October is nigh!

September has been a good month for the club! We have had several excellent training nights with strong numbers of runners turning out regularly, all kitted out with the mandatory hi-vis for the dark nights. Training nights have been good fun but some really hard runs too.

Several new members have been running with us at the club. Its always good to see new faces (or should it be legs?)!

Some fine results in races such as two Welsh champions on the fells (Steve and John) and winning the team prize at Sutton.

October brings the busy season. 

Next pub night is Tuesday 7th October, 8.30 in Running Hare, Ewloe after training

Next Saturday 4th October is the first race of the cross country season at Bangor. Ladies + MV70 race is at 2.00 with Senior Men and Vets (up to MV60) at 2.45. Parking is usually very tight so we will lift-share, meet in the car park at Northop at 12.15 ready to leave by 12.20

2nd race is two weeks later (18th) at Llandudno, Meet at Northop car park by 12.25 ready to leave at 12.30

Sunday 5th Chester Marathon. Several Buckley Runners taking part, Steve Bellis and Rob Davies are pacemakers

Sunday 12th - Flintshire 10km in Mold at 12.00. Good race, tough course, excellent cause.

10km races at Bangor and Farndon on 19th

Snowdonia Marathon on 26th

Sunday 2nd November is Pen Fell race and Abergele 5.

First Borders League race is on Sunday 9th November

Just a reminder that anyone who want to compete in either Cross Country or Borders League must be a paid up member of the club and Welsh Athletics.

Race reports - please send race reports to me, I can load them onto the blog.

Rob

Sent by Rob Mackey (Chairman)

Buckley Runners

Road, Multi-terrain, Cross Country, Fell Running

Meeting at Buckley Sport Centre in North Wales

Meet 7.00 for 7.15 start on Tuesdays and Thursdays

You can follow us on Twitter @buckleyrunners or find us on Facebook

Guilden Sutton 10k Sunday 21st Sept

A successful day for Buckley Runners at Guilden Sutton on Sunday 21st September where 4 members turned out for the race in glorious sunny conditions.

Jez Brown led the way finishing 6th place in 35:52 closely pursued by Eric Campbell 7th place in 36:49. Mike Austin 24th in 40:10 and John Morris 80th in 48:56.

Jez picked up a prize for vet 40, Eric for 1st vet 50 and John was 1st vet 70 finisher but best of all was Buckley Runners winning the prize for 1st team overall.

Posted by Rob, courtesy of Eric

Chris Higgins (Ironman!)

You may not have seen Chris at the club much recently. That’s because he has been training for Iron Man Wales. And if you are not quite sure what that means here is a word of explanation. It’s a full marathon, but instead of carb loading and a good night’s sleep before jogging to the start competitors undertake a 2.5 mile sea-swim and 112 mile cycle ride.

Chris completed IMW at Tenby last weekend in 15 hours 25 minutes and 32 seconds; 1.49.58 swimming, 7.53.38 on the bike and the marathon in 5.11.32. That is just amazing. Chris posted the following report on Facebook earlier today, and that too is an achievement. With his permission I have copied it verbatim.

The Oldest Ironing Man in the Village.

Thanks ever so much for all your good wishes and congratulations. It was a long but fantastic day out that actually went pretty quickly.

The swim was tough to be honest with 50 odd people being taken out of the water by the R.N.L.I. A few being hospitalised. Of course, Sally Napthen, who drove down to add additional brilliant support had done what all good coaches would and anticipated this. I tried to claw my way aboard an R.N.L.I. inflatable only to be pushed back into the water the crew man saying 'Sally said you'd be fine' and so I was!!

What a spectacle the beach was at sunrise with over 2000 swimmers in black wet suits standing to the Welsh National anthem, quite emotional. After the dip, 1k run to the bikes and a tour of the area which as some have said is truly beautiful all 112 blinking miles of it! Thought there were hills up here in the north but we don't have a monopoly believe me. It was a bit like skiing you have to do the boring bit to the top and then the fun starts, brilliant whacking into and through Tenby with the streets lined with people shouting and blowing horns and those soddin’ cow bell things (how ungrateful am I?)

So bike back on the rack running kit on break out the Buckley vest!! The run, like the bike and in fact the swim, was hilly but the encouragement never waned for an instant right up and beyond the witching hour volunteers were still handing out drinks, snacks and (not sure I can actually write the word without tasting them) GELS, there I said it!!

So, swim, bike, run for 15.5 hours, maybe first Buckley vest on the 'red carpet' as they call the run in to the amazing finish to hear announced '' Chris Higgins you are........ hogging the camera let someone else have a go''. Not the quickest time but can do better. Not really decided on the next one though one there will be. Probably nominated the same as Tenby was, a lap top computer, credit card and that critical ingredient a bottle of red wine, a lethal combination but one that can and has paid dividends.

Sorry for the diatribe but it was brilliant, recommended to anyone.

To close I really want to thank everyone for their genuine support and in particular, Buckley and Chester Tri colleagues who have helped no end even when they didn't know it. Lovely Wife and of course Coach Sal who has been unerringly positive even when I wasn't sure I was.

Thanks again.