NDW100 3rd August 2019
It was one of hardest events I done, or I forgot about the pain that comes with 100 miler, writes Bet Benn.
On start we had chat with Andy wish each other luck and said see you in finish. I didn't believe it myself that I will get there after last time retiring at 30 miles.
Horn went and we went. It was nice morning sun was still low and great to watch it. Somebody commented we will have nice sun rise tomorrow. It's too far to think about it.
Pretty soon my legs start to cramp first time ever, ask friend if he has salt he didn't but gave me some crampfix. It tasted as vinegar but after 3 miles was ok.
Soon was Knockholt, was telling the lady I was with that I will stop for 15 min. Friend greet me and was joking that I am after cut off, F off Steve. Change top, socks, look after feet. Where is the sock or I am sitting on it..quick pasta diner in. Where is the fork they gave it to me? Don't know eat it from the bowl. Wipe face...say thank you and out. Lady stayed there and from the look she was retiring. Shame.
Other section to Wrotham..somebody is shining torch. So I turn do you need it it's still light? Destroying my night vision... These people annoy me on good day and when I am tired even more with powerful torch casting shadows of me that I can't see. He turn it off, and I was annoyed so tried to get ahead so he doesn't cast shadow of me later on.
Wrotham feeling low, food don't know what I want let's try something. Coffee had to return looking at the volunteer guilty that I can't drink coffee and they understand. Off into darkness. There I lost other new friend and made new one.
Then is blur I got somehow to Blue Bell Hill, leaving vomit trail and trying to drink small amounts and eat small bits.. Then I get down and up and down to Detling seeing nice sun rise, and meeting pacer... 30 min to cut off.
Quick get out all stuff that is not mandatory from my bag, and out of checkpoint. Phil is doing great job and makes me chase him, and is pleased when we are moving 15 min/ mile. And then I remember having rest in last checkpoint 3 minutes sleep. Phil Bet you have 15 sec to get going. We are off again.
It seems doable something like parkrun and bit. I can do parkrun tired tree to tree strategy.
Then we went to Ashford and he is saying where it is. I can't believe it. I made it thanks Phil, almost crying. I can see the last 300 m on track. I just want to walk. Phil need to run nobody walks on track ok I will try sprinting 100m. Finnish it's done in 29:24:09.
Hug with Phil. And chair and sausage and coffee with lots of sugars.
The results are here.
Lionel Stielow was 2nd M70 (56:44 for 147th overall) as four SAC runners tackled the East Peckham 10k on 4th August in hot conditions.
Zac Ramsden was first home in 24th with 41:04 for third M50, followed by Laura Andrade in 64th with 48:06, while Simon Hallpike, also with 48:06, was 66th and 2nd M65.
The results are here.
Suzy Claridge won the July handicap race ahead of Martin Dixon, while Suzy's son Thomas ran the fastest time.
Andrew Mead continues to lead the series by a big margin.
The details are here.
The 26th Sevenoaks 7 took place in Knole Park on Sunday July 14th, writes Jim Knight.
The early-morning rain cleared leaving conditions warm but overcast – good conditions for a tough 7-mile race.
380 runners from all around the Southern Counties lined up on the start line at 10.30 am. There were strong teams from Tunbridge Wells Harriers, Orpington Road Runners, and Dulwich Runners but a reduced team from Sevenoaks AC, as 30 SAC club members were involved in the race organisation.
The runners started at the bottom of the Knole park, close to the Hole in the wall, and went steadily uphill past Knole House to the refreshment point on Chestnut walk before descending the Gallops and climbing back up to Chestnut Walk. At the end of the second loop, the runners turned left by Knole House for a fast downhill mile to the finish back at the bottom of the park.
It’s a challenging course. A full 7 miles, and none of it flat.
The leaders set off fast, and soon a trio of Billy Hobbs of Tunbridge Wells Harriers, Chuck Edwards of Dulwich Runners AC and William Levett of Tunbridge Wells Harriers had opened up a 50-metre lead. But on the second lap, Sam Coombes of Dartford Harriers caught the trio and, along with Duncan Marsden of Tunbridge wells Harriers, the five fought for victory.
The eventual winner was Billy Hobbs of Tunbridge Wells Harriers in a very fast time of 38.14 (last year’s winner took 41.44, although on a very hot day). Second was Chuck Edwards of Dulwich Runners in 38.56 and in third place was Sam Coombes of Dartford Harriers in 39.08.
In the Women’s race, Cas Jackson of Dartford Harriers won in a fast time of 46.59, followed by Marta Miaskiewicz of Dulwich Runners in 47.47, and Nicola Evans of Tonbridge AC in 49.37.
Both the men’s and women’s team competitions were won by Dulwich Runners AC.
