Weekly Roundup, October 9th – October 15th
Gilbert Legge Memorial Award
At this week’s Gwent League fixture we were presented with the prestigious Gilbert Legge Memorial Award. The award has been presented to clubs since the second season of the Gwent League and is ‘voted for by the member clubs and it goes to the club which has shown “Sportsmanship, Endeavour and Achievement”‘.
With an awesome team behind-the-scenes that ensures everything runs smoothly at events such as the Gwent League, an ever-growing and passionate group of runners and support from family members and our honorary member Steve Jones, receiving an award like this just goes to show how our efforts are being recognised by others.
Last Week’s XC
There’s a dedicated post to the first GLCL XC fixture here but thought I’d include a few photos in this week’s roundup.
A Few XC Photos
That moment when losing your shoe for the third time in the mud during cross country is one too many.
Delphine’s face sums up how many of us felt running through that thick mud.
Nothing like a baptism of fire!
You can rely on Kim to truly express how she feels during a race.
I think DJ Milo loved every second of that race!
Bobbie was clearly enjoying herself TOO much.
Tactics
If you see an opportunity to pick off a few runners you take it. And if you spot someone doing it, you follow them.
Before and After
Medal Monday
“My second marathon was all about trying to get the sub 4 that I missed out on at London in April.
I was all smiles at the start with Sarah, and all wavy hands and thumbs up at the exit of the racecourse and around 2 miles just before heading under the Eastgate Clock.
It was an entirely different story with less than 800m to the finish.
My race had fallen apart in the previous 4 miles, where a series of hills had taken everything from my legs and the dream of a sub 4 finish.
I was physically and mentally exhausted as I approached the very enthusiastic support team of Sarah, Alison, Andy, Rob, Jack, Tracy & Pete. They were shouting encouragement and all I wanted was to cross the finish line so I ran passed pretty much expressionless! I did apologise later for ignoring them.
I finished with a PB time of 4:02:37 – over 10 minutes faster than London.
It was a hard run and although I have Windermere Marathon in May & Race To The Stones next year, I’m in no hurry to return to the distance!!!”
VLM 2018 Charity Places
Two club members have secured charity places for the 2018 Virgin London Marathon. Sarah Jeremiah will be raising money for St David’s Hospice and in addition to any donations she will also be requiring ‘lot of cake, gin and support to get me through the long winter runs‘. Michelle Jayne will be raising money for Shelter Cymru.
Cardiff Half Marathon Medal
Damian Williams received his silver medal for his age category placement at this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon. Not pictured is the speeding ticket he received whilst travelling to the race!
Forza Tops
Stephen Carter received some shiny new kit this week including the Forza tops that are now becoming synonymous with the Green Army. If you haven’t already bought one, get your order in whilst they’re still available.
parkrun
There weer 4 PBs to report at PBB this week with Mike Williams finishing in 21:54, Roger Freeman in 22:19, Rhi Griffin in 23:01 and Patrick O’Leary in 31:10. Tourists this week were Dave Kempton and Derek Rainbird in Pontypool, Lee Griffiths in Newport and Jonathan Astley and Katharine Collins were in Merthyr.
Cancer Research Tough 10 Trail
Owen Davies attended the Cancer Research Tough 10 Trail race in Margam Country Park on Saturday.
Went hard for the cause, PB’d my Mile, half mile and 1k during the final charge! Raised £200 so thanks to everyone who contributed
GL XC: Llandaff
The Green Army was out in force for the first fixture of the Gwent League 2017/18 season. The race coincided with the Cardiff Cross Challenge and featured some incredibly fast runners. The fixture featured a full fixture of races throughout the day and in addition to the usual senior women’s and men’s races we were also fielding runners in the Under 15s and Under 17s men’s races.
Below is the starting list (Dai Smout’s naming!)
Starting List
Fine Fanciful Fillies
| Sharon Woods | Julie Cashell | Lauren Cooper |
| Sarah Lane Coote | Suzanne Court | Ruth Davies |
| Rebecca Foley | Claire Sullivan | Hannah Williams |
| Nicola Jukes | Maricel Jenkins-Belohorska | Sarah Jeremiah |
| Kath Jervis | Alex Thomas | Delphine Jones |
| Keri-Lyn Jones | Louise Kirby | Rachel Lewis |
| Sian McGoldrick | Margrett Monk | Sharon Newell |
| Melissa Pearce | Emily Sams | Emily Rose Smith |
| Bobbie Swift |
Over 65 Extremely Attractive Males
| David Smout | Michael Lewis |
Young Guns
| Tom Webb | Callum Schofield |
Dogs B*ll**ks
| Lee Aherne | James Ashley | Neil Beynon |
| Marc Bloomfield | Sam Lewis Jones | Harry Davies |
| Mathew Ellis | Robert Gale | Sam Jackson |
| Darren Kippest | Simon Lewis | Tony Lewis |
| Stephen Mathers | Phillip Miles | Jamie Parry |
| Gavin Patterson | Lee Phillips | Richard Price |
| Ethan Sayce | Richard Sheehy | Marcus Smith |
| James Thomas | Terry Vaughan | Nick Webb |
| Cyril Williams | Damian Williams | James Williams |
| Stephen Williams | Gwyn Palfrey | Sean Thomasson |
| Darren Swift |
Look out for an individual post for the event.
Run for Rebecca
There was a huge turnout for the Run for Rebecca on Sunday morning with many club members, First Strides and other supporters in attendance. In excess of £650 was raised!
I’m so proud to be part of such a fantastic club. The support showed to the amazing Rebecca Cooksey was unbelievable this morning. We are all so proud of you! Keep fighting. You are a beautiful person inside and out. – Rhian White
Today was another reason to be proud to be a member of Parc Bryn Bach RC. Club members and first striders gathered for a run to show support for the amazing Rebecca Cooksey. Bec you are an inspiration and I hope we’ve shown you how much you mean to us all today. – Alex Thomas
Starting Video
Amsterdam Marathon
Congratulations to Richard Price who completed Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday (his first marathon) despite coming back from injury. His friend experienced foot trouble from 15K but they both made it around in approx 4:20.
Ponty Plod
Gwyn Palfrey and Helen Williams competed in the 11-mile Ponty Plod race on Sunday. I happened to be in the area around about the same time on a discovery run but had I remembered that the race was on it would have been one that I would have entered.
Royal Welsh Run
Gary Meadows and Andrew Meadows travelled to the National Botanic Garden of Wales for the 10K-ish Royal Welsh Run and despite Gary completing the Chester Marathon last week, he had a cracking run. Unfortunately for Andrew he had some knee troubles during the race.
UKA British Fell and Hill Relay Championship 2017
Julie Cashell, Sharon Woods and Michael Cope were in North Wales on Sunday competing in the 2017 UKA British Fell and Hill Relay Championship. Its a 6-person relay race featuring a variety of distances per leg and a navigation leg. Hopefully there will be some photos from the race to include in next week’s roundup.
Vests on Tour
Bodrum & Cyprus
Nicola Jukes was in Bodrum, Turkey this week and Kathryn Price was in Cyprus. Not jealous at all!
The Week Ahead
If you’re looking for a race next weekend there’s the Silent Valley Challenge Run in aid of Gwent Wildlife Trust. All the details can be viewed here.
Alternatively, the Spirit of Monmouth Running Club are organising the 10K Trellech Beacon Dash.