Toad Hall 10k result

John Morgan ran the this new multi-terrain race last Sunday - result:

Toad Hall 10K, Whitchurch-on-Thames, 28th June - 46:33, 38th/342

Late in, a London 10k result

Peter S. says...

Steve was running with his partner at the London BUPA 10K on 25 May and they finished in 48.40, Steve 892 / 4520 men.

 

 

Hobble hobble

A few words from the doyenne of the long distance walks, Frances H...

Was really pleased to meet the Living Legend of Vegan Running (Anna)  yesterday - we both turned up at the Hertfordshire Hobble.  
 
Anyway a few results for you...
 
17th May - Road Race - Great Baddow 10miles in a time of 1hr 35mind
21st June - Mixed-Terrain Run - Round the Island Race (Mercea Island) 13 miles in 2hrs 24mins
28th June - LDWA walk - Hertfordshire Hobble 26 miles in a time of 6hrs 50mins
As ever Frances continues to put many of us to shame :)
 

Leatherhead Help The Hospices 10k June 21st

We hear from Dave Arnold who reports in on a race that he and new member Jane Gant did recently...

Two VR's did Leatherhead 10k Sunday(21st) just gone. Off-road, undulating, not fast course, pretty low key event. Jane G did 50:55 (7th F). I did 41:40 ...yep ...even slower than Portsmouth D-Day 10k  ..but 8th place. Did say it was low key.  Post-race discovered another vegan, Jim, running for 'Oddballs' club. Maybe he'll get in touch with VR club? [I think seeing VRUK runners at races is how most new members first find out the club exists - Ed]

Dave/...

Under 40, over 50, it's all good: Lavant 5 mile june 24th

Early reports of a four-strong VRUK outing yesterday in Lavant - the first to come in is from a (justifiably chipper!) SDL, who says.....

Hello.  Lavant 5 mile Wednesday June 24th 2009 , just north of Chichester, Sussex, starting at  Lavant village green an out and back course, including a lap of Goodwood motor racing circuit which provides a nice smooth tarmac running surface.
 Arrived at village hall , the start point to see Dave Arnold had hung a big vegan runners banner (home made) up on the village green. Other Vegan Runners present , Jane Gant and Chris West (running for Chichester runners & ac). 
A quick check at the kitchen before starting race , (they were providing post race catering for vegans at this one), I discovered that there were just 6 vegan sausages for the 4 runners, so priority to get back before Dave.
Chris West was to finish 4th in 27 mins and 49secs(same time as 3rd placed runner) so missed out on an individual prize but got a team prize. He is aged about 18 yrs and improving. 
 It was a very satisfying run for myself  a massive 46 seconds PB, finishing
19th overall in a time of 31mins and 47secs also gaining the Male Vet 50 1st place prize.
Dave coming in 30th in 32mins 38secs a disappointing time by his standard.
Another solid run by Jane Gant to finish in
 38mins 44 secs female 16th 101st overall.
Dave armed with camera so plenty of post race photos to come. Over 170 runners completed the course.
Congratulations to all, what a fantastic result! I note that the narrative does not specify whether there were any sossies left for Dave....!
 

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St Albans Half, 14 June - detailed report by Peter

The St Albans Half Marathon has developed over the years that it has been running, into a major health and fitness event, in addition to the charitable element. It has been eleven years since I ran the event in 1998 at my peak, achieving my best time which still stands. The course however has changed due to the infamous explosion at the Buncefield oil depot.

A half marathon walk was added 3-4 years back which starts at 8am and gives the slower walkers the opportunity to finish with the runners. There are also other shorter events held exclusively within the historic Verulanium Park. I had planned to start my journey by rail replacement coach at 6.20am but did not set my alarm correctly, waking at 7.10am. Luckily I made it for the 7.55am coach which changed to a train one stop down the line at Bletchley, allowing me to luckily arrive in St Albans at 9.25am for the 10am start. Made it to the start with only 5 minutes to go and immediately heard a participant comment that 'there a Vegetarian Cycling & AC and a Vegan Runners... ' so obviously we are spreading our message. There was a VC&AC member I saw briefly on entering the park.

