Couch to 5k
This week’s report kicks off with a big congratulations to the Couch to 5km group who have been working incredibly hard over the last 9 weeks to achieve the 5km distance and all of them managed to finish under 40 minutes with two runners finishing under 30 minutes! The club is extremely proud of the group’s achievements and wishes them luck with their next challenge. Robert Richards described the group beginning the Couch to 5km with “faces full of apprehension” back in September, finishing with smiles on their faces as they crossed the 5km mark. Well done to the following:
- Adele Mclean
- Alice Murray
- Debbie Miller
- Deborah Cunningham
- Jonathan Wheeldon
- Karla Pridmore
- Ashleigh Hutchings
- Michelle Ody
Robert Richards also thanked Simon O’Neill who is returning from injury and set the pace for the runners as well as the coaches Jo Teixeira and Nick Marvin.
5 Trigs
On Saturday 4 th November, Angus Farrelly returned to Climb South West’s 5 Trigs race, achieving a time of 4 hours and 17 minutes (7 minutes quicker than his time last year) running a total of just over 22 miles. Angus was accompanied by Sarah and Mo Marvin who achieved the same time.
The route starts at Budleigh Salterton and follows the South West Coast Path to West Down Beacon. From this point runners enjoy views as far as Dartmoor, Berry Head and Portland. From here, the routes head inland and cross Woodbury Common, passing 3 Trigs on the way. The routes split at Harpford crossing Mutter’s Moor and onto High Peak. Sarah said that the team really enjoyed the race, the weather was remarkably kind to them although it was very wet underfoot.
Cornish Marathon
Jo Page, Mike Davies and Lucy Gooding represented the club at the East Cornwall Harriers’ Cornish Marathon on Sunday 5th . The route starts in the village of Pensilva, it takes the runners along the Draynes Valley through the ‘Poldark’ country of Bodmin Moor, past King Arthur’s legendary Dozmary Pool, Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn at Bolventor and back along the Fowey Valley taking in a clumb to Foredown, returning to Pensilva. Jo, accompanied by her Dad on the bike, secured 4th lady and 2nd in the Female Vet 35 category with an incredible overall time of 3 hours and 31 minutes. Mike achieved a fantastic time of 3 hours, 55 minutes describing the route as “tough and lumpy.” Lucy came in with a time of 5 hours and 41 minutes. The race ended with a much-needed pasty and cup of tea!
Bideford Ten Miler
There was a good showing of ORCs at the Bideford Ten Miler on the 5 th November. The race starts and finishes close to the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club Clubhouse and takes in the views of the Taw and Torridge estuary. The course heads out on roads and returns on the Tarka Trail.
Robert Kelly was the first ORC home in an impressive time of 1 hour and 4 minutes. Ged Fitzgibbon finished in 1 hours and 24 minutes, Mike Westland came home in a time of 1 hour and 26 minutes (achieving 3rd Vet over 65s), Jackie Osborne Dawes finished in 1 hour and 27 minutes and Kate Wilson rounded up the group with a time of 1 hour and 29 minutes.
