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L-R Standing: Richard Scarff, David Abery, Mark Mellon,
Simon Bonell, Annabelle Stearns, Pete Foster Graham Melrose,
David Wright, Lee Rawlinson and Sue Bathgate. Seated: Julie
Hibberd, Steve Billington, Lizzy Bonell
Putting on a race,
even a club race is a bit like making Sunday Lunch. It takes
about 10 times longer to produce and but a short time to
consume. The right ingredients and its presentation are
sometimes more important than the outcome but a successful
result is always the desired end goal.
Likewise picking a
route, preparation and team sorting all contribute to the
successful handicapping and running of the Breakfast in the
Park 10 mile trail race. Above all it is members taking part
that matters.
An easy course it
certainly is not, and the original Cock Inn 10 route lent a
lot to the course this year with a few extra lumps thrown in
for good measure. Not entirely suited to Novice off-roaders
this race was certainly a baptism of fire for new member
Lee. Suzanne and Sarah had also shown an interest in the run
but perhaps realised they could be out of their depth so
soon. (Never fear there are plenty more runs like this to
savour and enjoy)
Handicap setting is
never easy as there are quite a few factors to be taken into
account. Anybody who has ever raced against a handicap will
know that there is no margin for stopping and resting as you
are always going against the clock and competing against
runners you can’t see.
Racing off road is
not the same as a gentle trail run the same as racing a road
10K is unlike a club night session. Sixteen people
participated in Breakfast in the Park in 3 teams due to
insufficient team leaders. 5 or 6 teams could have competed
on this challenging course. Click here for the results
Mark Mellon, David Abery, Annabelle Stearns,
David Wright
Congratulations to
Annabelle’s team for their win, and to all the club members
that participated.
The weekend running
of the North Downs Run attracted a sell out entry and our
clubs involvement through marshalling and racing was well
represented. The Marshals were deployed in various locations
across the North Downs and without their presence the race
would suffer from under manning. Although we are rival clubs
we are also neighbours, and support of this National Open
event is great for the County of Kent and our specific
region as there are few annual races in Kent of this
complexity and appeal.
On behalf of
GRRAC Committee Grateful thanks to:
Richard Scarff, Sue Preston, Dawn & Peter Granger
Eric Pestell, Graham Melrose, Lee Rawlinson
Alan Lamb, Jane Evans, Jaz Aujla
Glyn Morris, Maria Baker (plus Emma)
Congratulations
to the members that completed the North Downs Run, with
some excellent results.
Mark Mellon:
2:15:28 17th
Annabelle Stearns 2:
20: 28 24th
Mario Cientanni
2:47:49 127th
David wright:
2:.54:05 170th
Liam Hayes 3:21:10 300th
Pete Foster : 3:
14: 20 283rd ( Trail Runners Assoc)
July 20th
2008
The route
maps are available for the Boundary Run and are suitable for
either a Relay Team or for members wishing to tackle the
entire route.
I have a list of
names that are interested and as it stands at present a
small contingent wishing to do the complete circuit and
sufficient others to make up one or two relay teams.
Acquainting yourself
with the route will save you some time on the day, but it is
not obligatory however your route finding skills will be
needed. Relay Teams will of course need to sort out
logistics regarding the vehicles, insurance as required,
pairings for each leg, food and drink to be carried etc
etc., and know where there changeover points are. Mobile
phones should be carried, you may get lost, need help or in
case of emergency. Make sure they are charged and with
enough credit.
I will be attempting
a complete circuit in a clockwise direction so that I can
meet and/or help others travelling in the anti clockwise
direction. The maps are marked with the route anti
clockwise. I already know the route in this direction so I
am looking for a different view on the day. Any member
wishing to join my ‘Walk – Run 20/20’ is welcome but
estimate 7-8 hours and an early start at 8am. Food and drink
is to be carried, with suitable refreshment stops on the
route, or with non-runners participating as service
crews at
the checkpoints e.g. Shoreham around Midday.
July 20th is also
the date of the Dartford ½ marathon. I would suggest that
‘anti-clock’ relay runners could start from 8.30am. The
route of our boundary run intersects the ½ marathon at Green
Street Green road onto the road leading to Darenth. At about
9:20am relay runners may encounter ½ marathon runners in
opposite direction for a short stretch leading to the
changeover. Estimate clear from 9:40am. The road is not
usually closed to traffic and parking at the changeover
should not be affected. It may affect the support crew
vehicle access onto Hawley Road on route to Shoreham.
