The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy for the club with some impressive performances across a wide range of events.
Sunday the 16th of September had seen DRC’s Neil Parry and Dave Durden in Berlin for the 2018 version of the race. Eliud Kipchoge was there hoping to break the world record. The DRC runners objectives were more focused on getting round. Neil Parry was running his 23rd marathon, at his best
had run under three hours, back in 2013. Dave Durden was running his first. Kipchoge pulverised the marathon record just 99 seconds away from a sub two hour marathon. Parry ran a controlled race to finish in 03:24:00. Durden struggled over the last three miles coming home in 03:31:17.
This effort paled in to insignificance with DRC’s Matt Read and Dave Wood looking to complete the Cotswold Century Ultra run and three DRC Triathletes, Charley Palmer, Paul Breen and Damian Lai in Weymouth to attempt the Ironman 70.3.
A few DRC runners have completed the Cotswold Century challenge over the years, this year Wood and Read decided to complete the 100 odd miles from Chipping Campden to Bath Abbey. The organisers description is ‘Start in Chipping Campden at the Village Hall, stop in Bath at Bath Abbey, follow the signs marked “Cotswold Way”. The only route markings being the existing Cotswold Way markers THIS MEANS YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ A MAP!” Participants have 30 hours to complete the event, with intermediate cut-offs along the way. Starting on Saturday at Midday they were faced with miserable weather with incessant rain for most of the day and night. Dave Durden caught up with both of them at Painswick Rugby Club checkpoint 4 both were remarkably chipper although the tiredness was clearly already taking its toll. Running in the dark, mist and rain both had tripped on roots with Wood hitting the deck.Despite previous reconnaissance Read found himself of course in the mist around Coopers Edge, but was able to get back on track. Early Sunday morning both were passing through Dursley and trying not to think of their dry and warm beds that were so close by. Wood led the DRC duo throughout the event eventually getting to Bath in 26 hours and 49 minutes. His pace was under 14 minutes per mile over the first half slipping to 17 minutes for the second, illustrating what a gruelling challenge this was. Read came home in 28 hours and 38 minutes .
More DRC athletes were off road at the weekend, Rachel Brown, Ellen Efford and Sam Hill took part in the Walcot Whopper, offroad 10K. Brown placed 3rd FV40. Results: Rachel Brown 36th (3rd F40),01:02:58; Ellen Efford, 60th, (9th F40) 01:17:52; Sam Hill 63rd (11th F40) 01:31:04. Andrew and Michele Shapland completed their first ever trail marathon the Cotswold Challenge, which started and finished in Birdlip
On the Road six DRC athletes ran Bristol Half Marathon, Mike Brown,Tony Wooldridge, Ian Cole, Julie Gowing, Andrew Eades, Annette Helyings with unaffiliated Jon Morgan along for the ride. It was pretty damp for the early part of the race, but it eased to a light drizzle. The organization was very slick, with runners treated to a tour of central Bristol with sections of cobbles to add interest for tired muscles. Brown set a blistering pace to finish 152nd in 1:23:38. Gowing ran a massive course best of 13 minutes and a Half Marathon PB of two minutes. Brown’s run was a PB and is just 14 seconds quicker than Severn Bridge, consistency being a good sign, his position of 152nd in a huge field signalling a strong performance, as was Tony Wooldridge’s run.
Results: Michael Brown 152nd 01:23:38; Tony Wooldridge 680th 01:34:04; Jon Morgan, 1235th 01:40:30; Ian Cole 1881st, 01:45:53; Julie Gowing 4586th 02:06:06 Andrew Eades 4586th 02:07:05; Ian Roberts 5303rd 02:14:14; Annette Heylings 5733rd 02:20:42
At the Angels 10K there was another DRC team of six, David Durden, Kris Rymer, Andrea Sexton, Elieen Hieron, Steve Barnes and Pete Dunn. Just over half the 168 entrants made it to the start line the, the foul weather no doubt putting many off. Dave Durden led the DRC team home in just over 43 minutes, with Kris Rymer in shortly after him looking strong, as did the remaining DRC athletes. Sexton running a personal best and Hieron putting an impressive surge to the line in an attempt to get under 68 minutes, Hieron walked away with Silver medal for 2nd in category on the day. Results: Dave Durden 30th (5th M50) 43:40; Kris Rymer 45:26 40th (10th M40); Pete Dunn, 62nd (14th M40) 51:25; Andrea Sexton; Steve Barnes 58:05, 79th (6th M60); Eileen Hieron, 67th (2nd F70) 01:08:03
Saturday saw a celebration of Pete Dunn’s 50th parkrun at Wotton despite the wet conditions Wotton was the place to be for PBs with Kris Rymer, running another PB leading DRC home at Wotton in 20:34, with Stuart Watts, Huw Poppy and Terry Cother also running course bests, whilst at Chipping Sodbury Sarah Newall ran one. The DRC Tri Trio of Zoe Lammerton, Fran Amigoni and Jennie Marshall warmed up with a bike ride to Stonehouse and then produced some blistering runs, respectively 20:34, 21:50 and 22:58. Marshall posted the best AG of the weekend of 75.83% with Kris Rymer highest grading for the men at 66%.
Tuesday the 11th was the fourth and last DRC “club handicap” event at Hamfield Leisure, a light breeze serving to cool the runners down on overcast but warm night. First home was Caz Harper-Easthope with Emily Harding coming in just behind her, it was then long wait for the 3rd finisher and first male home, Stuart Watts with Jo Lewis cruising home in fourth. Over another successful series the series Derek Jackson was first male on 40 points, leaving the women’s victor Diana Gore to place 1st overall in the series.