As we started I could hear the chip timing system bleeping which reminded me too late that I was not wearing my chip. Hopefully there would be a clock at the finish or a familiar runner nearby to reference in the results. My training had been fairly limited with few runs longer than half the distance say, so was thinking in terms of a 1.40+ time. The course turned out to be a loop of about 2.5 miles and another loop of about 9.5 miles, the longer loop following the old course of the St Albans (or Fred Hughes memorial) 10 miles held in January. The large loop was particularly undulating but mainly country lanes, the smaller loop took us through a golf course and other countryside so overall it is an attractive course.

After completing the smaller loop, there was a long slow climb that we would enjoy in the other direction on completing the large loop. It was noticable that there were drinks stations at about 1.5 mile intervals and whilst it was beneficial in the first half, I decided to miss some out in the second half. As we started the large loop, the leaders of the walking event were going in the opposite direction. With a smallish field of walkers, apparently 200 or so but over 2000 runners, there was plenty of room as we passed increasing numbers of walkers (a few were jogging). There came a point when the outward and return routes separated.

Unintentionally I increased my pace as time went by and found myself running competitively. Would I pay for it later only time will tell. I recall a long climb to the furthest point on the course followed by a comfortable descent. There was one familiar female veteran competitor near me for several miles and on the downhills it was noticable that she overtook me and vice versa. Later I was aware she was wearing some device that was bleeping every 30 seconds or so. The only residential part of the course was Chiswell Green where we started passing walkers in our direction and a mile or so further on we rejoined the outward route which for us was now the inward route.

I was now feeling confident of achieving a much better time than anticipated at the start. Continuing to move up the field with 3 or more miles to go, would I be able to hang on at this pace? With 1-2 miles to go, the hills were behind us and I was running more like 10K race pace. On the long downhill approach to the park I passed a VC&AC walker I had been planning to meet. Allana Clare had in fact run the half marathon back in the 1990s before switching to long distance walking with her partner Bill also a VC&AC member.

The finale through the park seemed shorter than anticipated, I had expected that we were going round the pond but not this time, it was almost a straight line to the finish. My first sighting of the clock was well under 1.35 and I eventually finished in 1.35.09. Where did I find the energy & fitness to attain this time? A bit of a mystery!

Weedon 10K (Northants) - Peter Simpson

A brief report was given soon after the event on 2 June but there is much more to it. A regular event for me with 8 miles cycling from Northampton rail station. Part of the East Midlands (or rather south-east) Grand Prix series (5 of 8 events for a final position), the participants were almost exclusively club runners, meeting up in club formation prior to the start. I met up with Bob Simpson (no relation) of the VC&AC and knowing that it is a tough course decided to line up with Bob (no disrespect) towards the rear.

Not surprisingly my start was a bit slow but I soon began to overtake during the easier part of the course which was to last until 4K when we were confronted with the long tough climb. It was only when I reached the top that I began to overtake again including some familiar runners which gave me a little more confidence. From that point onwards I was running in competitive mode and enjoying the course which was slightly downhill from 6 to 7K followed by a sharp dip before a further testing climb to probably the highest point around 8K. At about 8.5K the infamous long and steep descent began which anyone with weak knees would dread.

Despite running at my fastest, my position was mostly unchanged and towards the end even lost a couple of places. After such a long downhill period, it is a shock to the body to suddenly be asked to climb again albeit fairly short. Did manage to claw back one place here and chased to the line one of the competitors who overtook me on the long descent. There was no obvious finish line apart from the funnel and with the runner ahead slowing, my momentum overtook him only to be abruptly stopped by an official hitting my chest with his open hand, ensuring that I finished behind him.

It was a humid evening but I hardly noticed it until recovering at the finish drinks station. I thought I had run a good time and it was only later that I was slightly disappointed with the 43.33 due I guess to starting further back.

I thought it was a bloomin stupid idea AND IT WAS

O, how keen I was at first when my local club was putting together teams for the Ridgeway Relay. Me me me! I cried, jumping up and down. IsthereaDteamcanibeinitocanipleasecani? Well it turns out there was a C team and as there are 10 legs, frankly they would take anyone in the C team (the A team being fast and the B team being slightly (not very) slower supervets).

