Runners of the Month, Second Half of 2022

Note:  After March 2020, and until July 2021, there were no RoM awards due to the Covid pandemic.

Our first runner of the month for December is Ingrid Harris. Ingrid has shown sheer grit and determination to get over a series of debilitating illness and injuries and her fighting spirit is an inspiration to many in the club. Throughout last year she performed exceptionally well in our off road race series and was 1st in the FV55 category. Ingrid also demonstrated great stamina in the toughest areas of running, such as cross country and recently become the FV55 County Champion. And she continually excels over longer distances running Caldecott Lake marathon in an impressive 3:59 and recently completing other challenging longer races such as the Bath Hilly Half in 2:10, the muddy Run the Sun marathon in 4:43 and the Sunset to Sunrise night marathon in 4:22. Well done Ingrid!

Our second runner of month for December is Allan Green. Allan recently completed the phenomenal achievement of running 700 marathons (that’s one a fortnight for 27 years!!) in November at Walton on Thames in 5:15. But he’s still knocking them out and since then has completed the Hare and Tortoise marathon in 5:52, Lanzarote marathon in 4:34, Caldecott Lake marathon in 5:02, Milton Keynes Winter Enigma marathon in 5:00, Run the Sun marathon in 6:20 and Hawker Challenge Charity marathon in 5:16. And he still had time to be 1st in the MV65 category in both our road and off-road race series, bagging another overall age category first at Newent 9 in 49.06. And then last week won the MV70 age category at Linda Franks 5 in 37:43, smashing the club record by over 6 minutes. Well done Allan!

Our first runner of the month for November is Maddie Page. Maddie has been making excellent progress with her running and deservedly so as she has worked really hard for her results, particularly with the effort she puts into the club’s Thursday speed endurance sessions. Maddie has been regularly setting PBs this year. A few months ago she got her parkrun time down to 23.06. At Guy Fawkes she smashed her 5 mile PB in 35:23. And then showed that dedication truly pays off when she completed the Berlin Marathon in 4:02, an incredible 46 minutes off her previous marathon PB. And most recently Maddie set a course PB at the Newent 9 in 45:36. Well done Maddie!

Our second runner of the month for November is Sarah Wallbridge. Sarah has been consistently performing well all year starting with PBs at Linda Franks 5 miles in 41:10, Staverton 10 miles in 85:30 and Tewkesbury parkrun in 25:32. She consistently wins her age category at parkrun. Sarah was 1st in her age category at Cirencester 10k in 53:11 and was 2nd in her age category at Run Upcote in 47:40, Chedworth 10 miles in 1:43:02 and Forest of Dean Spring Trails Half in 1:57:16. Sarah has had a successful club race series, finishing 1st in her age category for the off road series and 3rd in the road series. And topped all this with a cracking run at the very challenging Snowdonia Marathon of 4:41. Well done Sarah!

Our first runner of the month for October is Danny Carroll. Danny is a fantastic runner and has competed in many races over the years for Almost Athletes. Unfortunately, Danny was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and has thankfully made a full recovery after undergoing intensive treatment. Having always been a strong parkrunner Danny has recently now dipped back under 23 mins with 22:55 at Cleevedon Salthouse Fields parkrun. After a warm up at Apperley Quarter Marathon in 51:29 he ran the full Marathon distance in London in 4:05:14, fundraising an astonishing amount of more than £5,000 for LINC and the Butterfly Garden, the two charities that supported him when he was recovering in hospital. He is an absolute inspiration to us all! Well done Danny!

Our second runner of the month for October is Felicity Read. Felicity has been putting in strong performances all year, starting with PBs at Linda Franks 5 (42:18) and Bourton 10k (53:36). The 5 mile time is ranked just outside the top 100 UK rankings for her age category. Throughout the year she has consistently been coming 1st in her age category at both Cheltenham and KGV parkruns. Her strong performances have continued in recent months at Gloucester 10k in 56:57, Bugatti 10k where she was 2nd overall in her age category in the blistering heat with 59:34, and at the new challenging Stroud Half marathon route in 2:11:49. These performances have meant she has secured 1st place in her VM60 age category in our road race series! Well done Felicity!

Our first runner of the month for August is Lewis Jones. Lewis has always been a keen and regular parkrunner at Cheltenham and this year has been running really strongly and has finished as high as 7th place and taken 89 seconds off his PB which is now 19:14. He has also regularly volunteered by barcode scanning after his run. This year Lewis has pushed himself to take on races of longer distances and has really impressed at Linda Franks 5 miles with 33:23 and more recently ran the Bugatti 10k, a challenging course and in very challenging conditions, finishing in 15th place as the first Almost Athlete in 42:45. His regular attendance at the club’s track and speed endurance sessions is certainly paying off. Well done Lewis!

Our second runner of the month for August is Jeff Tibbles. If you’ve seen Jeff at any races or club training sessions recently you will have definitely been impressed with the effort Jeff is putting in. And it’s certainly delivering results with PBs at every distance this year – Linda Franks 5 miles in 42:56, Staverton 10 miles in 95:31, Dymock Half in 2:07:41, Frampton 10k in 53:14 and most recently Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun in 25:34. He is currently leading our Handicap Race Series after the first 3 races and is also leading his age category MV65 in our Road Series. Jeff is a real inspiration to runners of all ages at the club. If you put the effort in with your training you will get the reward you deserve! Well done Jeff!

Our first runner of the month for July is Rose Hubbard. Rose is a quiet and unassuming member who is a regular attendee of the Barnes’ Thursday training sessions. She shines at Parkrun, and has been first female at KGV recently where she consistently finishes in the top 2 females and consistently finishes in the top 10 females at Cheltenham. She rarely races but when she does she produces some impressive performances, such as her 3:46:19 debut at the Manchester marathon last October. However it was more recently at last month’s Race to the Tower that she truly stood out. She conquered the double marathon on consecutive days, literally flying over the finish line in ninth position overall and second female in 10:37:24. That really is an awe inspiring result! Well done Rose!

Our second runner of the month for July is Christopher Benjamin. Chris is probably the best race marshal in the world! I have never seen such an encouraging, enthusiastic and caring marshal and passing him in a race gives everyone a massive boost! He also does a few races himself, in fact half marathons are his thing! And Chris has recently completed his 100th half marathon! It’s taken a few years and has been harder to find races in the last 2 years but he brought up the hundred last month at the Sharpness Canal race, accompanied by club colleagues! He truly is an inspiration and legend and probably still celebrating by attempting to drink the equivalent of the North Sea in ale! And why not, I salute you Sir! Well done Chris!