The highlight of this week was definitely the first Cross Country (XC) race of the season, especially amazing as it was hosted by us. Rodger and his trusty sidekicks created a challenging route around Hilly Fields, one with mud and hills aplenty. The marshals were enthusiastic as always, even in the pouring rain. I hope this has made those of you a bit daunted by the thought of XC, eager to come along and give it a try later this month.

Our women’s team led us to 3rd place and our men’s took 4th. Newbie Josh Beaumont let the men home and XC champion Vicky P led the women. A special mention needs to go to Lisa Briggs for being 2nd GBRC female. This woman is on fire regualrly astounds me with her progress. The kids came in 6th overall with Connor Sharp bagging 3rd U11’s boy – Well done Connor! Excellent racing everyone!

A little further afield Bev Shortley and Don Welch attempted to avoid the mud by doing Billericay 10K. I feel like Mother Nature may have had other plans and had the last laugh. Despite the wet and challenging conditions of the day they finished in 56:43 and 64:39.

On Saturday lots of us took part in local and not so local parkruns. Full results can be found here -https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=1475

Some of the tourism included Helene Tyler at Gunpowder pr in 34:29, Martin Owen did Wickford Memorial pr in 24:29 and rated it as ‘quite pleasant’ whilst Grainne did Thurrock pr and Robbie Lee did Thetford in 22:40.

Martin and Sammy Cotton took part in a warm and humid New York Marathon, running together and finishing in 5:36:50.

Not really a race but Neil Robins also ran/jeffed 185.41 miles in 21 days for breast cancer to support a colleague.