On a beautiful autumnal Sunday morning Bourton Roadrunners took part in events from the south coast to Yorkshire, and further afield to Vancouver Island and Washington DC, USA.
Yorkshire Marathon - 16th October 2022
Bourton Roadrunners had three members competing in the Yorkshire Marathon, which started and finished at the University of York Campus.
Yorkshire Marathon runners and supporters
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First of the trio to finish was Claire Carroll, in a very respectable time of four hours, forty-three minutes and forty-seven seconds. This was Claire’s first marathon for 12 years, so she was pleased with the outcome, having recovered from injury and Covid.
Louise Hamilton-Smith and Allie Quinn who were taking part in their first marathon, finished in 5:14:05 and 5:20:41 respectively. Having run much of the 26.2 miles together, both Louise and Allie were so pleased with having completed the event, the broad smiles on their faces said it all!
Now having got the taste for the challenge of the distance, all three are planning to run the New York City Marathon in 2023.
Also running in York was Jeanette Brew, who having deferred her marathon entry due to injury during training, elected to run in the ten mile event, finishing in a time of two hours and fifty-nine seconds, also with a big smile on her face as she crossed the finish line.
Oxford Half Marathon - 16th October 2022
Meanwhile, nearer to home, Rob Williams decided to join over five thousand other runners, at the Oxford Half Marathon. Starting in the city centre, the route took the runners through historic Oxford, before finally finishing on Parks Road. Rob completed the 13.1 mile course in two hours, twenty minutes and forty-seven seconds.
Great South Run - 16th October 2022
Husband and wife Nick and Donna Harper, who are second-claim members, joined their children and made it a family event, at the Great South Run. Advertised as the south coast’s biggest and best event, comprising both 10 mile and 5k events. Both Nick and Donna chose the traditional 10 mile event, with Nick finishing in 1:40:28 and Donna in a creditable 2:07:50.
The day before, the organisers held both Junior and Mini Great South events. Bourton’s Lucy Hillary took part in the highly-competitive Junior 2.5k Great South. Having competed in a schools cross-country competition the previous day, in which she qualified for the Gloucestershire Championships in December, despite tired legs, Lucy still finished 5th in the 12-15 year age group in a time of eight minutes and forty-nine seconds.
Tough Mudder, Washington DC - 16th October 2022
While in Washington DC, Dave Kirby took the opportunity of participating in the Tough Mudder, a 5k obstacle course. It is supposed to take the boredom out of a 5k race! Dave finished in 46:23 and said that it wasn’t his fastest 5k, but perhaps the most fun.
Edge2Edge Trail Half Marathon, Vancouver Island, Canada - 16th October 2022
Also on her foreign travels was second-claim member Susan Hunt, who finds a running event every week, regardless of distance, terrain or location. This week Susan was at the Edge2Edge Trail Half Marathon, Vancouver Island. Starting and finishing in Ucluelet, British Columbia, it followed part of the Wild Pacific Trail. Susan described it as beautiful but brutal. With an elevation gain of 1,381 feet, Susan finished in a respectable 2:09:19.
Parkrun
Finally, the popularity of parkrun continues to grow, with Bourton members regularly present across the Cotswolds and further afield. This week they
were running at:
Cheltenham Pittville Park: Chris Dry – 25:57.
Chipping Norton: Ian Shoemark – 21:02 (1st MV50 and course PB), Barry O’Leary – 23:32 (course PB), Lorna Shawcross – 26:49,
Gillian James – 31:49, Sharon Rees – 32:06, Ali Tighe – 32:09 and Jenny Evanson – 38:14.
Cirencester: Liz Hulcup – 26:16 (1st LV65).
Evesham: Tony Goodwill – 25:46 (course PB).
Newport, Wales: Jaq Underwood - 26.02 (2nd LV55).
Oxford University Parks: Steph Holton – 24:18 (1st LV55 and course PB), Gary Holton – 25:39 (course PB).
Highlights
Claire, Louise and Allie all conquer the Yorkshire Marathon. Jeanette joined them for the 10 mile race.
The team awaiting the start, at York.
Rob ran the Oxford Half Marathon.
Nick and Donna Harper took on the Great South Run, while Bourton Junior Lucy Hillary excelled at the Junior Great South 2.5k
Tough Mudder in Washington DC - Dave Kirby, who else?
Susan frinds a trail half marathon while in British Columbia, Canada.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.