stead | 7hr 32m | 38.64 miles |
The aim of this run is to start at sunrise - well, 8.20am - and run until 4.01pm; sunset. The course is a 0.84 mile undulating loop, which runners run around until they have either completed a half or full marathon or to see how far they can cover in the time. Laps are counted by runners handing in rubber bands on each lap - 31 for a marathon, and then being given them back for each lap completed over marathon distance.
We would have started at 8.20 if it wasn't for getting three cars stuck in snow in the lane - so warm up pre-ultra was pushing cars out of snow and up steep and very icy hills - Inov8s have more uses than just running!
The winning runner completed 42.84 miles in the 7 and a half hours he was running, which put Paul and myself in second place, covering 38.64 miles in the 7 hours and 32 minutes we were out there! We ran a total of 46 laps and, contrary to belief, it wasn't dull, thanks to the snow, the off-road conditions keeping interest up and the social and friendly nature of the race. Seeing people so often also created a great atmosphere. I can certainly say that this is one of my most favourite races I have ever run! - Alix
Keyworth Turkey Trot - 12 December
| 72 | Richard French | 1:28:36 |
The Turkey Trot is an excellently organised half-marathon held in the village of Keyworth, between Loughborough and Nottingham. The weather warmed up just in time for this year's event with only a few patches of ice on the undulating rural course. My time was someway short of my best time on this course, but it was my best time for a half-marathon in 3 years. The winner finished in 1:11:04.
The race sold out all 1100 places for this year's race in 6 days, but there were only 750 finishers. I can’t understand why so many people paid £15.50 or more not to run a race! This is a race that Northbrook runners are sure to enjoy, so if you would like to run it next year, make sure you enter online as soon as entries become available (25 Sept 2011) - Richard
Bedford Half-Marathon - 12 December
| Gun | Chip | |||
| 224 | Richard Hands | 1:32:47 | ||
| 259 | Dave Faulkner | 1.34 21 | ||
| 329 | Lyn McDonald | 1:37:13 | ||
| 400 | Joe Kelly | 1:39:39 | PB | |
| 442 | Alan Walsh | 1:41:06 | ||
| 456 | Tony Forde | 1:41:23 | ||
| 458 | Cath Fenn | 1:41:29 | ||
| 495 | Jack Langham | 1:42:17 | ||
| 490 | Craig McNaney | 1:42:36 | ||
| 491 | Sarah McNaney | 1:42:36 | SB | |
| 715 | Mark Dalton | 1:49:16 | PB | |
| 736 | Dave Cooper | 1:50:02 | ||
| 790 | Corinna O’Connor | 1:52:02 | ||
| 909 | Steph Berry | 1:54:43 | ||
| 977 | Stuart Found | 1:58:01 | ||
| 978 | Sean O’Connor | 1:58:01 | PB | |
| 1014 | Sarah Holt | 1:59:06 | ||
| 1342 | Linda Richardson | 2:18:42 |
Early start for what is usually the last half of the year for us. Brilliant turnout though from the Northbrook crew for a half-marathon so far away from Coventry!! It was good to see so many ‘sunburst’ vests on the start line, even if we did smell more of deep heat and Vick rather than Chanel!
The course is a very hilly one but is so scenic, your mind is taken away from all these long climbs. However, get to the 9-mile stage and it really is down hill!
Excellent efforts from all of us, especially Sean O’Connor who not only got a PB but did it in style by smashing 20 minutes off his previous time. PB’s for Mark Dalton and Joe Kelly also – not bad considering all the hills.
Best bit of the day – a fabulous roast dinner with a load of fellow Northbrookers. It was worth running it just for those Yorkshire puddings!!
Definitely one to consider next year if you’ve not done it before - Sarah McNaney
Sneyd Christmas Pudding 10 - 12 December
| Gun | Chip | ||
| 28 | Howard Andersen | 1:02:55 | |
| 73 | Paul Stead | 1:08:53 | |
| 90 | Alix Critchley | 1:09:57 | |
| 91 | Mark Baker | 1:10:03 | |
| 96 | Robert Simpson | 1:10:32 | |
| 156 | Tony Hughes | 1:16:37 | |
| 244 | Helen Morris | 1:25:14 | |
| 278 | Roy Pye | 1:28:47 | |
| 298 | Martin Gavin | 1:29:48 | |
| 303 | Anne Huges | 1:30:11 | |
| 306 | Tony French | 1:30:32 | |
| 314 | Tony Bowe | 1:31:00 |
Midland Women's Cross-Country League Race 2 at Perry Park, Birmingham - 4 December
| 66 | Rebecca Smith | 29:36 | |
| 77 | Alix Critchley | 30:03 | |
| 186 | Corinna O'Connor | 36:41 |
Birmingham Cross-Country League Race 2 at Gloucester - 4 December
| 49 | John Hosie | 34:51 | |
| 55 | Mick O'Shea | 35:05 | |
| 63 | Nathan Holmes | 35:19 | |
| 101 | Paul Andrew | 37:04 | |
| 103 | Howard Andersen | 37:04 | |
| 106 | Richard French | 37:04 | |
| 140 | Tony Hoy | 38:58 | |
| 146 | Pete Fellows | 39:27 | |
| 173 | Mark Baker | 43:03 |
Full results at www.birminghamccleague.co.uk
A Teams, overall positions after Race 2
| 1 | Bournville Harriers | 288 | |
| 2 | Sutton Coldfield | 311 | |
| 3 | Bromsgrove & Redditch | 478 | |
| 4 | Worcester AC | 498 | |
| 5 | Wolverhampton & Bilston | 516 | |
| 6 | Leamington C & AC | 535 | |
| 7 | Cannock & Stafford | 555 | |
| 8 | Dudley & Stourbridge | 645 | |
| 9 | Severn AC | 713 | |
| 10 | Solihull & Small Heath | 770 | |
| 11 | Newcastle (Staffs) AC | 797 | |
| 12 | Stratford AC | 865 | |
| 13 | Tamworth AC | 950 | |
| 14 | Sparkhill Harriers | 960 | |
| 15 | Northbrook AC | 981 | |
| 16 | Kidderminster & Stourport | 1187 | |
| 17 | Centurion RR | 1216 | |
| 18 | Trentham RC | 1235 |
Northbrook moved out of the Division Two relegation zone at the second Birmingham League cross country race hosted by Severn AC at Plock Court near Gloucester. The flat grassland course provided good running conditions as the big freeze eased for the day. Northbrook finished 13th on the day and are now 15th overall, over 200 points clear of the 16th placed team and the relegation zone.
Despite a low turnout of only 9 runners, there were some excellent results. John Hosie led the way, and there was a determined run from Paul Andrew who finshed 4th counter despite recovering from a food poisoning bug. Paul, Howard and Richard were recorded as having identical times despite clear gaps between them at the finishing line - Mark