Packed August full of races
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| Frome runners at the Hilly Helmet Challenge |
August was a busy month for Frome runners with lots of races of varying distances for local athletes to put themselves to the test. The month got off to a good start with the Bedford Marathon, an eight-lap race around Bedford Autodrome. Two Frome runners took to the starting line here, with Ian Holmes (MV55) finishing first for the club in 03:54:25, followed by Emma Surridge (FV45) in 03:57:11 (second in age category). Three days later, on 7 August, more Frome runners lined up for local classic The Hilly Helmet Challenge, a hilly, four-ish mile mixed terrain race in support of Brain Tumour Support. Ben Spicer (MV40) crossed the finish line first in 00:37:15, followed by Emma Surridge (FV45) in 00:37:24 and Dave Perrett (MV45) in 00:48:57.
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| FRC at the Lightning Bolt 10K |
Sunday 11 August saw the return of the Wiltshire Lightning Bolt, a flat 10K road race rumoured to be one of the fastest 10K races in the country. It was also the Wiltshire 10K Championship, so the field was packed with super-fast runners. First to finish for Frome was Dan Gaisford (MV40), who put in a scorching time of 00:41:39. He was soon followed by Alexander Fisher (MV40) in 00: 41:50 and Keith Vance (MV40) in 00:44:03. Next past the post was David Alsford (MV50) in 00:44:31, followed by David Lee (MV40) in 46:14.9, Claire Bowles (FSEN) in 00: 47:33, Kayleigh Phillips (FSEN) in 00:50:24 and Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 00: 53:55.
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| Frome Half Marathon runners |
The following weekend was a big one for Frome as it heralded the first ever Frome Running Festival, offering 5K, 10K and half marathon distances through the streets of Frome (and out tto Nunney for the half marathon). As to be expected, Frome fielded a good mix of runners in all races. In the 5K distance, Annabel Litchfield (FV35) was the first FRC runner to cross the line in a time of 00:23:12, earning her first in age category. She was followed by Tallis Mason (FSEN) in 00:25:44 and Paul Goodwin (MV70) in 00:27:23, also bagging first in age category. In the 10K race, Peter Reed (MV50) completed the run in 00:47:14 for third in age category, followed by Kayleigh Phillips (FSEN) in 00:52:14 and Chris Dayman-Johns (MV35) in 00:54:26. In the half marathon, Paul Horton (MV55) put in a blistering time of 01:30:36, earning himself first in age category, closely followed by Ronan Ferguson (MV35) in 01:32:33, David Alsford (MV55) in 01:42:09 and Emma Surridge (FV45) in 01:45:28. Next to finish was Ian Holmes (MV55) in 01:49:08, followed by Daniel Thomson (MV35) in 01:50:19 and Brett Sadler (MV70), whose time of 01:50:51 was another first in age category. Alan Brawn (MV50) was next to finish in 01:57:36, followed by Nicky Thomas (FV55) in 01:57:38 (third in age category), Andrew Fowler (MV40) in 01:57:35 and Jeremy Smedddle (MV60) in 02:36:51.
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| Paul Horton finishing the Mendip Marauder 50-miler |
Putting the perfect finish on the month was Paul Horton, who took part in the Mendip Marauder 50-mile race, a tough trail run that follows the Mendip Way from Frome to a sandy beach finish at Uphill, just outside Weston-Super-Mare. Paul finished this challenge in an impressive time of 10:08:56.
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.