March 2016

 

 

 

 

Represented Northbrook in an event recently?

Mail your results to results@northbrookac.org.uk

 

 

Featured events this month:

• Massey Easter 5
• Inaugural L2M Ultra
• Easter Around the Reservoir Marathon
• Lakeland Trails Series - Race 1, Cartmel Trail Race
• Draycote Water 10 Mile
• Clevewold 14
• Ashby 20
• Enigma Week at the Knees Marathon
• Fissons 20/20
• Enigma Week at the Knees Marathon
• Knighton 20
• Grindleford Gallop
• Silverstone Half-Marathon
• Gloucester 20
• Spring Shakespeare 5Km
• Droitwich Half-Marathon
• Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile
• Wrexham Marathon
• Milton Keynes Half-Marathon
• Green Man Ultra
• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k Winter Series

Massey Easter 5 - 27 March

A good spattering of sunbursts throughout the field as Northbrookers turned up for the 1st race in the Warwickshire Road Race League, hosted by Massey Ferguson Running Club at the War Memorial Park. Masseys coped really well as arrival at the park was met by travellers camped in the car park meaning a route change. It did mean this was 3 laps and slightly longer than 5 miles, but good conditions, a strong field and fantastic support from fellow Northbrookers kept us all lapping the park. Special mention to Pete Fellows for winning his age category and Stu Lumsden for coming 3rd in his age category - Spencer

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Inaugural L2M Ultra - 26 March

24	Amy Burdis		8:14:00	2nd lady
101	Tara Lambert		10:56:00

47 miles along the Trans-Pennine Trail from Liverpool to Manchester.

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Easter Around the Reservoir Marathon - 26 March

Tony Bowe

3:51:04

6 laps around a reservoir in Northampton, part tarmac, part grass. Nice goody bag, full of chocolate!

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Lakeland Trails Series - Race 1, Cartmel Trail Race - 20 March

After a very successful XC season for the men I decided to hang on to some lingering form and do some of the longer Lakeland Trail Races, the first being an 18km race starting and ending in the lovely village of Cartmel. Although hilly (about 150m maximum climb) it is probably the least hilly of the series and the fantastic weather made the going underfoot ‘good to firm’. There were just over 200 runners in the 18km Race (there were over 1500 in total doing either this race, the 10km Race or 18km ‘Fun’ challenge) and so I optimistically located myself somewhere near the front of the field for the start of the race. it was an amazing course with some stunning views. I had a little ‘wobble’ after about 4 miles when the relentless uphill section was just too much and so walked for 10 seconds or so. I got my act together though and had a second wind after about 7 miles, and finished quite strongly in a time of 1h20m38s for the 11.1 mile race. I was 15th overall and 5th ‘pensioner’ which was a great result, way better than I could have imagined.
Hawkshead next month, with the hills being twice as long as Cartmel!

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Draycote Water 10 Mile - 20 March

Tony Mackness

1:21:44

An undulating two and a bit laps round Draycote Water. My first 10 mile race since 2008!

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Clevewold 14 - 20 March

I have done this race annually now and I can say it is one that is always booked into my calendar every year. I might have been a solitary Northbrook vest but our colours were well known and encouraged by marshalls, fellow runners and supporters alike. There are no flat bits, and the hills are hills and the distance is not an accurate 14 miles (long), but the scenery takes away what ever breath you have left after the climbs. Views of Welsh mountains, the Malverns, Cheltenham racecourse, the steam railway and a river crossing all make it a magical run/race. For me nearly 17 minutes quicker than before, which gives me hope for next year.

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Ashby 20 - 20 March

I'd heard a lot about the Ashby 20 ahead of entering and it did not disappoint. It's a well organised race with enthusiastic local support. It was rumoured to be a hilly course, but it seemed relatively flat compared to Clive's hilly training routes through the north Warwickshire mountains! Yet again there were a few PB's for the Northbrookers who competed. Of particular note was Martin Winch's time of 2:10:09 and Jo Stacey who achieved a massive PB of nearly 30 minutes.
Roll on marathon season - Clare

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Enigma Week at the Knees Marathon, Caldecote Lake - 19 & 20 March