Dire warnings came my way about recce-ing the leg thoroughly, NOT GETTING LOST, TURNING UP ON TIME etc. All of which I did dutifully. I even bought a club vest, which, being yellow, is indeed a major contribution to road safety, but not very good when you are sneaking off into the bushes to commune with nature and want a bit of camoflage (green + black vg for this! ;D).

The first soundings of doom came last Sunday when I did a full recce of the whole 10-mile leg.

The start was fine. Downhill.
But not for very long. Then the route went uphill. Proper hill. The kind you can't run up unless you're a lot fitter than I am. I power-walked up it and it damn near killed me. Aargh aargh. Then some undulations (up down up down up down golf course) and then - tada! the aptly-named Grim's Ditch. All tree roots and/or a path consisting of a single rut 6 inches wide 6 inches deep and angled at 45 degrees.  Three miles of that.
The last stretch is mainly uneven pasture or the side of fields, but by that time I was just eager to be home for tea.
Hmmmm. I thought. Was this really such a hot idea? It is  very pretty. It would be a lovely route for a walk.

Came the day, and I woke screaming with a calf cramp (I am not making this up). I briefed my kindly other half on where he and the dogs should go to hand me water, and waited by a farm gate for my red-faced team member to toil up the hill (I was bloody impressed and thought, oh blimey can't live up to that!) and hand over to me. At least the first bit is downhill so you are out of sight by the time you have to walk...

The hill - had not improved. The tree roots were as bad (one of the many people to overtake me went arse over tip a few metres on, but - perhaps he does judo? - bounced back up and ran on) and the path seemed if anything yet more treacherous. Aaargh aaargh oh bloody hell aargh, I went as I staggered along. Aargh aargh OW! Annnd I'd turned over my ankle. GreatB. Mmm super aargh aargh aargh BOOF! - I tumbled off the path, and bodily into a clump of nettles.

Well, to an extent this was a relief. I now had a proper excuse to sit down, cry and feel sorry for myself (hurrah). But being nettles and all, I didn't hang about. Back on the feet (wobble wobble) and off again... until.... hang on... why does my wrist feel strangely light? Oh bugger. Now my Garmin may have been 3 years old but a colleague bought his wife the very same model last week, so I know they're still not cheap. So back I went, to find the offending article reclining comfortably in the middle of a big me-shaped hole in the undergrowth. Strap buggered but rest fine. Numbers uncomplimentary.

And on. At  North Stoke I met (again) the other half, and declined his offer of water, but was v. grateful for his keen-eyed observation that the Ridgeway was right and not, in fact, straight on where I was heading. (Yes, I had done the recce, but by this point the old brain was gone-gone-gone!). Through the churchyard (resisting the temptation to bury myself and snooze peacefully under the sod with the rest of its residents) and on through the fields.

I was not now in any mood to appreciate the beauties of nature displayed on the last few miles. No helo sky helo trees helo cows for me! There was breath left only to curse the new-style gates, as I trapped my finger in them (twice, and very painfully).

At last I reached South Stoke and barrelled up the road. I had been expecting (OK, dreading) a posse of yelling supporters who would be rather disappointed in my lack of finishing kick. What I found was rather more unsettling. No-one. Oh _____, surely I can't have got lost in the last few yards? Gah! The sign even says Ridgeway >>>, I am going the right way, where the hell are they?!

Those familiar with this stage will know - of course - that it ends at a pub. So of course, everyone was (rather than, say, lining the last few hundred yards of the route, yelling encouragement)... at the pub, chatting away drink in hand, having a fair old time, race what race etc.... and to top it all, the bloke I was handing over to was a last-minute sub (not even a 2nd claimer like me!) and I had not the faintest idea what he looked like.

"Ambler, where's the Ambler?!!" I yelled, and a bloke emerged from the throng, slapped my hand and headed off.

I fell into the other half's arms, burst into tears (oh what a wuss!) and gratefully accepted his offer of a stiff drink as people patted me on the head saying there there and the dogs gave me a funny look and then went back to contentedly sniffing lycra crotches.

