500th ParkRun
A big well done to Keeley Phillips who ran her 500th ParkRun at the Eden Project in Cornwall on Saturday. She was joined by fellow ORC’s and friends to run a Halloween Special in fancy dress.
Devon Trail Races
Also on Saturday, Mary Roberts, Sarah Marvin and Emma Jewell were at Roadford Lake for the Sportiva Events Devon Trail Races.
Mary took on the single loop 10k whilst Sarah and Emma ran the half marathon which was two loops of the same course. The route used some of the best lakeside trails which our ORC’s said were beautiful in the sunshine and thankfully not too muddy after the recent rain.
Mary finished as 3rd lady in the 10k whilst Sarah was 3rd lady in the half marathon. Emma meanwhile ensured she got her money’s worth and ran her own extended course after taking a wrong turn! However, despite this she still ran a fast race actually finishing as unofficial first lady! Well done ladies!
Kullamannen by UTMB
Pete Roissetter was furthest afield this week running Kullamannen by UTMB in Sweden. Starting on Friday evening this 105 mile race took runners on a journey along the rocky shores of Sweden’s Kullaberg and Bjäre peninsulas on the southern Swedish coast. The route passed through rocky mountains, beechwood forests and along exposed beaches and coast paths with many hours run in darkness.
Pete said the event was not just a race but an incredible experience that revolved around the story of the legendary knight Kullamannen. At the start a local priest read the Kullamannen prayer before the knight himself appeared on horseback to challenge the runners. Pete was very happy to finish in 29hrs13 (well inside his 30hr target) especially after rolling his ankle only 6kms into the race. A painful ankle made the section between 120km and 150km along a very rocky beach particularly problematic but this was never going to stop Pete from reaching the finish line. Congratulations Pete – what an amazing achievement!
Bideford 10miler
On Sunday, there was a great turnout of ORC’s for Bideford AAC’s Bideford 10miler in support of North Devon Hospice. With the race being moderately flat with just three small inclines it’s known as possibly the fastest 10miler in Devon! Starting and finishing near Bideford AAC’s Clubhouse the course headed out on roads and returned on the Tarka Trail with great views of the Taw and Torridge estuary.
Our ORC’s enjoyed the perfect running conditions and route which was beautiful in the autumn sunshine and it clearly made them all run very well!
Andrew Vernon was first ORC home in 1:06:39 (3rd MV55) followed by Derek Matravers (1:08:25); Matt Grint (1:18:27 – a new PB); Laura Venton (1:40:22 – running her first 10miler); Kevin Crist (1:44:12); Garry Wallace (1:42:05) and Louise Chancellor (1:42:18 – also a new PB).
Cornish Marathon
Finally on Sunday, five ORC’s ran East Cornwall Harriers’ Cornish Marathon. As Cornwall’s only all-road marathon, this race has been a firm favourite in the Cornish Grand Prix series for many years. Starting and finishing at Pensilva, the route took runners along the Draynes Valley, through the ‘Poldark’ country of Bodmin Moor, past King Arthur’s legendary Dozmary Pool, Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn at Bolventor and back along the Fowey Valley. The climb to Foredown between miles 24 and 25 is the section of the race that most runners remember for a long time, and not just for the fabulous views!
There was some great running by ORC with Rob Kelly first ORC home in 3:07:44 (3rd MV45) followed by Jo Page in 3:16:22 (3rd lady/2nd FV40), Paul Carter in 3:29:15 (3rd MV60), Keeley Phillips in 4:49:14 (a new PB) and Lucy Gooding in 5:04:53 (also a new PB).
