St Valentines day at the Beach
 
The shone on the romantic couples who promenaded along Weston sea front on Sunday, they were joined on the beach by over 1200 runner eager to take on this years Tough Ten Challenge.
 
The course Started on the beach in the shadow of the Pier now under construction, along the promenard lined with supports & well wisher, through wood land up over a steep headland through Weston's sticky mud & back along the beach to the finish.
 
Forest Athletic club based at Five Acres entered 4 members into the main race & 4 into the kids 1M fun run with a supporting coach
.
Earl Smith (575) was the first home in 1.04.07 followed by Ann Nixon (1160) at 1.06.14 claiming 2nd Lady over all & 1st in the age group,
then Mark Jeffries (318) in a very creditable 1.17.32 followed by Graham Wech (311) iin 1.44.04, Graham is training for this year London Marathon.
 
The 1 Mile fun run was the first outing of the year for the Forest Club youngest athletes 4-11 years how train ever Saturday morning at the Berry Hill Track & enter local fun runs. The race started on the beach along the sea wall around the old harbour & back to finish on the beach in front of a large crowd.
 
First back was Sadie Melhuish (2231) in an incredible 7.16 claiming 2nd lady, then 7 yr old Jenson Coppen (2154) in 9.30. followed by William Compton (2235) & Danielle Hansford (2253) in 9.44 Follow by U9 coach Peter Compton (2236) also training for the London Marathon.

Weston Valentines run 10 Mile Results
Position Time     Name                Club                       Class                Shirt Number
41         1:04:07  SMITH, Earl       Forest of Dean AC Senior Male       575     
 

1 Mile Results
10          0:07:16 MELHUISH, Sadie      Forest of Dean AC Female       2231
65          0:09:30 COPPEN, Jenson        Forest of Dean AC Male           2154
 

78          0:09:44 COMPTON, William   Forest of Dean AC Male           2235

Santa Shuffle Report

The Santa Shuffle

 Picture the inside of a car with parents and toddler driving across the Old Severn Bridge last Sunday.

 “Mummy you told me there is only one Santa”

 “ Quite right dear”

 “Then why are lots of them running beside us?”

 Over to you Mum and you’d better make it good!  Admittedly closer inspection would have shown that, apart from the matching red suits and faces, any similarities to the real Father Christmas was very difficult to find.  Especially as the old man hasn’t yet developed a taste for wearing trainers (as far as we know).

 Around 200 wannabe Santas, including at least 2 FODAC members, gathered at the services on the English side of the bridge and gratefully to donned their uniforms as some protection against the raw wind that whipped across the estuary.   Having  trooped across the foot bridge over the toll barriers we were warmed up by some festive music and two Curvy ladies (or where they ladies from Curves) something like that anyway.

 A quick health and safety talk (it’s a long way down) and we were off.  Of course this was the ultimate fun run, only a couple of miles so we could take it easy.  Ho Ho bleedin Ho.   Go for it!   Now those nice Santa suits were neither close fitting or aerodynamic and the beards had a tendency to moult (in your mouth and up your nose) all of which added to that wind blowing against us did make it a bit of a test.  

 There were of course a lot more sensible souls who did take it easy and quite a few first timers which meant that I finished 6^th overall.  A position thats very unlikely to be repeated in the foreseeable future.  Another FODAC member, Chris Moore, came 5^th.

 The run was organised by Ty Hafan, the Welsh childrens’ hospice,  who looked after us very well and hopefully got lots of dosh for their cause.  The other big plus was that it didn’t rain which, given the weather than preceded and succeeded the event, makes me wonder whether the real Santa was in there somewhere.

 Chris Hawkins

Cross Country reports

Gloucester league race 3 and Christmas tree report

Busy Weekend for FODAC Athletes

 While most sensible people were doing their Christmas shopping, FODAC athletes had a busy weekend competing and organising.  On Saturday 12^th a number of members competed in the 3^rd Glos Cross Country fixture held at Tewkesbury.  A long, muddy course tested their stamina but both the ladies and the men fielded complete teams.

