It’s fair to say that the spring season of road racing is fully with us with Peel Road Runners taking on challenges of different distances across the country this weekend.
A brilliant group of 25 Peelers took on the local challenge of the Cathedral to Castle 10-mile multi-terrain race running from Lichfield to Tamworth via Hopwas Woods on Sunday. A beautiful sunny morning made for great running conditions, and the club was led home by Wayne King (on his birthday!) in a time of 1:03:52, 3rd in age group and 15th overall. Next over the line was Jamie Abbiss in a time of 1:06:25 followed by Phil Neale (1:14:27 and 2nd in M60 age category); Tom King (1:16:04), Phil Busby (1:17:18), Anne Whitby-Smith (1:26:33), Tracy Ford (1:26:33), Natalie Walker (1:27:31), Helen Chyla (1:30:35), Gemma Pritchard (1:32:06), Lydia Trenfield (1:32:08), Graham Lane (1:36:46), Cheryl Flint (1:37:19), Stuart Hatton (1:40:03), Sandra Ingram (1:43:40), Amy Davis (1:55:56), Kelly Sippitts (1:59:03), Wendy Roe (2:01:49), Roger Eastaff (2:04:33), Wendy Bowyer (2:04:34), Lisa Barnes (2:04:53), Helen Dempsey (2:07:32), Neal Dempsey (2:07:33), Ann Hill (2:16:23) and Nicola Bannister (2:23:57).
Running a marathon seems to be an unofficial rite of passage for many Peelers, and on Sunday, Emma La Planche (5:54:25) and Alison Upton (5:57:24) ran their first marathon at Newport in South Wales. They were led home by Claire Guffick, who completed her third fastest marathon in 5:15:10. Running the Newport 10k on the same day, Emma Whorwood crossed the line in 1:03:05, followed by Lee Guffick in 1:13:01.
Charlotte Fielding was the sole Peeler running at the Manchester marathon on Sunday, stopping the clock in an impressive time of 4:49:14. Meanwhile, taking on the very scenic Guernsey marathon, Steph Attenborough and Jo Sharman finished together in 5:41:00, easily beating the 6-hour cut-off for the event!
With the Burton & District Summer League now in full swing, the Uttoxeter half marathon (renowned for its undulating course!) was supported by three Peelers with Matt Salisbury first home for the club in a time of 1:38:46 (knocking 4 minutes 27 seconds off his previous half marathon best!), followed by Adrian Jelley (1:42:55) and Dave Fern (2:54:14). Running the Uttoxeter 10k, Gillian Jelley crossed the line in 1:00:07 followed by Val Lawson (1:07:22 and 1st F65).
Taking on the Shropshire Way Festival 26-mile trail run, Lorna Al-Ani completed the very challenging course with over 4000 ft of altitude around Wenlock Edge and the Stiperstones in just over 5 hours. A great achievement! Meanwhile, mum and daughter team Lisa and Katie Stretton ran the SSART Trawsfynydd multi-terrain 8.6-mile race around Trawsfynydd lake in Wales, finishing in 1:13:54 and 1:13:59 respectively.
Finally, as if all this racing wasn’t enough, lots of Peelers also took part in Saturday’s parkruns! Running at Beacon Park in Lichfield, Lee Rickards crossed the line in 20:19 followed by Mike Shelton (20:22) and Graham Lane (26:52). At Kingsbury Water Park, Luke Collins was first back for the club in 22:27, followed by Ben Dorkins (24:48), Tracy Ford (25:00), Darren Truman (29:14), Jo Insley (33:09), Jackie Tierney (33:10), Sophie Galloway (33:11), Stephen Andrews (34:52), Lee Guffick (35:37) and Alison Dolphin (42:31). At Ashbourne, Jonathan Allen ran 35:22 while a back on form Emma Pick stopped the clock on 18:57 at Markeaton Park. Winning the prize for ‘parkrun tourist of the week’ this week was Michael Hughes, who ran the Roosevelt Island, Arlington, USA parkrun in 26:05! Closer to home at the Victoria Embankment, Nottingham parkrun, Allen King ran 25:16, followed by Chris Bennett (25:20) and Samie Futrill (25:31). With their first run back after last week’s marathon, Tim Mudd and Carolyne Browne ran the Market Bosworth parkrun, finishing in 27:05 and 27:14 respectively. Running at Brunswick Park, Wednesbury, Sarah Boffey finished in 48:21, whilst at Guernsey parkrun, Jo Sharman (36:08) and Steph Attenborough (36:13) crossed the line together. Crossing the border into Wales, Ian Orton ran at Flint parkrun in a time of 34:41, and Roger Lloyd celebrated running his 100th parkrun at the Isobel Trail in Stafford in a personal best time of 22:45!