Joanne Thwaite and Neal Crowe, two endurance stalwarts from Frome Running Club, joined forces with members of Warminster Running Club to complete an attritional 24-hour relay trail race in Wasing Park, near Reading. 

The annual event sees competitors looking to complete as many five-mile laps as possible in a 24-hour window; between 12 noon on the Saturday and 12 noon on the Sunday. Runners can tackle the undulating circuit individually, or as relay teams of three or six people. Jo ran as part of a three-person women’s team, with Neal running in a three-person men’s team. 

The wet weather and constant footfall from 1,230 runners churned the course into a mud bath, but both Neal and Jo’s teams clocked up 27 laps each; a result that landed Jo’s team fifth in category. During the 24-hour window, the Frome pair clocked up 45 miles each.

Jo is well suited to mentally testing running events and is currently on an incredible streak of running at least one mile for the last 2,400 days. “After six and a half years of running every single day, I’ve learned that consistency really adds up,” said Jo. “I just take one mile at a time. Endurance running might sound tough, but it’s great fun, especially in a relay where the laughs, teamwork, and sleep-deprived miles make it unforgettable. It was nice to collaborate with another club to take part in this race – Kris rivers, one of Neal’s Warminster teammates ran all his ten laps in an assortment of inflatable costumes!”  

Frome Running Club offers both off and on-road training to beginners and endurance athletes alike. The club welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.

[Photo L-R: Vicky Griffiths, Joanne Thwaite, Emily Ruiz]

Frome Running Club has been hosting an annual running event in Mells for several years. The race follows a scenic but challenging route that is approximately seven miles long and predominantly off road, looping from Mells into Great Elm and back again. 

Whilst is has proved to be a popular local running event, this year Frome Running Club is renaming the race as the ‘Mells Mash-Up’. Vicki Trundle, the Race Director, feels a rebrand is helpful for participants. “As a club, we felt it was time to come clean about just how varied and challenging the terrain is along the way. The course goes from riverside woodland trails, through fields, along tarmac roads, converted railway paths and over hills. Our race has just over 800ft of elevation gain – equivalent to eight trips up Catherine Street. With this in mind, and people’s tendency to want to challenge themselves with tough and brutal sounding running events, we decided a change the name to the more appropriate title of ‘Mells Mash-Up’.”  

This year’s race will be on September 20th, starting from Mells Cricket Club’s Recreation Ground. Race places will be limited and available for purchase via Frome Running club’s website. 

“We are working hard behind the scene to make this year’s event bigger and better than ever. We encourage people that are interested in participating to keep an eye on the club’s Instagram and Facebook pages for updates,” said John Yeo, the race’s Marketing Lead.

Frome Running Club kicked off their summer road racing campaign at the Corsham 10k in April, with 17 runners pulling on the team’s iconic red shirt for the opening fixture. Frome’s combined results placed the team sixth in Division 1, with three runners completing the course in under 38-minutes. 

“I was really pleased to break the 37-minute mark and achieve a personal best for my 10k, especially as it was only a week after the Newport Marathon,” said Michael Gorman. “The league reminds me a lot of my team sport days, with everyone working together to score as many points as possible for the club. There is also a ‘B’ league, which makes it accessible and competitive for runners of all abilities. That sense of inclusivity and shared purpose is what really drew me to the club. It has reignited my competitive spirit, while still being done in a very supportive and encouraging environment. The club’s Wednesday interval sessions have really helped me sharpen my speed.” 

The second race of the season is the Westbury 5k series, with runners submitting their best time from one of three meets. In the May race, Frome made another strong showing, with 14 people lacing up for three laps of West Wilts Trading Estate. Storming across the finish line was Ella Kemphsall.

“I was really happy to get a PB,” said Ella. “I’ve been training lots with the club and it was a great atmosphere being with team Frome! I thoroughly enjoyed the race and am already looking forward to the next one.”

Frome Running Club offers both off and on-road training to those with or without a competitive spirit. The club welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.

[Photo: from L-R: Suzanne Ingle, Paul Goodwin, Jess Jones-Hutchings, Alex Fisher, Nicky Thomas, Chris Dayman-Johns, Emma Evans, John Yeo, Ted Sprules, Alan Brawn, Ben Spicer, Ella Kempshall, Max Barnett, David Lee, Dan Gaisford]

Nine members of Frome Running Club completed marathons in April. Six runners tackled the Gwent levels of the Newport Marathon, and three raced in the iconic London event. 

In Newport, Michael Gorman’s time (3:10) earned him a PB, but a St John’s medical tent was required to revive him after the finishing post. Following a sugar and salt, he was right as rain. Paul Horton was next to finish, his PB of 3:12 placing him third in the men’s 60-65 category. Sam Baraud finished with a PB of 3:25, followed by Keith Vance (PB of 3:32), Ian Holmes (3:36) and Clare Dunning (PB of 4:12). 

“I knocked six minutes off my PB!” Keith Vance enthused. “I was going strong until my calf tightened during the last three miles. I couldn’t resist speeding up for the final 200m, but I cramped and hobbled over the line with the grandstands cheering me on.” 

