Grizzly and Drizzly

· by · in Race Reports. ·

I need to start the report with a plea … race reports are in danger of extinction from April if we don’t have any new volunteers to write them! It’s a nice way to give something back to the club that isn’t too much of a time commitment. Admittedly it doesn’t pay well, but full training is provided and it is a rewarding task! Please consider it and let Caroline, Charlie and I know if you’re interested.

Now that’s been said, onto the report …

This fortnight saw one very quiet weekend of racing and one extremely busy one – but all weekends start with parkrun, so we will also start there.

52 of you did parkrun on Saturday 9 March. Here are some highlights:

  • Mel Parris (37:13) and Natalie Martin (37:14) visited Southend parkrun
  • The three musketeers Daniel Whymark (25:54), Magdalena Komorowska (24:58) and Tom Komorowski (26:26) braved the mud at Great Dunmow parkrun
  • Another Bentley trio travelled to Chilton Fields parkrun for some local tourism – Mark Harris (29:29), Donna Harris (31:57) and Sammy Cotton (34:23)
  • Robbie Lee also crossed into Suffolk to complete Mildenhall Hub parkrun in 23:32
  • Vicky and Phil Presland visited Beacon Hill Country Park parkrun near Loughborough, finishing in 24:46 and 25:09 respectively, and enjoying the downhill final mile.

44 of you did parkrun on Saturday 16 March. Here are some highlights:

  • Charlie Sharp achieved a PB (23:43) at Colchester Castle parkrun
  • Paul Arnold celebrated his 100th parkrun at Fell Foot parkrun in the Lake District (27:36), along with Vicky Presland (24:57), Phil Presland (25:00), Kathy Bishop (25:51) and Yolande Arnold (29:49)
  • Seaton parkrun was flooded with GBRC tourists thanks to the Grizzly the next day
  • Mark Jasper finished first at Harwich parkrun with a shiny new PB of 17:14 – those 16s are in sight, Mark!
  • Paul Carlisle visited Crawfordsburn Country parkrun in County Down (26:00)
  • Charlotte Hammond achieved a course PB (27:13) at Markshall Estate parkrun.

Sunday 10 March was a quiet day on the local racing front, but that didn’t stop Sammy Cotton and Donna Harris seeking out a half marathon to take part it! They ran the RunThrough Victoria Park half marathon, both finishing in 2:15:43, which was a PB for Sammy.

Making up for the previous weekend, Sunday 17 March saw us spoilt for choice with a smorgasbord of races!

Some opted for The Grizzly, something of a Bentley tradition for the most hardcore of club members! The full Grizzly is a 20 mile multi-terrain route, including bogs, streams, beaches, clifftops and very steep ascents and descents. Those who want to subject themselves to similar challenges but over a shorter distance can opt for the shorter Cub run of 9 miles.

12 blues braved the full Grizzly: Paul Brazier, Gerry Gladden, Richard Heath, Craig Mitchell, Anna Lyon, David Balfour, Nicky Steadman, Larina Marsh, Louise Balfour, Dave Jones, Emma Wright and Catherine Ott.

A further 8 opted for the Cub: Jane Brimacombe, Tonie Wilson, Vicky Law, Caroline Searle, Nikki Laverack, Debbie Eaton, Rachel Rodgers and Sue Wright.

The full results with times can be found here, although this is not an event you do for time but simply for survival and glory! You’re all amazing!

A big blue turnout is always guaranteed at the Colchester half marathon, the hometown half for many. It’s move back to March, specifically St Patrick’s Day, brought with it what can only be described as some Irish weather (but a good excuse for a Guinness refuel afterwards).

With so many (35!) blue vests completing the course, I won’t list all the results but you can find them here. I know many PBs were achieved, including some that have stood for 9 years (Jon Mann) and some by 8 minutes (Dan Palmer), and even a GBRC top-10 time (Joshua Beaumont in 1:17:15). Congratulations to all who took part!

Further afield, Paul Davison and Magdalena Komorowska flew the GBRC flag solo at their events (not literally, that would have really slowed them down). Paul took on the Stowmarket half marathon and finished in 1:26:54, which bagged him a PB, 15th position overall and second place in his age category. Mags had another excellent run as part of her marathon preparations, completing the Essex 20 (five laps of four miles around Debden airfield) in 2:48:45.