Weekly Roundup, February 26th – March 4th

March 4, 2018

Vests on Tour

This week’s Vests on Tour are brought to you by Sue Gray who posed outside the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland and Stephen Mathers who was in a very warm-looking Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Alun Wood has been enjoying some trail runs around the Akamas Peninsula in Cyprus and after a couple of runs without the vest remembered to take it on his latest run, and on the bus!

James Thomas Selected to be ASICS Frontrunner

The ASICS Frontrunner project began in 2010 and each year a select few runners are chosen to represent ASICS and gain early access to products, run at ASICS events and meet top level ASICS athletes. The programme is heavily promoted and as a result around 5,000 runners apply. James Thomas was one of just 26 members to be selected for the 2018 programme which highlights the hard work he has put into improving his running. You can follow his progress on Instagram.

Nick Smith’s Road to the London Marathon

Last weekend, Blaenau Gwent MP, and PBBRC member, Nick Smith completed his first half marathon distance run and a number of club members were there to help support him.

Snow Days!

Sarah, Richard and Owen ventured out to the Skirrid before the snow really hit whilst Rachel dragged Tony out on a snow day VLM marathon training run.

The cold weather didn’t stop Sam Jackson literally flying through the snow!

GLXC: Blaise Castle

Due to the adverse weather conditions, the final fixture in the 2017/18 Gwent League season was cancelled wouldn’t be rescheduled. Consequently, the results of the first four fixtures would count meaning that the Ladies finished in 4th position in Division 1 (the highest for PBBRC and equally the highest position attained by Club 69) and the Men were confirmed as Division 2 champions.

Individual Awards

Gwent League 2017/18 – V45 Silver (Lee Aherne)

Gwent League 2017/18 – V45 Bronze (Nicola Jukes)

Gwent League 2017/18 – V65 Bronze (Margrett Monk)

Gwent League 2017/18 – V55 Bronze (David Smout)

parkrun

Unfortunately the snow cancelled all of the local parkruns including our own. But that didn’t stop Adrian Markey from turning up and running the full 5k claiming an unofficial 1st place. Milo also turned up to complete the 2-and-a-half- laps but complaints from some ducks were filed about whether he started in to the correct place so we’re waiting on the results from a steward’s enquiry. PLUS, it wasn’t on Strava and there was no photographic evidence so he may well have had his feet up in front of the fire.

More Snowy Running Photos

Rachel continued her marathon training combining a shopping trip with a six-miler. Compared to previous runs this week, the temperature was almost tropical at a balmy 0°C.

Fed up with being a caged lion, Lee laced up his XC shoes for a run (it was either that or jump into the snow half-naked!) and was spotted by Adrian Markey (us photographers are everywhere!).

Cambridge Half Marathon

Despite the poor weather, Sue Gray (and her Welsh flag) made it over to Cambridge for the Half Marathon. I’ll be a little disappointed if she didn’t run the entire race waving the best flag in the world!

Cyprus Half Marathon

Alun Wood competed in the 20th Cyprus Half Marathon on Sunday and it was his first race in his Green Vest. Not jealous at all of him having a post-race beer in the sun!

Unofficial Newport Half Marathon

With the Official Newport Half Marathon cancelled/postponed due to snow I thought I’d have a go at organising my own Unofficial Newport Half Marathon which would follow 95% of the official route. Unsure whether anyone would turn up around two dozen hardy runners (including a mini Green Army) braved the elements to trudge through 13.1 miles of snow and slush.

The aim of the run was to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care – the charity of the official race – and so far we’ve raised £85!