The Last of the Sunshine
Released On Today
Oxford Half
From Helen: Today saw us 6 completing Oxford Half Marathon🏃🏼♀️🏃🏻♂️🥇 we all ran superbly and thoroughly enjoyed it 😅 with Paul and Rach bagging PB’s. Conditions were perfect, albeit a chilly wait at the start line! Loved being part of such a massively crowded event. Thanks to our support crew (dad and Steve) for the cheer (and photos) to push us to the finishing line with just under half a mile to go 😉. Managed to regroup after to rush back to the shuttle to get us back to the travelodge for a 20min turn around shower and check out before heading off to The Wolvercote Pub for a very well earn’t and deserved pint, Sunday roast and pudding 😋
Bungy for the blog — with Joanna Samuel and 6 others.
Bath to Bristol 50k / Half
From Felicity: Relish running Bath and Bristol railway races 50k today. I signed up for this on a bit of a whim on Wednesday this week as I had a free race. I did the marathon last year and thought I’d challenge myself to the 50k this time round.
I soon regretted my life choices as my hip started to hurt and was actually quite sore yesterday. But I slapped on my trusty tape and hoped for the best. As it was it held up ok and actually feels better than it did this morning. So maybe running 50k cures hip pain? 🤷♀️ (disclaimer: this is not legitimate medical advice).
This is a flat out and back route and it’s hard not to pick up speed. I was a bit worried I’d headed out too fast as I was kind of following someone and ended up going faster than my intended pace. I’ve never done this sort of race or pace above a marathon distance before and I wasn’t sure how it would go on the relentless tarmac. But I actually felt good the whole time (well, the last couple of miles were a bit tough but that’s to be expected).
Apart from getting stung by a wasp at mile 8 I really enjoyed this race. Relish The Great Outdoors always put on a good event and there was brilliant friendly support on the course as always. In the end I managed a time of 4:05 (Strava time) which I’m super pleased with and faster than I thought I’d be able to achieve. I may have been second female but need to wait for the official results to confirm. Nice to see some other club member on route and at the start and finish. Sounds like everyone smashed it!
All in all and great run. Nice pint with my sister after as she came to cheer me on.
From Gareth: 31.23 miles 499ft 4hrs 21 mins
Rachael convinced me to run a race that wouldn’t normally interest me, so she could run the half marathon. She promised me a Five Guys after and this sealed the deal. Very flat out and back route following the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. 15.5 miles out and then turning round to run the same route back. Great support on route. I had a plan to run 8:45 pace for 20 miles and see how I felt, that went out the window on the first mile It was pretty lonely out there and I was deep in the pain cave at 25 miles with a shooting pain in the ball of my left foot. I got the job done. But I’ll take a day on the trails over that any day.
Rach did the half marathon, her first in over a year. She smashed it.
The ColyTEN
From Margarita: So, another Sunday, another championship race! This time it was the ColyTEN! I signed up in a moment of madness, without really reading the race instructions properly…so didn't know the course terrain.There was quite a small turnout of us from Yeovil, with five of us hanging around near race HQ before making the five-minute walk to the start, where we bumped into Simon.
Angela and I decided to stick together, while Alan and Andy teamed up too. We set off in a field, ran around that, and then came the river crossings! Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely HATE a river crossing, so that was fun! Then it was UP, UP and MORE UP! We headed through a forest that seemed to go on forever, tackling some seriously tough climbs and equally challenging descents. Add in mud, more river crossings and dodging hornets, and you had yourself quite the adventure! Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we made it back for the last lap around the field and the finish line. What a relief!
Simon absolutely flew round and was the first Yeovil runner home. Andy just pipped Al to the post for second, with Alan finishing third. Abby did amazingly well after her ultra to be the fourth Yeovil runner home, and then Angela and I crossed the line together, clocking exactly the same time! It was certainly a tough race and a bit like Marmite… and I know EXACTLY which camp I’m in! I think I’ll leave the river crossings, endless hills and hornets to the mountain goats! Quote of the day from Angela: “Channel your inner mountain goat!” Another championship race ticked off, more muddy memories made, and another Sunday spent doing what we love… even if this one definitely tested us!
Committee Meeting
From Jo: After tonight’s committee meeting, it was decided that the club would benefit from a social sub-committee to help & support Denise Byrd in the great work she does in organising our social events. Specifically with NEXT years awards night in mind, we would like to form a sub-committee of people who are willing to look for suitable venues, possible outside caterers, DJ’s, coaches etc. if this sounds like a bit of you, please let me know & we will update you all in due course.
