Saturday 30th March

The Start

Today was a lovely sunny but cold day with a good turnout (14 plus Neil & Ali). The snow prevented the group from doing the planned Macc Forest run so we did a modified Bollin Valley route (along the Bollin, through Prestbury and then back via the Tytherington Golf Course and Dorchester Way then the east side of the Bollin Valley). The route was about 4.5-5 miles (depending on loop-back etc) with really good ground conditions. The group ran really well despite a few complaints of 'mud' and 'hills' (yes, you know who you are!).

About 9 people had a very pleasant coffee afterwards at the Tythy Club.

Well run,

Neil and Ali

Bollin Valley

Bollin Valley (East Side)

Bollin

Heather

Jenny & Oliver with 'Wilmslow Woman'

Bollin

Dawn & Jenny

Heather, Louise and Ali with Bev hidden

'Man up Princess.....'

Mud Bridge

Louise & Ali

Descent technique...

Philip & Nina

Invading the Golf course

More descent...

Is Philip lost?

Happy Easter

Sunday 24th March - Wilmslow Half Marathon

Today saw Dawn Devine take on the challenge of a late entry into the 2013 Wilmslow Half Marathon. It was a bitterly cold and windy day but the ground conditions were good for running (amazing that only a few miles away cars were buried in snow!).

Dawn lined up with 4,800 runners and the starting gun went off at 10.30am.

Dawn had a good run and the following information is available...

Finish time (chip time) 2h18m56s
Finish time (gun time) 2h22.28s
Finish position (chip time) 3338th
Finish position (women) 1029th
Finish poistion (age category) 123rd
10k time 1h2m36s (a PB)

All in all an amazing achievement on a very cold day - Run England has a new hero!

Neil

Dawn with Graham Evans MP

At the start

Live Tracking

The start

Waiting for the start gun

Saturday 23rd March

The start (Nina missing)

The original plan for today was a Park Run at Congleton but the weather was not brilliant and to avoid driving we stayed local. A hardy band of 7 group members put on the trail shoes and we ran the Prestbury Lollipop with 'Donkeys' and a hill section at the end. Spirits were high and it was good to practice running in snow and mud - a good time was had by all!

Neil
ps Not so many photographs today as my hands were too cold!

Snow!

Louise assuming lead position...

Snow Warriors

Snowy Loop-Back

Sunday 17th March - Wrap Up and Run 10K (Tatton)

This is a possible group run to aim for ... the Age Concern Tatton 10k (Wrap up and Run).

Click here for more information .... TATTON 10K

I cannot be there to support as I am away on holiday in the Lakes - hopefully it will go well.

Neil

Saturday 16th March

The start

Today the group (16 strong despite drizzle) met at the Clough Bank Car Park. Neil and Alison were away so Cheryl, Dawn & Gemma (all about to take the leadership course) took charge. The plan was to split into two sub-groups with one group going a bit shorter and slower with Cheryl and the other a bit longer with Dawn and Gemma. Harry Newton joined in as part of his London Marathon training and Heather's daughter came along.

The group warmed up as usual. The route took in the Middlewood Way, Clark Lane, Oak Lane and a re-group at the War Memorial where Sergeant Major Evans insisted on some hill-reps!

The two groups then split again and returned to the start point for a cool-down.

A post-run coffee was taken at the Waterside Cafe.

Neil

Ready for hill reps

Orders from Sgt Mjr Evans

Clarke Lane

Near Tinker's Clough

The end....

Sunday 10th March - Delamere 10K

Team Run England Macclesfield

A merry band of runners from the group ran the Delamere 10k today. Apparently Mexican waves help in muddy conditions.

Cheryl E (68 mins)
Fiona L (5k)
Jenny H (64 mins)
Gemma M (51m41s)
Louise B (64 mins)
Nina K (64 mins)
Oliver G TBC
Sarah Q (64 mins)
Wendy B (63 mins)

This is a BRILLIANT effort from the team - a 10k in very respectable times!

It seems that cake and biscuits were on offer after the race - Neil & Alison missed out.

Nina

Oliver

Wendy & Cheryl

Fiona, Wendy, Sarah, Sam, Nina, Louise, Cheryl

Jenny & Gemma

Route - 5k 1 lap, 10k 2 laps

Saturday 9th March

Ian, Jenny, Gemma, Alison

For various reasons the Run England group was down on numbers - several group members were working, several away for the weekend and a large number were having a rest-day before the Delamere 10K on Sunday 10th March.

So - the select band of runners was Gemma, Jenny, Neil & Alison and a guest runner from Running Ahead called Ian Pusey. We also bumped into Harry Newton who was on a long run as part of his London Marathon training.

We did a very gentle mini-CAFOD route in damp conditions (canal and Middlewood Way) followed by a good coffee and cake in the Livesey Cafe in Bollington.

Good luck to everyone at Delamere!

Neil & Ali

Gemma, Jen, Harry, Ali & Ian