results 2209

Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

September 2022

• Yeti/Rainbow Challenge
• Tissington Trail Half-Marathon
• Run Jurassic Half-Marathon
• Run Jurassic 10k
• Run Jurassic Ultra-Marathon
• Run Jurassic Marathon
• Women’s 4-Stage Road Relays
• Men’s 6-Stage Road Relays
• Tamworth 5 Miles
• Balsall Common 10k
• Equinox 10k
• Equinox 24 Hour Event
• Enigma Rocky 3 Marathon
• Enigma Pubopoly Marathon
• Draycote Half-Marathon
• Kenilworth Half-Marathon
• Great North Run
• Chedworth Roman Trail 10 Miles
• Nuneaton 10k
• Stratford Big 10k
• 100 Marathon Club AGM Day 2 Half-Marathon

Yeti Rainbow Challenge – 27 September OTH

Big Bear had been trying to get to Kingsbury Water Park since the start of the COVID pandemic and finally the day came. In need of a 20 miles distance, the time and the maths worked out that 6 laps would be just over so this was my best chance. Trail, tarmac and grass over ankle deep in places meant this was an event more to enjoy than to run.

The journey over was very wet, setting off alarm bells over my choice of road shoes but it was going to be what it was. I’d not done any of their 6 hour events before, and with it being midweek I was very nervous. All nerves went though when I saw I was not the only one there, and seeing the familiar faces of Katy and Paul settled any worries.

The first 3 laps were good, the grass was wet and a decision point I took as being 10 steps up a steep hill seemed to make sense. Then on lap 4, the heavens opened, instantly turning drying compact mud to slippery, sinking mud which made the times start to slip. Taking the toll on the decision hill as I now needed the trees to help me up. As others were sheltering from the now torrential downpour, with only 2 laps to go I pushed on. On the 5th lap, after climbing with the help of the trees’ shelter, I was greeted by a fellow runner coming the other way, pointing out the route markers on the lower (and flat section). I carried on knowing they came out at the same place. All of a sudden the distance difference changing between me and the runner in front made sense. I thought he was like a mountain goat, where as in fact he took the flat section everytime. How we laughed.

6th lap, conditions underfoot were worsening and the legs were tiring. I stopped to take on some food and drink, adjusting my target to be achieveable and keeping with the runner in front of me all the way this time. I finished at just over 20 miles and wished him the best as he went back out. Paul and Katy completed two further laps to get the marathon distance and a bit completed on the day – Spencer

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Tissington Trail Half-Marathon – 25 September HM

Lee Newark

1:43:44

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Run Jurassic Trail Running Festival – 24 & 25 September

 

We arrived on Friday night and found the local micro pub. After several pints, we realised that all food outlets were closed. Luckily Dominoes and Just Eat came to the rescue.

Three of us ran on Saturday: Damien, Caroline and me. It was a beautiful sunny day. We had to get up at 5.30am which was a bit tough after the excess of the night before, and Damien had driven through the night from Coventry.

Damien started the Ultra at Durdle Dor about 10 miles west of Weymouth and the marathon started 3 miles west of Weymouth. The terrain was undulating as expected but the worst was the couple of miles of pebble/shingle beaches. The aid stations were great and the marshals really friendly and smiley. The route was well signposted. ‘Keep the sea to your left’. It was lovely to see the friendly faces of Tim and Chris at a couple of points en route and to have our photo taken with the local wildlife (a dinosaur). We were all really happy with our runs as Caroline was still injured and ran a lot more than she thought she could and my lack of recent training was showing. We would recommend this event to anyone; it was a great day on the coast path. We then made for the Tiki bar and various brightly coloured cocktails.

Sunday dawned, another very early start and we all got to the start at Freshwater Bay in time for an 8am start for Tim for the half-marathon and 8.30am starts for Caroline, Chris and me for the 10K. Tired legs from the marathon made for a hard first few miles for Caroline and me. Chris skipped off ahead into the distance. The race set off in the opposite direction to the day before and the elevation was much greater. Poor Tim had a total elevation gain of 2186 feet. The ‘Love Station’ offered lots of choice and a welcome cup of cider well before the sun was over the yardarm.

