Christmas Day was celebrated by two Okehampton Running Club members by participating in a special Exeter Riverside Parkrun. The was a huge turnout of people keen to put a few miles in before the Christmas indulgence and both ORCs made their mark on the morning run. Jo Page set yet another 5k PB by knocking 26secs off her own record to finish in 20.13, while Claudine Benstead set a new club age category record for FV55 clocking a terrific time of 21.28.
On Boxing Day the Beat The Fox run in Fremington attracted another huge crowd of 600 runners to take part in this novel charity race. Starting from the Fox pub in Fremington the runners are led out on the road for a short way by the “Fox” before he stands aside at the start of a muddy track to let all runners pass him. The aim then is to stay ahead of the Fox for the duration of the 5k course. Once again many runners were in fancy dress, not best suited to the muddy tracks, fields and stiles that had to be negotiated. There were six adult Okehampton runners up for this festive jaunt, two of whom had their children, junior club members, running with them. Fastest round the course and never in danger of being caught by the Fox was Jo Page to finish 2nd Lady, while ORCs Ian Page, Jane and Derek Jackson all finished safely without the Fox over-taking them. Gill and Phil Spinney and their children were beaten by the Fox, but young Kiera and Aiden still loved the race, enjoying the chance to run through stretches of muddy water dressed as Cinderella and a Gladiator.
Thank you Jane for the reporting.
