The Easy Runner Blog

BRISTOL & West AC have a very strong women’s squad entered for the Bristol 10k on Sunday.
Lucy MacAlister has shaken off her recent problems and it will be interesting to see what shape she is in and she will be joined by the likes of Amy Chalk, Rebekah Randell, Imogen Ainsworth and Kate Goodhead in a huge field of over 11,000 runners.
Westbury Harriers’ Emma D’Alton and team Bath international marathon runner Holly Rush are also entered.
In the men’s race the Bristol & West AC trio of Tom Merson, Michael Johnson and top duathlete Phil Wylie are registered along with former club runner Jon Wills, who has now moved to Leeds City.
Sunday’s race also incorporates the England Athletics Championships so there is also a strong entry from around the country.

OVER 11,000 runners have entered the fifth annual Bristol 10k road race on Sunday (9.30am) – and race director Georgette Van Hoof is again expecting a cracking race.
The Bristol 10K also offers elite runners the chance to compete in the prestigious English Athletics
Championships. It also incorporates the Clarke Willmott Business Challenge.
Race director Georgette Van Hoof, said: “The Bristol 10K is now firmly established in Bristol’s sporting calendar. It attracts
world-class runners as well as novices who are just getting into their running stride.

“This year we are delighted to be a part of Bristol Sports Week, which brings together so many sporting elements in the city – including the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay and the Women’s FA Cup Final at
Ashton Gate.

“I would like to thank all the people who work behind the scenes to make sure race day goes smoothly. Their continued commitment and dedication make the race a year-on-year success.”

Bristol’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Peter Main and former Olympian, Nick Rose will be at the start to see the runners off.

To ensure a safe race, the city council has a rolling programme of road closures and re-openings in place, with some roads closing from 3am and the re-opening of some roads starting at 11.30am. Full details can be
found at www.runbristol.com. There is also a traffic hotline telephone number, tel. 0117 903 1212.

Race winners will be presented with their prizes at the main stage in the Event Village, Millennium Square. As well as receiving their medals, there are a variety of prizes relating to the different races as well as prizes for the first three male and first three female runners to cross the line - the top individual prize is £500. There is also a special British Prize award category, aimed at home-grown talent, with the chance to win up to £500.

For further information visit www.runbristol.com

THE Clevedon10k road race, which takes place on June12th, has been renamed the ‘flat & fast’ Midsummer 10K as the organisers are confident its flat and fast nature offers a great chance of personal bests.
“Heading quickly out into the country lanes of Kingston Seymour makes it a definite PB course,” said race organiser Stuart Hancock.
“It is encouraging that race pre-entries are arriving daily generating a natural expectation of increased participation over last year’s 300 entrants. We’re going to involve the community more this year, which will include the help of 2nd Clevedon Scouts Group.
“At the sharp end of the race there will be £50 cash for the first senior man and woman to cross the finishing line, plus £100 for any course records broken (the men’s is held by Rob Whalley at 29mins 56secs and the women’s by Karen MacLeod at 33:41) and of course plenty of category prizes.”
The race starts from Mary Elton School in Strode Road at 7:30pm and for further information see the website at: www.clevedonac.co.uk .
Hancock also points out that although there will be entries available on race day entries to the Avon County Championships close on May 31st. Runners who enter on the might will not be eligible for county medals.

ENTRIES will be taken on the night for the Kevin McConville Memorial Hogweed Trot 10k road race on Monday (May 21st) Yate Town Football Club. The race, which is held over a fast, flat course on country lanes, starts at 7pm. For further details see the race website at: www.hogweedtrotters.co.uk

TEAM Bath AC will be holding an open meeting at the University track on Wednesday June 27th (6.45) with entries taken on the night. For further details email either Di Viles (brandythecat@hotmail.com) or Melvyn Potter (melvyn.potter2@btinternet.com).

