Weekend Roundup, May 19th – 21st

Earlier in the Week

Tuesday saw the second race in the Llanfrynach 3-4-5 race series. 8 club members participated in the race – Lee Aherne, Sam Jones, Lauren Cooper, Danielle Phillips, Andrew Gunter, Sian Jones, Michelle Jayne and Andrew Meadows. Congratulations to Lauren Cooper who was the first female to finish.

Parc Bryn Bach Running Festival and Open Day

The PBB Running Festival and Open Day took place on Saturday and offered a range of activities including races, stand up paddle boarding, nordic walking and archery. The event was supported by PBBRC, who organised the 5K race, and was attended by a number of members.

parkrun

Congratulations to Sam Standerwick on completing her 100th parkrun today at PBB.

New PBs

• Ian Davies: 21:08
• Darren Kippest: 21:28
• Marcus Smith: 24:13
• Delphine Jones: 24:22
• Cerys-Scarlett Swift: 26:25

Well done to Cerys-Scarlett Swift who is really flying with three PBs in a row!

This Week’s Tourists

Laura Hire: Barrow parkrun

Dave Kempton: Forest of Dean.

Lauren Cooper: Lauren attended Penallta parkrun and ran an awesome time of 18:15 – a PB and a course record for Lauren.

C25K Update

Sam Standerwick has been doing a stellar job with the C25K and has provided this report.

‘Horrible weather this morning but still had almost 70 C25Kers turn out to finish off week 4 – and half the course! They’re all doing brilliantly, pacing well, doing their homework and arranging runs themselves when they can’t make a session.

Ably assisted by a dedicated bunch of volunteers and helpers who are doing a fabulous job encouraging, cajoling and occasionally beasting the runners to complete each session (ok, the last one may just be me – but they do need to walk briskly as a warmup and not dawdle along chatting ).

Huge thanks to everyone helping out as Lee and I couldn’t do it on our own. Its also great that they get to see everyone from last year C25K graduates to Welsh Internationals like Lee, all loving running and willing to help and encourage new runners. I’m sure we’ll see many of this years group helping next year when they’ll be First Strides regulars and hopefully wearing the green vest of Parc Bryn Bach Running Club #greenarmy’

Ironman Lanzarote

Saturday 20th May saw Mike Matthews competing in Ironman Lanzarote, one of the longest-standing races in Europe and a challenging course known for strong winds and its 2,551 metres of climbing. Mike has been training hard for the event with regular 100-mile bike rides from Ebbw Vale to Tenby.

One of 1,609 athletes to compete, Mike completed the full 140.6 Ironman in 13 hours, 29 minutes and 1 second. Wow! That’s a 2.4 mile sea swim followed by a 122 mile bike ride topped with a full marathon!

I seriously can’t put into words how proud I am of this man. The amount of time, effort and dedication you put into getting fit for this race was unbelievable. You deserve that medal and more. – Caroline Matthews

The start #IMLanzarote pic.twitter.com/C2QS6zLDks

— IronmanLIVE.com (@IRONMANLive) May 20, 2017

Ironman Mike

Aquathlon: Ebbw Vale

Cyril Williams, Gareth Williams, Stephen Williams all participated in the inaugural Aquathlon at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre. The Williams Brothers crossed the line in first and second place with Cyril not far behind.

Whitebrook Windup

The scenic, but challenging Whitebrook Windup was attended by Sam Standerwick who participated in the 10K race along with Helen Williams who knocked 3 minutes off last year’s time.

Results

Name	Time
Helen Williams	58:10

Royal Welsh Trail Running Festival

Incorporated into the Royal Welsh Spring Festival, the Royal Welsh Trail Running Festival consists of 10K and Half Marathon races through valleys, fields, woodland tracks and stunning forestry.

Organised by Run4Wales, the team behind the Cardiff Half Marathon, the event was attended by members of PBB including Rachel and Tony Lewis, Lauren Cooper, Marcus Smith, Andrew and Delphine Jones, Sian and Sam Jones, Darren and Bobbie Swift and Rhys and Nicola Lewis.

Results aren’t published yet but Lauren Cooper has bagged three Silver Medals running for the East Wales Team!

Starting Video

A few green shirts in this video of the start of the race.

Women’s Running Race Series

For the fourth consecutive year, Women’s Running magazine returned to Cardiff’s Bute Park for their Mile/5K/10K Race Series.

The event was well attended by PBB with members Danielle Phillips, Sian McGoldrick, Alex Thomas, Sarah Williams, Gaynor Lewis, Kathryn Price, Cathy Johnson and Johanna Wiles participating.

Warming Up

Great to see Sian McGoldrick representing the Green Army in the front of the warm up session.

We’re warming up in Cardiff for #wrrs today! Are you ready to race? @NSPCC @RootsCoBlends @SakaWaterUK @goodfullstop @BoobydooBras pic.twitter.com/ReFRUuaBLO

— Women’s Running UK (@Womensrunninguk) 21 May 2017

1st Place!

Danielle Phillips was first through the finishing tape with a PB time of 41:43.  Congratulations Danielle! Alex Thomas, who is trying hard to get a sub-60 10K crossed the line in 01:01:15, which is a PB for her (4 minutes 13 seconds faster!).

Results

Name	Time
Danielle Phillips	41:43
Sian McGoldrick	55:08
Gaynor Lewis	59:41
Kathryn Price	58:18
Alex Thomas	01:01:15
Johanna Wiles	01:03:31
Cathy Johnson	01:06:36
Karen Thomas	01:06:41
Sarah Williams	01:12:22

Sunday Club Run

Kym Waters, Claire Sullivan, Richard Sheehy, Ruth Butterfield and Stephen Carter took part in the weekly long Sunday run. This week’s was a 10-miler with a few hills thrown in. Don’t forget, if you want to attend just turn up at the PB Visitors Centre at 0930.

Up and Down the Wye Valley

Torn between the Whitebrook Windup and the Sarn Helen Hill Race, Robert Gale decided to do neither and decided to head out along the Wye Valley for a long scenic run. Heading along Offa’s Dyke Path and the Wye Valley Walk, the route takes in Wintour’s Leap, Devil’s Pulpit, Giant’s Cave, an old grotto along with Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle. The 14-mile run has over 2,600ft of ascent with some tough climbs in places.

The Week Ahead

Tuesday sees the second race in the GLCL Road Race Series at Llanhennock – let’s try and match the cracking turnout we had at the first race at PBB.

Also this week are races at Rhayader (5K), Lydney (5K), Cwmdu (fell race) and Treforest (10K). Check the Races page for more information.