Sunday 30th June - Marathon Relay

The team

Today nine teams comprising of 80 runners from Congleton, Macclesfield, Sandbach, Stoke and South Cheshire running clubs took part in the first marathon relay around Astbury Mere in Congleton.  Amongst them were the Run England Group and Macclesfield Coven members - Phil, Jenny, Bev, Lisa, Katie and Savitri.  

Runners in the teams ranged from the young to the not so young and from beginners to club runners. It was uplifting to see runners as young as six years sprinting around the 1 mile lap and overtaking a few of the more mature participants. 

Our team running order was Phil, Jenny, Bev, Lisa, Katie and Savitri. Jenny had the support of a mystery pupil who called out “Go Miss!” at her changeovers and Lisa was our indefatigable cheerleader. Phil ran the most number of laps and we each achieved PBs in our first laps.

Laps covered by team:
Phil – 7.2 miles; PB 8 mins
Jenny – 2 miles; PB 8 mins
Bev – 3 miles; PB 12 mins
Katie – 3 miles; PB 9 mins
Lisa – 6 miles; PB 9 mins
Sav – 6 miles; PB 8 min

The first team past the post was Congleton Boalloy Running Club in a time of 2:48:58. Whilst our team came in a commendable ninth in a time of 4:10:57; we had the genuine excuse of having the smallest team membership which resulted in individuals having to run greater mileage.  The attending crowd gave a loud cheer when we completed the marathon - they could finally return home before night fall!

The event raised £169 for Christie’s.

Thank you all for taking part.

Savitri

Saturday 29th June - Silver Starlight Stomp

A number of group members have expressed interest in the SIlver Starlight Stomp supportin East Cheshire. Please e-mail me with any additional info needed for the group and I will add it to the BLOG.

Details below...

Saturday 29th June - Race for Life

Tutus courtesy of Boardman Enterprises

Today a small but select group from Run England (called Tinker Bell's Belles) ran in the Race for life.

A few pictures .....

Saturday 29th June - Prestbury Lollipop

The start

Dawn Devine was group leader this week. A much depleted group of 5 of us met in the Riverside car park for a gentle 4 miles of Prestbury 'Lollipop'.  I'm sure reports of the Race for Life' at Tatton this morning and the Starlight Stomp tonight will follow.  With Nicky just back from injury and another couple of us nursing/recovering from injuries we decided to stay on the flat today and not try anything too strenuous!
  It was a little muddy underfoot after the week's heavy rain but the weather was perfect.  We got adventurous on the return journey from Prestbury & did a little 'Donkey' across the fields.  A couple of us went to the Tytherington Club for a well-deserved coffee afterwards.

Dawn Devine

Prestbury Lollipop

Jo - a muddy path?

The end.....

Wednesday 26th June - Orienteering - Vale Inn, Bollington

This is the second in the series of 4 events.

With 60 minute and 90 minute runs available and using enlarged OS maps to navigate on public rights of way, these events offer an alternative form of informal low-cost navigational challenge suitable for newcomers and experienced runners / navigators alike. Please bring your friends too!

They also all start and finish at a pub, so there is opportunity for food, drink and post run analysis on your return!

Wed 12 June - Ye Olde Park Gate Inn, Over Peover, WA16 8TU
Wed 26 June - The Vale Inn, Adlington Rd, Bollington, SK10 5JT
Wed 10 July - Boddington Arms, Racecourse Road ,Wilmslow SK9 5LR.
Wed 24 July - Venue to be confirmed

Registration from 6:30pm. Pre race briefing 7:10pm. Mass start 7:15pm
Bring a pen/pencil and your watch.
Entry is on the night only £3 per map adult, £1.50 per map junior.

Please pre book your map in advance by emailing me on 1andythornton@gmail.com

More details on mdoc website www.mdoc.org.uk

Saturday 22nd June - Congleton Park Run

The start!

Gemma Moorhouse was group leader this week with support from Cheryl Evans.

Welcome to our newest member Catherine and thank you to the group for giving her our usual friendly welcome.  Sam it was lovely to see you again too.

The weather was good to start with and then the heavens opened and the rain started but it certainly did not dampen our spirits.  Today's Park Run was a good turn out with many first timers and a new pbs  (Personal Best) were achieved by Wendy Boardman and Jenny Heys.  Below are the finish times taken from the ParkRun website.

