Andy Turnell Tag

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by Andy Turnell. After achieving a lifetime best in the half marathon at this event last year, I had high hopes for a better time when I entered this years race. By the time I reached the start line however, I had other targets in mind. I'd struggled to recover from the calf strain I suffered back in May and, although I'd managed a half decent time at the Darlington 10k in August this would be the first time I'd attempted more

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by Andy Turnell Due to the races on Wednesday and Thursday there was a reduced representation for Crook AC at the Newcastle Frontrunners LGBT 5k this year with 6 participants in the race. A small but perfectly (ahem) formed team. We had a lot to live up to after Milo's exceptional run in the Junior 2k. What he didn't mention was that he was first back of all the runners, beating the U11 boys and girls as well as those in his

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By Andy Turnell This was my third time at the Gateshead Half. I've started to look on it as a useful early season benchmark for how I'm doing at longer distances.Last year I manage to finish first in the V65 category and was hoping for a similar result this time. Crook had 3 entries in the 10k but I was the sole representative in the half. The race starts and finishes in the Gateshead International Stadium and is well organised with start

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by Brad Wight Another cracking club day out despite the downpour which managed to soak everything inside our once waterproof tent… The U11 lads were off first with Joe Hall Junior completing the 1km race in 5:20, he looked so determined on the long downhill finish, teeth gritted just like his dad at a NEMAA sprint! The U11 girls were next up, Eleanor Shaw and my youngest daughter Adelaide making their XC debut alongside Meadow Winham. All three slogged up the hill then

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by Brad Wight What an unbelievable turnout for Crook! 66 runners across 14 teams with all age categories represented. More runners than any other club! The organisers weren’t joking when they responded to our entry submission with “I’m beginning to worry I haven’t ordered enough numbers.” Alistair Hart had to run with a hand drawn number and I noticed a few XC numbers being re-cycled too! The first race of the day saw the Women, Veteran Women (over 35) and V50 men

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by Geoff Hewitson “There is a course in Old Wallsend They call the Rising Sun And it's been the ruin of many a runner And God, I know, I’m one!” Well OK, so it’s not quite the opening lines to the early 60’s classic “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals, but if lead singer Eric Burden (and/or the rest of the band) had experienced Saturday’s event, he may well have been tempted to change the lyrics! The link to the song (other than the

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by Geoff Hewitson This annual event was traditionally held on a January Sunday morning in Durham for many years, when it was known as the Cathedral Relays. Towards the end of 2018 the long-standing host club (Durham City Harriers) pulled out of organising the event at which point Birtley AC stepped in to take it over, and moved the venue to the Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy in Birtley. It was held here for the first time in January 2019. The

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by Andy Turnell We submitted 3 teams for this relay as not many people came forward, so we had 1 senior ladies, 1 masters men and 1 senior men, after a few rearrangements we had our complete teams ready to tackle the not so easy course. As relays go, I would say this is the toughest you’re going to get with the XC conditions under foot and for someone who wasn’t actually racing this event and only spectating, the mud was unreal

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by Geoff Hewitson History Hosted by Elswick Harriers, this is one of the longest established road races in the North East, in name at least. The event has undergone several changes of venue and distance throughout it’s long history. Most older runners will remember it as a 6 mile race, mostly up and down the minor road that runs through the centre of High Gosforth Park. Increased development of sports facilities within the park, such as the golf driving ranges and outdoor

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by Andy Turnell The Running Festival is a regular event at the end of September and packs four races into a single morning (early afternoon for the slower runners). There's a 2k Junior Fun Run, 5k, 10k and Half Marathon all starting before 10:15. Crook had representatives in the 10k and the Half. One of my long standing targets has been a sub 1:45 half marathon and, although the course has changed somewhat over the recent past, it's about as flat as you could