Month: December 2021

With so much in the news that can be quite depressing and worrying at the moment, running is seen by many as hugely beneficial for their mental health and general wellbeing. For many Peel Road Runners the ritual and routine of a Saturday morning parkrun can mean so much more than a 5k run around a local course. Every Saturday at 9.00 am, at events all over the country, people young and old line up on the start line of a parkrun aiming to earn a new personal best, or ready for a steady run without the worry of traffic to contend with, or just a run and chat with friends. Parkrun is all encompassing and welcoming to everyone, whatever their ability …. a philosophy shared by the Peel Road Runners!

As usual Kingsbury drew the largest number of Peelers with Mike Shelton first home for the club in a time of 22:01, closely followed by Rob Mace in 22:51 (who was running with Mollie, his 12 year old collie!). Other runners included: Chris Bennett (23:26); Darren O’Leary (23:40); Stella Martin (25:37); Mark Boffey (26:24); Ben Dorkins (26:39); Simon Gordon (26:55); Clara Walton (29:14); Claire Guffick (34:13); Emma Whorwood (34:27); Roger Eastaff (34:37); Ann Hill (35:08); Nicola Bannister (39:29); Sarah French (39:39); Alison Dolphin (39:39); Ian Grigg (40:02); Lee Guffick (42:02); Christine Norris (47:11) and Stephen Andrews (47:12).

Parkrun tourists this week included: Ian Cooper (28:41) and Tanya Murphy (30:17) at Brueton; Garth Cox (23:54 at Walsall Arboretum; Andy Pickard (23:12) at Concord, Sheffield; Tim Mudd (27:19) at Sandwell Valley; Jackie Tierney (28:36) at Sutton Park and Michael Stevenson (30:39) at Warwick Racecourse. Meanwhile, Joy Sykes volunteered as a tail walker at Beacon parkrun in Lichfield.

After a recent busy period of racing, this weekend saw things a little quieter on the racing scene for the Peel Road Runners. 

Emma Pick made an emphatic return to racing by crossing the finish line of the Eton Dorney half marathon on Sunday in a time of 1:35:23. This finishing time meant that she was third in her FS age group in a very competitive field and fifth female finisher out of fifty five females overall.

At the Sneyd Runners Christmas Pudding 10 mile race in Bloxwich, four Peelers were lured to the West Midlands by the promise of a fast course and a Christmas pudding when finishing! Martin Hollamby ran a strong race to finish in a time of 1:03:37 and 20^thover the line out of a field of 228 runners. Kathryn Adams was first and only lady home for the club in a time of 1:17:41 making her the 11^th female finisher and 4^th in age category. Garth Cox finished in a time of 1:25:39 with Darren Truman hot on his heels in a time of 1:26:09.

The Peelers were well represented at Kingsbury parkrun on Saturday with Wayne King the first Peeler to cross the line putting him in second place overall in a time of 19:06, only 27 seconds off his best ever parkrun time. He was followed by Chris Bennett in 23:01; Darren O’Leary in 23:35; Lisa Stretton in 24:49; Mark Boffey in 25:53; Simon Gordon in 26:12; Stella Martin in 27:44; Jackie Tierney in 28:35; Joy Sykes in 29:19; Ben Dorkins in 31:29; Emma Whorwood in 33:29; Alison Upton in 33:45; Alison Dolphin in 38:31; Christine Norris in 48:00 and Stephen Andrews in 48:01. Meanwhile Garth Cox volunteered his time as a “hi-vis” hero at Kingsbury, one of a group of volunteers who enable the parkrun to happen each week.

Parkrun tourists this week included: Tim Mudd in 27:30 at Leamington; Rob Mace in 19:49 at Cannock Chase; Andy Pickard in 23:31 at Hillsborough, Sheffield; Tanya Murphy in 31:02 at Babb’s Mill and Michael Stevenson in 31:09 at Warwick Racecourse.

Peel Road Runners pride themselves on being a friendly and enthusiastic group of runners, willing to take on a variety of challenges and this week has provided plenty of opportunities to do just that!

On Saturday evening, a group of Peelers joined Santa and his Sleigh Team as they travelled around Wilnecote collecting money for local good causes. Despite initial dry weather turning to squally winds and heavy rain, the Peeler spirit prevailed and Santa was able to safely and successfully complete his whistle stop tour of the area. 

On Sunday, the annual St Giles Rudolph Run in the Castle Grounds drew in a group of intrepid Peelers who completed the event dressed as unicorns! Representing the Club were Chris Norris, Nicola Peace, Alison Dolphin, Claire Guffick, Lee Guffick, Sarah French, Moira Bucknell, Wendy Bowyer, Roger Eastaff, Steve Andrews, Jeanette Faulkner and Ann Hill. Club Secretary, Alison Dolphin, said that the costumes were not easy to run in and made it one of the hardest events they had done! Mini Peelers Sally and Emma (plus mum Zoe Schnepp running in her famous Rudolph costume) also completed the run.

Also on Sunday, another group of Peelers competed in the second round of the Derby Runner (Staffs & Derby) Cross Country League race at Anslow near Burton upon Trent. After overnight rain, the going was definitely “soft” and an icy wind made the 5.5 mile course energy sapping but this did not deter the runners. First Peeler across the line in the men’s race was Rob Dyjak, finishing in an impressive third place in a very competitive field. Next Peeler home was Wayne King in 10^th place, followed by Rob Mace in 14^th place, Mike Shelton in 31^st place, Scott Chapman in 34^th place, Darren O’Leary in 68^th place, Chris Bennett in 69^th place, Roger Lloyd in 73^rd place, Darren Truman in 77^th place and Tony Bryan in 88^th place. In the Ladies’ race, Sophie Galloway was first home for the club in 35^th place, closely followed by Sandra Ingram in 39^th place, Jackie Tierney in 48^th place and Val Lawson in 54^th place.

At Kingsbury parkrun, Zoe Schnepp made a solid return to parkrun completing the 5k course in a time of 24:38, closely followed by Garth Cox in 25:01. Other Peelers running on Saturday included: Stella Martin in 28:02; Jackie Tierney in 28:45; Chris Taylor in 28:57; Joy Sykes in 29:18; Ann Hill in 36:59; Sarah French in 37:03; Lee Guffick in 38:18; Alison Dolphin in 38:30; Stephen Andrews in 41:32; Nicola Bannister in 46:56 and Chris Norris in 46:58. Parkrun tourists included Rob Mace at Cannock parkrun finishing in 10^th place and a time of 20:33; Tim Mudd at Rosliston in 28:10; Andy Pickard at Concord, Sheffield in 23:34 and Mick Stevenson at Warwick Racecourse in 30:37.