The Sevenoaks AC men’s team ran well to come 5th, with James Mason in 8th position, Nick Humphrey-Taylor in 34th, Andrew Milne in 38th and Andrew Hutchinson in 39th.
Other notable SAC performances were Lionel Stielow (2nd M70), James Graham (3rd M60), and Sally Shewell (4th W55), Sylvia Lewis (2nd W65)
In the junior race, Sevenoaks AC athletes performed well, with Ryan Allard-Smith winning the boys race followed by Alex House in 2nd and Freddie Naughton in 3rd.
The girls race was won by Lexie Johnson, followed by Ella McIntyre in 2nd and Daisy Phillips in 3rd.
The winners of the veteran’s classes were.
M40 – 49 William Levett – Tunbridge Wells Harriers
M50 – 59 Jim Ashworth Beaumont – Serpentine RC
M60 – 69 Stephen Smythe – Dulwich Runners
M70+ Tony Unseld – Orpington Road Runners
W35 – 44 Marta Miasiewicz – Dulwich Runners
W45 – 54 Yvette Dore – Dulwich Runners
W55 – 64 Rose Baker – Cambridge Harriers
This year, for the first time, the race welcomed a number of athletes from The Running Charity – a London-based charity that helps homeless youngsters build their self-confidence and self-esteem through running. Fifteen Running Charity members competed, with Alaiksa Hagose awarded the trophy for fastest male and Zamzam Farah the trophy for fastest female.
Race Director Richard Thomas said; "We had a very successful day with nearly 400 runners and lots of positive comments. Congratulations to everyone who finished the tough course. This year, in addition to raising money for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, I’m delighted that we were able to support The Running Charity – another charity that helps disadvantaged youngsters to improve their lives through running. I should like to thank all the marshals and officials for their hard work, and our sponsor, Up & Running."
The Sevenoaks AC results were as follows:
Pos | Gun | Name | Club | Cat | Bib | Chip |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | 0:42:13 | James Mason | Sevenoaks AC | Senior Men | 208 | 0:42:12 |
34 | 0:46:04 | Nick Humphrey-Taylor | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 411 | 0:46:00 |
38 | 0:46:23 | Andrew Milne | Sevenoaks AC | Senior Men | 220 | 0:46:20 |
39 | 0:46:26 | Andrew Hutchinson | Sevenoaks AC | Senior Men | 157 | 0:46:21 |
43 | 0:46:39 | Andy Nicoll | Sevenoaks AC | Senior Men | 389 | 0:46:25 |
44 | 0:46:45 | Michael Lochead | Sevenoaks AC | Senior Men | 440 | 0:46:40 |
62 | 0:48:53 | Zachary Ramsden | Sevenoaks AC | Men 50-59 | 279 | |
64 | 0:48:58 | Alex Newby | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 234 | 0:48:52 |
69 | 0:49:19 | Richard Alford-Smith | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 441 | 0:49:16 |
70 | 0:49:23 | Tim Young | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 368 | 0:49:15 |
71 | 0:49:31 | Andrew Mead | Sevenoaks AC | Men 50-59 | 212 | 0:49:10 |
95 | 0:51:06 | Daniel Witt | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 358 | 0:50:59 |
120 | 0:53:02 | James Nash | Sevenoaks AC | Senior Men | 233 | 0:52:58 |
126 | 0:53:33 | Graham Dwyer | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 413 | 0:53:19 |
130 | 0:53:51 | Michael Allen | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 5 | 0:53:22 |
155 | 0:55:22 | Heather Fitzmaurice | Sevenoaks AC | Women 45-54 | 100 | 0:55:16 |
160 | 0:55:52 | James Graham | Sevenoaks AC | Men 60-69 | 117 | 0:55:33 |
172 | 0:56:47 | Sean Leith | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 436 | 0:56:44 |
194 | 0:58:15 | Jane Morgan | Sevenoaks AC | Women35-44 | 227 | 0:57:49 |
216 | 1:00:07 | Sarah Shewell | Sevenoaks AC | Women 55-64 | 303 | 0:59:51 |
227 | 1:01:17 | Paul Smith | Sevenoaks AC | Men 50-59 | 308 | 1:00:41 |
283 | 1:06:36 | Neil Haggertay | Sevenoaks AC | Men 50-59 | 426 | 1:06:19 |
300 | 1:08:56 | Lionel Stielow | Sevenoaks AC | Men 70+ | 317 | 1:08:21 |
340 | 1:16:37 | Adam Westbrooke | Sevenoaks AC | Men 40-49 | 409 | 1:16:19 |
375 | 1:30:51 | Tulay Sefer | Sevenoaks AC | Women 35-44 | 300 | 1:30:09 |
378 | 1:43:08 | Sylvia Lewis | Sevenoaks AC | Women 65+ | 196 | 1:42:23 |