October awesomeness

Before this autumnal month is through we thought it only fitting to celebrate the deluge of achievements by our mighty Green and Golds!

It’s a pretty impressive and extensive list so please forgive us (and let us know) if we have missed anyone…

First up was Kielder weekend. A beautiful setting for a number of gruelling challenges.

Its Run Bike Run race on October 3rd took in 11km of the Kielder Marathon course and then 25km along the North Shore on two wheels, returning over the impressive Kielder Dam to the South Shore. The final stage was a 6km run taking in the final stages of the 10k route and the stunning Bull Crag Peninsula and back along the Lakeside Way to the finish at Leaplish Waterside Park.

Taking on the challenge and succeeding were:
Sarah Graham
Sarah Cawthorn
Laura Murphy
Julie Collinson (2nd vet!)
Dave Collinson
Neil Armstrong
Keith O’Donnell

Sarah Robson was second lady in the Kielder 10k. Joe Colligan was our man in the half marathon and iron lady Ruth Marshall completed an extremely tough full marathon.

Speaking of tough. Anyone fancy running 100 miles? Who would do such a crazy thing you ask? I’ll tell you who: Gez Davidson, Andrew Clark, Mark Richardson and Rab, all of whom took on St. Oswald’s Ultra Marathon at the end of September, running from Holy Island to Chollerford. And the insatiable Alan Moses who completed the Ultra’s 50k! A inspirational performance guys. Hats off to all of you.

In other marathon news two tough ladies with a mission took on York and Amsterdam. Leanne Smith finished her first marathon (York) in a fantastic 4hrs 10 and Julie Williams smashed her PB at Amsterdam in a brilliant 3hrs 49. Joe Colligan finished Amsterdam in an impressive 3hrs 16. There were also first rate performances in the Amsterdam half with Matt the Tash completing it in 1hr22, Robbie Livermore in 1hr33 and Gav Lee in 1hr27. And flying the flag for our juniors in the 5 mile run were Ellen and Simon in a time of  45 mins 24.

Caroline Cunningham and Ruth Marshall took part in their first cycle cross event in Darlington. And Danielle Watts was the first woman across the line at Newcastle Stampede! Here’s one I hadn’t heard of until now
 – Gibside Fruit Bowl trail race (apparently it’s been going for ages and is really well known, doh). A scenic but “certainly not flat” route around the grand estate and Sarah Robson managed it in 49mins 41.

Phew, I’m worn out just writing all that lot. What an awesome bunch we are. It’s great to get down the club and run but it’s also great to put all that practice into our own personal challenges and to get out there and show what the Green and Golds are made of. It’s fantastic to see so many taking part in such a variety of races and achieving so much.

Who knows what November will bring? Watch this space….