The ladies positions were: 69^th Vicki Morgan (40:13), 75^th Jackie Green (40:47) and 78^th Jenny Green (41:49).  There were 96 finishers.  The team finished 20^th overall and 12^th placed vet team.

The men were without a couple of club stalwarts, but still fielded a full team of 7 runners, including one V55 who said he hadn’t done a cross-country race since being made to at school a few decades earlier!  The team finished 17^th overall and were 11^th vet team.

The results were: 75^th Steve Cunliffe (45:08), 95^th Fred van Arkel (46:59), 112nd Walter Leach (49:06), 141^st Colin Baker (53.34), 148^th Chris Hawkins (54:34), 149^th Mark Jeffries (54.47) and 153^rd John Dow (56.51).  There were 158 finishers.

On Sunday 13th the club hosted their popular annual Christmas multi-terrain race at Ellwood, near Parkend.  Despite racing the previous day, both Steve Cunliffe and Fred van Arkel were up bright and early to mark out the 5 mile course which they completed just as the 79 runners set off on a grey December morning.  Not content with having raced the previous day FODAC members Walter Leach (V45) and Freek van Arkel (JM15) both competed with Freek placed 4^th in 31:15 and Walter 24^th in 37:01.  Steve Cunliffe then ran round the course again as sweeper!

After the inclement weather of the previous few weeks the course was exceptionally wet and muddy in places, making the excellent facilities at the Ellwood Football Club greatly appreciated by the tired, muddy runners as they finished.  The race was won by Allister Sheffield (Team Bath) in 28:34, which was almost 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rival Christopher Harry (Lliswerry Runners) in 30:21.  Eighteen year old William New (Cheltenham Harriers) was 3^rd in 30:47.  First lady back was FODAC member Ann Nixon in 33:42 (9^th overall) who was just pipped to the line by FODAC new member Leyton Fleet in 33:41.

Many thanks to everyone who turned up to race, and also thanks to the Ellwood Football Club, St Johns First Aiders and all the club members who marshalled and helped to organise another successful race

Gloucester league race 2

Click here for  full results

u11 boys
The u11 boys were the first off and the day looked like it was going to be another green steam-roller for the Forest of Dean. Only two minutes separated 1st and last in the race, this was fast and hard fought right the way through the field. This time it was Josh who lead the team home chased hard by Harry with James just behind, only 4 seconds separated the three of them at the finish. Jamie found the going really tough but he dug in hard with James Taylor chasing him down and Sam not far behind.
4th Josh
5th Harry
6th James P
17th Jamie
19th James T
22nd Sam
FoDAC A 2nd
FoDAC B 5th

u11 girls
This was Katie’s first race, but you would never have known. She got a great start and got into the leading group with Lauren just behind. Lauren used her experience and held her fire, she waited to the last quarter of the race then exploded past moving from 7th to 4th. Tara, recovering from a chest infection found herself lacking the lung capacity she needed. Resilient as ever she hung on finish in 15th but still in the first third of the field. Rebecca M was a spectator this time, wrapped up warm and suffering a cold.
6th Katie
15th Tara
FoDAC A 3rd
Rebecca M – not well

u13 girls
All attention in the u13 girls race was on the Emily versus Phoebe battle. Huge sums of money changed hands on the start line with opinion evenly divided. In the race Fen got another great start she looked like she would repeat Wednesdays triumph, but suddenly she pulled up in pain leaving Sadie to cruise past to lead FoDAC home. The gamblers waited and Phoebe and Emily emerged out of the woods together side by side. In the end it was Phoebe who got her revenge…place your bets now for the next race! Zoe, Laura and Rebecca had rather low-key races by their standard, it was tough for everyone to race twice in fours days.
5th Sadie
7th Phoebe
8th Emily
17th Zoe
20th Laura
28th Rebecca R
Rtd Fen
FoDAC A 2nd
FoDAC B 6th

