Cheerio heatwave(s), hello grey skies! Now that September is upon us, we can all get back to running without losing half our bodyweight in sweat or ending up with the complexion of an overcooked beetroot.  The last couple of weeks may have been a wee bit slower on the racing front, but you Blues have still been out there taking on cross-country relays, back-to-back 10Ks, trail races with no markings, and Parkruns in three different countries. Here’s how it all went down this fortnight…

That was a really, Relay long way…

Not being from around these parts, I naively assumed the Essex Way Relay was a fairly chilled and scenic 5k-a-turn relay that’s over by lunch. Well, I was wrong. Very wrong. It turns out this thing is EIGHTY TWO flippin’ miles long and broken into ten stages across a range of unmarked terrain, which sounds to me like it’s a lot easier to get lost than to not. 

Anyway, 10 (well, 12 if you count running buddies) of you absolute maniacs stepped up to take on this challenge – Cheryl Congram, Paul Hollidge, Debs Hollidge (with running buddy Milly Presland), Tom Komorowski, Charlie Keitch, Rodger Alexander, Dave Wright, Helen Carey, Tonie Wilson (with running buddy Lou Balfour), and Bee Brent – and did a bloody brilliant job on a very hot day, placing a lofty 18th once it was finally over. Fantastic work everyone, serious kudos on getting this done.

Bullen’s gruelling weekend

Speed-meister Steve Bullen decided that a one race weekend simply wasn’t enough, so he tackled two back-to-back events last Friday and Saturday, as you do. First up was the Ickworth Sunset Chase 10K, which is all undulating and multi-terrain, with a final stretch that Steve glowingly described as “sapping”. Nonetheless, he came home 8th overall and 2nd MV50 in a brilliant 43:20. 

The next day, brought Framlingham 10K, a tough two-lap course that tackles Market Hill three times and finishes through a field. Despite this, er, let’s say minor inconvenience,  Steve clocked 42:11, good enough for 4th MV50 and more than a minute quicker than the day before. Zero let up in 24 hours and two top five age group finishes. Chapeau Steve. 

A frolic, a faff and a podium

Any race that starts outside a pub sounds pretty good, right? With a starting line strategically placed by the Chequers pub, the Felsted Frolic stands at 10.5 miles and is another one of those ‘no course markings, no GPX files, running as nature intended’ type of races that terrify the life out of folk who can’t use a compass (this is me, dear reader). 

Relievingly you don’t need god-like navigational skills to conquer the course. Just ask our GBRC contingent who at some point mid-race saw 30-odd runners come charging back down the field edge towards them. Thankfully after a few minutes of “faffing” (Phil’s words, not mine) directions were eventually established and the pack got back on course. None of this, it turns out, cost them dearly. Vicky Presland, Milly Presland and Debs Hollidge finished joint second in the ladies’ standings in 1:54:50, while Paul Hollidge and Phil Presland came in joint seventh among the men. Who needs compasses?

Parkrun tourism: From Abergavenny to Zamek

The Parkrun tourism section this fortnight spans three countries and an impromptu Parkrun briefing…

• Mags Komorowska grabbed a Z (quite the coup if you’re doing the Parkrun alphabet) at the majestic looking Zamek Malbork Parkrun in Poland. Not only did Mags run it, she also gave the briefing for English-speaking tourists, which earned her a volunteering credit into the bargain. Amazing as always, Mags. 
• Donna Parker-Evans, meanwhile, made it to Strathclyde for her first Scottish Parkrun, walking rather than running as her ankle continues its recovery, doing so in perfect weather – which isn’t always a given in my motherland.
• And Fiona Gosling put down another significant marker on her return to running at the Llangynidr Crossing Parkrun near Abergavenny in Wales. Welcome back, Fiona!

And that’s your lot for this edition. I’ve been reliably assured by Lou that the racing is about to pick up – so  keep the reports coming in our Facebook page and we’ll see you back here in two weeks. Ciao for now.