ORC Couch to 50k Programme Finale
After 45 weeks and over 150 hours of running, ORC completed its inaugural Couch to 50k programme on Sunday. This was exclusively designed by Club Coach Rob Richards to give those starting the Couch to 5k programme goals beyond 5k, but it also attracted runners already capable of running 5k allowing them to prepare for greater and greater distances. Over the 45 weeks, new and existing club members took advantage of the programme with many runners inspired to take on new distance challenges that they had never previously attempted. The programme has been a great success and an amazing achievement for everyone who took part.
The finale was a 50k mixed terrain run from Meldon to Bude with the route following the Pegasus Trail all the way to Cookworthy Forest, onto Holsworthy via quiet country lanes then onto a section of the Tamara Way before finally following the canal path into Bude.
The runners who took part in the 50k event are – Nick Marvin, Simon O’Neill, Kathryn Volkelt-Igoe, Simon Partridge, Claire Watkins, Claire Thompson, Claire Grubb, Bev Dennis, Sarah Marvin, Eddie Bragg and Euan Ripper. For many of the group this was their first 50k run. A special mention goes to Nick Marvin and Simon O’Neill who both worked their way through the complete Couch to 50k programme. A big thank you to Lucinda and Chris Walsh and Ian Ripper for their aid station support and to those who came along to support along the way.
The next Couch to 5k programme will begin again on September 10th. Watch out on the ORC Facebook page for more details.
Love Trails Festival
This weekend ORCs Ben Law, Jennifer Law, Emma Jewell and Matt Grint travelled to South Wales to join thousands of other runners on the Gower Peninsula for the Love Trails Festival. This is epic four day gathering for a celebration of movement, music and outdoor adventure where participants spend the days running, hiking and exploring before dancing the night away under the stars!
Ben and Emma smashed the 27km Golden Trail Race containing over 950m of elevation gain on a very scenic course which took in the best of the Gower Peninsula including Worms Head and Rhossili Downs. Jennifer and Matt ran the 10km trail race together which also had some tough hills including the wild expanse of Cefn Bryn plus an incredible aid station at the half way point. Besides the races, they all took part in various activities including yoga and fitness classes plus canicross and pub runs. Matt commented that his personal highlight of the weekend was the Midnight Runners who ran two unique running experiences fusing music and trail running!