Phil Hawkswell    : 27:01 - First timer
Gemma Moorhouse   : 27:30
Wendy Swindells   : 27:32 - First timer and 1st in age category
Wendy Boardman    : 29:03 - New PB
Nina Kennerley    : 29:25 - First Timer
Jenny Heys        : 30:25 - New PB
Louise Brown      : 30:49 - First timer
Kathryn Pickup    : 29:24
Sam Brown         : 31:10
Karen Wellington  : 32:18 First timer
Heather Auty      : 33:21 - First timer
Jo Pritchard      : 33:40
Catherine Mather  : 33:42 - First Timer
Heather Cooper    : 37:20 - First Timer        

Terry did the first lap but injury prevented him finishing.  Well done for trying and we wish you a speedy recovery.     

Everyone seemed to enjoy their run and seemed pleased with their achievements.  It is a flat place to run, and very pretty too.  I believe there was Swan and cygnet patrol at certain points of the run.  What a delight that must have been to see this morning.

Bev and I were energetically cheering you on and trying to capture pictures of your determination and emotions  There is some great pictures too on the Congleton Park Run on Facebook!

I enjoyed watching you run through but equally would have liked to have been part of the run.  A big thank you goes to Gemma for organising you all.

You are all special in what you have achieved but today's run cannot go without thank you all for the team support for Lady H (Heather Cooper) as she came into the finish.  Well done it was lovely to see you coming in surrounded by running buddies.

Cheryl Evans (roving reporter)

Saturday 15th June - Middlewood Way speed session

Today we met at the Clough Bank car park in Bollington at 9.00am for a speed session run on the Middlewood way. 13 group members (and  a couple of dogs) came along (fewer than of late possibly because of the threatening weather). After a short warm up we had a gentle run to the Middlewood Way where we regrouped for a more vigorous warm up and a few drills working on range of movement in the hips & loosening up the shoulders in preparation for faster running. We then did a 'pyramid' of sprints - working up from 15 seconds, to 30 then 45, 60 and 75 before coming back down to 15 seconds.  An option was given to start coming back down after 60 seconds (by way of an additional blast on the whistle)  but everyone was determined to complete the full set!  We then finished off with a gentle run back down the canal to the start where we did a good range of stretches before those who had time went off for coffee at the Waterside Cafe.  We only covered just over 3 miles today but distance wasn't the goal.  I think this was quite a tough session & a little different from usual so I hope it doesn't result in too many aching muscles.

Dawn Devine (Group Leader)

 

Wednesday 12th June - Orienteering - Peover

Pushing the wall over....

This year's (MDOC) Countryside Score Series kicks off on Wed 12 June at a new venue being - Ye Olde Park Gate Inn, Over Peover, WA16 8TU

With 60 minute and 90 minute runs available and using enlarged OS maps to navigate on public rights of way, these events offer an alternative form of informal low-cost navigational challenge suitable for newcomers and experienced runners / navigators alike. Please bring your friends too!

They also all start and finish at a pub, so there is opportunity for food, drink and post run analysis on your return!

This is the first in this year's series of 4 events:

Wed 12 June - Ye Olde Park Gate Inn, Over Peover, WA16 8TU
Wed 26 June - The Vale Inn, Adlington Rd, Bollington, SK10 5JT
Wed 10 July - Boddington Arms, Racecourse Road ,Wilmslow SK9 5LR.
Wed 24 July - Venue to be confirmed

Registration from 6:30pm. Pre race briefing 7:10pm. Mass start 7:15pm
Bring a pen/pencil and your watch.
Entry is on the night only £3 per map adult, £1.50 per map junior.

Please pre book your map in advance by emailing on 1andythornton@gmail.com

More details on mdoc website www.mdoc.org.uk

Saturday 8th June - Fools Nook loop

The start

What a wonderful sunny day for the 'Fool's Nook Loop'. 17 hardy runners braved the sunshine to head south along the canal to Fool's Nook and then up the steep Old Leek Road. We added a little detour via Sutton and finished across the fields towards Sutton Hall. A good 5 miles in total. This is a repeat run of the route we took back in September 2012 when a number of new members started for the first time - how things have changed.

Some very good running and some excellent 'looping back' - it was a bit warm today!

The post-run debrief with coffee, cake etc was very welcome in the garden centre cafe

Well run...

Neil

Bit early for a pub stop.... or is it

Terry on the canal

Louise and Nina

Heather on the 'Nemesis Route'

Heather & Jenny

Ali the sweeper (happy bunny...)

Wendy before the calf pull

Just keep moving....

Keep on moving....

Happy Savitri

Jane ... a bit warm?

Heather

Karen

Philip & Terry

Ali & Heather

Back across the fields - Julie in the lead

Nearly back

Kathryn striding out...

Philip & Heather

How things change from September 2012

Still running after 5 miles...

Using nature to help with a post run stretch