End of Summer Update

It’s been a little quieter on the race front over the summer — probably a good thing, given how hot it’s been! That said, the Club has still been busy, particularly with our annual 5k Series, held over five months. 30 runners have taken part, and it’s been great to see progress all round. Of course, these runs wouldn’t happen without our brilliant volunteers, who keep time and provide tail bike support. This year we supported PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) as our chosen charity. It holds an annual Hopewalk in Hadleigh to raise awareness for suicide prevention in young people. We are delighted to have raised £122 for such an important cause

To celebrate the club’s successes in the Friday 5 races, we swapped our running kit for something smarter and headed to the Kersey Bell for a wonderful evening together. With great company, plenty of laughs, and fantastic food, it was a night to remember!

To keep things interesting, we’ve also enjoyed some trail runs exploring new places, including Kettlebaston, Chelsworth, and Polstead. Maria Ward has been running a monthly Strength and Conditioning session to help keep us in top form. And speaking of form, we’ve continued our monthly visits to Northgate Track, joining with other clubs for coached sessions — a fantastic chance to learn from different coaching styles. Adding variety to our training, we’ve launched a series of swim sessions for club members. Not only have these helped improve swimming technique, but they’ve also provided a refreshing way to boost fitness through cross-training.

Paul Lacey braved a race this summer, taking on the new Mayflower 10k starting from Mistley. The off-road course featured some tough hills, plenty of gates, and — just for an extra challenge — ended up being 7.5 miles instead of 6.2!

On the 13 August, Kevin Carpenter and his son took to the iconic Olympic Park for a race. Known for its flat, speedy route, it was an ideal chance to chase a personal best. Kevin put in a fantastic performance in the 10k, claiming 2nd place in his age category!

Paul Lacy and Nathalie Hooper took on the Framlingham 10k on the 7 September. This sell-out race saw runners tackling a challenging two-lap course around the historic and picturesque town of Framlingham. Starting on Market Hill with stunning views of the castle, and finishing at the Sports Club, the hot Sunday weather added to the difficulty. Paul rose to the challenge brilliantly, finishing in a strong time.

We can now look forward to cooler temperatures, and it won’t be long before cross country season is upon us. Time to dust off those spikes and get ready for some muddy miles ahead!