As lockdown continues, so does Almost Athletes’ determination to run responsibly and support each other’s adventures. There has been much excitement with the launch of the inaugural Almost Athletes Virtual 5k Relay: 138 runners, six Almost teams and twenty-one solo 5km legs around Cheltenham and beyond. Organiser Michelle Balchin’s spreadsheet skills have triumphed, and a variety of legs have been planned. From the fast and flat Hatherley… to the multi-terrain Gotherington2Bishops Cleeve… to a Pitbull in Brockworth. A different challenge awaits every team member.

Almost Ran Out of Loo Paper have made a fine start with Matt Polson (17:57, Manchester), Matthew Hickman (Fairview, 19:21), Patricia Dendy (Hatherley, 21:57), Chris McMahon (Churchdown, 22:24 PB), Malc Allen (BC Central, 23:06), and Rachel O’Bryan and Julie Scourfield finished Lecky in 23:05 and 24:35 respectively. Kev Fairs (WymanPitVillage, 26:00), Jane Russell (Prestbury, 27:43), Nat Stow (CharltonKings2Lecky, 28:21), Glenda Gill (Brockworth, 28:44) and Rachael Nolan (Tewkesbury&more, 36:39).

Almost Ate Everything have also started enthusiastically, with thirteen runners so far: Ben Stone (Arle2Waitrose, 19:44), Kevin Dryburgh (Hatherley, 21:39), Peter Mitchener (Fairview, 22:06), Craig Bullingham (Brockworth, 22:23), Mark Wreford-Bush (Gotherington2BC, 23:26), Cat Daly (BC Central, 24:23), Rich Smith (Bishops Cleeve West, 24:26), Dawn Carroll (Charlton Kings, 25:05), Jason Hulance (WymanPitVillage, 25:44), Ben Kirby (Hatherley Extra, 27:17), Dave Nelson (Somewhere in Scotland, 31:09), Sarah Carr (CK2Lecky, 32:59) and Mark Stojanov (Tewkesbury&more, 34:46).

Thirteen members of Almost Locked Up have completed their legs: Miranda Foster (Benhall, 22:24), Ingrid Harris (Hatherley, 24:12), Ivana Wilson (BC Central, 24:51), Sharmila Door (Churchdown, 25:24 PB), Jeanette Gullick (Woodmancote, 25:49), Hannah Brown (CK2Lecky, 26:21), Carole Doherty (CK, 26:37), Mark Conway (Hatherley Extra, 26:43). Kim Lewington (Brockworth) and Steve Yarnold (Prestbury) both finished in 27:55. Catherine Mason (Lecky, 28:36), Alice Harmon (Prestbury, 28:59), and Iris Mayo (BC West, 32:39).

Almost Free so far have Amy Sheer (CK2LECKY, 21:23) Dave McGrath (Fairview, 21:27), Duncan Mounsor ran (Hatherley Extra, 21:28), Shaun Carr (CK, 22:01), Richard Knightley (BC2Gotherington, 22:50) Emma Yates (Portugal, 23:33), Louise Bryan (The Park, 23:25), Mark Lyes (Prestbury, 24:23), Liza Habgood (BC Central, 24:48), Suzanne Hills (Springbank, 26:42) and Claire Hawes (Lecky, 32:30).

Almost On My Own have seen solo performances from Paul Warren (Brockworth, 20:49), Peter Morris (CK, 22:14), Dave Chittock (Hatherley, 22:46), Steve Taylor (Fairview, 22:56), Michelle Balchin (Gotherington2BC, 24:00), Ceri Schofield (Hatherley Extra, 24:06), Clare Hearing (Lecky, 24:38), Sarah Wallbridge (Tewkesbury&more, 25:04), Deb Cartridge (Naunton, 26:01), Kevin Balchin (BC Central, 26:39 PB), Sue Monaghan (Arle2Waitrose, 28:38), and Wan Hartley (WymanPitVillage, 29:49).

Almost Never Came Out have everything left to play for, with only eight outings so far: Josh Hand (BC West, 18:16), Donna Evans (BC Central, 23:26) Steve Wallbridge (Tewkesbury& more, 24:11), Charmaine Brunt (Brockworth, 24:28), Graeme Stopp (WymanPitVillage, 26:24), Julianne Jameson (Gretton, 29:15), Penny Lewis (CK2LECKY, 32:27 PB), and Marika Sieracki (Prestbury, 32:50).

With several athletes yet to run, and time left for performances to be bettered, Almost any team could win!

