Sidmouth Running Club reports

Organised by the charity Torbay Holiday Helpers Network the route followed the canal path to the Iron Bridge with a cheeky loop back to the river before crossing over the road to follow the train line to Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Shaldon.  

This event was Mighty Green Jo Earlam’s fifth City to Sea and her 91st marathon, while Jane Hemsworth has now completed 35 marathons, Sarah Watkins 17, Rachel Barnard and Leeann Thomson 3 and Alexa Baker her first.   

A band of Mighty Greens lined up at the start of the inaugural Budleigh Salterton Lions 10k Trail event starting from Withycombe Raleigh Common and heading out and around Woodbury Common. 

Ollie Goodchild Horne was the first Mighty Green over the finish line in 56:16 with Mark Norton and Clive Gilbert close behind and under the hour too; a great run from all three as it was a demanding course.  Special mentions go to Carol Hounsell who carried on running to Budleigh and followed the coast path back to Sidmouth as part of her London Marathon training, to Donna Womersley Westlake for running up those hills and not stopping until the end, to Terry Bewes for completing his first race following injury and to Alexa Baker who didn’t let a marathon run the day before stop her from taking part in one of the Autumn series club challenge races.   

Congratulations to Derek Blackburn, who has completed his in house run leader training taking the 4-5 mile group run along the Jurassic coastline.   

The Mighty Green was presented with his run leader top and first aid kit by vice chair Sarah Watkins.  Derek joins a merry band of run leaders within the club, all of whom bring enthusiasm, encouragement and a different run route with almost the exact number of miles required!   

With the nights drawing, in the club is preparing to re-start the Monday and Wednesday club runs from their base at St Johns School but will trial an off-road torchlight run in September for those missing off-road running.