It’s been a few weeks since our last update, and now that the season is picking up the pace, so are you! Thanks for all of your excellent race reports. Let’s get onto the good stuff.
Winter Duathlon Series – Round 3- Sunday 1st February
First up is Anna Thomsen who stretched her legs on the ground and on two wheels. She reports:
Not quite a running event but I raced my first Duathlon this weekend at Betteshanger! I came 1st female and 6th overall with my 1st run split being the 2nd fastest overall. Very wet and cold conditions but a lot of fun! ☔️
3km run 16km bike 3km run- time was 56:08
Two sports, two times the fun! Way to go, Anna!
Welsh Indoor Championships, Cardiff – 7 & 8 February
Thomas Webb is the new Welsh National Champion for U17 in shotput! Coach Lisa Smith reports:
A weekend off from Combined Events for Thomas Webb who was competing in the Welsh Individual Indoor Athletic Championships, in Cardiff. It proved to be a great start to competition for 2026, with PBs in all 3 events he entered:
4th in U17 60m Hurdles (8.79 secs)
8th in U17 200m (25.10 secs)
Gold 🥇 in U17 Shot Put (11.66m)
It also meant that Folkestone Running & Athletics Club were 10th in the medal table!
So proud of Tom for his second Welsh National title in less than a year!
Dymchurch 10k – 8th February
FRAC popped up in Dymchurch for a strong 10km rip down the coast. For Nicole Dodd, it was literally a run round the neighbourhood. She reports:
Last week Sunday 8th Feb I ran the Dymchurch 10km, a very familiar route to me living less than a mile from the start line!
I finished in 00:45:30 and came 3rd female overall and securing myself a new 10km PB and a shinny new trophy! Also running from the club was Aldos Hoskins and Dominic Shephard.
Dominic backs that up reporting a strong 44:21 finish.
Headcorn Half Marathon – 15th February
Nicole’s report doesn’t end there. She stepped up again this past weekend along with clubmates Rebecca and Julie. Nicole continues:
Julie Apps, Rebecca Stevenson and myself (Nicole Dodd) all run the Headcorn half marathon Sunday 15th Feb. Horrendous conditions, it rained from start to finish, we battled the wind and it was bitterly cold but the course itself was a really fun route through the little country lanes surrounded by cows, horses and alpacas!
I finished in 1:43:34 which was a new PB and came in 3rd female in my age cat.
Julie 2:06:17
Rebecca 2:06:16
Girlings Ashford & District RRC 5 Mile & 10 Mile – 15th February
Julie Slingsby reports from the Girlings A&D 5 Mile where she PBd in tough conditions!
I ran the 5 miler today with a small gang of FRAC. Guy took part but he was wearing his away kit 🤣.
It was my first 5 mile. I wanted under 48 mins- I achieved 47:31. Chuffed with that. It was cold, wet, and muddy.
Here’s to a nice dry race next!
I didn’t get a post race pic. Only one of Guy and I beforehand but he is wearing an AAC vest so I think he is banned!
Well, Julie, we do think Guy looks better in FRAC colours, but we’re just as proud of his achievements as ever – and yours, for that matter. Thanks for sharing your personal win with us.
Caron Inder also shares her personal victory, as well as Martin Murray, Kate Evans and Julie smiling through the rain. “Another PB…Chuffed to bits at the weather was brutal, ice cold, rain beating down with muddy, wet roads.” Way to go, Caron! And the word from Julie is that Kate won her age category and has a lovely bottle of Chilean Merlot waiting for her.
Martin Murray also reports:
Ashford & District 10 mile for me today, chip time 1hr 27mins 23 seconds.
Tough course, roads turned into streams, flooded roads, long slippy off road section, with sleet and snow thrown in for good measure.
Lovely route, but not the most enjoyable day.
Way to brave the conditions, folks! That’s how FRAC does it.
Deal Half Marathon – 15th February
Deal brings another edition of its very popular winter half marathon where FRAC showed up to shake out during the marathon training season. Greg Dixon reports a finish of 1:49, naming it “one to forget”. I don’t know about that, but I do see lots of smiling faces! Here are a few from Jenny Heathfield and Nikki Goodwin (who casually showed up 2nd lady!).
London Winter Run – 15th February
And finally, from sunny London, this year’s instalment of the London Winter Run took place yesterday. This 10km run takes competitors on a tour of the sights as the town cheers them on for something different in midwinter. David Tetlow gives a comprehensive report from the capitol:
On Sunday, Claire Tetlow and David Tetlow ran the London Winter Run, a 10k through the city of London. A winter themed event with penguin and polar bear costumed encouragement along the way, musical performances and passing through landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square.
With 26,000 participants setting off in waved starts, there was a lot of weaving in and out, accompanied by the constant pouring rain. Despite this David managed a 10k PB finishing in 49:18, with Claire following up shortly after finishing at 54:30.
Fabulous running, everyone!
Paul Hill Memorial Run
We couldn’t close out this report with remembering Paul Hill. This year’s memorial run went forward at Sandling as it always does with remembrances from Dave Denyer. Tom Aspinall shares a few snaps from the day that capture the spirit of FRAC.
parkrun
Remember that next Saturday is another FRAC takeover at Folkestone parkrun! You can check who’s doing what this week on the event roster page linked below. Be advised that the Leas are undergoing works to mitigate erosion which could impact on the course, so stay tuned to FHDC and Folkestone parkrun Facebook pages for updates.
Folkestone parkrun Future Roster
Find this week’s club parkrun results at the link below.