Current venues
Thursday 22nd June
Friday night run 7pm
Saturday 24th June
.
.
.
.
.
Almost Athletes Marathon Challenge
New for 2015, The AA Road Race Series (see http://www.almostathletes.co.uk/road_race_series_2011.html ) will have an extra race option - a marathon. 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 2015 and 30th November 2015.
- 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
This week has seen Almost Athletes almost everywhere covering a range of distances.
Congratulations to Doug Wight securing a stunning 9th place in the Meridian Ultra 100k in 7:51:25. Doug’s victory in Patrington East Yorkshire was secured against a very strong field of elite ultra England, Wales or Scotland runners participating in the British 100k Championships. A fantastic achievement. Well done Doug!
Having recently joined the elite 100 Marathon club, Ingrid Harris proved she’s not resting on her laurels by running the undulating course of Stirling marathon in a very respectable 3:41:35.
Haiggy Haig continues his challenge of 50 marathons in his 50th year completing number 31on Saturday, the Shindig in the Shire marathon in Craven Arms, which he described as ‘amazing but tough’...‘Fantastic. Loved it’, Wife Kathy ran the half.
Haiggy went on to run no 32 at Worcester on Sunday in 4:21:37 finishing ahead of Norm Lever (4:45:48) and Coralie Pearson (5:12:13). Mike Kennedy was first full marathoner home for the Almosts in an impressive 3:30:37 with Allan Green crossing the line in 4:07:36.
Opting for the half marathon, Matt Proome continued his recent form to finish first man for the Almosts in 1:38:17, with Victoria Kennedy first lady (1:45:54). John Bailey wasn’t far behind at 1:49:37 with Mike Harris (1:55:03) and Rachel Nolan (2:24:29) completing the team.
Claire Gallagher decided to enjoy Chester half marathon running with the 2:30 pacers.
Further afield, Almost Athletes participated in two mountainous and stunningly scenic events in France. James Clay and Rachel Fargher ran the Trail de Queribus Aude trails half in the Pyrenees and Alain Ensuque ran the equally hilly trail de La Font de Mai, in Aubagne in 1:52:28.
Closer to home and with seemingly no time to draw breath after a busy weekend it was a successful evening for over 60 Almost Athletes competing in the Berkeley 10k race on Monday. Gemma Hargraves continued her winning form to seize first lady overall in 38:14 with a number of other club members achieving impressive personal best times despite the wind and rain, including Prash Kumar, Matt Polson, Catherine Mason, Deborah Elliott, Steve Wallbridge (last year at Berkeley), Penny Byrne and Sue Monaghan; Sarah Fennell and Darren Lewington both broke the hour, and Bob Spawton and Kate Houston broke their personal 20year records. Well done to all!
Simon Jarvis was first male home for the AAs in 38:54, with Prash Kumar and Richard Birch both finishing strongly sub 40 (39:18 and 39:28). Matthew Hampton, Matthew Polson and Dale Midwinter followed in quick succession (40:02, 40:21 and 40:41) with just seconds separating Mike Kennedy and Nick Spice (41:13 and 41:18). Amber Bullingham was 2nd lady to finish for the club in 42:13, with Matt Proome (42:36) hot on her heels ahead of Neil Tring (44:02) and Allan Green (44:14). Michelle Balchin finished 2nd in her age category (45:28) ahead of Victoria Kennedy who came 3rd in hers (46:04). Joe Harrison (46:14), Steve Wallbridge (46.17) and Dave Chittock (46.48) came in quick succession followed by Ingrid Harris 3rd in her age category (46:56) with Stacey Osmond on 47:19, and on 48mins Dan MacGovern (48:08), Dave Garnett (48:17), Jim Crowbridge (48:18), and Deb Cartlidge (48:48).
Racing over the finish in sub 50 were Rob Hume, Steve Adams, Duncan Mounsor and Kate Houston (49:12, 49:25, 49:39 and 49:59 respectively), ahead of Mohammed Shaikh on 50:43. Almosts were crossing the finish line in steady succession now - Dave Davey (51:14), Hayley Woolnough (51:28), Alison Hume (51:32), Bob Spawton (51:48) with Sarah Wallbridge and Mike Line not far behind (52:09) and (52:14) ahead of Neil Harris, Sue Monaghan, Trevor Richards and Catherine Mason (53:10, 53:19, 53:14 and 53:43). There was a short gap before the next group - Deborah Elliott (56:14), David Lawrence (56:11), Coralie Pearson (57:21), Sandra Stuart (57:35) and Bill Jones (57:44).
There was still a chance to cross the line under the hour and Andy Domm, Lucia Milone, Mark Eavers, Darren Lewington, Nicola Woodman, Jane Birch, Rachael and Ollie Nolan, Gareth Wilkes, and a cheeky Sarah Fennell took it (58:02, 58:25, 58:39, 58:38, 58:33, 59:34, 59:41, 59:42, 59:43 and 59:58 respectively).
Mary Welsh first in her age category in just over the hour (1:02:08) with, Fi Sewell (1:04:15), Jayne Adams (1:06:55), Penny Byrne (1:06:56), Jo Johnston (1:06:59), Cottia Howard (1:11:05), and Rob Rennell running his first ever 10k (1:15:19) ably supported by Claire Gallagher (1:12:37), and finally wheelchair racer Danny Reeves also competing in his first 10k race (1:13:51) completing the Almosts team.
Martyn Fisher represented the Almosts in Cambridgeshire, completing the hilly (and muddy) multi-terrain charity 10k around Wimpole Hall in 55:32 while Ray Pearson completed the British Heart Foundation Run around the Moat 10k at the Tower of London during the week.
Gemma Hargraves, not only completed the inaugural Firkin 5mile run round the Hook Norton brewery with Lepha Mccartan and Dave Rogers, she stormed round to bag first lady home as well as the goody bag, beer and burger at the finish.
Although the full results have yet to be published, successes at the tough but enjoyable Northleach 10k race on Sunday included Nick Spice 8th man and Lucinda Hand 3rd lady. Deb Cartlidge, Dave Chittock, Jackie Slaughter and Mariel Chretien completed the Almosts team.
Almost Athletes hosted their 2017 AGM meeting with guest speaker Ben Smith who completed 401 marathons in 401 days raising money for anti-bullying charities. Ben delivered an excellent talk giving an emotional insight into his journey and then rounded the evening off by presenting the clubs Runner of the Year winners to Glenda Gill, Vicky Kennedy and Prash Kumar. At the Tewkesbury Half Marathon Josh Hand took the club honours with a blistering 1.23.28 in some very warm conditions and 11th place overall. Matt Barnes was in hot pursuit and continued his rich vein of form in 1.25.49. Prash Kumar was 3rd home easily dipping under 1.30 in 1.27.17. Fiona Barnes was first lady home for the club in 1.51.20, Heather Berry was second in 1.58.21 and Cos Pearson third in 2.06.50. A through the night 26.2 mile "Moonwalk" in London was the target for Sandra Stuart, Jayne Adams and Sandra Stuart who all completed the course, contributing to the £3.7million raised to support research into cures and treatments for cancer. In the Brecon Beacons, Vasco Barreto conquered the 32 mile ultra over a punishing off-road course in 7hrs 41 whilst Joanna Wisniewska Barreto took on the equally challenging half marathon route in 2.19. Di Kemple also completed the Ultra course.