This weekend Simon Burvill took on a unique challenge, the Runbelievable Runway 100 — running 100 miles around Manston Airport. The course was unlike anything Simon had done before: 15 x 10km and a bit loops around the old disused airfield, open, exposed, and full of character.
It turned out to be quite a tough one, not least because Storm Amy decided to join in! The runners were battered by 50 mph winds for large parts of the run on the Saturday, which made progress slow and conditions challenging — especially on the long, open stretches (that’s pretty much all of the airport!)
Despite that, it was great fun and a real adventure.
Simon was absolutely thrilled to have finished under the 24-hour mark (23h 45m 25s), something he wasn’t sure would be possible given the weather. A brilliant day and a fantastic achievement!
It’s not a race, it’s a run, but sometimes parkrun is so much more than that. This week, to celebrate German Unity Day, The Riemer parkrun in Munich held an additional parkrun on Friday. Five runners from Folkestone Running and Athletics Club travelled to Germany to take part in this special event. Nick Steel was the second runner back in a time of 18:04, With Nikki Goodwin the first female back in 20:27 and Vicky Scott the second female back in a time of 20:34. Ron Bell completed the course in 25:29 and Rachel Thompson finished in 29:07.
Skipping over the border into Austria the runners completed the Hellbrunn parkrun the following day. Nikki Goodwin was the first female runner back in a time of 21:32, followed by Vicky Scott as the second female in a time of 21:34. Also visiting were Nick Steele 19:04, Ron Bell 26:40 and Rachel Thompson 35:10
On Sunday four Folkestone Running and Athletic Club runners attended the postponed Hastings Half Marathon. This notoriously hilly course had the added difficulty of strong headwinds which made it an even tougher than usual challenge. James Springett was the fist club runner back in a time of 1:47:45, followed by Darren Philip, 1:45:10, Simon Coffey 2:03:07 and Kayleigh Ridgwell 2:04:33.
Also on Sunday, Eleanor Howell was in Cardiff representing Folkestone and running the Half Marathon for charity. Eleanor wasn’t going for a time, she just wanted to soak up the atmosphere of her Uni city! And they really did put on a show! She was happy with her 2.14 as her knee went at 11miles so she lost all of her wingmen and had to finish on her own.
This weeks parkruns
Maidstone River Park parkrun
Martin Salmon 28:39
Ashford parkrun
Amy Axon 29:48, Henry Axon 29:49
Knowsley parkrun
Third female back was Caroline Curtis in a time of 25:52
Canterbury parkrun
James Barney 21:02
Southend parkrun
Oliver Collier 21:34
Crichton parkrun
The third male back was Krzysztof Klidzia in a time of 20:09
Rheinpark parkrun
Also on international duty, Thomas Aspinal had a lovely finish to his birthday week away in Cologne, Germany at the local parkrun in Rheinpark. It finished with some rain and wind but was a lovely organised and friendly event. Thomas was very happy with his 7th place finish out of 150 runners in a time of 21:40.
Dover Waterfront parkrun
Andrew Hadlow 24:01
Folkestone parkrun
First back in a time of 17:23 was Guy Sligsby, with Prakash Gurung finishing in third place in a time of 17:41. Deborah Jeffery was the first female back in a time of 20:00, with Manda Gurung the third female back in a time of 20:34. Also running were:
Simon Ramsay 18:29, Ian Merrick 19:54, Elliot Chapman-Jones 20:02, Derek Matcham 20:08, Jacob Gillett 20:14, Tristan Bruce 20:33, Joseph Carroll 20:38, Torben Jessen 20:47, Darren Philip 20:52, Kirsty Wilson 21:06, Darren Crew 21:45, Phil Haines 21:56, Miles Gawthorp 22:17, Louisa Eede 22:26, Trevor Devooght 22:45, Anh-Van Whitby 23:53, Stuart Erskine 23:53, Ian Vousden 24:23, Jason King 25:13, John O’Hara 25:21, Lana Wright 25:33, David Botting 25:53, Philip Maull 25:55, Jody Stoakes 26:14, Alan Randall 26:15, Anthony Scott 26:40, Diane Parsons 26:43, Brian Austin 27:00, Sylwia Tokarska 27:08, Adam Ward 27:15, Amie Howard 27:16, Jacob Henwood 27:17, Deirdre Coombs 27:35, Hilary Collins 28:01, Jane Wren 28:29, Lauren Hart 29:18, Kevin Whitby 29:51, Jason O’Callaghan 29:55, Marie Brazier 30:36, Gary Brazier 30:37, Julie Gibbs 30:42, Layla D’Monte 30:56, Sophie O’Callaghan 31:05, Jason Crockford 31:35, Roy Atkins 31:36, Elizabeth Tew 31:39, Julie Slingsby 32:20, Malcolm Gibbs 33:20, Jacob Burvill 35:16, Katy Eastwood 35:26, Adam Eastwood 35:33, Lisa Smith 37:27, Kate Lancefield 37:34, Paul Hannay 37:57, Rebekah Newton 44:16, Beth Goodchild 52:33.