For many of us,
2021 represents a ‘re-boot’ of our athletic ambitions. To mark this, DRC Tri are proud to announce
the launch of a new triathlon in the region.
This is an ideal
event for those new to multi-skills competition, as well as more experienced
triathletes who want to test themselves against a competitive field.
Athletes will take
part in a pool-based 400m swim in the attractive school 20m open-air lido. This will be followed by a 21km bike ride on
mostly country lanes through the beautiful rolling countryside around Berkeley
(see link to route below). The 5km run
to finish is on a fast course on quiet roads starting and finishing in Berkeley
(see link to route below). The event will benefit from a professional timing
system and all competitors will receive their own commemorative medal.
The event will be carefully planned to take account of any
Coronavirus restrictions in place at the time with appropriate social
distancing and hygiene controls. If a decision is taken that it is not
possible to run the event safely under these conditions, then every
effort will be made re-schedule the event. Unfortunately,
no refunds can be offered in these circumstances, but all entrants will
be offered a free transfer of their place to the re-scheduled event.
Book early to be
sure of a place at this friendly and accessible event with great atmosphere and
support. Overnight camping for the night before the event may be
available. Contact drctriteam@gmail.com
for details.
As an approved UK
Triathlon event, places can be booked on the UK Triathlon entry system, link
below:
At all times Dursley Running Club advises compliance with Government Advice (which can be found here >>). Exercise in these times, especially running and cycling, can be great for physical and mental health, but please remember safety first; run or cycle within your ability and if exercising alone outdoors take a phone with you to call for help if you need it.
The following link provides the latest club advice regarding Coronavirus infection control measures. Guidance >>
This page >> contains the latest virtual challenge information.
Run, walk or skip 2.6 miles, hold a plank for 2.6 minutes, do 26 press ups, do 26 squats, cycle for 26 minutes… anything 2.6. Raising money for UK charities who have also suffered during this period; Maggies, NHS Charities Together and Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust Charity.
Follow the link below for more info on the challenge and to donate to this cause:
The club reminds all members to stick to the Social Distancing rules; washing hands before and after an outing, keep the 2m distancing and keep to one local form of exercise a day. Please also be careful out there, we don’t want to add to the NHS burden with lots of extra running injuries, just run within your ability and if running alone take a phone with you.
Following government advice regarding the delay phase control measures for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Dursley Running Club is cancelling all organised club activities. This includes all adult running, triathlon and junior sessions. This is with immediate effect and until further notice.
We will continue to monitor the situation, particularly with respect to our planned club races and publish further information when available.
All ability club members welcome, start and finish from the rugby club, hot food to finish. 12, 6 and 3 mile options, 9am start. Please complete registration form to let us know you’re coming and order food: Another Dozen Form
Saturday 31st 9.30-11.30am at the Dursley Rugby Club
Come and find out what the 2019-20 DRC Juniors calendar has to offer for junior athletes.
Some fun activities for the juniors to try and an opportunity to question the coaches. Also hear what our development plans consist of and how we plan to spend our funds. Cake and coffee available too.
We will also be more than happy to talk about how you could help us run and develop the Junior Section.
Like running? Want to add another element? Local orienteering event – Saturday 15th June in Bristol at the University of West of England (UWE) and Sunday 16th June in Thornbury:
An amazing 17 Dursley Running Club athletes had entered the VLM marathon this year. The excitement was steadily building all week, with the entrants hoping that the weather would calm down after the scorching Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Many weeks of training taking place just to get on the start line, and for some the process had not been smooth with Caroline Jones and Joe Ball both having disrupted training schedules. This year has seen a range of training groups and sessions so many were turning up with a good base, even if for some it would be their first Marathon. First timers included Ball, Martin Bragg, Dominique Pemberton, Emma Keating, Matt Turner, Becky Whatling and Eileen Hieron, a few had dipped their toe in before: Jones, Andy Kilby, Ian Roberts Stuart Gwilliam and Karen Eadon , with seasoned marathoners in the shape of Damian Lai, Neil Parry, Neil Hodgson and Mark Brasier.
Once gathered at the start the runners were greeted with a cool April day, albeit with blustery winds, the temperature was 10 degrees cooler than in 2018, and the impact of this was clear as many elite athletes ran personal bests. Eliud Kipchoge yet again showed his class running the second quickest Marathon time in history with a time of 02:02:38 breaking the course record along the way Bridget Kosgei ran the fastest ever second half of marathon to win the women’s race. Of the British runners Mo Farah was fifth and Callum Hawkins took two minutes off his personal best to finish in the top ten, proving that one bad race/marathon can be put right! Charlotte Purdue ran 2:25.38 to finish tenth and become the third fastest British women in history, behind only Paula Radcliffe and Yama Yamauchi. So for the Dursley athletes looking for a good time it looked like it was all to play for.