I am not bloody doing that again! (*)
And to anyone thinking (coff Anna coff) of doing the whole thing in one go... I really have no words!

(*) no really, I mean it! Not like when you do a marathon and then sign up for another the next day. That course was horrid!

Torbay HM: Cris Iles

We hear from Cris Iles - oh how he hath improved!
Another HM on Sunday, the slightly tougher course at Torbay, and I ran in local club colours.  Completed in 1:36:35, slightly slower than my Pb but I'm very pleased with it..  It's a lot faster than my previous attempt at the course three years ago (the day I after I met Peter S in Kent!) - 2:00:22.


 

Marston Forest 5K, 19 June

We hear from Peter Simpson, who has been running fast but is not sure why he does it to himself!

This was my first 5K race for maybe 3 years due to the fact that it is not my favoured distance. Running at a faster pace to maintain overall position that I achieve at longer distances, leads to adverse effects such as sore throat due to the heavy breathing. Coming five days after a half marathon, my calves were also complaining but at least they were not injured.

 

The event was held in the grounds of the Marston Vale Community Forest which has an attractive Visitors Centre and even a railway station which I decided to use but could have cycled the 12 miles or so. The event was limited to 400 due to the narrow path around the course but luckily we started on the main drive where it was wider for 100s of metres. I started off fairly fast on the flat course so as not to get boxed in later although I found myself being overtaken by a significant number in the first kilometer. Settling down I began to claw back some places but it was only at the finish that I felt the effects of the effort with the customary sore throat.

 

My chip time was 20.25, position 82 / 379.

mmmm chips ... Ed

New PBs for Annette

We hear from Annette Herold - a belated result from her half mara in Mainz and a fresh result from London...

Mainz (Germany)  8/5/09 : half-marathon  2:05:32h

Regents Park 10K   June '09 :  54:31 mins  (new PB)

and she adds...

PS: The Fleet half-marathon result (from March 09) was a new PB for me, as well…

Good stuff Annette, keep chipping away at those times!

Wild! Go wild in the country

John Morgan says...

One result from me (JM) - "Run in the Wild" 10K, 7th June - 50:25 (tough course!), 63rd/253

 I am still trying to catch up on the admin after Bristol, etc, trying to put individual supporters (contacts) in touch with local members.

Ahh admin, don't we love it.

And I think this picture (thanks Chard Road Runners) shows John in full flight...

What have we got coming up for the rest of June...

... from the diary ...
19-Jun    Marston Forest    7.30pm    5K    Peter Simpson   

.
21-Jun    Leeds    9.00    Jane Tomlinson 10K    Clare Coombes   

.
21-Jun    Edinburgh    9.45    Seven Hills Challenge 22K    Craig Wallace   

.
24-Jun    Chichester    7.30pm    Lavant Midsummer 5M    Dave Arnold, Sidney DeLara, Jane Gant   

.
27-Jun    Lizard Point to Land's End        Classic Quarter 44M    Dimitrios K   

.
28-Jun    Hereford        Wye Valley Runners 10K    Diane and Adrian Wynne
   

.
28-Jun            Herts Hobble Marathon    Anna Finn   

.
30-Jun    Milton Keynes    7.45pm    10K    Peter Simpson   

(and muggins here will be doing a leg of the Ridgeway Relay, but for my local club so I'll be hard to spot unless you know me).

VRUK cycling!

We hear from Paul Snell - "as seen in RW!" - who has been a Vegan Cyclist - but I don't think we could change the club name, it would just sound rude wherever the "C" went...

... I did the Norfolk century (by bike - I'm sure some of our members would run it!) in ten hours, including stops, on Sunday 7th June. It was very cold and wet, me and my dad had a great time!

Norfolk cold and wet - who knew... well done Paul!

 

Dartmoor Discovery

Cris Iles got in touch, saying
I noticed that there was a Vegan Finisher on my local Ultra - the Dartmoor  Discovery.  The club listed was Vegan Runners, I forget her name.  I only looked at the results to see how my friend did.  He won...by one second!
... I have nothing serious planned for a while - some short relays, mixed terrain and fun runs.  It's a shame because I'm already ready to break my new 10k Pb, but there's no suitable race nearby for a while.
(fast 10ks are like buses, there's never one when you want one and then three all come along at once - Ed)
Peter checked the results following Cris Iles' message, and found our runner was Karen

Horsler. For the 32 miles road event she completed it in 6.14.56, 109 / 118,
F40.
  Well done Karen!

