With Storm Dennis bringing disruption to running events nationwide, Almost Athletes were relieved to see the third Gloucestershire AAA Cross Country league meeting at Pittville Park go ahead, albeit without the popular stream crossing.

Twenty-five hardy Almost Athletes tackled the race, which was particularly challenging given the very muddy course and windy conditions . Nick Lewis was first Almost to finish the tough 9.3km 3 laps in 43:47, followed by Josh Hand, 44:27, and Gary Farquharson, 48:32. Neil Tring was 3rd MV60 in 50:37. Richard Knightley finished his first event in 52:35, then Pete Hooper, 52:37, Paul Warren, 54:24, David Garnett, 55:11, Steve Wallbridge, 57:05, Jim Trowbridge, 57:47, David Davey, 59:17, Kevin Richards, 1:05:43, Mike Line, 1:07:04, and Bob Spawton, 1:10:00.

Jordan Blackall flew around the 6.4km 2 lap race in 34:27. Hester Coggin was next in 37:45, then Lucy Powell, 38:30, Allan Green, 38:31, Ingrid Harris, 38:33, Hayleigh Woolnough, 41:29, Jane Russell, 43:50, Lorraine Taylor, 44:22, Sue Monaghan, 45:13, Catrin Davies Perkins, 45:35, and Janine Bennett, 52:05.

Further afield, Marty Ward was in action at the wet and windy Castle Combe Chilly 10k, finishing in 1:02.

Over fifty Almosts braved the weather at parkrun events. Ben Stone was pleased to see Cheltenham parkrun take place, and he ran his 50th event in 20:20, finishing 12th overall. Matt Proome was next Almost home in 21:03, followed by Prashanth Sripathi, 21:21. Rosemary Hubbard was the first of the club’s females to finish (24:20), then Sharmila Door (28:25), and Nela Trowbridge (29:18).

At King George V Playing Fields, the club took three of the top five placings. Matt Polson was 2nd (20:22), Nick Lewis third (21:13), and Duncan Mounsor 5th (22:31). Hattie Jenkins ran 24:10 to finish 2nd lady, then Catherine Mason (28:05), and Cheryl Rodham (28:56).

There was tourism for James Clay at Ipswich, David Nelson at Brueton, Mark Wreford-Bush at Long Eaton, and Kate Freeman at Eastville. Mike Kennedy, Megan Davies and Hester Coggin ran at Newent, Andrea Hardy at Isabel Trail and Martyn Fisher at Fulbourn Hospital. Martin Foster was 3rd at Heartlands in 19:43, and Jo Foster finished 5th lady in 23:57.

As with many events over the weekend Storm Ciara had a major impact on the races and runs of the Almost Athletes. Races like the Dursley Dozen were cancelled as organisers rightly wanted to ensure the safety of runners and marshals alike. Despite this, some events did take place, particularly on a very sunny Saturday.

Christopher Benjamin volunteered as the sweeper runner at the Battle of Woodbury Common Night half marathon in Budleigh Salterton. The run was his 73rd half marathon as he looks to complete 100 half marathons.

On a similar quest to complete as many races as he can is Allan Green. This week he completed the Ryton Pools Country Park Big Bear marathon. It was an 8 lapper which he completed in 4:57.

Russell Jones was pleased to have the Avon Valley 10km on Saturday as, despite it being on before Ciara hit, the route was still very wet in places! He completed the event in 1:03:58.

Not put off by a bit of water were Penny Lewis, Steve Phelps and Nicole Hope who completed the Tewkesbury Aquathon on Sunday. A 400m swim was followed by a shortened 4km run in what was a very wet and windy event! Phelps finished in 31:05, Hope in 34:38 and Lewis in 40:33.

With the weather forecast for Sunday being so bad, many Almosts got their runs in on the Saturday which included the usual array of parkruns. At Cheltenham, Jordan Blackall finished as 6th woman overall with a 90 second PB of 23:06. Nick Lewis was third overall at King George V playing field parkrun in Cheltenham with Cat Daly continuing her recent great form by coming in as first lady again. Steve Adams ran 22:38 at Berkeley Green parkrun, a second outside of his PB set 6 years ago. Rob Dalton-Morris completed his 50th parkrun as a VI guide at Gloucester City parkrun, showing his ongoing great support to Rob Rennell.

Almosts completing parkruns weren’t just confined to the UK as Ben Taylor was 4th overall at Central parkrun in Burnaby, Canada. Deb Cartlidge continued her tour of New Zealand completing the Cornwall parkrun (which she assures us is actually in New Zealand!)

Elsewhere Almosts completed the following: Phillip Withers at Kingsway, Rita Crane at Hackney Marshes, Aline Buckley at Coventry, Marc Allen at Torbay Velopark, Martin and Jo Foster at Dudley, Matt Bevan at Eastleigh, Mike Kennedy, Hamish Adamson and Chris McMahon at Gloucester North, Malc Smith at Worcester Pitchcroft, Jane Russell at Raphael, Rich and Bella (aged 4!) Smith at Sandwell Valley, Claire Gallagher at Wotton, Peter Jones at Newent, Haiggy McHaig and Thomas Wood at Tewkesbury, Helen McGuire at Sale Water, Kim Mansell at Exmouth, Katy Sworn at Cirencester, Dave Nelson at University of Stirling.