FIVE RIVERS ULTRA – 100 MILES OF COSTAL ADVENTURE
This past Saturday, I took on the Five Rivers Ultra, my first point-to-point 100-mile ultramarathon, tracing stunning coastal trails through Suffolk and Essex. The course, extended to 104 miles (or four marathons, due to a planned diversion), treated us to unforgettable moments—like arriving at Flatford Mill at dawn, where low-lying mist hung in the air and the sound of waking birds made it truly magical. The race delivered the expected highs and lows. The night tested me with relentless fatigue, but stubborn perseverance pushed me through until sunrise. While both days were very warm, hydration and pacing became a delicate balancing act. After 28:36:42—and roughly 12,000 calories burned—I crossed the finish line. Huge thanks to my friends, family, and the incredible Five Rivers Ultra volunteers for their support. Proof that with the right support and determination, extraordinary things are possible. Huge well done to Matt! An incredible achievement.
IRONMAN 70.3 Mallorca
Neil Addington successfully completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Mallorca last weekend, alongside his son Dexter, marking a significant milestone for his 60th birthday. Neil started strong with a solid performance in the 1.2-mile swim in Alcúdia Bay. The 56-mile bike course posed challenges, particularly a steep 12-mile climb after 10 miles. Despite limited training due to health issues in the lead up to the race, Neil made the cutoff time. He completed the 13.1-mile run using a run/walk strategy, ensuring he finished within the time limit. Neil’s determination and perseverance led to a successful finish, earning the IRONMAN medal. Huge well done to Neil. An incredible achievement.
STAMPEDES AND TRAILS
From zoo stampedes to countryside trails, our runners have been out enjoying the miles, achieving personal bests, and sharing great moments along the way. Here’s what they’ve been up to!
COLCHESTER ZOO 10K
The Colchester Zoo Stampede 10K offers runners a unique experience, starting amidst rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and zebras before heading out onto closed roads and finishing back inside the zoo. Celebrating a year of running and friendship, the 2024 C25K crew took on the challenge. It’s fantastic to see they’ve well and truly caught the running bug! Gary Wiles was first home for Halstead with a PB time of 57:19. Rich Turner crossed the line in 1:04:52. Amy Jackson had a brilliant run — having been out with injury for a few months, she returned with a PB of 1:05:54. Another PB for Clare Wilson, who’s loving getting back into running — she crossed the line in 1:04.51. Clare’s taken just over 15 minutes off her best 10k time from last summer. Brilliant! Getting stronger and stronger, Katie De Bourcier finished with a PB of 1:10:33. Debi Sharp ran well in 1:10:05, and Clare Taylor Green followed in 1:12:32. Leading the C25K sessions, Darren Powell has been a constant source of motivation and support for our C25K starters over the past few years. He was at the Stampede to cheer everyone on and enjoyed the race himself, finishing in 1:12:31.
BURY TO CLARE – 18 MILES
The Bury to Clare challenge is a point-to-point 18-mile event from Nowton Park in Bury St Edmunds to Clare Castle Country Park, held in support of St Nicholas Hospice. After running The Halstead Marathon only last week, John Day took on the 18 mile challenge. He ran strong for the first 10 miles, but then followed someone who’d gone the wrong way. It took them a while to get back on the path meaning they did two extra hills! John still finished in an impressive 2:46.57. Noush Springett and Mandy Humm ran together with the goal of simply enjoying the experience — and they did! Finishing in a brilliant time of 3:14 was an added bonus. Jane Roach also had a fantastic run, finishing in 3:34 — an 18-minute PB on last year! Great running, ladies!
STORT 10
John Warne took on the Stort 10-mile race on Sunday. The event takes place within the beautiful working countryside farm of Cammas Hall, on the outskirts of Hatfield Broad Oak. John had a great run, finishing in 1:51:37 — a course PB!
ZIG ZAG BIRTHDAY RUN – 30 MILES
This event took place in the stunning Hinchingbrooke Country Park, with trails through forest, nature reserve, lakes, and parkland.
Mark Darling, currently in training, completed the full 30 miles. Great running everyone!
CROSS BORDER RUN
Long Course Weekend Half Marathon (Maastricht). Always up for an adventure, Caroliena loves combining her passion for running with travel—and this weekend was no exception. She took part in the Long Course Weekend Half Marathon, held in the picturesque city of Maastricht, in her home country, The Netherlands. The route offered a unique and scenic experience, with most of the course weaving through the beautiful landscapes of neighboring Belgium. The weather conditions were perfect for running, contributing to a strong performance. Caroliena completed the half marathon in a time of 1:53:29, feeling happy with the result. Another beautiful destination ticked off the running list—here’s to the next one! Well done Caroliena!!