St Albans Half

We hear from Peter Simpson after the sn'orbns arf... 

My training recently has been rather limited so was not intending to attempt a fast time otherwise I imagined 'hitting the wall' towards the end. Went off at a modest pace and realized as I crossed the start line that I had not worn my chip. [whoopsie! Ed] Decided to keep going and hope there would be a clock at the finish as my watch is not digital.

 

Last time I ran this event back in 1998 it went though the Hemel Hempstead industrial estate that included the Buncefield oil terminal. It obviously changed after the explosion and the organizers chose the old undulating course of the 10 miles event held in January with the first 3 miles loop taking us through a golf course. Given the increased challenge of the course, I was thinking in terms of a 1.40+ time but as time went by on the larger loop I gradually became more competitive despite the climbs. As I checked my watch I estimated a fast personal time was possible which gave me even more encouragement to push on and take the risk. The last mile or so was slowly downhill or flat which helped and my first sighting of the finish clock was 1.34.40 and I crossed the line in about 1.35.09 [Nice! Ed]. Just ahead of me was a familiar competitive runner on the local so on checking the results I worked it out that I was unofficially 124^th / 2021 and 37^th M40-49. Only 5 runners managed to break 1.20.

Anna "two marathons" Finn heads south for the weekend...

Anna Finn was running marathons again last weekend. Yes, that is marathons, plural...!

I've just had a top weekend. On Saturday I did the South Downs Way Marathon - it was one of those I'd heard was good but never got round to doing before. It's a hilly but pretty trail run. As a bonus I found myself being cheered (by name) at one of the checkpoints by some unfamiliar faces - it turned out they were from Animal Aid, who'd put a team in the relay. They recognised me from my pictures after the sponsored events I did earlier this year. At the end they invited me to join their vegan picnic including champagne! [Nice! - Ed] A great post-run treat.

I then headed down to stay in Weymouth, close to the Portland start of the Chesil Coastal Challenge. This was a really well organised marathon along the Jurassic coast. The views from the hilltops near the turnaround point were stunning. It was hot and I got yet more freckles, but was surprised at how comfortable I felt. The light breeze probably helped. At the finish there was a great spread of food, plus a free swim - most welcome! As it was such a small event, I think I came 4th (female).

My times on both days were pretty slow, but very consistent, at 4:42:20 and 4:41:44 respectively. That's just 36 seconds between them!

and she adds...
I think I'm not running any events now till the end of the month...

[.... - Ed]

For anyone with the lastest RW - VRUK bod in race photo

... go to the review of the Conductive Education race and you'll see a VRUK vest in the race picture - our Paul Snell has confirmed that it's him.

Yarnton 5 (or, Saturday night racing: what to do if you have no life)

Entered this one on the day on vague impulse: "oh, it'll be fun, I'll do it as a training run". (Which is why it wasn't in the diary: sorry, L!). T'other half + me get our gear on and trundle up to Yarnton (a small village north of Oxford).

We notice:

1. It is not a big race - < 100 people I reckon
2. It is (oh yes, that) part of the Oxon AA County Champs, and therefore...
3. Pretty much everyone else is a fit-looking club runner

For a few minutes we were facing the prospect of racing each other for last-but-one place, until a couple of ladies not in club shirts (one had a rather fabulous skeleton vest!) and who didn't look fast, and who, moreover, were not fast (well, they said not, we asked them!) turned up. We would have run it anyway, mind. You have to have the sporting spirit, don't you?

More worrying was the almost total absence of any Amblers (my local club). John said, "Look, there's a wicker man set up for you over there across the playing field - the other Amblers would have warned you to stay away... if you weren't second claim!". But it was a bit spooky actually - loads of clubs except... (but it wasn't a wicker man, it was a Children's Play Item!).  Happily I spotted - at last - a fellow Ambler in Race HQ. Far too fast for me to be likely to know him but I said hi anyway.