We all finished the course in the sunshine and rewarded ourselves with lovely breakfast batches. It was a great morning but sadly we had to shower and drive back later, bringing back memories of a lovely weekend by the sea.
PS – we didn’t actually get into the sea as the bar beckoned – Claudie

Photos credit: Claudie Combelas

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Women’s 4-Stage Road Relays, Sutton Park – 24 September OTH

4 legs of 4.33km

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Men’s 6-Stage Road Relays, Sutton Park – 24 September OTH

6 legs of 5.88km

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Tamworth 5 Miles – 18 September 5M

Owen Drage

0:31:56

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Balsall Common 10k – 18 September 10K

9	Craig Holmes	0:37:11
27	Steve Turvey	0:40:45
34	David Hartopp	0:41:57
41	Sean Duffy	0:42:50	PB
47	Tommy Dempsey	0:43:46
68	Debbie Campbell	0:47:08	PB
69	Peter Kirkhope	0:47:09
92	Lisa Abbott	0:50:43
98	Simon Aldridge	0:51:24
105	Richard Hands	0:52:32
109	Richard Arnold	0:53:30
110	Lee Miller	0:53:37
119	Mike Duggan	0:55:37	3rd MV70
124	Cliff Evans	0:56:40
126	Joanne Evans	0:57:24
130	Ellie Aldridge	0:58:47

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Equinox 10k – 16 to 18 September 10K

154	Kelly Parker	1:24:52
156	Tracey Cox	1:25:13

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Equinox 24-hour Event – 16 to 18 September OTH

Fancy Northbrook Dress
91st out of 246 female solo

1	Caroline Hughes	01:32:40
2	Caroline Hughes	01:30:53
3	Caroline Hughes	01:34:01
4	Caroline Hughes	01:34:33
5	Caroline Hughes	01:51:07
6	Caroline Hughes	01:53:54
7	Caroline Hughes	02:01:27
8	Caroline Hughes	01:47:19
	Time Out	10:13:47

 

Friday 16th came around for our annual fun version of the 24 hr relay race format – Belvoir Castle and Equinox 24. Having decided on the 2 vehicles only for set up Chris and Claudie arrived next in queue behind me and Tracey. Arriving an hour and a half early meant breakfast in the caravan with the kettle boiling as we talked location and strategy. As the vehicles started to roll we latched ourselves onto the side of our friendly neighbours at Aldridge Running club. No pressure, no stress, nice atmosphere; other 24 hr events could learn a lot about this.

Camp was set up in sunny but slightly blowy conditions as we waited for the next arrivals. As they started to arrive we welcomed them and retired out of the wind to the beer bus. The Friday night excitement was growing as was the number of beers being consumed. Friday night sees the annual Beer Run at Equinox. Pitch black so with headtorches and a drink in hand our strange collection of inflatables made sure that Northbrook may have been present but certainly not competitive. We were greeted with the usual request for photos and cheers from the crowd. The inflatable dino and “hotdog/foot” ran, and the unicorn slid backwards down the course for more drinks. Running in inflatables is not fun. You are blind, desperate for air and drenched in sweat, but the support keeps you going. Beer run complete so time for some more hydrating into the night.

Saturday morning saw an opportunity to sweat out some of the alcohol on the local parkrun. Numbers quadrupled from normal due to the Equinox event so it was never going to be quick, but alcohol sweated we returned nervously waiting the midday gun.

First up were our leg 1’s , our solo and our two “butterfly” Northbrookers doing the day 10K. Would this be their only lap? Drop-outs in the preceeding week suggested otherwise. Midday, the gun went off and the teams started their cycles. Our fancy dress team was asked for 27 laps requiring an average of 55 mins a lap. Tim’s team was there for the joy, Becky’s team was there for the experience and Caroline, solo–ing, had her own targets and was very strict on her pacing and refuelling every lap. As the first leg runners were coming in the excitement carried on building, targets were being met, our butterflies completing their run and celebrating in the only way they knew. It was beer o’clock for them.

The cycles continued but with Becky’s team only being a four it was never going to be an easy challenge for them. Sensibly they kept their pace achievable for each of them with a planned break overnight when one of the butterflies would stagger a lap out for them. And stagger they did, 2.5 miles in the realisation of just how much celebration had been drunk dawned on her. But this was the night and who cares. The other 2 teams were cycling all night, keeping the times in their own target zones. The leaders were averaging 41 mins a lap till it got dark. The dark slowing the top teams as our experienced war horses kept churning the pace out. We were climbing. Up to 9th/8th we were on target, though sleep was not possible with short turnaround times.

