As we stride into December, the sunny runs around country lanes and the seaside jaunts with ice creams and fish & chips seem a distant memory. It maybe hard to motivate yourself to get out the front door for that run in the dark wind and rain but just remember the Strider family have your back. Our lovely run leaders are still putting on plenty of runs at all paces throughout the week, with additional long slow runs at weekends, so get yourself signed up and get out there. We always (well mostly) always feel better when we do.
Parkruns this week were well attended by Ashford Striders as always with Ashford Parkrun displaying a sea of red.
Stop The Press !!! It seems we have another speedy addition to group one, Adam Booth was first Strider home with an eye watering time of 19:59, well done Adam, closely followed by Keith Haynes in 20:12. David Winchester continues to go from strength to strength thrashing out yet another PB recording a time of 21:40. Jason Kennedy was next home 24:47, Terry Sellen 25:01 and Jamie Bartlett 26:38. Hazel Turner brought it home for the girls in 26:45, followed by Jo Mason 28:35 and Kevan Strand (taking it easy this week I notice) 28:45. Amanda James put in an impressive performance this week with a sub 29 ; 28:59, equally pleased with her performance should be Rebecca Somerford with a time of 29:32 well done ladies. Lisa Fulcher and Rita Cooke came through 31:10 and 32:23 respectively. Siobhan Hagan must have surely recorded some sort of Parkrun bingo achievement as her time was 33:33. Sally Davidson-Daniel bagged herself a brand new shiny PB this week sharing a time of 33:41 with Lisa Gribbin, well done Sally on your PB. Rachel Tomsett and Jennifer Watts almost rounds up the strider contingent with their times of 33:47 and 34:36, however we mustn’t forget our London Marathon Strider representative, Martin Whittingham who finished in 51:40.
Thank you to the Ashford Strider volunteers this week: Peter Broom, Dermott Car, Don Dewer, Jack Farrant, Simon Jackson and Terry Sellen.
On their travels this week; Justin Burden continued his pilgrimage of Parkruns and this time travelled to Bromley Parkrun, finishing in 23:55.
Tamsin Richie found herself at Canterbury Parkrun once again and finished in 27:16.
Pegwell Bay was Julie Nicholsons Parkrun of choice (must’ve been chilly) finishing in 34:33.
Another freezing destination was Walmer & Deal Parkrun for Mark Niles and Anna Harvey completing the 5k flat fast course in 21:27 and 30:23 respectively.
Andy Found and Nicola Crawley joined their Tri club buddies at Cyclo-park Parkrun this week, and whilst Mr Chairman was supposed to ‘be taking it easy’ he couldn’t help himself but to try and keep up with his Vicechair, he really should know better. Nicola came home in 28:09, with Mr Found lagging behind in 28:22 !! Better luck next time Andy.
A few Ashford Striders dug out their festive attire and made the trip to Dover for the Christmas at the Castle 5k, Hazel Turner was first strider home 28:32, closely followed by Graham Troman 28:56 and Siobhan Hagan 30:56.
And finally, who would ever want to run 8 miles on a cold Sunday morning in Aldershot, through mud and deep, deep puddles? Three of our crazy striders that’s who. Lorna Cheshire was first home completing the gruelling (but fun, so I’m told ) 8 miles in 1:34:00, followed by Nicola Crawley, 1:44:53 and Andrew Cornwell 1:51:47. Well done you strange, strange people.
So that concludes this weeks run report. Well done everyone for getting out there this week. Please remember if you find yourself lacking motivation to lace up those trainers, there are always plenty of like minded people within the Strider family to help you find your running mojo.
Have a great week of running everyone.
Report by Justine Wearn.