u13 boys
With Andrew at home ill Connor and Josh were joined by a new athlete Alex. Connor ran well to maintain his standard from Burton, but this time he was followed home by Josh with Alex finishing in the main group. Next year there will be a real chance of a medal in this category.
18th Connor
19th Josh
24th Alex
FoDAC 5th

u15 boys
With Rhys at home resting his injured knees Emmett found himself the lone FoDAC entrant. He started confident and comfortably but knew he was running a risk. A swine flu inoculation on Thursday and stomach cramps that morning forced him to pause. He stopped for just over a minute and then resumed strongly again. He still managed to finish 5th but had let one of his rivals from the Schools championship past.
5th Emmett
Rhys injured

u17 boys
Freek was not well he was recovering from a cold. Sasha, at home, was still suffering. Freek gave it a go but it was never going to happen, he pulled up very soon after the start and retired.
Rtd Freek
Sasha ill

u17 girls
She had been 10th at Bourton but it didn’t go so well this time out for Eleanor. The long open spaces don’t suit her short stride which is more suited for hilly tracks like Bourton.
16th Eleanor Dow

Senior Women

L35

Vicki Morgan cam 64th

L45

Lynne park came 51st

L50

Jackie Green came 82nd

Senior Men

Colin Baker 140th

M40

Mark Jefferies came 136th

M45

Tony Marshall came 46th

Fred Van Arkel came 92nd

Walter Leach came 106th

M50

John Dow came 154th

M55

Steve Cunliffe came 55th

Gloucester League race 1

Senior Men

Saturday the 10 of October
Gloucester League Race 1 at Cotswold Farm Park. In nice sunny weather, the Forest of Dean senior male team had 7 runners out with some good performances especially from Steve Cunliffe who finished 1st in the male 55 + category.Next race is on the 21st of November at Blackbridge Gloucester
Results:  Senior Men's Team 13th
                Vet Men's Team 8th
                Tony Marchall    47th  37.15        6th  45+
                Steve Cunliffe    55th  38.41        1th  55+
                Fred van Arkel  92 th  41.11        12th 45+
                Walter Leach    106th 42.36        15th 45+
                Mark Jeffries      136th 45.32        30th 40+
                Colin Baker        140th 46.06        37th SM
                John Dow          154th 51.03        23th 50

Juniors

Eden Project 1/2 and full marathon

Rain & mist greeted the 2,000 runners readying themselves for the start of the 1st Eden Project Marathon & 1/2 Marathon on Sunday.
 
2 member of the Forest of Dean athletics Club travelled the 350 mile round trip to complete the hilly, technical & challenging coarse, The race started in the top car park of the popular tourist attraction then winded it way along the narrow cornish lanes through picturesque villages & following the china clay quarry tracks & navigated disused railway lines to eventually returning to site & a 1 mile down hill run to the finish with the spectacular Biodomes in sight, the organisers gave Cornish pastes & local beer as well as medals to all the finishers.
 
Mike Evans (94) finish the Marathon in 3:50:35, 4th place in his Male Vet 50-54 group & 64 over all, Peter Compton (2076) finished the 1/2 Marathon in 2:31:41, 81st place in his Male Vet 40-44 group & 665 over all.
 

Great North Run

The GREAT North Run!

As some of you will already know, for about the past three months I have been training for the Great North Run.   I wanted to do this race as my first half marathon as I have been watching it on the box for so long and have heard all the stories about the brilliant atmosphere.  I didn’t get in through the usual ballot method so I decided to race for a hospice charity in memory of my mum.  My preferred hospice in Hereford (St. Michaels) didn’t have any places so I chose the national Help the Hospices organisation.  I offered to raise £250 for them and although they were looking for more like £550 they eventually accepted my lowly pledge! 

