Man Up & Down
On Saturday 21st, ORC Keeley Phillips ran in Purple Gecko Event’s Man Up and Down, a 20km trail race along the North Cornish Coast in support of Man Down Cornwall, a charity providing informal peer-support talking groups for men with mental health concerns. Runners set off from Portreath beach to navigate the rugged North Cornwall coastline to finish in Perranporth.
Keeley had intended to run the canicross race but with this cancelled due to the weather forecast, she ran solo. Halfway round the course, storms rolled in, which Keeley said made for an interesting race running through torrential rain, thunder and lightning! The weather conditions did not hold Keeley back though and she was very pleased to finish 7 minutes faster than her time for last year. Overall she thought it was a fantastic race with great organisation by Purple Gecko Events.
Leeds ParkRun
This Saturday saw ORC Kerry Morashti take part in some ParkRun tourism. Running the Middleton ParkRun in Leeds, she was pleased to finish 10th lady overall and first in her age category FV65-69. Well done Kerry!
Loch Ness Marathon
On Sunday, ORC Oli Hunt was in Scotland to run the spectacular point-to-point Loch Ness Marathon which follows a route alongside the world famous Loch Ness. Starting in an atmospheric moorland setting and continuing through stunning Highland scenery, runners are taken along the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, across the River Ness, to finish in Inverness, capital city of the Highlands. It’s a bucket list race for runners around the world.
Oli commented that it was a tough race over a fairly hilly course with the biggest hill at mile 19 when fatigue was setting in. Despite feeling that he had set out too quickly, he still managed to maintain a quicker pace than planned and was pleased to finish in a great time of 3:21:20. Sponsored by Baxters, the runners receive a welcome tin of soup alongside their finishers’ medals!
Honiton Hippo
Also on Sunday, two ORCs Carole Loader and Lucy Skye, raced the Honiton Hippo organised by Honiton RC. This is billed as roughly 7 miles of mud, sweat and tears with the odd hill and two rivers thrown in for good measure!
Both Carole and Lucy said they had a brilliant morning. As promised there were lots of hills; much water and mud, and a chest deep final river crossing! Carole said that the route went through the Landrover Experience water ‘troughs’ and its very deep muddy water tried desperately to steal her shoes!
Lucy was first ORC home in 1:06:35 finishing 4th lady overall followed by Carole Loader as 6th lady overall in 1:09:25. Both ladies also came first in their age categories with each winning a trophy and a box of ciders.
RUN Banstaple Half Marathon
On Sunday the RUN Barnstaple charity event was back. Offering marathon, half marathon and 10km races, it raises vital funds for Children’s Hospice South West. All routes are almost pancake flat enabling some very fast times, making it the ideal setting for those aiming to achieve a personal best. Starting from Rock Park in Barnstaple, ORC Katie Littlejohns-Riches ran the half marathon following a mixture of roads and the Tarka Trail via Fremington (where the runners experience the only ‘lump’ in the road!) and Vellator.
Katie had a great race battling through Sunday’s windy weather conditions to finish third lady overall in 1:30:04 also setting a new ORC senior ladies record.
Hangers Hero Challenge Run Marathon
On what was a busy Sunday for ORC racing, Angus Farrelly headed to Weymouth in Dorset to run the Hangers Hero Challenge Run Marathon. This was offered alongside half marathon and 10km races and was also a charity event, this time in support of Dorset Search and Rescue and various local charities.
Based at West Fleet Holiday Farm, the marathon runners follow a one lap 27 mile long hilly course through the Dorset countryside incorporating the farm, bridle paths and coastal trails. Despite it being very windy, Angus was glad to escape the heavy rain which followed later in the day! He was pleased to finish this tough event in 5:47:15.
