Month: May 2024

It was a quiet week for running races; however, many Peelers also enjoy cycling with Jacqui Tierney and Mike Hughes jumping on the saddle for the London Marathon Events Ride London; a 100-mile challenge giving cyclists the opportunity to cycle on traffic-free roads through some of the most famous streets of London and the picturesque villages and countryside of neighbouring Essex. Jacqui completed the ride in 7:38:25 with Mike finishing in 9:21:12, adding to his London Marathon in 2017 and his Swim Serpentine last year, so completing the London Classics series.

A busy Saturday for parkrun saw 12 different courses covered by Peelers. Closest to home, at Tamworth Castle Grounds, Tim Clark was first Peeler finisher in 24:27, followed by Roger Lloyd (25:06), Judith Matthews (25:08), Tim Mudd (25:45), Laura Bowyer (30:54), and Garth Cox (59:51).

At Kingsbury Water Park, Phil Neale ran 22:26, Katie Stretton (25:09), Lisa Stretton (25:20) and Caroline Evans (38:27). In Aldenham, ahead of their 100 mile Ride London, Jacqui Tierney completed in 28:26 and Mike Hughes in 29:46, and at Beacon Park Mike Shelton ran 23:32. A large contingent of Peelers travelled to Cannock Chase parkrun with Roger Eastaff running 33:11, Alison Perry (34:45), Wendy Bowyer (39:36), Vickie Bowyer (39:37), Alison Dolphin (59:52), Stephen Andrews (59:54), and Sarah French (60:01).

Michael Stevenson ran 35:32 at Fountains Abbey, and at Leicester Victoria Allen King and Chris Bennet completed in 23:05 and 23:25 respectively. At Oaklands, Ben Dorkins ran a 7 second PB in an impressive 21:21, whilst at Osterley parkrun Jo Sharman ran 33:40 and Steph Attenborough 33:42. At Poolsbrook in Chesterfield, Ian Orton achieved a fantastic milestone by completing his 150^th parkrun in 24:27. Emma Pick finished in 19:59 at Rosliston, whilst in North London, husband and wife Mark and Sarah Boffey got romantic at the Valentines parkrun, completing in 22:57 and 32:49 respectively.

Last week saw the start of the Bridge to 10K course, led by Dave Fern and Mark Boffey. Over 12 runners took part aiming to increase their distance with the potential goal of competing in the St Giles Hospice Gate Gallop race in July. Six of the participants had previously graduated from the club’s Couch to 5K course, and the Peelers wish all the participants well over the next 10 weeks.

Whilst many others were enjoying relaxing in the hot sunny weather over the past two weekends, Peelers were out undertaking lengthy distance runs.

Last weekend, Carolyne Brown completed the Bosworth Half marathon in 2:18:11 and Helen & Neal Dempsey took on the Chester Half with times of 3:07 and 2:35 respectively. 

The previous weekend, there were more fantastic achievements. Luke Collins (pictured) undertook the mighty challenge of “The Lap” ultra marathon. Held in the Lake District, the course is a 47 mile / 75k trail route around Lake Windermere.  Luke completed it in a very impressive time of 10:26:39 and finished 25th. 

Tim Mudd took part in the Rob Burrows Leeds marathon, the event which supports the fundraising and awareness of the former Leeds Rhino player who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Tim completed the hilly course which included over 3,000 feet of elevation in a time of 4:38:22. 

Last weekend also saw many take part in the weekly parkruns before heading out to the beer gardens! 

At Tamworth Castle Grounds, Jamie Abbiss, who joined the club in March, came in 1^st with a time of 18:46, followed by Mark Boffey (22:16), Allen King (23:06), Chris Bennett (24:14), Simon Gordon (25:02), Roger Lloyd (25:07), George Hope (26:50), Tim Mudd (27:21), Joanne Harvey (29:26), Tony Bryan (29:26) and Natalie Walker (29:54). 

Another large turnout was at Kingsbury Water park where first Peeler home was Ben Dorkins in 7^th (21:42)  followed by Phil Neale (21:53), Mike Shelton (23:55), Lisa Stretton (24:15), Darren O’Leary (24:32), Emma Whorwood (33:08), Sarah Boffey (33:31), Roger Eastaff (34:32), Alison Perry (35:06), Caroline Evans (37:02), Martyn Candy (38:27), Wendy Bowyer (39:10), Ann Hill (39:11), Chris Taylor (39:12) and Stella Taylor (48:29).

Other events attended: Ian Cooper (31:47) at Brueton, Stephanie Attenborough (56:53) and Joanne Sharman (57:04) at Knowsley, Emma Pick in 7th (20:26) at Rosliston, Garth Cox (25:50) at Rugby, Ian Orton (25:14) and Michael Hughes (36:52) at Rushcliffe, Ian Grigg (49:23) at Torbay Velopark and Michael Stevenson (35:35) at Warwick Racecourse. 

