It’s the most wonderful time of the year for a race report, and I couldn’t ask for a better month for my debut! Whilst I have been languishing in the midst of illness and injury, GBRC members are as busy as ever, and seeing your merry efforts and achievements is the best motivation and medicine. Fasten your laces as we embark on a whirlwind tour of the globe, tracking our runners from local trails to international finish lines.

Kicking off the month, we travel to the Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon, an orbital route of the town leading through the town’s parks, with Rosie Youngs snagging a time of 02:30:58. Well done! 

Moving further afield to this year’s Valencia marathon in the December sun, congratulations are in order to Christopher Thornton who represented GBRC with a crushing marathon time of 3:34:33!

We head now to the Málaga Marathon and Half-Marathon, where other GBRC members had the same notion to hit the Spanish coast, and the blues were out in full force to represent in style. ¡Felicidades to Kathy Bishop, Craig Slocombe, Jon Mann, Paul Davison, Matt Illsley, James Eyre and Hein Hoang!

Now, we journey back to the motherland for the annual Hare & Tortoise Raynedeer Run which was well represented by the blues in true festive spirit! The weather may have been miserable, but no spirits were dampened by the mud or rain. Stellar efforts from Dean Pepper with a half-marathon distance in 02:03:48, Tim Clifton with a Marathon distance in 5:14:27, and Mary Ann Taylor 04:58:28:8 with a 1st position standing in the 6 hour Female group. Also, a special shout out to Tim as this race marked his 8th marathon of the year. And if that wasn’t enough, he was back out a week later running the Let it Stow trail half-marathon bringing home a time of 02:22:08. Outstanding!

Dean and Mary feeling festive at the Raynedeer run event

Mud? What mud?!?

Another Saturday, another Parkrun

December has seen its fair share of Parkrun tourism, with plenty of international pursuits. Starting at ARU Writtle, we have Martin and Sammy Cotton followed by Mary Ann Taylor who braved this busy course a week later!

Next, over to Christchurch park where Hélène Tyler clinched a time of 37:34 on a very hilly route, and Pennington Flash where Paul and Yolande Arnold had a blast on this wet and muddy course.

Venturing south to the capital, our very own Donna Harris has been particularly busy, taking part in the Battersea Parkrun, before embarking on an impressive international detour to take on the Szczecin Parkrun in Poland.

Onwards and eastwards to Vienna where Caroline Searle joined locals and fellow tourists with an enviable time of 32:30 – excellent job!

Meanwhile, the irrepressible Tom Higgins continues his grand ‘Down Under’ tour, navigating the Queenstown route on the island of Tasmania and Albert Parkrun in Melbourne with times of 26:26 and 28:50, respectively. A fantastic feat in the relentless Australian summer sun!

At least it’s shorts weather for some of us…

No journey is truly complete without a magical winter sojourn in Germany during the festive season where Lorna Sharp joined in with the other Christmas market visitors in Cologne powered on through by copious amounts of Glühwein. Prost!

We end our tour back in not-so-sunny Clacton, where James Eyre snagged pole position at Clacton Parkrun #401 with an astounding time of 19:44! Incredible running!

Well, that’s a wrap. A huge well done to all runners in our pre-Christmas report – what a great way to end a fantastic year of running. As it’s the last report before the big day, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year filled with joy (and perhaps a few recovery miles!). I’m looking forward to another great year, and getting stuck back in once my pantomime run is over (Oh yes I am!). Over and out!