Category: Run reports

What a great Striders turn out for the Ali Brownlee Riverside 5k, despite some Striders somehow not knowing who Ali was. ? A bit of Boro education needed before next year's race me thinks. ? There was a sea of green and blue, and the odd bit of just blue from Cat, for the club photo shoot. Although some of us may have mistimed the road closures and had an extra warm up to sprint to the Ayresome Park games just as the photo was taken. We must have been looking our usual fabulous selves as even the Evening Gazette wanted photos of us... famous at last! ? On to the serious business of running. There were tough conditions for league race number 13, with warm temperatures and a strong…

It was ten past six, cool, damp and grey. I couldn't see any other Striders. Oh dear, this is going to be a long evening I thought. Yes, Tuesday saw the penultimate 'Summer' track and field event at a gloomy Darlington. My mood suddenly changed when, in the distance, I spotted me old mucker Dave Fender. It was a surprise - Dave running on a Tuesday is almost as rare as hens teeth. His intention was just to do the running events but I used all my powers of persuasion to get him to enter the high jump with me. His first jump saw him clipping the bar with his foot. "Get that knee drive going mate." A few minutes later Dave had made his first clearance and Katie Abel…

A balmy Tuesday evening in Middlesbrough saw round 4 of the summer track and field series. Some of the usual suspects were there - namely Katie Abel, Emily Chaytor, Vicky Meaby, Kate Butterworth and myself. I'm pleased to say that Michelle Hart, Teagan Monty, Andrew Laverick and Tom Day decided to give it a go too, and all did great. We started with the age old lack of safety pins problem - but didn't let it spoil the mood. First field event was the Hammer throw. Kate and Vicky entered - with Kate's superb 17.23 metre throw winning the woman's senior category. A really fantastic effort considering she had little or no experience of the event before. Next up was the 400 metres with Katie, Michelle, Andrew, Tom and myself…

Just a small group of Striders braved Ossy Oiks fell race, our 11 league race of the year. With a suggested safety equipment list including map, compass and whistle plus photos of a brutal downhill doing the rounds before the race it’s safe to say we didn’t quite know what to expect. For once there were no nerves about finishing times, just nerves about finishing at all. The pre-race safety instructions told us we should expect to slide and bump into rocks and trees. Turns out these instructions were pretty accurate! Ossy Oiks has a fell running classification of AS, meaning a short race with some very steep climbs and descents. It’s a very friendly small race where the more experienced runners were happy to share their knowledge and experience…

23 Striders attended the alternative parkrun course at Tees Barrage this week. It was a successful debut as run director for Gail Robinson, with a strong team of Striders in support as volunteers. Adam Potter joined the growing number of Striders in the 100 club and Donna McDermott joined the 2 club. At Albert Park, Gavin Morley, Tegan Monty and Stevie Cooper all PB’ed. We also had athletes at Stewart Park, Sedgefield and Hartlepool locally. Whilst further afield we had representation at Bradford, Penrith, Birkenhead, Lancaster, Andover – where Keran Hodgson set a new best time and Lanhydrock where Andrew Laverick did likewise.

Six Striders made the trip to Darlington on Tuesday for event 3 of the Summer Track and Field series. Katie Abel, Sophie Owens, Lucy Owens, Vicky Meaby and Kate Butterworth represented the ladies. Myself, the only gent again. First up was the High Jump - a new event for all of us. Rules stated that the minimum bar height was a very challenging 1.2 metres. This proved a step too far for all of the Striders ladies - except Kate - who, with her final attempt, got the approach and technique spot on to clear the bar. This gained her second overall in the women's senior category - and in the process setting (as far as I know) a ladies Striders High Jump record! Well don Kate! The men's senior…

What better way to spend a sunny Sunday than a trip to the beach? ??However our 10th league race meant we took our running shoes rather than bucket and spade. After the usual late arrivals (whoops ?), forgetting numbers and quick dash home the Striders bus was on its way to the Pier to Pier. We met many more fellow Striders in South Shields as once again we were out in force. Chris showed his usual relaxed attitude by eating a bacon butty 30 minutes before the start. To most people that would mean leaving more than just footprints on the race route. ? The Pier to Pier is an odd race where for part of the way you choose your own route. Qu weeks of people trying to find…

Another record week at Stewart Park saw over 400 park runners in attendance, five of whom were Striders and one of those, Michelle Hart, grabbed a new PB. There were PBs aplenty elsewhere – Rachael Hall at Albert Park – whilst also getting to 150 parkruns. Jennie Johnston (again!), Amelia Whitehouse, Gavin Morley and Racheal Carr at Tees Barrage.  Lucy Owens and Jim Wright at Darlington and Hartlepool respectively. We also had athletes at Sedgefield, Hackworth, Gibside and Rising Sun.

Another week of record attendances across parkrun, locally Stewart Park saw a new record attendance of 399 which included five Striders. Albert Park also hosted five Striders including Steve Mitchinson claiming a new PB and Helen Hall completing her difficult second run in a new PB. Elsewhere, we also had Striders at Sunderland, Sedgefield and Hartlepool – Congrats to Helen Walker for a new PB there. Our big turnout was at a Tees Barrage with good conditions for a quick run. So whilst Donna McDermott joined the 1 club and Phil Swash did his difficult second run in a new PB – Jennie Johnston, Bev Harvey, Dean Philips, Racheal Hall, Leah Fletcher, Keith Evans, Gary Forster, Sam Johnston and Jim Wright all took advantage of the conditions and also PB’ed.…

A chilly Tuesday evening in Middlesbrough saw round 2 of the summer Track and Field meetings. Katie Abel, Vicky Meaby, Kate Butterworth, Emily Chaytor, Lucy Owens and Sophie Owens represented the ladies. Myself, the only gent. I'm happy to report that there were no kit or safety pin issues this time - but a few late arrivals meant a dash to register for the Woman's Discus. I watched on, having been designated chief bag security officer. With the field events you're never quite sure what to expect in terms of the number and calibre of the athletes. On this particular evening the girls were up against some seriously good throwers - and it's fair to say that a podium result was not going to be on the cards. That said,…