Tony Bowe

	19 March		3:46:59
	20 March		3:53:46

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Fissons 20/20 - 19 March

It was an early start for this race, 9am which isn't too bad but it's a 90 minute drive away.  However, the weather gods were kind to us and, although cloudy, it wasn't cold - perfect running weather.
Never having done this 20 miler before, I was unsure of what to expect.  Luckily there were no suprises lurking round the corners of this very pleasant, scenic run that twisted and turned around a few very pretty, sleepy villages.  The hill that was mentioned was a mere pimple to what we are used to round here so I can only really describe course as flat, fast and definite PB potential.  It's a small field of runners so there are times that you feel almost on your own, but that means there is no jostling for space on the roads.
Four of us Northbrookers were rewarded with PB's, along with the obligatory T-shirt and medal for all of us.  But the nicest gesture was the array of cakes to dive into and the free large cup of hot coffee.  Almost the best bit of the morning out!! On the whole, a great race that was well run by all of the Northbrookers and Cov Tri friends that ran it with us. Bring on the marathons now - Sarah

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Knighton 20 - 13 March

This is a new 20 mile event, replacing the popular Stafford 20 mile race nearby. The course is very rural and undulating, consisting of three identical laps, which was very tough on an unexpectedly warm day - Mark

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Grindleford Gallop - 12 March

Covering approximately 21 miles and 3000ft of ascent the course takes in the villages of Grindleford, Froggatt, Eyam, Great Longstone, Edensor and Baslow linking them together with paths, tracks and open moorland of the White Peak.

Covering approximately 21 miles and 3000ft of ascent the course takes in the villages of Grindleford, Froggatt, Eyam, Great Longstone, Edensor and Baslow linking them together with paths, tracks and open moorland of the White Peak. Famous landmarks on the way round include the Riley Graves, Longstone Moor, the Monsal Trail and of course the stunning Chatsworth Park estate. The final high-level section along Baslow and Frogatt Edges offers breath-taking views of the surrounding Peak District.

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Enigma Week at the Knees Marathon, Caldecote Lake - 17 March

	Amy Burdis		4:47:31
	Tara Lambert		5:11:17

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Silverstone Half-Marathon - 13 March

	Martin Winch		1:21:43	PB
	Graham Dodd		1:27:23	PB
	Sarah Booker		1:34:21
	Tony Bowe		1:39:02

Good conditions and a well-organised event, with not a plastic cup in sight - Graham

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Gloucester 20 - 13 March

Glorious in Gloucester this morning, and 20 miles successfully completed on a 3 lap course with three of us enjoying the sunny loops around Haresfield and Colthrop.  I was happy with a 2hr 49m - about 8 mins quicker than my first attempt at a 20m in Ashby last year, not so many hills but a little longer!
Also, it was PB's all round - Kevin

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Spring Shakespeare 5Km - 12 March

	Jill Pittard		20:51	1st lady
	Lyn McDonald		21:36	2nd lady

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Droitwich Half-Marathon - 6 March

A tough course, lots of ups and downs, tight bends and mud on the road, plus a slightly confusing figure of eight section meaning you got to run down the same hill twice! - Tony

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Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile Race 5 - 6 March

Due to injuries and other events taking place there were just three of us that made our way over this month. It was a cold morning but dry and no headwind, and a reduced number of competitors made for a good race - Spencer

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Wrexham Marathon - 6 March

Tony Bowe

3:34:38

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Milton Keynes Half-Marathon - 6 March

Course very uninspiring and a nasty hill at 12.5 miles, but great conditions and very well organised.

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Green man Ultra - 5 March

On Saturday, I completed the Green Man Ultra around Bristol - 45 muddy and hilly miles. I finished as 23rd Lady out of 50 finishers. I know I was in the top 150 overall of 307 entrants, but not sure the exact place, I'd guess 138.

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Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k Winter Series - 5 March

Helen and I were down in London to watch the Track Worlds at the Olympic Velodrome on the Friday night and managed to squeeze this race in on the Saturday morning before coming home.

Very low key but well organised with chip timing, lead bike, an enthusiastic race organiser and a nice goody bag for afters. The course was a mind-numbing 3 laps of a very tight circuit and whilst still not fully recovered from the infection which ruined Wokingham half-marathon two weeks ago, it was pleasing to dip under 40mins. Helen's race didn't go to plan as the combination of lingering effects of her own viral infection, a late night and inadequate pre-race fuelling left her with a sub-par result - Richard