Current venues
Monday 18th Feb
7pm Track Session at PoW
Wednesday 20th Feb
7pm 5m On-road. HI-VIZ, Bath Road Car Park
Thursday 21st Feb
9:30am Norwood - click for details.
7:00pm PoW Track
Saturday
16th Feb
Cleeve Golf Club, 9am
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Almost Athletes Marathon Challenge
The AA Road Race Series (see http://www.almostathletes.co.uk/road_race_series_2011.html ) has a marathon option. Since many members put a huge amount of work preparing for a marathon each year it seems right that this effort should be recognised. However it is clearly unfair to specify a particular marathon in the same manner as the shorter races, so that a new set of rules must be devised. The idea is that (almost) any marathon time achieved during year will be recorded a being achieved in a single event open to all members. Points will be assigned when the results of all the marathon runs are known.
These rules are still being finalised, and may need some further adjustments throughout the year. However the basic framework is as follows:
- In principle, all marathons which are open public events and whose results can be readily verified are eligible. The AA Committee retain the right to exclude any events which are not easy to verify or could give an unfair advantage. The event may be longer than 26.2 miles but not shorter. As a guide the 100 Marathon club (see http://www.100marathonclub.org.uk/ ) publishes a list of marathons that meet its criteria. Any member contemplating a marathon not on that list, with a view to this challenge, is advised to contact the club Committee at the earliest opportunity to consider its eligibility.
- The marathon must be run between the inclusive dates of 1st January and 30th November of the current year.
- The AA Member is strongly encouraged to wear the club top but allowance will be made for overriding circumstances such as when running for a charity who provide their own top, and in inclement weather conditions when further clothing such as a jacket is required.
- The AA Member is responsible for promptly reporting the details of their achievement including date, event, time and method of verification (e.g. web page reference) to the Road Race series organiser - currently Steve Adams. Time should be 'chip time' if available, otherwise gun time.
- Only one marathon time for each member will count. But if a member runs more than one marathon in the period and the subsequent time is better than the previous best, the member should report the new time. This process can be repeated any number of times.
- Members will be divided into the same age and gender groups as for the rest of the Road Race series.
- At the end of the period (30th November), the members in each age + gender group will be ordered on time and points awarded in the same manner as for the other races in the Road Race series.
- The AA Committee are reponsible for ensuring this operates in a fair and transparent manner. They are empowered to modify and override the rules if necessary to ensure natural justice is maintained.
Explantory Notes and comments
- It is appreciated that some marathons are 'easier' in terms of terrain, actual distance, weather conditions etc. It is the member's responsibility to choose one or more events that are suitable for achieving a good time.
- If the event is an ultra marathon, but the organisers also publish a properly measured marathon time, this time might be allowed (subject to AA Committee approval) for the purposes of this challenge, otherwise the finishing time of the event must be used.
- The aim of the challenge is to encourage members to undertake a marathon. It is recognised that many will enter popular events such as Brighton or London, but other events including those more local such as Worcester and Stratford upon Avon, as well as those overseas should all be included.
- Marathons with an off-road or multi-terrain element are also eligible, but achieving a quick time is likely to be more difficult.
- It is hoped to 'adopt' a relatively local marathon that a number of members can jointly train for. This is not part of the formal structure at present but members are invited to make suggestions.
Latest News
The snow and ice could not discourage a hardy group of Almost Athletes from competing at the exceptionally tough Mayhill Massacre races. Shaun Carr added to a fantastic season, taking 5th place overall in the first 9 mile race. He ran the hilly, muddy course in a remarkable 1:15. Jamie Courtenay followed in 1:27, Sarah Roberts was second in her age category in 1:36, and Ross Greening also finished in 1:36. Karen Hilton crossed the line in 1:44 despite taking a wrong turn, and Adrian Courtenay finished in 2:19. Hester Coggin was first lady home in the second nine mile race, finishing in an impressive 1:28. Second Almost lady home was Catherine Daly in 1:36. Mike Daly ran 1:24 to take first in his age category. Kirstie Hallam and Andrew Wilkinson finished in 1:44, and Andrea Hardy in 2:02. Pinky Shetty completed her first off-road race with Mariel Chretien in 2:24. The Mayhill Mayhem 15 mile race saw Lesley Cottle take first in her age category in 2:51, while Oliver Clarkin came home in 3:25.
