The summer racing season may be drawing to a close, but GBRC members have shown no signs of slowing down. Throughout September, you clocked up the miles across the country from Mersea and Felixstowe to Richmond, Keswick, Inverness and even Scotland’s most northerly mainland parkrun.
Alongside some fantastic individual performances, we also enjoyed some impressive team successes, and, as we head into Cross Country (XC) season, these remind us that while individual successes are always worth celebrating, we’re at our best as a club when we run together.
Essex Way Relay
A team of GBRC runners took on the Essex Way relay, starting at Epping and finishing in Harwich. This epic event covers 82 miles and is split into ten stages featuring everything from fields and footpaths to trails and country lanes.
Huge congratulations to Cheryl Congram, Paul Hollidge, Debs Hollidge, Tom Komorowski, Rodger Alexander, Dave Wright, Helen Carey, Tonie Wilson (who completed her stage with running buddy Lou Balfour) Bee Brent and, er, me. The team produced a fantastic performance to finish 18th overall. Go us!
Pleshey and Essex Half Marathon
September also saw another excellent turnout at the Pleshey and Essex Half Marathon, with twelve Bentley Blues proudly representing the club at the Essex County Championships.
A huge well done to Stephen Bullen, Paul Carlisle, Tim Clifton, Jess Gould, Donna Harris, Tom Higgins, Hien Hoang, Stefan Hogan Steele, Tom Komorowski, Jon Mann, Mary Taylor and Chris Thornton for completing this challenging countryside course. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there (trust me, I’m getting very bored of saying that), but it was fantastic to see so many club members supporting one another and achieving some fantastic results on the day.
Harwich vs GBRC 5km relays
We enjoyed another great morning at the annual Harwich vs GBRC 5km relays, and I want to echo everyone’s comments on the day and say a very big ‘thank you’ to Harwich for organising the event.
For me, the relays showcased everything that makes our club special, with a huge turnout of runners and supporters combining to create a fantastic atmosphere. One of the best things about the relays was the mix of runners involved, including newer members, club stalwarts and some familiar faces who we’ve not seen in a while.
The results spoke for themselves, and our success on the day was thanks to every single one of you who turned up. We took home both the Fastest Team and Fastest Club honours, which is a a fantastic achievement and one that reflects the strength, depth and team spirit running right through the club.
Congratulations to everyone and let’s keep that momentum going as we head into XC season.
It’s XC season!
The XC season kicks off in October, which means it’s time to swap the tarmac for muddy fields, woodland trails, slippery corners and the occasional unexpected obstacle.
For anyone who hasn’t ventured off road before, don’t be put off by the word “race”. The NESS fixtures, in particular, are some of the most welcoming and enjoyable events in the running calendar. You’ll find runners of every ability out there, from those competing at the sharp end to those simply looking to challenge themselves, support the club and enjoy a morning’s running with friends. The atmosphere is always friendly, and there are usually plenty of post-race cakes and hot drinks waiting at the finish.
As a club, we’d love to see as many blue vests as possible at the NESS events this season. They are our main XC league fixtures, and every runner who takes part contributes to the team effort. Whether you’re chasing positions or just aiming to get round with a smile (and a bit of mud), your run really does count.
If you’re training for a spring half or marathon, XC can also be one of the best forms of training you can do. Running over uneven ground builds strength in your legs and core, improves balance and stability, and develops the ability to maintain effort when conditions are less than perfect. Many runners find that when they return to the roads after a winter of XC, they feel stronger, more resilient and more confident.
This year’s first NESS race takes place at Gosfield on Sunday 25 October. We’d especially encourage newer members and first-timers to give it a go. You might arrive wondering what you’ve signed up for, but there’s a good chance you’ll leave looking forward to the next one.
October events
GBRC meet-up at Harwich parkrun
- Where: Harwich parkrun
- When: Saturday 17th October at 9am
Let’s get as many of our ladies and gents together and return to the scene of our relay victory at Harwich parkrun. Whether you’re aiming for a PB, fancy a social jog, or want to support from the sidelines, it’s going to be a wonderful morning of running and catching up. Don’t forget your blue club vest/t shirt.
‘Let’s Lift the Curfew’ 5k run
- Where: Harwich & Dovercourt Rugby Club
- When: Tuesday 27th October at 6:15pm
Harwich Runners are hosting a special 5k run as part of the nationwide Let’s Lift the Curfew initiative. Created by This Girl Can and supported by England Athletics. The aim is to highlight women’s voices to make outdoor sport and physical activity safer and more inclusive whilst raining awareness of women’s safety and fears getting active especially in the darker evenings. It’s a very important cause, and it would be incredible to see a strong turnout from the club.
Runners of the month
Our Ladies’ Runner of the Month for September is the unstoppable Cheryl Congram. Cheryl produced an outstanding performance at the Richmond Marathon, finishing in a superb 3:30:30 and moving into seventh place on the club’s all-time rankings.
A performance like this is the result of tireless dedication, consistency, and grit during training. Beyond her incredible speed, Cheryl remains a wonderfully supportive teammate who brings fantastic energy to our club sessions and serves as a true inspiration to the entire squad.
This month’s Men’s Runner of the Month is Jacob Horton. Jacob produced an outstanding run at the Harwich vs GBRC 5km relays, clocking a superb 16:33 and helping GBRC secure the Fastest Team prize alongside Flynn Eyre (16:29) and Andrew Lanham (18:02).
It was particularly great to see Jacob back in a blue vest after a long period of injury, and to see him produce such a strong result on the day.
Congratulations Cheryl and Jacob on your well-deserved awards. We cannot wait to see what’s next!
