As always our members have been competing in a variety of races this month. Firstly, the Ipswich Twilight 10k race on 26th July 2024.
With it’s winding route from Portman Road, through Ipswich’s main shopping area and around its historic centre, this is a popular Friday night race.
Here is Barbara Jousiffe’s report of the race:
This is my favourite 10km because it’s a two lap course round the town. The support especially round the Curve Bar area and the Main Street is superb. The atmosphere inside Portman Road, before and after the race is magical with all the different elements encapsulated into the evening.
Seeing the children running with their family members, soaking up the big occasion is so encouraging. The older ones running with their school mates after the school daily mile challenge is amazing. The 10km brings together massive ages differences and abilities, all excited and ready for the challenge of finishing before the sun goes down.
It always comes as a big surprise to reach the final stretch back into Portman Road as the route takes the runners so close then turns you back into the town!! It’s physiologically gutting, especially in the heat.
Going up an age category is good in some ways, as you are once again the youngest and possibly the most able! This was my fortune this year, as I was first in my age category with 80.04%!
Being around other members of the Hadleigh Hares family is great for creating a team spirit at any event, and this was no different.
Well done to the Harriet Simm, Joel Bamsey, Ben Roper, Fiona Holland, Chris Bone and Julia Bilotta who also competed in this fantastic event.
A mid week race on 31st July around the iconic Snetterton Race Track in this quick, flat 5k. Vicky Tapp, Samatha Tapp and Kevin Carpenter took on the challenge and came home with great results. Sam came 1st in her age category and Vicky got a PB of 20.59!
The following weekend of 3rd August, Kitty Rigby, Lucy Jay, and Geraldine Suckling took on the Stour Valley 50, while Adam Chamberlin and Rachel Bodsworth once again ran the SVP 100. The event follows the Stour Valley Path of 100km (62 mile), which starts in Newmarket and ends in Cattawade. The SVP100 covers almost the entire length of the well marked trail and is one of the longest point to point races in East Anglia.
With a sudden downpour to start things off, the sun came out, and as always, it was a hot and tough trail race due to many undulations of the Suffolk/Essex countryside. Fantastic running from everyone, but a special mention to Rachel, who is now the only woman to have completed the SVP100 four times since 2013 and is listed in the Hall of Fame.
On 4th August, Samatha Theobald took part in the Maldon Sprint Triathlon and finished 1st lady. A fabulous achievement. Here is Sam’s account:
A midday start makes for a nice lay in but a rather chaotic location being such a beautiful summers day.
The estuary swim of 750m, involved a fair bit of mud getting in and out of the water. The tidal water meant swimming into the current for the first half before turning with a nice tidal push back inland.
A long run up to transition and then a ride of 25km through the park to the main road before heading out onto the flat course around the local area. Finishing the back through the park into transition and then onto the run.
A short 5km out and back along the promenade before heading onto the sea wall all the way along to the main roads, back through some residential areas and onto the fields for an off road finish.
A very friendly event with a wonderful vibe about it and lots of support.
Hadleigh Hares celebrated its 40th birthday this year. To celebrate we had a dinner at Stoke by Nayland Resort with old and new members and lots of memorabilia to look at. We also had a very chatty social run around the paths of Bildeston with a well earned drink at the pub afterwards. A great way for everyone to get together, especially as the sun was shinning!
Lastly, congratulations to Sam and Vicky Tapp who have now completed the Park Run Alphabet! This is an unofficial challenge that sees runners complete a parkrun at locations starting with each letter of the English alphabet (there is currently no ‘X’). As the UK is lacking a ‘Z’ they had to travel to the Netherlands to get it and this is where they completed their challenge.
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