Away from the relay, club members have been busy searching for their names on road signs. Wan Hartley, Matt and Fi Barnes, and Thomas Wood found their names, while Nick Lewis cycled to Upton upon Severn in search of a suitable sign. Rachael Nolan found her name plus a phonebox and a defibrillator, while Mark Stojanov focused on phoneboxes. There were postboxes for Lisa King, Deb Cartlidge, and Peter Allsopp, and a Penfold for Helen Fursman. Mike Line continued to snap the postboxes of Bishops Cleeve and also found his name on a sign. Mark Wreford-Bush found postboxes, ‘godcakes’ and dilapidated farm vehicles, but Jo and Martin Foster may just have trumped these with their discovery of a burnt out car! Sue Monaghan went for some GPS art and drew her clubmates a heart in Swindon Village.

Cat Daly and Ian Williams explored some new routes on Cleeve Hill. Frances Ferguson found fields, Mariel Chretien found squirrels and Iris Mayo found bridges. Karen Gomm ran with Bradley the dog, Elzbieta Antosiewicz ran 10 miles, Ben Stone ran 9 miles around Arle, and Lynne Macedo’s four runs totalled a marathon. Jason Hulance visited the two Cheltenham parkrun sites on a 10K run, and Becky Heal got active and completed 1.3 miles.

Martyn Fisher created a rainbow of race t-shirts, and Ceri Schofield thrashed Phil Jeyes in the 45 second sock challenge.

There were new lockdown exercises at home for Ollie and Beverley Nolan, who have quickly mastered their exercise bike, racking up 225 miles and 120 miles respectively. Spidey Galpin ran in the garden, Rob Rennell ran on his new treadmill, and Jayne Murphy tackled her tough new training plan. Melvyn Harris recreated the club hill session and ‘notpub2pub run’ on his treadmill, hitting his fastest pace for some time with sub 10 minute miles.

With Easter upon us, Penny Lewis, Michelle Balchin, Catrin Davies Perkins, Kate Houston, Sue Monaghan, Rachael Nolan and Claire Gallagher searched for Easter decorations. There was an Easter Egg Hunt themed video briefing from ‘not run director’ Peter Mitchener for ‘not Cheltenham parkrun’, with ten chocolates hidden inside. Andrew Wilkinson ran every day of Lent, totalling an impressive 157 miles over 44 days.

Running safely, solo and in line with Government advice continues to be the important message given to members and the club’s Facebook page is brimming with examples of Almost Athletes doing exactly that.

Combining a run and photos with post boxes has once again been a popular theme this week. We’ve seen Mike Line, Peter Allsopp, Mark Willicott, Hamish Adamson, Michelle Balchin, Mark Stojanov and Sue Monaghan (to name a few!) all provide “first class” pictures over the last seven days – and we are confident members will continue to “deliver” the goods on this front.

Adding to this, intrepid Almost Athletes have been scouring the area for examples of their names – as street signs. These have included: Steve Taylor (Steve Taylors Lane), Kevin Dryburgh (Kevin Close), Peter Morris (Morris Walk), Jane Russell (Russell Street) and Ashley Stevens (Ashley Road). We’ve also seen some brilliant creativity, with some of our favourites being: Claire Hawes (Haweswater Road), Kev Fairs (FAIRview), Helena Youde (Helena Street), Allan Mullen (ALstone Lane) and Dave Chittock (with the brilliant Twittocks Farm!).

In other news this week, we’ve seen Almosts take to the roads and trails, maintaining social distancing and using running as a great way to clear the mind and keep fit. Kev Fairs recorded a 10k PB in 43:04, Dave Nelson completed the DB Max Be Safe 10k in 1:06 and recorded a 1:28 8 miler for the NHS Do What You Want Challenge and Mark Stojanov has been out and about, including a 17 mile bike ride in 1:29 and a number of runs.

A special mention for Rob Rennell on completing 10k in his living room – and sporting a great smile at the end of it – and also for John Galpin who again donned his Spiderman outfit for a duathlon challenge in his garden.

We have also seen real reminders of how lucky we are to live in a picturesque area and it has been good to see Almosts posting their pictures online. Pete Hooper completed a great 5k out to Uckington, Andrew Wilkinson took in stuning views of the River Severn, Chris McMahon has been hitting the streets of Churchdown on a regular basis and Virginia Pawlyn’s running this week has taken in a section of the River Chelt, Crickley Country Park and the Park Campus.

From the Almost Athlete run report team - Catrin Davies Perkins took in Cleeve Hill as she ran some of her favourite routes; Alstone Lane, Brooklyn Gardens and the nearby vicinity have been staples for Ben Stone; and Lynne Macedo also ran three times over the last seven days seeing fellow Almosts (at a social distance of course) Sue Monaghan and Rita Crane on her travels.

Finally, Club Chair Claire Hawes spoke to the BBC Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show on 7th April and reiterated the message about ensuring all our runners stick to the Government guidance when they’re out running. Taking responsibility for social distancing whilst we run, controlling our own behavior and keeping the community spirit of the club going were the themes of her really positive interview.

It is especially motivational to see the pictures and hear about stories from Almosts’ at this challenging time, so keep them coming on the Facebook page. Stay safe and well and we will keep up the run reports in the weeks ahead.