Category: Run reports

Tuesday saw round 3 of the Track and Field series at Darlington. The 'Striders Race Publicity Department' (SRPD) had been working overtime in the run up to the event. (It's a big department with 10 full time staff and an annual budget of £250,000) They even went to the trouble of advertising it twice in one day on the website - and for that I'm eternally grateful. So, did it work? Well, joining me was... yes, you've guessed it, Mathew Carling. The ladies? Lucy did give a tantalizing hint she was going to attend, but, like Lloyd, I think she's saving herself for the mile relays. Sadly, all this could mean redundancies in the SRPD. The High Jump opened proceedings. It felt like 'Groundhog Day'. The same competitors, the same…

* Sorry for the delay! * Tuesday saw round 2 of the track and field series at Middlesbrough. I was joined by Mathew Carling again, and, err, well that's it. Lloyd was meant to come but we're keeping him wrapped in cotton wool - ready to unleash on the opposition at the mile relays. I seem to have scared off the Striders ladies. Come on girls - what could be better than fighting through long tailbacks on the A174, to eventually arrive at a cold and windy arena - face endless delays as the juniors go through their heats - before starting your favourite event. You don't know what your missing. First up was the 100 metres. Suffering from man-flu, I looked in my bag to discover I'd forgotten my…

  Last week saw Paul Johnson slip quietly into the 100 club, this week he celebrated this with brand new PB and second male finisher at Tees Barrage. We also had Striders at Sedgefield, Hartlepool, Crichton, Northallerton and Lancaster. There were plenty of PBs – Rachel Carr and Michael Hodgkiss at Albert Park. Karen Clarke, Caroline Horton, David Horton and Jonathon Archer at Stewart Park. Amy Gallilee, Liz Jordan and Finlay Pennington at Flatts Lane. It’s not a race but first female at Northallerton was Rachael Hall and at Stewart Park was Caroline Horton followed home by Katie Abel in second. Sarah Winter was second female home at Tees Barrage – behind a familiar name. Third male at Northallerton was claimed by Matthew Carling.

This is something we have not seen before. Liz Simpson finished at this week’s Tees Barrage for the 200th time at that event. Angela led the team of volunteers, with strong Strider representation, as the 35 Strider runners witnessed Ben Valums grab his first PB. PBs a plenty elsewhere – Fiona Shaw and Rachel Boddy are now on a hat trick after their runs at Hartlepool and Hackworth – where Karen Clarke also PBed. All the Striders at Catterick, Matthew Clarkson, Rachael Hall and Matthew Carling grabbed PBs. Tony Gallilee at Sedgefield, Lee Hamilton and Lee Coe at Stewart Park, Finlay Pennington at Fountains Abbey, Rachel Carr and, yet again, Jason Pattison at Albert Park – congrats to all for your PBs. Striders too at Riverside, Newbiggin by the sea…

No new official parkrun club members this week however, 43 Striders were at Tees Barrage to witness Sam Johnston complete his 200th run and David Edwards collect his 150th. Meanwhile, at Hartlepool Ben Valums completed his difficult second run. A few people are on a bit of a PB streak – Fiona Shaw, Suzanne Brodie and Rachel Boddy all adding to last week’s PB. Striders at Prudhoe, Sedgefield, Lancaster and Cirencester. Amongst the other Striders at Albert Park, Redcar, Tees Barrage, Stewart Park and Flatts Lane there were new PBs for Joanne Camp, Rachael Hall, Matthew Carling, Gail Robinson, David Horton, Amy Gallilee and Fran Corvesor. So close to a PB for Lisa Molus – just have to be satisfied with first female finisher at Hull. Second female and third…

Last Tuesday saw the start of the 2018 Track and Field season at Darlington. As with last year, it was a bit of a slow start - but Stevie Cooper, Mathew Carling and myself put on our Striders colours and gave it a go. First up was the High Jump where I was happy with a pb of 1.40 metres. Next was the 1500 metres. With what seemed like the entire junior population of North East England competing - there was a bit of a wait for the senior heats to start. When they eventually did, Mathew set off in heat 2. An accomplished middle distance runner at junior level, Mathew was keen to test himself again at senior level. He ran well in a fast heat to set a…

  We do not see a 50 Tee for months then we get two in consecutive weeks. This week Gavin Morley takes the honours completing his 50th at Tees Barrage. Amongst the 32 Striders running at Tees Barrage we also had Ben Valums collecting his 1st finish as well as yet another PB for Jason Pattison. Two other PBs here - Helen Walker and Fiona Shaw. The winter training was paying off with Antony Hamling at Albert Park, Suzanne Brodie at Sunderland, Rachel Boddy at Hackworth and Rachel Carr at Hartlepool all claiming new PBs. Elsewhere, Striders at Stewart Park, Catterick, Druridge Bay and Banstead Woods.

It was a week for single Striders at events with one athlete at Albert Park, Bestwood Village, Strathclyde, Sedgefield, Stewart Park, Hartlepool, Flatts Lane, Keswick, Lancaster and Whinlatter Forest. Our next biggest turnout was at Darlington South park where Amy Gallilee set a new PB. The big turnout was at Tees Barrage where Nigel and his team of many Striders welcomed 34 Striders and witnessed Bev Harvey collect her 50th run. There were also PBs for Fiona Shaw, Rachel Carr, Antony Hamling and yet another for Jason Pattison. Sarah Winter took home the silver ware for 1st female finisher here.

  Some big events this weekend for Striders. In the parkrun world we had athletes at Albert Park, Stewart Park, Flatts Lane, Sedgefield, Hartlepool, Hackworth, Ormskirk and Vogrie. The big turnout, in terms of both runners and volunteers, was at Tees Barrage where 32 Strider athlete’s witnessed Claire Taylor become the newest run director at the event. Nigel Radcliffe gained his 25 volunteer T shirt and both Sarah Griffiths and Katie Abel used the calm conditions to grab new PBs plus a second female finisher for Katie.

The holiday weekend allowed Striders to travel afar whilst the weather in Stockton did not rein the numbers back too much. The 100 club welcomed its newest Strider member as Matthew Carling completed his century run at York. Elsewhere, Striders at Milton Keynes, Catterick, Ayr, Sedgefield, Redcar, Stewart Park, Tees Barrage, Hartlepool, Albert Park, Crichton, Tonbridge and Fell foot. A few PBs to mention; Fiona Shaw at Ayr, Karen Clarke at Sedgefield and yet more PBs for both Tony Gallilee and Jason Pattison at Redcar and Tees Barrage respectively. It’s not a race but…. First three women finishers at Tees Barrage and second male at Hartlepool – Striders all!