The firepit was kept constantly stoked to provide warmth when you returned and warmth when you rose to go again.
Just before dawn, Becky’s team rose again, sending Jan out, this woman was like a metronome, not stopping (though “that hill” did cost us all walks on every lap), never complaining and always smiling.
Caroline rose again, ready to achieve her target, the other 2 teams with weary eyes still cycling. Craig giving it his all on lap 4 could give no more, but he had done the job the team had asked for. He retired to the firepit wrapped in numerous blankets.

The exit plans were brewing, our 27 lap target was possible but our last 5 laps had to be pushed; time to give it all. Tom’s yoga proved once again the key for him. Francis gave everything to ensure Tom could get out. Mark dressed as Forest Gump knew he had to get round in less than 1hr 5 on his 6th and final lap. Tim overly impressed his team were pushing to get him out, cursed as he relaced.
Then the realisation. All 3 teams would be out together within 3 mins of each other. This would be perfect, Tim, Pete and I would be flying the flag on the last lap, leaving the start with 8 mins to spare. This was never going to be a quick lap It was recovery for Pete, me crashing and in need of fuel found the aid station stocked with the sugary impact I needed, Tim, striding the hills. The 3 of us did what we needed to do to get the last lap done together. On to the field for the last time as we approached our cheer zone. They were all there. The 2 run in flags taken by Tim and Jan in honour of them both achieving more than they expected led us over the line with our support crew, our butterfliss, the kids, the families. Twenty Northbrookers charged the line in unison to finish the event in the best way possible. All the teams bunny hopped up the table with the strategy of the last lap, all runners weary but beaming.

We came, we represented the club, we found new friends, got respect from the other clubs and achieved our targets.

Will we be back? Hell yeah, this is an event we simply cannot miss. Though a 7th fancy dress costume for my laps may be a tall order – Spencer

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Enigma Rocky 3 Marathon – 18 September M

Duncan Gordon

6:20:34

 

Enigma Pubopoly Marathon – 17 September M

Duncan Gordon

5:49:27

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Draycote Half-Marathon – 17 September HM

Craig Webb

1:59:33

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Kenilworth Half-Marathon – 11 September HM

A superb morning’s running in the Kenilworth Half-Marathon today, beautifully set-up to remember our beloved Queen with a minute’s silence beforehand and each runner wearing a black ribbon.

A great club effort by Northbrook on a calm, misty, muggy morning with many of us running faster than anticipated – Kevin

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Great North Run – 11 September HM

	Darren Taplin	1:41:10
	Craig Murray	1:50:13
	Lee Newark	1:55:49
	Martina McConville	1:56:06
	Lee Miller	2:01:19
	Alan Smith	2:08:46
	Carolyn Hadley	2:15:26
	Melissa Murray	2:19:00
	Tracey Williams	2:40:40

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Chedworth Roman Trail 10 Miles – 11 September 10M

126

Stephen Simson

1:45:51

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Nuneaton 10k – 11 September 10K

What else to do on a Sunday but race, a few last minute entries ensured that 6 Northbrookers lined up at the start of the Nuneaton 10k. After a minute’s silence the gun went off which suprised most runners and saw many runners scrabbling to get their Garmins started.

A really pleasant 3 laps around the outskirts of the Pingles stadium park followed by a 1km off-shoot to take the runners around outside of the track and then 700 metres on the track to ensure a strong finish was achieved.

Paul Carberry led the club home in his first outing sporting a Northbrook sunburst. Mark Baker was followed home by me in my quest to return to fitness, grabbing a 10km PB at the same time. Rich Arnold had a strong result, along with Jeanie Noonan. Meanwhile the ever improving runner Jan Watson bagged herself a new 10km PB too.

An enjoyable result for all – Tim

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Stratford Big 10k – 4 September 10K

70	Paul Carberry	00:43:06
81	Craig Slyde	00:44:16
119	Spencer Davies	00:46:25
158	Mark Baker	00:48:44
191	David Hadley	00:49:49
246	Lee Miller	00:52:15
254	Stuart Clements	00:52:24
348	Martin Gavin	00:56:19
387	Narelle Copland	00:57:30
529	Carolyn Hadley	01:03:31
684	Tracey Davies	01:13:31

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100 Marathon Club AGM Day 2 Half-Marathon – 4 September HM

Did not feel well at all so stopped at Half Marathon. Always another day for a long run.