"Oh hello, it's you two!" he said. (I am - as you can tell - a bit rubbish with faces).
"... you don't recognize me without the greyhound, do you...?"
(I was now even more confused as normally that's my line).
He then mentioned his dogs name and we realised that we were dogwalker friends not running friends. All was now clear. We exchanged some dog chat and off he went (he had, of course, finished, got his t-shirt, said hi to all his mates, and gone home, before we finished!).

So. We lined up tactfully at the back of the pack, and therefore took, ooh, at least a few seconds to get to the start line!
As it was "just a training run" we had time to admire the scenery - which varied from chocolate-box village & fields to a stretch through a rather spectacular gravel works (cool!) - and to enquire after a runner (quick Internet stalking - Witney's Ian Fowler, who I recognized from him overtaking me in several previous races - he has very recognizable legs which I normally see disappearing off ahead) who took a tumble on a speed bump (he was OK).

However, I was feeling OK, trotted on, and started following a "little old lady" ahead. Not as easy as it sounds, because... see points 2 & 3 above. I could have slowed down (but really, at "jog" pace I might quite honestly have come last!) but I remembered that all my 5 mile races previously had been done just after I came back to running, which meant that my 5 mile PB (official) was really really soft, which meant I should forge on and I would certainly beat it.

Which I did, I think. And I have a new red t-shirt too. And a 5 mile tempo run at HM pace under my belt. Just because I have nothing better to do at 7pm on a Saturday....

Lavant 5 miles (vegans catered), 24 June

Sid is giving notice that the Lavant 5 miles (West Sussex) event on Wednesday, 24 June, caters for vegans at their post-race barbeque. VRUK had four members there at the 2007 event and 3 so far this time.

The event is also advertised as the Midsummer 5, hosted by Chichester Runners & AC. For an entry form visit club website.

Chiltern Chase - pick your races carefully

Did this one just as a training run-slash-outing. Was going to get up early & run to the start, had got my kit all ready & everything, but when the alarm went at 6:45 the downpour was quite impressive, and I decided to stay put under t'duvet. Seemed easier to overtake this year, possibly because

1. lots of people had not turned up expecting it still to be raining, or
   
2. if you start bang at the back then the people you're overtaking aren't going so fast

The two-bottle belt I was wearing was bloody heavy, but still managed to get round under the hour. Sat around for a bit after to see that another vegan (Sharon Davidson, who some of you may know) was first lady in the accompanying 5k. The prizes were baskets of honey, and yes, I'm afraid I did snigger at the look on her face. I suppose it depends on the sponsor but I imagine that a nice technical t-shirt with "Nth place  [race name & year]" would often go down a lot better... not that such matters are likely to be bothering me!

Northants Ultra - trophy pix!

Anna Finn uses the word "tough" - be afraid, be very afraid

The Northants Ultra was quite tough yesterday. The course wasn't too bad: a mixture of road and trail. The heavy rain only lasted a few miles before the sunshine dried us out. What slowed us down (apart form the cloying mud in some of the fields, oh and the many stiles) [Northants muddy? Who knew! - Ed] was that we had to keep stopping to check the map, align the compass and make sure we were heading in the right direction. Funnily enough, what clearly looks like a trail on the map doesn't always look that way in real life... Still, I don't think we got too lost. A slow time, but I finished joint 2nd place female! Even got a trophy for it. So feeling chuffed about the day after all.

I think it's back to back marathons next weekend, nice...

Well done Anna - and let's hope other vegan runners are inspired to send in their trophy pix - don't be shy, people!

