Run Exe 5k
Last Tuesday evening Andrew Vernon, Claudine Benstead and Jackie Dawes ran the second in the series of six 5k runs held on the first Tuesday of the month at Exeter riverside.
Described as a great traffic free and flat (apart from 4 short inclines) race the 5k is run on footpaths and cycle tracks around Exwick Playing Fields and the River Exe flood relief. It was a sunny, cool, breezy evening for the two laps by the water.
All three runners had also run the first in the series, where Claudine was placed first in her age category, Andrew second in his and Jackie third in hers.
This time around Andy came in first meeting his target of under19 minutes with a chip time of 18:59 and first in his age category; Claudine came in next with a time of 20:01, also first in her age group, breaking her own British record and setting a new course record; Jackie finished in 26:11 also topping her age category.
Kernow Vertical Kilometre
On Saturday Claire Watkins ran the KVK. Starting at Perranporth airfield the race is two laps of a specifically designed route to reach the magic number of 1000m of ascent and 15 miles of inland hills and coastal running with big climbs and big downhills.
Claire said it was great fun with super support from the marshals accompanied by cow bells! A beautiful course but really tough, especially in the heat. She said a definite low point was at the start of second lap when she was thinking she really didn’t want to go round again knowing what was coming as you go over St Agnes Beacon 4 times!
Claire ran well and was fourth placed lady and first in her age category in a time of 02:48:46.
Copper Trail Coast to Coast
Also on Saturday ORC’s Pearl Barnes, Mary Roberts and Claire Sprague took part in the Copper Trail, a 11.5 mile trail run from Portreath on the North Coast of Cornwall all the way across to Devoran Quay near Falmouth on the South Coast.
The route is a designated cycle trail starting on the beach, passing through disused mine workings, sparkling rivers and quaint villages. This is a beautiful trail, highly recommend with a lovely atmosphere.
Pearl finished in 2:05:44, Mary came in just after her in 2:06:25 and Claire in 2:34:15.
Carole Loader, Kathryn Volkelt-Igoe and Keeley Philips took part in the events Canicross race with Carole and her dog Scoobie coming second overall, Keeley and Loki in ninth place and Kathryn and Bree eleventh.
Bideford 10k
On Sunday ORC’s Rory Honeychurch, Stephen Sincock, Claudine Benstead and Chris Fulford-Brown travelled north for the Bideford 10k. The race starts and finishes close to the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club clubhouse taking in the views of the Taw and Torridge estuary between Bideford and Instow. The course heads out on the road and returns on the Tarka Trail. It is moderately flat with only 2 small inclines.
The race is the second of four England Athletics Masters qualifying races for selection to compete in the EA Masters representative race next year. Runners from clubs all over the South West and as far as Reading, London and Kent have entered, so the field this year was particularly strong.
Stephen, as he was not feeling well found the race hard going but both he and Claudine won their respective age groups so they will both be selected for the England Masters next year – congratulations to them.
The first ORC home was Rory who had a good race coming back in 39:59 followed by Claudine in 41:04, Stephen in 41:49 and Chris in 57:33.
Plymouth Half
Also on Sunday ORC’s Eddie Bragg and Garry Wallace travelled to Plymouth for the Half Marathon. The Ocean City Running Festival got off to a wet start as runners gathered on Plymouth Hoe with the skies opening after what has been a long dry spell.
Both runners said it was a lovely race, Eddie said didn’t mind the rain as it kept him cool and he finished in 1:43:54. Garry took a while to get warm after getting soaked at the start, but was please to finish in 2:10:47 which was 6 minutes faster than he did this race in last year.
AJ Bell Great Bristol Run
Sunday also saw two ORC’s heading to Bristol for the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run, with Ged Fitzgibbon taking part in the10k and Oli Hunt in the half marathon.
This is one of the biggest running events in the South West, and this year saw some 23,000 people take part embarking on a ‘super scenic’ route that takes them past many iconic Bristol landmarks.
Ged completed the 10k in 53:16 and was first in his age group. He said it was pretty warm, but a very well organised event with a great crowd and support. An event he would highly recommend for the atmosphere.
Oli said the weather made for a challenge, but he finished the half marathon in1:29:53, just inside his planned sub 1hr 30min goal.
