ROGER’S TRIPLE MAKES 1500
And Three In A Row For Grant
ROGER BIGGS has run 1500 races! On Thursday 1st November he travelled to Penkridge in Staffordshire for the Enigma Staffs Trail Marathon. This was a marathon entirely on the towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. The course consisted of four out & backs laps of approx 6.6 miles. Going out south against the locks (climbs at each one), then returning back to ‘The Boat’ Public House before starting the next lap. Due to heavy rain the night before, the compacted surface had become very muddy & slippery, hence fast times were not in order. Roger completed the course in 4 hours 25 minutes 39 seconds.
There was another trip north for Roger Biggs, to complete a scenic route totally around the Rutland Water Reservoir for the Rutland Water Trail Marathon on Sunday 4th November. To make up the marathon distance, runners had to make two trips around Hambleton Peninsula. While the surface would normally be quite acceptable, the incessant rain made the course very wet, with puddles that took up the whole path, so running shoes were very wet. With temperatures probably topping out at 5C, it was day to get round and no more. He finished in 4:34:27
The Enigmas Fox at 40 Trail Marathon last Sunday was a race to celebrate the 40th birthday of Race Director David ‘Foxey’ Bayley, and the amazing consistency of 100 Marathon Club member Steve Edwards, for completing 500 marathons with finishing times of under 3hrs & 30 mins.
The course hugged the waters edge of Caldecotte Lake in Bletchley near Milton Keynes. It was run in near perfect conditions. a nip in the air, but it was a lovely sunny day to run 7.5 times around a lake. Roger Biggs finished in 4:05:04; CAROL PAUL in 5:01:59 and PAUL HOLGATE in 5:04:46.
This means that Roger has completed 1500 events at all distances from 400 metres on the track to 80 mile ultras, including over 700 marathons.
Three Out Of Three For Grant
Spartan GRANT RAMSAY beat 200 runners to win the Watford Autumn Challenge Five Miles Off Road Race for the third year in a row. He finished in 31 minutes 14 seconds. This was his sixth win in seven years.
Baggage for VLM
The London Marathon is not until Sunday 21st April but Fairlands Valley Spartans are already signing up volunteers for help in Pall Mall. The club have helped make the event a success for many years. Places for the baggage will be allocated after the draw for running place at the Spartans Christmas Party which is on Friday, 14th December 2012.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
- St. Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 18th November.
- Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 22nd November.
- Wolverton Five on Saturday 24th November.
- Cross Country League on Sunday 25th November.
- Cross Country League on Sunday 9th December.
- Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 14th December.
- Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30th December.
- Virgin London Marathon on 21st April 2013.
Join The Spartans
Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has over 400 members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.
The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to drama studio next to the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School — a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights — there will be one to suit you!
The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.
Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome — those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.
Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £27 per year. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.
If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk