Week Ending - 2020/09/27

MAVERICK MEN MAKE THEIR MARK

Energetic outdoor pursuits enthusiasts Mark Cox, Adi Payne and Dave Jenkinson were all out racing this week at the socially distanced Maverick Adidas X-Series in the Peak District. Three different distances were available set across some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United Kingdom and all three Badgers returned home with real pride after some top performances. Hard hitting floor fitter Mark Cox is not one to shirk a challenge and he took on the epic 54K distance. Equipped with his trusty running poles, the dad of two toughed it out in grand style taking a minute over five hours to complete the ultra scenic yet physically demanding route. His time was enough to earn him a spot in the top ten overall, a magnificent effort from a true tough grafter. Team mate Adi Payne is a big fan of hard Cox and he too performed superbly in the 41K discipline. Just shy of a marathon, the poster boy of Badgers, who is widely rumoured to be single, emerged home in a tremendous time of 3:36, quicker than his London marathon attempt of last year and over far more unforgiving terrain, although there were no lengthy toilet stops this time. This stunning display of athleticism rightly earned the Baddesley man 5^th place in the field, a real top showing from an athlete still approaching his peak. Veteran Dave Jenkinson tackled the shorter 27K race and finished in a very creditable 2:38. The Atherstone man, who turns 50 next year, is another who knows exactly how to knuckle down and give 100% as demonstrated here in abundance.

Andy Smith and Holly McClay were back on the marathon circuit for the second time in quick succession after a long hiatus. On Guardians of the COD RC marathon, the durable duo took 5:26:29 to make it to the finish in another well organised socially distanced affair. The race used the full length and back of The Silkin Way in Telford, running from Coalport to Brockton, through parks and housing estates, partly using disused railway lines. Some of the sights included disused station platforms, an old windmill, and, over the disused Shrewsbury Canal, the Hadley Park Lock, 81ft long and 6.5 ft wide, one of very few guillotine locks in existence. As is now the norm, staggered starts with no more than 5 people leaving at a time to take account of Covid19 guidelines for racing activities, and the course was hillier than one would expect old railway lines to be. Fire-pit cheese burgers awaited runner’s arrival at the finish line.

They weren’t alone as Badgers taking on the iconic 26.2 mile discipline. Liz Peel notched up yet another on her way to one hundred, accompanied at the Salcey Forest near Horton, Newport Pagnell by the incredible Karen Thompson who is herself attempting the 100 marathon challenge. The pair also clocked 5:26 for their attempt on the Saturday and while most normal people would be spending Sunday in recovery mode, Thompson went back out the following day and did it all again! And as if this wasn’t enough, she did so some 35 minutes quicker than her prior attempt completing an amazing double. A staggering feat of fitness and endurance.

Finally, Stefan Martin took part in the East Leake Triathlon, another socially distanced event made more tricky by the fact that the Nuneaton based V40 star had not swum or ridden his bike in some time prior to the race. Notwithstanding, he gave it a good go completing his 400 metre swim and 13 mile bike ride without too much trouble before hitting the final run section with real venom. His time of 21:56 was a magnificent effort in it’s own right, irrespective of the arduous time preceding it, proving yet again that he is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to strength of character and performance.