NOT even an energy-sapping transatlantic flight from California to the UK swapping lovely sunshine for a cold weekend in London could disrupt Dave Bishop’s stunning start to the new season.
With his confidence high after a stunning personal best of 3mins 37.51secs for 1500m in America the 25-year-old – he celebrated his birthday on Wednesday – marked his return home to Chippenham with another big PB in the new Olympic Stadium.
Racing a special 3000m organised by UK Athletics as part of the British Student Championships Bishop used his superior sprint finish run burst clear in the final 100m for victory in 7mins 56.37secs, smashing his previous best of 8:06.63secs.
“That wasn’t bad at all and I felt comfortable the whole way,” said Bishop. “And I can now say I have won a race in the Olympic Stadium!”
After three hard races in successive weeks the Bristol & West AC runner will now concentrate on an intense period of training in the build-up to the Olympic Games trials next month.
“With the races I have done and the travelling I haven’t been training as much and I now need to get in a couple of weeks of hard graft to make sure I am ready for the trials,” added Bishop.

ENTRIES will be taken for the Crediton Crunch 10k multi terrain tomorrow (SUNDAY) as long asa the 200 limit hasn’t been reached. The event boasts a new course this year, with a mixture of footpaths, fields and paths, passing through the stunning grounds of Downes House, once home to Crediton hero Sir Redvers Buller.
The race starts from Lord’s Meadow leisure Centre (10.30am) and for further information see the race website at: www.creditonrunningnetwork.co.uk
* Also tomorrow (11am) is the chillingly-named Black Death Run 10.5 miles multi terrain race in the hills of Somerset around Wellington, which the organisers believe is one of the toughest off-road events in the country. Why not go and see for yourself? Log onto www.blackdeathrun.co.uk for further details.
* Other races tomorrow include the 2nd Jack ‘n’ Jill 10k multi terrain race in Radstock (11am) from the Haydon Que Club (www.somerac.org.uk) and the 18th Linda Franks 5 miles road race (8.30am) from Reddings Community Centre in Cheltenham (www.almostathletes.org.uk).

ANOTHER big turn-out is expected for the second Tyntesfield 10k multi terrain race organised by Nailsea Running Club on Thursday May 24th (7pm). Entries will be taken on the night if the capacity hasn’t been reached. All finishers will receive a commemorative mug and there is an extensive prize list. For further details see the club website at: www.nailsearunningclub.org.uk

MIKE Wilsmore claimed the best win of his career at the British Student Championships staged in the new Olympic Stadium in London.
The Bristol & West AC runner produced a shock win in the 1500m clocking a personal best time of 3mins 46.95secs and claiming some notable scalps in the process, including former British junior international Johnny Hay.
“The win still hasn’t sunk in yet, it has been crazy,” said Wilsmore. “I was expecting to run a good race but no expecting to win it. That was way beyond any stretch of my imagination especially when I looked at who was in the field.
“I thought if I had a really good day I might have sneaked a bronze.”
Wilsmore now also knows what it is like to win a race in the Olympic Stadium.
“It is a lovely track to run on and the stadium itself is brilliant,” said Wilsmore. “We had a reasonable crowd there watching and the atmosphere was brilliant so I cannot contemplate what it will be like when the stadium is full. It will be amazing.”

TIMES were down in the Glastonbury Round the Tor 10k with Tom Bush’s 35:14 good enough to claim victory from first local runner and new Somerset champion Eddie Richards. Olivia Walwyn-Bush made it a family double by finishing first woman in fourth place overall of the 383 finishers.

Glastonbury Round the Tor 10k road race (inc Somerset Championships) – men: 1 Tom Bush (Altrincham) 35:14; 2 Eddie Richards (Wells, M40) 35:38; 3 Martin Rogers (M40) 35:47; 4 Olivia Walwyn-Bush (Norwich) 36:13; 5 John Shapland (NDRR, M50) 36:15; 6 Ken Rampere (unaatt, M40) 36:32.
U20: Adam Kula-Prezwanski (WH) 37:30.
Women: Walwyn-Bush; 2 Laura Whitehead 42:42; 3 Rosemary Harvey (YTRR, W35) 44:48. 383 finishers.