Busy midsummer schedule for Frome’s club runners
As the year slowly moved to its longest day and temperatures rose ever higher, there was no let-up in races for Frome’s athletes looking for challenges both near and far afield. On a hot, sunny evening on 12 June, Gary Eagle (MV50) lined up with over 500 runners to compete in the Clevedon Midsummer 10K. His impressive time of 00:38:04 earned him 3rd position in category. On the same day, local athletes were able to enjoy another fast, flat course with plenty of PB potential in the form of the Heddington 5K. Peter Grist (MSEN) put on an impressive performance, posting a time of 00:16:43, which earned him 2nd position overall and 1st in category. He was closely followed by Peter Reed (MV40), who completed the course in a PB-time of 00:20:53.
The Yeovilton 5K was another short, sharp mid-week race for local runners. Lee Stone (MV4) stormed home in a PB time of 00:18:07 to earn 4th in category. Dave Wells (MV50) followed shortly after in a time of 00:20:58. Saturday 16 June saw the return of the Broad Town 5-mile race. Kat Uphill (FSEN) posted an impressive time of time of 00:32:30 to finish as the first woman overall. She was followed by Joanne Fordham, whose time of 00:37:02 earned her 1st position in category and seventh woman overall. Helen James (FSEN) crossed the line in 00:42:17, followed shortly after by Adrian Mead (MV40) in 00:44:15.
On the same day, two more intrepid Frome athletes took on the Conquest of Avalon 30-mile race. Dave Perrett and Sarah Perrett both completed the course in 008:53:00. The long-distance challenges continued on the Saturday with Victoria Penman and Marcus Gaffney completing The Wall 2018. This 69-mile course takes runners out along Hadrian’s Wall from Carlisle Castle in Cumbria to Baltic Square in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Victoria and Marcus finished the gruelling challenge in 20:48:20.
Closer to home, the second race in the Westbury 5K series was held on Tuesday, 19 June. Ian Holmes (MV50) completed the course in 00:20:33, closely followed by Peter Reed (MV40) in 00:20:41. The following day saw the return of the Chippenham Longest Day 10K race. Emma Evans (FV40) completed the course in 00: 55:12, followed closely by Anne Porter (FV60) in 00: 57:25. Alex Chesterton (MV50) rounded off the week with the Giant’s Head Marathon in Dorset. This hilly but beautiful off-road course takes athletes through the Sydling and Cerne valleys running around and under the famous Cerne Giant. Alex completed the challenge in 05:30:15.
Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.