Bramley Article, June 2011

Southwell Running Club

No Olympic tickets yet, the good news is that the money has not been taken from my bank account, the bad news is that I may not see the fireworks at fist hand.

There is no stopping Paul Butcher. He had a brilliant run in the Lincoln 10K finishing 7^th in 32:43, yes under 5.5 minute miles. He is now 2^nd in the UK rankings for his age group, an incredible achievement for someone who has only been running for a few years. Three days later he then went onto remove 15 seconds from the previous one mile course record, finishing in 4:44.

Last month I forgot to mention another brilliant performance in our one mile run from our new star, 17 year old Alex Milton. He had a brilliant run to finish in 5:32. Only seven other club members have ran faster than this in the history of the event. How fast will this boy go?

You can not stop one of our older runners John Cummins who completed the Brighton marathon in 3hrs 59mins. Holly Weaver a much younger runner ran the Paris marathon in 3hrs 46mins.

The Four Inns Hike which takes in 42 miles and 7800 ft of ascent across the High moorlands of the Peak District, calling at four pubs along the way got the better of one of SRC's most experienced runners, Bruce Danby. Did anyone tell him that you are not supposed to have a few pints at each pub? To be fair he did run 30 of the 42 miles, but then left his team mates Ian Haigh, Vicky and Frances McKinnon to finish the job.

The Lazy Runner

This year 44 runners took part in the club’s 20^th Grand Prix 10K in June. Paul Butcher completed the course in 32:48, taking Bruce Danby’s record, which he had held since 2001. Paul Grogan was second with Darren Corbett third.
 
Katy Simpson led the ladies home and beat her PB by 2:26. Mel Glass was second and Jo Semmelroth third. All the following runners set new PB’s: Sally Cowling, Rob Glass, Roy Crashley, Paul Butcher, Richard Rolls, Jo
Semmelroth, Mel Glass,  Lyndon Stocks, Chrissie Reynolds, Katy
Simpson,  Ted Behl, Darren Corbett, Sharon Card, Steve Bee, Barbara
Garrett and Jo Harcombe.

 David Smith ran the Woodhall Spa 10K in June, a place worth going to if you like Rhododendrons. He then ran the Rampton Hospital 10K, a place you would only normally go to if you had been very bad. After this, he then completed the summer solstice 10K and finally got his just reward with a bottle of beer and a burger.

 A special mention to Ian Haigh and his elite team. He had a go at running the Bob Graham Round which is a traverse of 42 Lakeland Peaks, 66 miles and 28,000ft of ascent. The aim is to complete the round inside 24 hours. He did not quite manage to do it this time, but he will be back….

 
The Lazy Runner

Bramley Article, September 2011

Southwell Running Club

Three weeks ago I set off on my holiday with the best running intentions to continue my Nottingham half marathon training, packing my running shoes to go to Chicago for the second leg of my son’s wedding.

Then running disaster struck while hitting balls in a baseball cage, I overdid my swing, fell over onto my right wrist and broke it. Now my wrist is sheathed in a huge plaster, which if not replaced by a lightweight one will mean that I will not be running the half marathon.
Seven SRC runners took part in the Newark half marathon on 14^th August.  Nigel Watkin was first home, followed by Darren Corbett, Stephen Rice, Peter Gault, Ben Parker, David Smith, John Cummins and Peter Sutton.

Paul Butcher and Jim Semmelroth were selected to represent Nottinghamshire at the inter-counties fell running championships in Scotland in May. Fell running is becoming very popular at SRC, if you are interested come and join us. Marla Howard-Cutts completed a 100 mile run/walk in Shropshire. The Mansfield half marathon in June saw the welcome return of Jon Calthrop to racing.

I have to mention Jo Semmelroth’s unusual 30^th birthday gift to her husband Jim, an entry for the Dartmoor Discovery Ultra Marathon, 32 miles of hills starting and finishing in Princetown. It was hot and hilly, but fueled by melted jaffa cakes, Jim still managed to beat his London marathon time over the first 26 miles. Goodness knows what he will get for his 40^th.

The Lazy Runner

Bramley Article, October 2011

Southwell Running Club

September is the month of the Nottingham half marathon and marathon and yes the Lazy Runner ran in a blue plaster cast. I ran with a novice half marathon runner, Louise Shelton. We took it easy and had time to chat and look at the scenery on the way.

