Runners of the Month, Second Half of 2024

The first runner of the month for October is Olga Goffin. Olga is an understated but exceptional runner. This year she has run most of the races in our road race series, regularly finishing in the top 3 of her age category overall with 1st at Berkeley 10k in 43:35, 2nd at Dymock Half in 1:40:51, 2nd at Cirencester in 44:06, 2nd at Gloucester 10k in 43:57, 3rd at Bugatti 10k in 46:34 and 3rd at Bourton Hilly Half in 1:37:27. At Berkeley and Gloucester she was also part of the female winning team. As a result she ended the year as 1st female overall in our road race series! And then she delivered an astonishing performance in the event that was her main focus this year where she ran the Snowdonia Marathon in 3:40:51 on a challenging course, was 5th in her age category and within the top 5% of all females. Well done Olga!

The second runner of the month for October is Josh Hand. Josh is another modest and exceptional runner who was building towards a big event recently. He is a keen parkrunner at Cheltenham with a fastest time this year of 19:15, comfortably beating that at the Bristol 5k Track Club Race Day with 18:25. He has delivered sub 40 minutes over 10k 3 times with 38:59 at Bourton, 39:17 at Blaisdon and 38:55 at Magor. He is also a keen cross country runner and finished first almost at the recent Cirencester event in 37:41. During the Spring he ran the Boston Marathon in 3:15:24 and then recently bettered that considerably at Abingdon Marathon in 2:58:14. He has now run a sub 3 hour marathon in 8 of the last 9 years, only missing out in 2020 when of course he couldn’t run one. Well done Josh!

The first runner of the month for September is Mark Wreford-Bush. Mark has been ‘on fire’ of late achieving PBs at every distance from parkrun to marathon. He has run 2 sub 21 parkruns recently with 20:51 at Isabel Trail and 20:47 at Stratford upon Avon the following week. He set new PBs at the Worcester Half Marathon in 1:37:06 and Chester Marathon in 3:46:21. He also ran sub 4.5 hours at Beachy Head Trail Marathon, where there is over 3800 ft of elevation, beating his course record by 18 mins set 9 years ago. Mark has been running for many years but is getting faster with age. He has been inspired by the coaches and other club members since joining the club. He also has his own unique style of training as his latest PBs came soon of the back of 2×500 mile cycle rides to Amsterdam and Paris, and back! Well done Mark!

The second runner of the month for September is Vivienne Ravenhill. Vivienne has been a keen parkrunner and volunteer for many years and recently joined the club. She has fully embraced Michael’s Tuesday hill reps which has lead to a spectacular improvement in her running this year. She started the year running the Forest of Dean half in 2:04:48 and recently set a PB at the Stroud Half of 1:45:11. She has set PBs recently at 10k with 47:54 at Cirencester and then beating that at the off road Pershore Plum 10k in 47:45. She also ran an amazing 22.18 PB at Alderton 5k. She has finished first in her age category at least four times recently at off road races at Run Upcote, Apperley Quarter, Pershore Plum 10k and Hope Valley. In our off road race series she is the clear winner in her age category and 3rd place overall.  Well done Vivienne!

The first runner of the month for July and August is Kate Bestwick. For the past year or so Kate has gone from strength to strength, an understated runner who loves the club and has embraced all aspects of it. She tried out Monday track sessions as part of the Red January campaign and is forever participating in 10k races in memory of friends and loved ones such as the Cheltenham Running festival in 76.53 and the Cheltenham 10k in 78.53.  She’s always doing challenges to push herself and isn’t put off by the difficulty of whatever comes her way. She’s the first to support others during Wednesday social club runs, off and on road, and loves helping others at parkrun, not to mention being an event director. She always makes time to run, support and encourage others and is a true inspiration to all. Well done Kate!

The second runner of the month for July and August is Phil Jeyes. Phil is the run director for our club races and during August delivered the Bugatti 10k and Meteor Mile. Both these events were fabulously managed by Phil with the support of many of you as volunteers. And once again we received great feedback from runners of other clubs how well managed they are. Phil has done this great job of organising the club races despite recent personal tragedy. Phil has also been on a journey of returning to running after injury and then had to overcome hurting his toe and he walked the Alderton 5k race with crutches. And the following day he was marshalling at Cheltenham Half. In addition he recently completed a 5k swim race in just over 2 hours which is a great time and completed the Cheltenham Tri! Well done Phil!

The third runner of the month for July and August is Sarah Fennell. Sarah has shown tremendous dedication and determination as she embarked on a 15 week training plan back in May for the Cheltenham Half marathon. This was to get her back out there running after suffering a personal tragedy and raise money for Sue Ryder in memory of Nigel. After a successful training plan she made it to the start line physically ready. She found the race the hardest half she has ever done emotionally and mentally but with an amazing support crew of Almosts out on the course on their bikes she and Katy got it done in 2:57. She looked strong towards the end as she passed me with a high five and a huge smile as she entered the racecourse for the finish. What an inspirational journey! Well done Sarah!

The fourth and final runner of the month for July and August is Neil Tring. Neil is one of our LiRFs and he regularly leads the fastest group on the Wednesday club run. He is also a big supporter of our road race and off road race series completing in most of the events in those series and recently has run four 10k races in 46 minutes. He is currently well placed and expected to win his age category overall in both series. Neil is also a very keen parkrunner who is regularly running in 22/23 minutes and being first in his age category. But in the last weekend of August he delivered some unbelievably good times for his V65 age category with 6.23 at the Meteor Mile on Friday night and 21.16 at Alderton 5k on Saturday morning, both new club records! And then he turned up on his bike to support the Cheltenham half on Sunday. Inspirational stuff! Well done Neil!