The Last Races for Hats
Released On 24th Oct 2025
The Grand Canal Canter
From Richard: Feeling proud to have just completed my first marathon. Yes I did do the Ham to Lyme ultra in July but this was my first proper marathon. The Grand Canal Canter in Tiverton is ideal for a first timer because it is mostly flat and only an hour drive from Yeovil. My time of 5 hours 15 minutes was slower than I had hoped for but what can you expect with the minimum of training! And all for a hat!
Exeter Halloween 5 and 10 miler
From Margarita: Exeter Halloween 5 and 10 miler. An out and back course along the river for the 5 miles, 2 laps for the 10. A chilly start but the weather stayed dry and we soon warmed up.Plenty of Halloween themed outfits too!
Lovely to see Caroline Bennett Smith who was doing the 5 mile as well. Sharon Hardy was doing the 10 mile for her hat. Super proud of Andy Fielding for his first ever race with a medal, here's to many more.
Fleet 10k
From Kevin: Headed up to Fleet for a " Target race " booked about 7/8 weeks ago. felt sub 45 was going to be possible, however minor knee niggle reduced some training planned, very happy with a 5 year Best of 47:25 , well supported event which included a 5k , 10k was 2 loops on closed roads.
Communifit Sherborne 5
From Donna: Communifit Sherborne. 5 of us turned up for this event. Trevor and myself did 10k other 3 did 5k. I loved it even the long hill and knocked 8 mins off last year. Nice medal.
Weekend Running
From Amanda: Gorgeous 8 mile jeff with lovely company. Thanks Lesley for the route and thanks Helen for the delicious pecan cake.
From Helen: Sunday 10 miler complete thanks for joining me guys and gals A nice new route today, and good social coffee with my yummy pecan pie bars after.
From Ann: Cavity trays social was definitely warmer than predicted. We had a lovely turn out 8 of us in total and of course the lovely hunney we all ran together today which was really nice and of course Phil and Dave ran together. We ran out to odcombe done a nice little loop with some slippy mud and some lovely puddles for hunny and we even seen a few horses, the sun was shining the whole way around and not to many hills today . We missed Sharon today as shes not very well , get well soon Sharon Hardy . A few were going for breakfast after at number 5 cafe . Well done everyone great running.
Park Runs
From Adam: Family visit to Weymouth parkrun with sea swim and of course breakfast!! 8 year old Eli’s time - 22.52!!
From Trevor: Windy day at Minehead Parkrun! But clear & sunny almost ideal conditions.
From Jo: Another Saturday morning. Another Parkrun. Another morning spent with amazing friends . Andover Parkrun for us this morning so Rach Pep could finish her name challenge. Getting there was easy, coming home took a little longer as we forgot it was half term & the M4 was closed which probably caused a little more traffic!! Never mind, Helen Nesbitt was as calm as a cucumber - not!!! . Everyone but me seemed to enjoy this one. I liked the tarmac bits, the fields, not so much . Do you like our club hoodie tree???
As always we had a lovely breakfast in a Turkish restaurant & all of us enjoyed our choices.
From Steve: The Old Show Ground Parkrun Frome. With heavy legs after last nights track session the 3 3/4 laps were a bit of a challenge today. A nice course and slightly reminiscent of Dorchester Great Field parkrun. Some fast ones in my age group today.
From Tina: There were definitely more of us at frogmary today, but this was who we managed to round up.
From Steve: Well another early start for the 4 th Lake Fylan park run so very lucky to be able to do one here up in the Grampian national park as nothing else close and this involved a 15 mile ride and it was around 5 degrees c when I started. Out and back on loose gravel trails so not easy to get traction but a lovely group of people and a good giggle was had by all . On the way I had three kangaroos jump across the road along with ducks and a rabbit so no speeding around in the morning that’s for sure. Staying at Halls gap lakeside caravan and tent park and did a long trek yesterday to the pinnacle view point just to get the legs turning over. Good luck for the London Ballot which is going to take place on the November committee meeting I believe.
From Margarita: Salisbury parkrun for Andy Fielding and I today. A lovely 4 laps around the park. A cold start but nice when the sun came out.
From Chris: Dawson and I completed his 3rd parkrun in Dorchester this morning. Good to see some fellow Yeovil runners pushing themselves, or in Adrian Lax case, being pushed hard by Jack Lax. Sadly couldn't get all of us together for pic.
From Ali: Haldon Forest park run. A beautiful run through the forest with great views.
PUB RUN – WEST CAMEL – (23RD OCTOBER 2025)
From Mark: We had Julie, Mel, Rachael, JC, and myself in the not so fast group tonight. Guy, Ann, and Crispen ran fast. Phil ran alone. Rob and Alison went off-road.
Leaving the pub, we ran south through the village up to the main road. Turning left we headed towards Queen Camel, and turned left again. This narrow muddy lane took us through Wales, past some farms, and onto Queen Camel. We crossed the stream, and continued through the village. At the other end we turned right, and just ran back along the road towards West Camel. At the pub we continued onwards for a while just to make a bit more distance up.
It was nice to be back at the Walnut. The food was good. Thanks Phil for organising.