Altogether 27 other SRC members also ran. The first lady home was Mel Glass at 1:38 a PB, closely followed by Jo Semmelroth at 1:41 with another PB. Jim Semmelroth was the first man home at 1:22, followed by Martin Harrigan at 1:38. Jonathan Simpson and Melissa Cowley both completed their first half marathons and Roy Crashley ran a PB. Steven Rice and Anthony Gorman were marathon dark horses, no one know they were running the full marathon until they failed to stop at 13 miles. Keith Underwood ran the full marathon in 3:38, with only five weeks of marathon training.

SRC had another excuse for beer and chips when we ran the annual three mile Grand Prix race. Paul Butcher ran it in 14:58, under five minutes per mile! Katy Simpson was the first lady home. Paul Butcher was also on top form when he won the Trent Road Race.

Ian Haigh ran the Yorkshire Off Road marathon in a cracking 4:10. Not content with just running, Lynn Jowett, Jo Semmelroth and Chibeka Kasonde all completed the Southwell triathlon.

Now the dark nights are coming running with a club is better than running alone, why not check us out?

Bramley Article, November 2011

Southwell Running Club

At the AGM we said goodbye to the current chair Penny Durance and committee member Julie Gleeson, after many years of devout service.  Ian Haigh was elected as the new chair and Roy Crashley was welcomed to the committee.

No one volunteered to write this article, so you have got me for another year. Can anyone remember my first line, written nearly three years ago? Nor could I until I looked it up. What I said then is still true; “A bag of peas is a marvelous thing to a runner”.

Well done to Michelle Hall and Cathy Lowe for completing the Great North run along with 54,000 other runners. Chrissie Reynolds ran a PB in the Clumber Park 10K.  Paul Woolhouse and Jim Semmelroth finished in the top 20 of the Exterminator race, lots of big hills, mud and to cap it all, you have to find your own way round as well.

It’s not all running, there is some walking as well. Fiona Haynes organised a Coast to Coast  relay with 15 people walking or running a section to complete the entire route in the day. The aim was to raise money for the new Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Nottingham University Hospital. More than £1000 was raised for this very worthy charity.

Another of SRC’s charitable causes is the annual Bathley Blast organised by Paul and Sally Grogan for cancer research. First is a run, followed by a bike ride, then finally another run. Jim Semmelrorth won the event and Chris Cregg was the first SRC lady home.

The Lazy Runner.

Bramley Article, December 2011

Southwell Running Club

Halloween is always scary, even more so when the Worksop half marathon is the next day. A total of 17 SRC runners risked the ghouls and ghosts and ran the 13.1 miles. There were some notable performances with Anthony Gormley the first man home and Jo Semmelroth the first lady, with a PB to boot. Other PB’s were Keith Underwood, Roy Crashley, Angela Edmonson-Jones-and Melissa Cowley. Caroline Loom flew round in a pair of bat wings with Jo Harcombe looking very ghostly.

The Spires and Steeples marathon with a shorter route for walkers is according to Dick and Penny Durance, Brendan Parkinson and Peter Gault a ‘hidden gem’. Loads of delightful hamlets with churches with, yes you will have guessed either a spire or steeple on top of them.

Paul Butcher, Jim Semmelroth, Paul Woolhouse, Paul Orton, Paul Grogan and Ian Haigh braved a night under canvas to compete in the UKA British Fell and Hill Relay Championship in Kettlewell. Next year only runners called Paul can be in the team.

Paul Butcher, Wayne Wilmot, Barbara Garrett, Sharon Card, Roy Crashley, Julie Gleeson and Liz Andrew all ran the Dovedale Dash in which they had to get their feet wet. Darren Corbett, Jo Harcombe, Caroline Loom SRC, Chrissie Reynolds all ran the Peterborough half marathon.

The Lazy Runner

Bramley Article, January 2012

Southwell Running Club

The SRC Christmas Party at the Old Theatre Deli was my running highlight of December. A quick trot around the dance floor was preferable to the Epperstone Cross Country run which happened on the morning of the party. The results will be given next month.

At the party there was a raffle to raise money for the Meningitis Trust and Children with Cancer which raised £500.60. These are the charities being supported by Caroline Loom and Jonathan Simpson for their entries in the London Marathon. Raffle prizes were provided by The Coop, Old Theatre Deli, Alfresco Coffee Shop, Gossips, Boots, The Hearty Goodfellow, The Admiral Rodney, Body & Soul, Real Clothing, Saracens Head, Gadsby’s Bakery, Poppy Design, Minster Flowers, The Handicentre, The Post Office, Turtle Plumbing, UPC Group, Goffs, Askew Art Supplies, Stone Fruit, The Barbers Chair, Pitchfords, Mix Mix, Nuffield Gym and Norwood Park Golf Club.

