Worcester Park Run

With the postponement of Cheltenham’s “Linda Franks” race, Tewkesbury AC headed North for their second 2012 Club Championship race.

The Worcester Parkrun was the venue over a 5km woodland course. With some recent wet weather the course was predominately muddy and all 126 runners struggled to find hard ground. Nevertheless, the runners enjoyed the added challenge and put on a good show.

Tewkesbury’s Simon Waters took the victory in his first 1st place for the club. Currently enjoying some excellent form as he heads for his Marathon debut in Rotterdam this Spring. Waters exchanged the lead through the woods with Jon Mansfield who crossed the finish line one second later.

Parkrun regular Nigel Tillott had to run strong to lead new member Neil Miles out of the woods. Miles showed exciting potential over the distance and by adding to his weekly training mileage, he’ll be one to watch at the next race.

Dan Webb had the better of his main rival Paul Mason; on this occasion the Captain impressed with a gap of 17 seconds from Mason.

Despite the difficult conditions, Tewkesbury’s two Caroline’s both recorded 5km personal best times - not easy considering the extra work of jumping puddles and lifting muddy footwear! Caroline Thomas recorded 22.51 and Caroline Corbett impressed again with 28.15 minutes.

Jude Rodrigues marked his tenth appearance at the Nunnery Wood course with a fine run but like many he found it a challenge to record his best.  Tewkesbury’s oldest  athlete Mike Ward performed well too. Ward took the task in his stride and not for the first time, spectators complimented the 75+yr on how elegant his running looked.

1st Simon Waters 18.10 mins
2nd Jon Mansfield 18.11
8th Nigel Tillott 20.14
11th Neil Miles 20.39
15th Dan Webb 21.22
17th Paul Mason 21.39
39th Caroline Thomas 22.51
60th Jude Rodrigues 24.41
81st Caroline Corbett 28.15
100th Mike Ward 31.52

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Gloucester Marathon

Two Tewkesbury AC runners braved the Gloucester Marathon on Sunday in windy conditions over the challenging, rolling course based on Longley and Hardwicke. Angie Sadler, competing in her first marathon since her foot operation, and with just 6 weeks running in her legs, ran conservatively but strongly for a very commendable 3-49-43 and 161st place from 324 finishers. She is obviously regaining her form again! Phillip Howells recorded a creditable 4-14-42 for 262nd place, although he was a bit disappointed with this time since he felt his fitness should have produced a better performance. However, a below par day with a struggling finish and woosiness at the end, lead to having oxygen in the ambulance for low blood oxygen levels, which perhaps explained the cause? After a few minutes being tended to by the attractive first aid nurse, he recovered quite well!

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The Ultras are back at it.

In preparation for the coming year of ultra running, two of Tewkesbury AC’s long distance runners have been putting in some hard miles in races over tough terrain in Shropshire and Wales recently. Angie Sadler, who is regaining her fitness after 5 months out following a toe operation and is hoping to get back into England 24 Hour racing selection, and Phillip Howells, who is hoping to improve on his 3rd O60 overall placing last year in the season long UK Ultra Championships, have completed two 20 mile events in the last couple of weeks. These were the 20 mile Marches Mistletoe Meander over the Christmas holiday period which took in the remote, scenic and challenging countryside over the South Shropshire hills around Church Stretton (and in which wearing silly Santa hats was de rigeur!) and the 22 miles Reservoir Roundabout around the man-made lakes and the surrounding hills above Rhayader and the Elan Valley. Both involved over 5 hours of running, some walking up steep hills on occasions and quite often knee deep mud and water on the sodden hills to strengthen legs muscles and resolve for a successful 2012 season.

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New Years Day - Pilot Inn 5 Mile

Tewkesbury AC were out in force for the popular January 1st run over in Gloucester.  Never an easy race to predict due to the previous night’s celebrations, TAC’s squad of ten made an impressive display including a couple of outstanding performances.

Leading for Tewkesbury were triathletes Jon Rawlings and Mansfield with Mansfield taking the top veterans prize in under 30 minutes and Rawlings finishing just over 30.  Nigel Tillott looked to be having a bad start to 2012 until he reached the 4 mile mark where he found his best form and made good ground – if he hadn’t then the free flowing trio of Captain Dan Webb, Paul Mason and Fran Osborne would have certainly taken advantage. Osborne, however, did take advantage on the day by taking the Tewkesbury top spot. She enjoyed great support from on-looking team mates Debbie Lee and Caroline Thomas as the pair desisted due to rehab and hangover respectively!
Gloucester based Cross-Country secretary Rob Jordan followed the trio with a fine run before the real highlight of the day which was the tremendous performing Jude Rodrigues. Rodrigues was put to the test right from the start as Tim Abram and Steve Wiggall especially wanted to show the Solicitor a clean pair of heels. By the half way turn point Rodrigues had dispatched the pair only for the finish line spectators to be treated by an excellent turn of speed by Wiggall.  Alas, it wasn’t quite enough on this day but it will be interesting when the pair race next. Abram came in under 40 minutes in his first testing run since an ankle injury.

7th Jon Mansfield = 29.04 minutes
13th Jon Rawlings = 30.29
23rd Nigel Tillott = 32.34
41st Dan Webb = 34.13
47th Paul Mason = 35.01
48th Fran Osborne = 35.24
51st Rob Jordan = 36.28
53rd Jude Rodrigues = 38.23
55th Steve Wiggall = 38.28
61st Tim Abram = 39.53