Members who have
expressed an interest are fewer compared with previous long
distance style relays. Normally I would have anticipated 15
– 25 members. I have arranged the relays to run one team
Clockwise and one team anti-clockwise. If members decide not
to run as indicated, please advise me as early as possible.
If other members decide to enter into the event I could add
them or amend various relay legs.
Boundary Relay Teams
|
Leg C1 |
Eric Pestell
, Suzanne Loveridge |
|
Leg C2 |
David
Wright, Rob Haigh ( Eric and Suzanne continuous) |
|
Leg C3 |
Eric Pestell
, Suzanne Loveridge |
|
Leg C4 |
Eric Pestell,
Suzanne Loveridge (Rob Haigh?) |
|
|
|
|
Leg A1 |
Graham
Melrose, Stuart Ellison |
|
Leg A2 |
Pete
Granger, Mark Lownie |
|
Leg A3 |
Graham
Melrose, Stuart Ellison |
|
Leg A4 |
Dawn
Granger, David Wright |
Complete Boundary
Attempts
|
Anti –
Clockwise |
Annabelle Stearns, Mark Mellon, Glyn Morris |
|
Clockwise |
Eric
Pestell, Suzanne Loveridge |
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I have spent some
time working out some practical arrangements for ferrying
relay runners but individuals may have other proposals. I
will contact those members direct and liaise as necessary.
My Story by Lee
Rawlinson (aka Joe Pasquale)
This was
not the norm for me for various reasons.
1)
I don’t run for 10
miles for my breakfast as a rule on a Sunday morning.
2)
Sunday mornings for me
consist of breakfast in bed relaxing reading the morning
paper.
3)
I’ve never been known
before as the handicap!
4)
I don’t do mud well and
this had heaps of the stuff
5)
I don’t like to get dirty and I was covered
6)
I don’t enjoy hills and this had them in abundance
7) I have lovely legs
that don’t go well with nettles and for some reason the
nettles loved my legs
8)
I hadn’t really done off road running to this
extent before
9) I
was wearing Annabelle’s shoes (not her high heels but
her off roading trainers I might add!!)
10)
I didn’t even get a medal!!
But when
all is said, I hate to admit it but I grew to love the
breakfast run and the breakfast run grew to love me.
This was a run that spoke to you on the way, that
taunted you in areas and found you out but I overcome
the beast and I will be back to do battle with my demons
again next time.
Should
anyone new do the breakfast run? Hell no but then it
starts to call you.
I still
have dreams thinking I’m still running that breakfast
run, you could say it haunts me
I would
like to thank Eric for the run through hell and I would
like to thank Annabelle for the use of her shoes but
can’t help thinking that they wanted to go faster.
I will
return.
I had heard about
the Cape Wrath Challenge running week from
Lizzy and Simon (ex Gravesend Road Runners) and Eric who
took part last year, when Lizzy and Simon said they were
returning this year, I immediately said I would join them.
We arrived at the village of
Durness, which is at the most north westerly point of
Scotland to fantastic sunshine and blue skies, which
remained for most of the week.. The first evening was a
cheese, wine & chocolate truffle reception where we met our
new friends and were briefed about the week to come.
There were races every day
except Friday, which was a rest day before the Marathon on
the Saturday. All of the races had a long and a short
option and the Marathon could be done as part of a 2,3 or 5
man relay. Some people took the races quite seriously but
many, like me were happier enjoying the fantastic scenery,
the lochs and mountains are stunning and the beaches are the
most beautiful I have ever seen.
As well as the races, the
people of Durness lay on plenty of social activities
including the pub quiz, Scottish country dancing, a beach
barbeque, sheep dog demos and walks. There is a craft
village, caves and canoeing near by.
On the final night there was
a Ceilidh and the most amazing feast, all the food was local
produce, we had salmon, crab, lobster, venison etc and
fantastic desserts. We all danced lots and drank lots.
It was a magic week with
brilliant people in a beautiful place.
For further information see
www.capewrathchallenge.co.uk
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