Weekly Roundup, October 2nd – October 8th

Last Week’s Leftovers

Tons of New Photos Added

Lots of photos from last week’s Cardiff Half Marathon have been added to the Gallery page.

Did Matthew Crowle Run the Cardiff HM?

Matthew Crowle wasn’t registered to run the Cardiff HM but someone finished in 15th position that looks just like him! It was actually Mick Clohisey an Irishman that happens to look a lot like Matthew!

Green Army

There are still some photos appearing from the Cardiff Half including this cracker from Ken Grist.

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This Week’s News

Alex Discovers DOMS

#womandown!

Cardiff Half Marathon 2018

Club members have already been signing up for next year’s Cardiff Half Marathon including Alex Thomas, Debbie Dawkins, Sian McGoldrick and Caroline Matthews. Mike Matthews is also running it but he didn’t really have a choice!

Julie Cashell Awarded Gold Medal

Julie Cashell recently ran the Forest of Dean Half Marathon and was awarded silver medal in the FV35 category. This week she received a phone call from the race organiser saying that due to the person awarded the gold medal being disqualified, Julie was now being awarded that medal!

PBBRC on Radio Wales

Ian Davies and Gareth Williams had a mention on Radio Wales on Monday after being interviewed by Eleri Sion after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon.

More Money Raised for Lauri

“Just wanted to let you all know Louise Mack has collected £165 to support our lovely Lauri. She collected from run with us and merthyr running club on Sunday. During Adrian Taylor‘s Gazelles race we collected £40 so over £200 from the good people of Merthyr.“ – Katharine Collins

VLM 2018 Ballot

Members have been receiving responses to the Virgin London Marathon 2018 ballot and so far it’s only been bad news.

• Mwahhhh, Mwahhhhhh. No place for me, no 20 mile slogs in wind rain snow and ice winter training in dark! – Cyril Williams
• NEVER in my life have I been so relieved to receive a rejection letter!! One will make stupid ballot applications! – Laura Hire
• Bollocks! – Richard Price

Julie Cashell Embarks on Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy

Our resident sports therapist, Julie Cashell, has embarked on Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy and once completed will be a registered Sports Injury Practitioner.

Alex’s Transformation

It’s always encouraging and motivating when members post Timehop photos on Facebook showing how running has transformed their health and well-being. Alex Thomas posted a photo this week showing the transformation between the 2015 and 2017 Cardiff Half Marathon.

Welsh Half Marathon Championships

The results were released for the Welsh Half Marathon Championships and we took home three medals – Julie Cashell took a bronze in the WV40, Damian Williams took a silver in the MV50 and Michael Lewis took gold in the MV75 category!

parkrun

There was one PB to report at PBB parkrun with Rob Bennett finishing in 21:39.

parkrun Tourists

Gary Bartram was in Chester for the marathon so popped along to the local parkrun with his wife Sarah. Darren Swift was at Kingsbury parkrun in Birmingham, Derek Rainbird was in the Forest of Dean, Andrew Meadows and Katharine Collins were at Merthyr for the 25th event, Lee Griffiths was in Newport, Phil and Jill Matthews were in Liverpool, Sian McGoldrick was in Pontypridd, Hayley Jackson was in Penallta, Margrett and Bernie Monk and Callum Schofield were in Cwmbran and Michael Lewis was in Longrun Meadow.

Junior parkrun

A number of club members were supporting the Junior parkrun on Sunday morning and dressed up in fancy dress to help them celebrate their first birthday.

Merthyr Marathon

Gavin Patterson and Claire Sullivan were running the inaugural Merthyr Marathon on Sunday which follows the Merthyr HM route and then heads up to Pontsticill Reservoir. Michael Cope was out on the course taking photographs and James Williams managed to get some shots of Claire finishing. Gavin finished in an excellent 3:04:50 taking 2nd place.

Chester Marathon

Gary Bartram’s marathon training has been featured on the Weekly Roundup on a number of occasions and he’s been working hard for the Chester Marathon. Gary was aiming for sub-4 hours and almost got there finishing the race in 04:02:36 which was 10 minutes faster than London earlier this year.

Well it’s taken two of them but I realise now that a marathon is very long way to run!

I didn’t get the time I wanted today, I was roughly on course for sub 4 until the last 4 miles, where although I love hill, I didn’t love hill after hill in those miles. My legs went and I walked and it took all my determination to get going again.

I won’t be searching for a sub 4 marathon though (yes I know I said the same after London!), the training is a massive commitment and I still have Windermere Marathon in May and Race To The Stones 100k Ultra in July to look forward to / train for.

Today was a PB of 4:02:37 taking 10 minutes off my London Marathon time and on a much harder course.

I’d like to thank Sarah for her support once again as I made this journey towards the start line.

GLCL XC: PBB

Cross Country is not supposed to be a walk in the park and this race certainly wasn’t. A total of 79 club members participated and was supported by club members and family around the course. We had a crack team of marshalls that offered support not only for the green army but for all runners.

There were many first time XC runners including Suzie Tew, Ruth Butterfield, Sian McGoldrick, Suzanne Court, Sarah Jeremiah and Stephen Dallow. Thankfully none of them appear to have been discouraged by the experience and will be running future races.

A Brand New Course

Our course architect, Clive Cookey did a superb job in creating a challenging cross country course and worked tirelessly in preparing it for race day by cutting back overgrowth, painting all those troublesome rocks red and even strimming grass on race day.

Mud So Deep It’ll Suck The Sole off Your Shoe!

Starting Video

Feedback

First XC experience today and wow it was fab, although I looked and felt I was going to  collapse at certain points. – Anna Smith

First XC and I’ll be back for more. – Suzie Tew

Really enjoyed my first XC experience. – Sian McGoldrick

Awesome course. Thanks to Mr Cooksey who did his best to kill us all off! – Sam Standerwick

Top morning supporting my running buddies! A tough muddy race. I’m shattered and I was only marshalling! Well done all! – Sara Elizabeth

Hated every minute! – Kim Price

Aww look at your little blonde moustache. – Ryan

Jeez what a cracking course, lots of mud, and a hill. That 3rd lap near finished me off. – Sharon Newell

The best gluten free brownies I’ve ever tasted! – Suzie Tew

GLCL Awards

After the XC, the awards for the GLCL Road Series and combined XC and Road Series were presented. Congratulations to all that won. Also congratulations to Jill Matthews and Nicola Jukes who won but weren’t present.

Other Feedback

Thanks @parcbrynbachrc for a great start to the GLCL XC season! A great course, perfect weather and fantastic marshals! #mudfun #xc – Emma Wookey

P.S.

Brecon 5K(ish) Charity Race

Congratulations to Andrew Meadows how came 3rd in the Cam I’r Bannau charity race in Brecon on Sunday.

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Vests On Tour

Barcelona

Wayne Caniff has been touring the Nou Camp in Barcelona and took his vest along for the visit.

The Needles

The Hamers were at The Needles on the Isle of Wight this week but was probably a bit too windy to get the vests out.

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ABP Newport Wales Marathon

Entries are open for the inaugural ABP Newport Wales Marathon and over 2,000 early bird tickets were snapped up on the first day! No official route has been released yet but it looks like it will be following the lanes that the Lliswerry 8 uses. If you are tempted to enter the race but haven’t run a marathon before, it worth reading this Facebook post from our chief Damian Williams.

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The Week Ahead