With the weather finally turning for the better a couple of peelers turned out for the Birmingham half and 10k races on Sunday. Emma Petricca took part in the 10k race, running for the Birmingham City Foundation, and ran a new PB of 01.01.29. New member Mike Ball took part in the half marathon, the first time he’s ever run this distance, and completed it in a time of 02.52.37.

With the good weather continuing into the Bank Holiday Monday Peel Road Runners were represented at the Milton Keynes full and half marathon. Helen Dempsey ran the half marathon in 03.04.34 and Neal Dempsey ran the full marathon in 04.49.58. Steph Attenborough and Joanne Sharman also took part in the marathon with both finishing in 05.40.59. This was Steph’s 114^th marathon and Jo’s 58^th.

On Tuesday the C25K group successfully completed the course and in celebration four of the group took part in their first parkrun at Tamworth Castle Grounds on Saturday. All four ran the parkrun really well with good consistent pacing and all finishing in under 40mins. They all really enjoyed their running journey over the past 10 weeks and we look forward to welcoming them all back for the Bridge to 10k course.

With the good weather and the lure of the food festival, Tamworth Castle Grounds drew a large group of peelers. First back for the group in third place overall was Jamie Abbiss in an impressive 19.08. Next back for the club was Natalie Walker in 24.25, followed by Roger Lloyd 24.33, Tim Mudd 27.39, Jackie Tierney 27.42, Joanne Harvey 28.58, Helen Chyla 29.02, Emma Whorwood 30.34, Dave Fern 39.28 and Chris Bennett 39.28.

Kingsbury Water park in the sun also attracted a large number of Peel Road Runners. First back for the club was Allen King in 21.28, followed by Phil Neale 23.49, Ben Dorkins 24.19, Mike Shelton 24.31, Stella Taylor 29.58, Darren O’Leary 32.51, Chris Taylor 33.28, Roger Eastaff 34.12, Claire Guffick 35.31, Ann Hill 36.48, Lee Guffick 40.06, Sarah French 56.48, Nicola Bannister 56.48, Christine Norris 01.06.44, Alison Dolphin 01.07.02 and Wendy Bowyer 01.07.03. Parkrun tourists included, Garth Cox at Beacon parkrun 23.23, Shane Lewis at St Mary’s parkrun, Dorset 21.08, Step Attenborough 36.15 and Jo Sharman 36.16 at Graves, Emma Pick 21.21 at Rosliston, Ian Orton 24.48 and Mike Hughes 37.43 at Worcester.

Does rain stop play?  Not when you are a Peeler.  What should be the start of running with the warmth of sun on your back continues to be dodging the puddles of water from the never ending rain.  However, that has not stopped a good few Peelers from achieving new pbs over the weekend. 

‘Grin and bare it’ conditions did not deter Martin Hollamby from achieving an excellent time of 2:57:24 at the Boston UK Marathon on Sunday.  The route allows runners to experience the big open skies of coastal Lincolnshire but that unfortunately also allows strong headwinds to hinder your pace. Typical Martin, he oddly enjoyed it. 

The Uttoxeter Festival of Running, which includes a scenic but tough half-marathon, was the running choice of several Peelers on Sunday.  First Peeler to sprint home was Emma Pick (1:30:58), a new course pb by over 4 minutes and the third female. Mark Boffey followed with an impressive pb of 1:47:06.  Allen King (01:47:35) came in next, followed by Billy King (2:00:04), with Chris Bennett (2:00:06) hot on his heels – both achieving pbs. Tim Mudd (2:02:05) swiftly followed a great run in preparation for the Leeds marathon in two weeks time.  Sarah Boffey (2:26:42) completed the lineup of Peel runners. 

Team Dempsey, Helen and Neil, ran the final Longhorn Canicross race at Thoresby Hall, Newark.  Both finished in 1:16:00 racing in incredibly wet conditions.  Neil’s running partners were Banana and Elvis; Helen ran with Minstrel and Sydney. A plethora of parkruns was the 5k running choice for a whole host of Peelers on Saturday.  Running at Tamworth, Lee Rickards finished in 21:36; Chris Bennett (22:49); Ian Cooper (25:22); Stuart Hatton (25:35); Marcus Fairburn (28:27).  Wendy Roe (30:20) at Lichfield; Lisa Stretton (24:56); Darren O’Leary (25:30); Claire Guffick (27:34); Lee Guffick (34:07); Alison Perry (35:20); Vickie Bowyer (38:52); Laura Bowyer (38:53) and Nicola Bannister (44:43) all ran at Kingsbury Water Park.  Tim Mudd (27:34) ran at Newark; Garth Cox (26:50) ran at Gedling; Jacqueline Tierney (29:38) at Clifton; Ian Orton (23:56) at Warwick; Emma Pick (20:27) at Trentham Gardens; Mark Boffey (23:22) and Sarah Boffey (33:31) visited Llangollen to run on the Old Railway Trail.  Further afield, Steph Attenborough (33:10) and Joanne Sharm (33:09) included a parkrun whilst visiting Zuiderpark, The Hague, Netherlands.  And last but certainly not least, Michael Hughes (29:33) enjoyed his run in Jablonna, Poland.