Karla Cleverley and Simon Morgan travelled to the London Winter Run, where snowmen, huskies and penguins cheered them around the closed road course. Morgan completed the 10k run in 53 minutes, followed by Cleverley in 1:26.
Josh Hand was in incredible form at Chichester 10k, gaining a 35:19 PB for his efforts.
Sarah Fennell, Rachel Nolan and Ceinwen Davies continued the Almost Athletes tradition of running the Torremolinos Half Marathon in Spain, finishing together in 2:39.
With Cheltenham parkrun cancelled due to the icy weather, club members had to venture further afield for their Saturday morning running fix. Gloucester North saw several Almosts in action, with Neil Tring and Lorraine Taylor taking first in their age categories in 21:38 and 25:09 respectively. Regular volunteer Phil Jeyes welcomed Dave Chittock, Deb Cartlidge, Richard Knightley and Simon Jarvis to Tewkesbury. Jarvis ran 20:37, finishing 5th overall. Mike Kennedy finished 5th in Newent in 22:39, and Matt Polson was also 5th at Rugby (19:07). Rob Rennell and guide Robert Dalton Morris were in action at Stonehouse, Robert Brush was at Worcester Pitchcroft, Martyn Fisher at Pocket parkrun, and Oliver Bell at Brandon Country Park. Rich Smith took on the tough challenge of pushing a buggy around Woolacombe Dunes parkrun, finishing in 45:54.
The Staverton 10 mile race took place on Sunday 27th January, with 37 Almost Athletes taking part. Despite the cold and windy conditions there were some impressive results for Club members, including a host of new PBs.
Josh Hand was first Almost to finish in 16th place, closely followed by Matt Polson with a time of 1:03. For Polson, this was a PB of more than 4 minutes from his previous 10 mile event.
Helen Youde was first Almost lady to finish in 1:05, followed by Ellie Laney-Bolton in 1:08 and Michelle Balchin in 1:16.
Peter Mitchener acted as pace maker for Mark Lyes, Hayley Woolnough and Lorraine Taylor, and all three of them gained new PBs of 1:23.
There were also new PBs for each of the following: Matthew Hickman in 1:05, Ben Stone in 1:06, Chris McMahon in 1:22, Daniel Magovern in 1:28, Deborah Elliott in 1:39, and Dave Nelson in 1:44.
Slightly further afield, Ingrid Harris tackled the tricky LDWA Twisted Wye Canter of 24.5 miles, whilst Heather Theyer, Debbie Gaynor and Karla Cleverley all travelled to Bristol to take part in the 5 km Run for Chocolate event.
On Saturday 26th January Matt Barnes came eighth at Cheltenham parkrun with a time of 19:34 and Jeanette Gullick was first Almost lady to complete in 22:40.
In Gloucester North parkrun Lesley Cottle was 1st female with 24:30, and in Kingsway Gloucester Ben Taylor came 8th in 19:45. At the Bath Skyline event Neil Tring was 1st in his age category with 21:55 and Lorraine Taylor was 2nd in hers with 26:24. Lynne Macedo was also first in her age category and gained a new PB with 29:48 in the Mile End, London, parkrun.
Visually-impaired runner Rob Rennell completed his 70th parkrun with the challenging off-road Fire Service College event which he finished in 39:45.
Members of Almost Athletes took part in 11 other parkruns throughout the UK encompassing Cirencester, Gloucester City, Churchfields Farm, Pocket, Ipswich, Worcester Pitchcroft, Wycombe Rye, Netley Abbey, Newent, Burnham & Highbridge and Tewkesbury.
Marathon specialist Allan Green continued to add to his tally by taking part in the Phoenix Challenger event on Saturday. He completed the muddy, eight lap course in 5:48.