Parry led team DRC in the initial miles hitting the first 5K 21:46, with Gwilliam ahead of, Hodgson and Brasier, first time marathoner Bragg went through 5K in 23:44 giving him an estimated finish time of 3:20. Lai Dwas though 5k in 25:48. Parry’s pace started to drop back a bit after his fierce start, whilst Gwilliam was warming to his task, his second 5K seven seconds quicker. It took a while for the remaining DRC athletes to get over the start line. The first 5K are downhill and so it is notoriously difficult not to run a bit quick over the initial miles, only Gwilliam, Hodgson and Brasier managed to rein themselves in. Emma Keating and Dominique Pemberton were running side by side from the off and there would with hardly be a second to split them for the next 26 miles.
After the fast first 5k most of the DRC athletes reined back in and set a steady pace over the next 10 to 15k. By Half Marathon stage DRC had 9 runners under two hours with Parry and Gwilliam around 95 minutes. The trio of Neil Hodgson, Martin Bragg and Mark Brasier not far behind. Damo led Andy Kilby Paul Breen and Joe Ball over the half way-mark in 01:50, 01:52, 1:55 and 01;57.
Mark Brasier had been starting to slow over consecutive 5k splits before halfway, it looked like he was in for a hard day at the office. Turner was next over halfway in 2:16 and then a host of DRC came over close to 02:30, Jones, Keating, Pemberton with Hieron not far off the pace at 02:40 FV75 veteran Hieron had been keeping her pace very steady around the 8 min/km pace, ,as were Keating, and Pemberton who had settled into a c.7:20/km pace from 10k. Perhaps the model of consistency was Hodgson running between 04:43 and 04:51 up until the last 10k. He was not running at his fastest and as a result commented “A truly enjoyable run!! Loved it!!” At the sharp end for DRC Gwilliam was speeding up from 04:28 per km to 4:25 and then really pushing on running 4:13 from 35 to 40k and putting in a finishing effort at 04:11 pace, a consummate piece of distance running to complete the course in an excellent time of 03:06:53. Behind him Parry was pretty consistent, slipping back to 04:55 for the last 2k but he had done all the hard work by then and finished in super time of 03:14:19. Hodgson came home in a very respectable 03:25:22. Bragg was running one of the runs of the season in his marathon debut, his first 25k was run at an incredibly consistent pace, and when he started to slow he kept everything under control to finish in an brilliant 03:27:21, 68th M60-64. DRC spectator Margaret Johnson commented that “he looked the picture of concentration”.
Elieen Hieron also ran one of the outstanding runs of the day placing 5th in the F75 -79 category and displayed great control of her pace over the 26 miles. In fact nearly all the DRC athletes managed to maintain a steady pace over the course, and where they could not pick up the pace they controlled their deceleration as best they could. Finishing close to the 3:50 mark were Breen, Brasier and Lai. Ball finshed his first marathon in 04:14 just under 6 minutes ahead of Kilby. Jones and Matt Turner were next to finish. Keating and Pemberton continued their successful partnership, they had passed Roberts along the way and held their pace very well to complete the course in 05:18:54, Roberts held on to finish in 05:33; Hieron completed her amazing effort behind him with a time of 05:40:07.
Karen Eadon and Becky Whatling completing DRC incredible effort on the day. In terms of fundraising club members have raised in excess of 15K for a variety of charities and probably more, With Pemberton leading the way with over £4000 for Clic Sargent and Lai, Whatling, Eadon, Kilby and Kate Sackett all raising over £2K for the British Lung Foundation, Longfield Trust, The Childrens Trust and Scope, with other club members raising money for Linc Linc The Leukemia And Intensive Chemotherpay Fund, Dementia Revolution and Frontline Children.
Also running on the Sunday were Charlie Taylor who completed the Forest Warrior (Result tbc)
Hannah Osbourne Shakespeare Half Marathon 87th 01:59:14 (Chip), Quentin Somerset, The Shakespeare Marathon 495th 04:55:13 (chip) Matt Strezeckli the Dusseldorf Marathon 04:18:38,Kate Browning the Bath Beat Marathon, on Saturday, 27.99 miles in 05:24:57 (Strava) followed by Pewsey Ultra 35:21 miles in 07:26:46 on Sunday. Rachel Brown and Kevin Brockway took part in the Sea to Summit Marathon and Half, a very Hilly off road marathon. There was 6200 feet of climbing which meant some very steep tricky descents. Brown finished in 7 hours and Brockway finished in 8 hours 8 minutes. Kevin Jackson placed 4th senior veteran male; at the Frecnhay 10K. Result: K Jackson 57th, 44:33 (4th SenVM). Richard Pitts completed the Burnham on Sea Super Sprint, . 250m swim 10k bike 2.5k run. Pitts was 7th overall and 1st in 50-59 AG Swim T1 Bike T2 Run 4.15 0:78 18:59 0:51 11:57
Parkrun
21 parkrunners under the DRC flag this Saturday, Matt Rogers only 36 seconds ahead of Garry Strickland at Wotton to claim DRC’s fastest time of the weekend. Alice was back at Wotton notching up 79.% on Age Grade, with Paul Lee closest with 70.5% at Stonehouse. Three PBs: Tel Cother, Sarah Newall and Richard Hensman.
