2024 has arrived and Sidmouth Running Club is off the starting blocks with a bang! The new year brings new ambitions for the Mighty Greens, some just starting on their running journey, and others looking to improve on PBs over the coming months, writes Alexa Baker.
Chairman Terry Bewes welcomed new members to the first Wednesday club run of 2024, including those joining the Beginners group. Under Terry’s guidance, they ran over two miles and are all keen to return next week.
Mighty Green Niall Hawkins took part in Climb South West’s Walter Raleigh Round half marathon starting and finishing in Budleigh Salterton. The muddy, challenging route took in High Peak, the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh, and surrounding countryside where he spent time as a child.
Niall had a great race, finishing 16th out of a field of 146 in 1:51:54. Junior run leader Adrian Gripper Horne took part in the third of a marathon option, running 8.6 miles in 1:39:35, finishing 16th out of a field of 22. Both Mighty Greens were impressed with the weighty medal!
The First Chance 10k organised by SW Road Runners also had two Mighty Greens enter, who enjoyed the flat course around Exeter Riverside Valley Park on Sunday. MG David King finished in 47:26, 231st out of a field of 447, and despite chip problems, MG Sam Ingram finished in 49:06, knocking five minutes off last year’s time!
The first Sunday run of 2024 saw run leader Rachel Barnard inundated with club runners keen to continue upping their mileage in preparation for upcoming events, including the Blackdown Beast, Four Trigs, Grizzly and Exe to Axe.
The change in the weather didn’t catch them out, as everyone layered up and enjoyed cracking the ice on the frozen puddles, although there was a lot of mud around too. The route took them along the coastal path towards Budleigh, where everyone enjoyed the stunning scenery and there were options to break off at Otterton to run 10, 11 or 12 miles.
A great start to 2024 and loads more running on the menu.
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