Through out all of my training I have been lucky to have Lynne Park supporting and advising me and on the Wednesday training evenings Carol Jones kindly (or sometimes not so kindly!) gave me a separate session to do.  Overall I was very pleased with my preparation for the race and on the morning I felt that I was ready to go.  We had stayed overnight in Newcastle and so got to the race start in plenty of time but spent most of the build up queuing in the cold for the loo.  I felt a bit emotional at the start but soon got caught up in the race fever.  I even forgot to look out for Sting so I must have been concentrating hard!  I set off at a good pace, felt comfortable with it and able to keep it up.  My starting zone was the 1hr 40 – 1hr 50 pace so I didn’t really get held up by the slower runners and I tried to stay strong and enjoy the experience.  And what an experience it was, I loved it!  From beginning to end the support along the way was terrific and, forgetting that I had my name on my shirt, I could have sworn there was another Vicki behind me who everyone seemed to know!   The hardest part was mile 12 which was a long up-hill climb but once I reached the top the view of the sea and the crowds below spurred me on and I was able to cross the finish line in 1hr 49mins and 32 secs. 

After the race I was well looked after at the Help the Hospices marquee with food, drink and a very welcome massage. I am proud to say that I will be able to pay them back with a cheque for around £750 which has been achieved through donations, sponsorship and various fund raising events. We then walked (or rather I limped!) to the nearest pub showing the footie and topped off a brilliant day watching Chelsea beat Spurs!  Over the next few days my various aches and pains were walked off in the Lake District and I am now waiting to hear if I have got into next years  Virgin London Marathon.

Whether I would be writing this if I hadn’t been quite so happy with my time is a different matter but as I’ve done something that I am pleased with then why not share it!!

FODAC News Senior’s Round-Up

Chippenham Half Marathon

Three veteran FODAC runners joined the other 1373 runners in the recent, well-organised Chippenham Half Marathon.   The results were:

372 1:42:42 Chris Moore (Vet Men 50-59) in 1:42:17
433 1:44:33 Mark Jeffries (Vet Men 40-49) in 1:44:17
552 1:49:42 Chris Hawkins (Vet Men 50-59) in 1:49:17

Multi-Terrain Races

Steve Cunliffe competed in the Woodchester Park 8 on the 13^th September, and found his hill training in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley of particular benefit towards the end of the race. This year saw course records in both the men's and ladies' race from Matt Withey (47.26) and Kate Goodhead (50.00) and there was a record field of 140 runners.

Steve summarised his race as a bad start followed by a stonking finish!  The first 2 miles is heavily downhill and the terrain is rough. He spent most of the time subconsciously protecting his foot and being overtaken. By the time he got to the bottom of the hill he was in 35ish place but at least his foot was still attached at the ankle. From here the course undulates up and down the valley side and then turns and undulates upwards back to the start. It's impossible to find a rhythm but attacking the hills proved to be a sound tactic as the other runners tired. The hills helped Steve right to the finish and by the line he had managed to move up to an acceptable 14th place (2nd MV50) and a time of 57.31. 

He followed this race up with the Upton Bishop Big Dipper 5.6 on the 27^th September.  He soundly approved of this race, which had some nice little touches, like the free towel for all finishers and the excellent cakes and tea at the finish!  The race itself went well. Steve started slowly like 2 weeks ago with about 25 runners in front of him at the bottom of the first hill. Thankfully for Steve the hills come thick and fast, even in the outward loop which is nominally downhill. Having said that it is less demanding than Woodchester with maybe 150m climbing.  He managed to overtake runners on a regular basis up to the 5 mile mark at which point the hills run out and it was a case of settling for what he had.  Steve finished in 13th place (2^nd V50 – again!) in a time of 37.52.

Kim Mazzucca is off to Hungary with her dog this weekend to compete in the Canni-Cross Championships.  All her colleagues at FODAC wish her well!