The brains behind the challenges of the Sidmouth Running Club

Members of the Sidmouth Running Club are indebted to two Mighty Greens who kept them focused during Lockdown No.3, John Chesters and Terry Bewes.
John Chesters asked members of the Ottery-based club to scour the area for checkpoints and test their orienteering skills. He even added a route on Muttersmoor for Sidmouth-based runners to test their skills this week. John said he was happy to help with challenges and it was gratifying to see people having a go and even having fun!
Along with his wife and colleague Mighty Green Ruth, he tended to walk rather than run on some of the routes used, but only to check details or create a Strava trail to follow. Most of his planning was done from home, using his knowledge of the local terrain and the network of paths / trails. If he sees a path, he needs to know where he is going.
John can’t wait for club races to start again, especially since during the lockdown he found a few new places to show people.
President Terry Bewes found it a bit difficult to set two road races and one off-road race each week and then record the results, but when he sees 62 members submitting results it is worth it, all the more that most will be released from containment much more fit than when they entered.
Terry is really looking forward to getting the club back up and running in an environment secured by Covid.
The runners certainly enjoyed one of this week’s road races, a pub crawl in 18 pubs past and present, although they were unable to have a drink, although Els Laureys was ready for a cider. when she has successfully completed the challenge.
Antony Hall used his father’s local knowledge to find out the whereabouts of the horse and the groom, and Bert Dykema added the red lion in Sidbury to his itinerary.
The second road race involved hills, but that didn’t deter Tim Swarbrick, who ran 8.28 miles, taking on the hill challenge twice. Karen and Christine Farnham were amazed when they finally found out they had covered 7.5 miles.
Terry Bewes combined the two road races and ran 8 miles, Sam Ingram also ran 8 miles combining two previous challenges, while Derek Blackburn combined the daffodil run with the pub crawl and ended up running a half marathon.
Jane Hemsworth and Jo Earlam had a good 16 mile training run in preparation for the Plym Trail Marathon next month and Dan Prettejohn completed a half marathon completing 41 laps of a housing estate in 1.25.38 hours at a pace of 4.04 km / min.
Christine Hellier has walked a measured and efficient route, finding all 20 orders on the Muttersmoor OGLE, as has Jo Earlam whose map reading skills are improving. The 19 controls found were Helen Akay, Terry Bewes, Jenny Kay and Alexa Baker (who found themselves in a sticky situation at one point!), The dynamic duo, Tim Swarbrick and Derek Blackburn, found 18 controls using choices of thoughtful routes, Mark Norton enjoyed exploring the hilly area and Brigid McSmith and Ann Cole with Ivey believe they’ve passed 12 checks.
Liz Goodman and Alison Long ran last week’s OGLE and found nine controls and, despite printing the map before heading to Fire Beacon, Kerry Salter soon realized she had it. left at home, so she instead enjoyed a relaxed run in the area.
Terry Bewes was happy to receive the cup this week for bringing in the largest number of participants in the Grand Western Canal 10k Clic Sargent virtual race at the end of last year. The next challenge is to try to keep it this year – watch this space.