Clare Dunning beat her previous best by 37 minutes. “I had nagging hip pain and a stitch, but I stuck to my planned walking breaks and kept upbeat throughout.” 

In the London Marathon, first down The Mall was Poppy Burton-Morgan (PB: 3:22), followed by Ellie Burford (3:59), and Barrie Knight (PB of 4:52; placing 85th in the men’s 70-74 category).

“I did London a few years ago and really pushed it. This time I wanted to remain sub-four hours, but I also wanted to enjoy it. I ran on feel, savouring the atmosphere. I only looked at my watch in the last two miles. I did it by the skin of my teeth!”

Frome Running Club offers both off and on-road training to marathoners and non-marathoners alike. The club welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.

[Photo: Barrie Knight]

A quartet of intrepid adventurers from Frome Running Club – Dan Gaisford, Ian Holmes, Ben Spicer, and Chris Dayman-Johns – ventured to Seaton Bay this Spring. They were going on a bear hunt: The Grizzly.  

The Grizzly is a 20-mile trail race with two sections of pebble beach and two energy-sapping bogs where runners are often up to their waists in water and mud. 

Notably, the route has over 3,100 ft of elevation, the equivalent of 14 trips up Cley Hill. “Felt like 114 trips,” noted Chris after the race, as he looked out over Seaton Bay with a well-earned fish and chips in his lap. “By the end I was cramping in both legs. The support of everyone helped me push on through, though. It was a great feeling crossing the line with my three teammates cheering on.”

“One of the best reasons to run this race is the atmosphere,” agreed Dan, a returning runner. “My favourite part came halfway, after a tough wooded trail. We could hear bagpipes echoing down the valley. The silhouette of a loan piper appeared in the hillside mist above us. It was spine-tingling. And then the runner in front of me just starts bellowing. A real Braveheart moment. I’d have joined in too if I wasn’t so breathless!” 

As runners passed the door of the Fountain Head Pub in Branscombe at mile 14, pubgoers lined the path on both sides to form a guard of honour; glasses raised in a relentless, raucous cheer for each of the 2,000 runners heading toward their final climbs, and that post-race fish and chip supper. 

Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability – or willingness for adventure! For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.

Frome Running Club’s Paul Horton secured victory in the men’s ‘Veteran 60’ age group category (VM60) at the Imber Ultra, eclipsing the previous course record from 2018 by an impressive 15 minutes. 

Paul switched from cycling to running just six years ago, but has since become a veteran of long-distance racing, having completed several ultramarathons. Paul knew the VM60 record to beat was 5:27, which introduced a new dimension for him to manage. “Having a solid time objective put me under pressure from the start. I needed to constantly remind myself to relax and not push it too much, or I would end up going slower later. Thankfully it all seemed to work out okay.”  

The Imber Ultra is a 33.5-mile trail race around the Imber Range footpath. Joining Paul from Frome Running Club was Sian Meaney, another seasoned ultra-marathoner. Sian has previously completed the South Downs Way 100 Miles in 27.5 hours. This year she beat her previous best at Imber by 15 minutes. Sian put her positive result down to attacking the descents: “I found out I’m better at downhill running than I gave myself credit for. I’m really proud of myself for taking advantage of the downhills.”

Also amongst Frome Running Club’s ranks on March 1st was ultra marathon cadet, Ronan Ferguson. Ronan finished his ultra debut in sixth place, despite missing the final turn off to Westbury. Ronan explains “I’ve never been so glad to see the old Westbury cement works – it was proof that I’d mistakenly started a second lap. One lap of that course is definitely enough.” 

The new year got off to a great start for Frome Running Club with the Chard Flyer on 1 January, a 10K road race that takes in a loop round Chard reservoir. Ronan Ferguson (MSEN) finished in a blistering  time of 00:38:58, closely followed by Daniel Thomson (MSEN) in 00:46:33.

Wednesday 14 January saw the return of the Street 5K, the fourth race of the six-event series. Alex Fisher (MV40) was the first Frome runner to finish the five x 1K lap route in a time of 00:18:24 to bag first in age category. Sam Baraud (MSEN) was next past the post in 00:20:32, followed by David Lee (MV40) in 00:20:51 and Andrew Fowler (MV40) in 00:22:27. Barrie Knight (MV70) crossed the line in 00:24:37 also winning first in age category. Hot on his heels was Brett Sadler (MV70), whose time of 00:24:47 earned him second in age category.

On Saturday 17 January, Frome stalwart Lynn Brand (FV60) lined up for the Maverick New Forest Trail Half, a 22 km trail route through the heart of the forest. Lynn completed the course in 02:13:00, bagging another first in age category.

Rounding out the month was perennial favourite the Longleat 10K. As customary, Frome fielded  a strong team for the event. First to finish to Frome was Alex Fisher (MV45) in 00:40:14, followed by Callum Cardwell (MSEN) in 00:45:55. Anthony Sprules (MV70) finished in 00:48:31 for first in age category. Ella Kempshall (FSEN) crossed the line in 00:51:35, followed by Joanne Thwaite (FV45) in 00:55:07, Chris Chivers (MV40) in 00:59:32 and Catherine Walton (FV45) in 00:59:24.

Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.