On that note, please look out for a post from Denise who is going to put out a list of venues we have already looked at for NEXT years event but have had to rule out as they are not suitable. We need a venue who can cater for 150 sitting down. Ideally with their own caterers, definitely a bar that we don’t need to share & room for us all to dance. Ot really needs to be fairly local. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas other than the ones on her list, please do let us know
Weekend Running
From Rob: Great run mostly trail around the trails of Coker. Kim set the pace and I made up the route, well done all. Helped it was such a fabulous morning.
From Ali: Sunday social 10K was myself and Mel this morning. We went out exploring some new trails in our route so ended up doing 8 miles.
From Sharon: Some women go shopping on Sunday morning but not us. A lovely autumn morning to be getting some miles done. Well done to Elie Morgan for her extra miles.
From Chris: Just the 4 of us at the cavity trays breakfast club this morning, a lovely route out to Odcombe and Camp road with a great downhill sprint down Bunford and a steady climb back beautiful autumn morning.
IMPORTANT - LONDON MARATHON CLUB BALLOT
From Debbie: An email will also be sent regarding this.
As many of you are aware we have, in the past, been fortunate to receive club places in the London Marathon. We are hopeful to receive 2 places however TCS London Marathon have NOT YET confirmed this, however the committee have decided to draw the ballot ahead of this confirmation to allow the lucky members more time to think about their training.
If you would like to be entered into the ballot you need to have fulfilled the following criteria:
- Been a first claim member for at least a full year and in your second year of membership. Part years prior to the first full year membership do not count
- Have paid your annual club membership fee by the date of the AGM in the year of the ballot
- Have never run the London Marathon previously, irrespective of how you obtained your place
- Helped at least 3 times at a club event, Santa Dash, Easter Bunny, Y'ton 5K, Frogmary takeover
- Have an entry form that states the applicant is a member of YTRRC
- Have a valid London Marathon rejection email
If you would like to be included in the ballot for the 2027 London Marathon then please can you email me at secretary@yeoviltownrrc.com Please include your rejection email and details of the events that you have helped at this year.
Membership will be checked by Adam Hawkins, the membership secretary.
The email should be received no later than 31st October 2026 and the draw will take place at the next committee meeting on 4th Nov 2026.
Any questions please contact myself or Stephen Warren.
Thank you and Good Luck!
Park Runs
From Andy: Today, Margarita and I headed to Minehead parkrun to add another event to our challenge stats. It was an M for my Alphabet Challenge, and an M for Margarita's Namely challenge too! Given she's tackling a challenge based on a name as long as hers, every letter ticked off is a welcome step closer to the finish line.
The course was listed as a three-lap route on the app, although in reality it felt more like three trips out past the hands and two visits up towards the pirate ship! One thing you certainly can't complain about at Minehead is the elevation. This course is so flat that even the flat-earthers would be proud! There were a few tighter sections along the route, but with a relatively small turnout, things soon settled down after the start and there was plenty of room to enjoy the run. Add some lovely sunshine to the mix, and it made for a great morning to get out and tick off another parkrun.
The biggest win of the day, though, belonged to Margarita, who absolutely smashed it at the timing screens! She put in a really strong run to record her second-best 5K time of the year. A fantastic effort and thoroughly well deserved. Very well done! We also bumped into Trevor and his daughter, who both put in some really strong runs of their own. It's always a bonus when you get to catch up with familiar faces and share the parkrun experience. All in all, Minehead was a lovely addition to our challenge adventures: another letter ticked off for both of us, some sunshine enjoyed, and some great running from everyone involved. Another parkrun done, another challenge one step closer!
From Helen: University Parks Parkrun, Oxford, for us today…a cold start but soon the sun started to warm us up a bit! A lovely park to do 2 laps of as a warm up for tomorrows half marathon. Number collection after and onto a very yummy breakfast.
From Donna: A rather cold and windy Compton Abbas parkrun for 7 of us. I was chasing another 'C' for pirate challenge and #6 for Wilson. Nearly 3 loops around grass airfield. Café and toilets onsite.
PUB RUN – EAST LAMBROOK – (8TH OCTOBER 2026)
From Mark: Tonight the fast group and the not-so-fast group swapped roles. Guy, Lawrie, Kelly, Rebecca, and Ann ran short and not so fast, whereas Alison, Rachael, JC, and myself ran further and faster, just about, so I am led to believe. Phil ran alone.
Alison led, and we ran up the road to New Cross, and then onto West Lambrook. Turning right just past the old phone box, we continued along West lane, and incorrectly did a small loop returning to New Cross. Improvising, we then ran along New Cross Hill, passing Phil, and then into Stembridge. Turning right we then ran the narrow dark lane back to East Lambrook via Southay.
It was a nice run, half in darkness, with some light drizzle. Afterwards the pub food was good. The various types of pie were large with good chunky fillings. Thanks Phil for organising.