Portsmouth 10k - view from the front + Call To Legs (Lavant 5 aka Chichester)

Sid DeLara gives us his view on Portsmouth

Hello, Seemed to be more of an Vegan runner accidental meet up at the Portsmouth D Day 10k on Weds June 3rd.
3 members taking part. 340 runners in total completed the flat 2 lap course on what proved to be a pleasantly cool summers evening. When taking part in the same race as Dave Arnold I usually see him disappear off into the distance but not on top form at the moment, so a disappointing night for him. Jane Gant just missing a top 20 female placing by 20 seconds. Running without a watch I failed to break 40mins yet again and ended up 2nd in age category, so will continue to work on both those dimensions.
 The next "accidental meet up" down this way could be Lavant 5 mile road race Weds eve June 2th, just outside Chichester, [I do believe this is the same one Dave mentioned - Ed] which includes running around the Goodwood motor racing circuit and is about the only meet that advertises post run (BBQ) Vegan Food.
  Portsmouth D Day 10k (340 runners)
51st (overall) 48th male Sidney DeLara 40mins 29secs M50 2nd.
64th (overall) 61st male David Arnold  41mins 20secs M45 9th
180th(overall) 22nd Female Jane Gant 50mins 12secs W35 4th.   
 [Ed - note that all three got top 10 places in their age groups - well done, folks!]

D Day 10k Portsmouth + Call To Legs: Chichester

The irrepressible Dave Arnold writes...

Struggled round the D-Day 10k in Portsmouth last night in 41.20.  Sid was ahead of me, 40:20 I think and 2nd Vet50 (by12 seconds!).  There was also a new VR, Jane, there so it was a little bit of team spiriit there...woohoo!!

Next plan here is the 5mile race at Chichester, wed 24th June, where they advertise vegan food after the race. We had a team there before, why not pop down this year??

 

This weekend's outings

6-Jun    Regent's Pk, London        10K    Annette Herold   
6-Jun    Kendal        Garburn Trail    Mark Westcombe
6-Jun    Aber Falls        Welsh 1000s 22M    Ian Hodge
7-Jun    Worcester        Warndon Villages 10K    Diane and Adrian Wynne   
7-Jun    Northants        34M    Anna Finn
(and I should be @ Chiltern Chase in Ewelme, must tell L - Ed)

Weedon 10K - Peter Simpson

Peter Simpson says...
At the hilly Weedon 10K (part of the Grand Prix series) where the course is
downhill from about 8.5 to 9.5K, I finished in 43.33 (112 / 326, 17th M45)
but felt like I had done better. My best here is 40.02 back in I assume
1998.


 

Edinburgh Marathon - Anna Finn

Anna appears to have survived being cooked alive last weekend...

We had a lovely weekend in Edinburgh. Scotland's capital is a beautiful city and made for a great trip. I'm not a huge fan of city marathons, preferring the smaller events, but this was a good course out along the Forth: quite scenic in places. It was pretty crowded the whole way but I still went too fast for the first few downhill miles. I felt surprisingly comfortable in the heat to start with (being a ginger I normally suffer when the temperature gets into the twenties), but at about mile 16 I started feeling a bit dodgy, so put some walking breaks in from there on. I finished in 4:23:14 so I guess it wasn't too bad. The support was great and I got lots of people cheering 'come on vegan runner' and the like. Unfortunately I didn't get an action photo this time, so I've just attached a picture of me enjoying the city the day before the marathon.

This is supposed to be the UK's fastest course, so I guess I'll enter to go back next year, in the hope of getting my favourite running weather to be able to get a better time...

Photos from Thames Run 10k ...

... Can be found here (<a href="http://www.richk.co.uk/ThamesRun09/ThamesRun09.htm">linky</a>) about halfway down, on RichK (of FetchEveryone, the RW forums and Tring)'s website.
The lady I am running with is Dino, a vegan triathlete on her first running-only race. I was just doing it as a training run (having run most of the way to the start - would have been all the way but I didn't get out of bed early enough!) and so, when she said,
"... where is Vegan Runners based...?"
well of course we were gassing all the way round! At the end I spotted a rather hot looking chap and said, "Go on! You can take him!" only to see him speed up as clearly he could hear us through the headphones! But he didn't speed up enough  - bwahahahahah - and I was right, so there.
Moral of the story - remember to wear the vest if you want to make new friends!
Time: 1:08 - quite chunky even for a training run, but of course, this is the race with a several-minute-long queue for a style in the middle of it!

Thames Run Photies - that's better

Me & "Dino" chatting about Alpro
Courtesy RichK of RW forums & Fetch - or here