For medical reasons I missed the annual club 10 mile race. A total of 30 runners took part and there were eleven personal bests. Two new course records were set, 54:37 minutes for Paul Butcher and 69 minutes for Katy Simpson.

Mince pies and flapjacks were on offer at the Durance’s after the Christmas fancy dress run. Anna Hogan and Mel Glass were Sumo Wrestlers with fan assisted inflation. Wayne Wilmot was superman.

Now I have a new Christmas go faster running outfit, my new years resolution is to run a bit more to see if I can recapture some of my former talent. Watch this space!

The Lazy Runner

Bramley Article, February 2012

Southwell Running Club

Over twenty SRC runners ran in the Burton Joyce 10k in January. Were they tempted by the lure of bacon and sausage butties as I was at Brendan and Mary’s afterwards, or did they really want to run?

Our own Katy Simpson and Paul Butcher won the ladies and gents races. Rob Glass and James Buckland both ran PBs. Peter Hunt ran his first race after six months rest due to injury.

Chrissie Reynolds and Ben Parker were the winners of the Grand Prix series, which is a fancy name for four races of different lengths. They scored the most points under a system where you run against your last three years average times at each race. So after three bad years perhaps 2012 will be my year? Peter Gault, Mel Glass, Sharon Card, Katy Simpson Paul Butcher, Jo Semmelroth, Julie Gleeson and Ian Haigh were also winners.

John Cummins the Imelda Marcus of shirts (200 when his wardrobe was emptied) did a good job in organizing the annual SRC Cross Country run at Epperstone. First man home was Paul Grogan and first lady Francis McKinnon, with Paul Orton and Fiona Thornewill winning the handicap prizes.

Three intrepid runners ran the Keyworth Half Marathon and the Turkey Trot – Mark Sutherland, Brendan Parkinson and Dick Durance. Brendan and Dick are in training for the Marathon Des Sables (French for five days of hell in the desert) and wear backpacks with weights in them. Now that’s what I call dedication.

The Lazy Runner.

Bramley Article, March 2012

Southwell Running Club

Did I run in the snow and ice which came a few weeks ago? No, I thought better of it, given my recent experience of broken wrists, which to be fair were not the result of running. In fact I may have been safer running than climbing a tree or playing baseball. Well done to those who did brave the wintry conditions!

On Saturday 11^th February at 9 am the temperature was -10^oC for a new event in the SRC calendar, the Predictor race. Altogether 17 runners predicted their time to run a five mile cross country course. They then ran without watches aiming to get as close as possible to their predictions. Many were slower than they had expected as running in powder snow proved to be extremely hard. The winners were Katy Simpson and Wayne Wilmot. Thanks to Jim and Jo Semmelroth for organizing the event.

In the Country To Capital race Dick Durance and Brendan Parkinson ran 45 miles from Wendover, in the  Chilterns,  to Paddington, central London. The route took in the Ridgeway, Heathrow, Wembley and Wormwood Scrubs. They finished in 8hours 24 minutes, which given that they were two of the oldest people doing the run, 122^nd out of the 189 competitors was not bad for a pair of codgers.

Another extreme race was the Gloucester 50K  which Darren Corbett completed  in 4 hours 36 minutes finishing in  27^th place. The Paris marathon will be a piece of cake after that!

This morning’s run started at Woodborough and went through beautiful countryside. If you fancy joining us on a Saturday morning run or on a midweek session please email the club through the website.

Bramley Article, April/May 2012

Southwell Running Club

I have been inundated, well at least three readers have asked where the SRC article was last month. The truth isn’t that I was too busy running, but possibly I was too busy gardening and missed the deadline. The potatoes are now in so I can concentrate on my literary pursuits again.

Ben Parker has come back from a few years of running wilderness to run the very posh Wilmslow ½ marathon in 1:37.  Peter Hunt has been nowhere to be seen lately but recently ran the 18K Cartmel challenges in the Lakes.

John Cummins proved that there can still be sporting accolades after running 32,000 miles in 32 years, a feat which would leave most of us in the proverbial yard. John came 11^th in his age group in the British Indoor Rowing Championship. He has since with the help of Kay conquered the equivalent of rowing the channel - 34,000m in 2 hours 20 minutes.

In the final race of the East Midlands Cross Country League the men’s vets team triumphed again and were first with the ladies second, thanks to Jo Semmelroth, Anna Hogan, Jane Matthews and Chris Cregg. The men’s captain, Paul Grogan lead his team in. The team also set a record for the number of sweaty runners in a small tent, fourteen is the record not to beat!

Finally, thirteen runners, many of which are training for the London marathon, ran the Ashby 20 mile race. Darren Corbett and Mel Glass were the first home for Southwell.

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