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| Frome at the Spring 10 Mile |
Always a busy running month, March saw a slew of challenges for Frome’s club runners, with distances to satisfy long- and short-distance fans. First off, on Sunday, 2 March, was local classic The Imber Ultra, a 33 ½-mile multi-terrain ultramarathon taking runners around the Imber Range Perimeter Path. A hardy band of Frome runners took to the starting line with Paul Horton (MV50) crossing the finish line first for the club in 05:18:39. He was followed by Sian Meaney (FSEN) in 05:57:57 and Vicki Trundle (FV40) in 07:26:21. On the same day, more of Frome’s finest lined up for the Chippenham Spring 10 Mile a fast, flat 10 mile route through the town and surrounding country roads. Alexander Fisher (MV40) crossed the line in a speedy 01:05:43, followed by Alan Brawn (MV50) in 01:23:18 and Nicky Thomas (FV50) in 01:23:21, Julie Chilvers (FV50) in 01:34:18 and Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 01:42:03.
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| The Grizzly |
The following Sunday 9 March, another band of Frome runners took a trip to the seaside (Seaton) for The Grizzly, a 20-mile multi-terrain route encompassing bogs, streams, beaches, clifftops and steep hills. Dan Gaisford (MV45) finished first for Frome in a time of 03:13:12, followed by Emma Surridge (FV45) in 03:45:38 and Ian Holmes (MV55) in 03:55:02. Next past the post was Ellie Burford (F35) in 04:07:27, Clare Dunning (F35) in 04:07:42 and Ben Spicer (MV40) in 04:19:58.
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| The Street 5K |
The final race in the 2024/25 Street 5K series took place on Wednesday, 12 March. Six Frome runners flexed their 5K muscles on the fast, flat route. Alexander Fisher (MV40) crossed the line in 00:18:50, followed by Daniel Thomson (MSEN) in in 00:20:39, David Lee (MV40) in 00:21:02 and Chris Dayman-Johns (MSEN) in 00:22:31. Barrie Knight (MV70) finished in 00:23:55 followed by Brett Sadler in 26:30.
The Bath Half Marathon made a welcome return on Sunday 16 March. As customary, Frome fielded a strong team, headed by Alexander Fisher (MV40), who again finished first for the club, posting a time of 01:26:50. Daniel Thomson (MSEN) was hot on his heels with a time of 01:39:21, followed by Stephen Jackson (MV45) in 01:41:08, Ben Spicer (MV40) in 01:47:37, Andrew Fowler (MV40) in 01:50:40 and Chris Chivers (MV40) in 02:16:15.
The following Sunday (23 March) saw the start of the Wiltshire Road Race League with this year’s inaugural race The Highworth 5. Frome got its campaign off to a great start with a very strong field of runners taking on the 5 mile race on country roads. Once again, Alexander Fisher (MV40) finished first in 00:31:33, followed very closely by Dan Gaisford (MV40) in 00:31:49, James Arnull-Culliford (MV40) in 00:33:23 and Sam Baraud (MSEN) in 00:36:28. David Alsford (MV50) crossed the line in 00:37:26, closely followed by Ellie Burford (FV35) in 00:37:56 and Barrie Knight (MV60+) in 00:39:45. Emma Yeo (FV55) finished in 00:40:04, followed by Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 00:40:14, Julie Chilvers (FV50) in 00:44:14, Paul Goodwin (MV60+) in 00:46:47 and Suzanne Ingle (FSEN) in 00:47:52. On the same day, over in Hullavington, Paul Horton (MV50) took on the Hullavington 20, a twenty-mile road race through the gently undulating countryside of Wiltshire. Paul completed the course in a time of 02:26:53.
On Sunday, 30 March, Daniel Thomson was in action again, this time in Yeovil for the town’s half marathon, completing the route in 02:46:09. Finally, to mark the changing seasons, more Frome club runners took part in the Spring Clock Change Challenge in Calne on 30 March. Alexander Fisher (MV40), finished in 00:39:39, followed by Emma Yeo (FV55), whose time of 00:49:34 earned her first in age category. John Yeo was next to finish in 00:50:54 followed by Emma Evans (FV50) 00:59:04.
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.
