Week Ending - 2020/02/02

RED-DY, STEADY, GO

Over 20 Badgers took part in the UK wide RED January Initiative last month and helped raise awareness as well as funds for the mental health charity MIND along the way. Runners were tasked with running every day for the entirety of the month, always a challenge after the festive season and when the dark nights and cold temperatures make it particularly unappealing compared to the summer months. Official R.E.D. (Run Every Day) merchandise was available to purchase, in red naturally, and a percentage of the sales went back into the charitable pot and in addition to this, many runners raised bits and bobs between them to gather an estimated £500 for MIND by the end of the month, a great effort all round. Nationally, a whopping £1.7 million pounds has been raised altogether with an estimated 65,000 participants across the UK.

While many runners would, sensibly, be seeking to partake in a rest day after such an onerous break-free schedule, with February the 1st falling on a Saturday it meant that several stars continued their streak with another 5K run at events around the land. Two dozen Badgers made it to a bright and breezy Kingsbury Water Park where Chris Horton once again led the way, first back for the 39th time in his 154 run parkrun career in a modest (for him) 18:37. Team mate Mark Repton was in close attendance, matching his course best in 19:03 to bag third spot with Sam Starkey running a respectable 19:03 in fifth place. Graham Engley battled hard to make the top ten in 20:45 despite some testing underfoot conditions. Tim Gould finished 16th ahead of Lee Millership and Wayne Repton. In the ladies category, regulars Sharon Jackson (24:47) and Rachael Shelton (24:55) took 5th and 6th respectively with super runs while Lil Souter (26:01), Felicity Gray, Jo Hardy and Sarah Reynolds all performed well. Matt Jackson, Darryl Johnson, Mark Reynolds, Paul Wallace, Jason Husselbee-Orwin all ran as did Lisa Barnes, Vikki Smith, Teresa Satchell, Vicky Jennings and Iwona Jedro.

Bill Gutheridge joined another 1005 runners at a swollen Cannon Hill parkrun. The sole Badger on the day, the reliable 35 year old produced an excellent performance to storm home in 21:44. At Babbs Mill, key man Glyn Broadhurst ran a swift 19:45 to take 4th place with a rejuvenated Nicki Bowman crossing the line as second lady with a quality 25:55. Dean Bowd (24:01) and Adam McElhone (27:32) were also in the thick of things. Merv Jones and Leesa Dennis enjoyed a bit of seaside fun at Hunstanton parkrun while David Grant went even further afield chalking Valentines parkrun near Ilford off his list and in fine style too a he recorded a PB time of 20:11 as he marked himself down as the potential next new entrant to the elusive sub 20 club. Like Grant, Carl Savage was another coming off the back of RED January but there were no signs of fatigue as he too helped himself to a PB in 21:03 as well as a top ten finish to go alongside his team-mates’ 5th place. Yvonne Faulkner finished 9th lady in 25:15.

Dug Ladkin was flying again at nearby Conkers clocking a fine 20:29 with Katrina Dawson and Alex Ladkin for company. Charlotte Phillips ran at Leamington and Richard Hamblett Braunstone while Karen Missen was in action over at the Isabel Trail parkrun in Staffordshire. David Craig was first Badger back at Bedworth which saw Jenna Davies storm to a superb 12th place finish (ladies) in 27:34. Maggi Savin Baden was back in action after illness and Gavin Crockwell, Paul Hadland and the steady Zoe Cope were also performing admirably. Holly McClay and Andy Smith ran at Yeovil and Sarah O’Donoghue turned out at Sutton Park.

Finally, marathon aces Liz Peel and Karen Thompson both scooped top ten finishes at the fledgling Oaklands parkrun. The learned Peel was 8th lady finisher in a rapid 25:07 with the steady Thompson two places and five seconds behind in 25:12. The well-liked John Hanson and Anne-Marie Matthews also ran.