Bramley 10/20

Popular as always, this brilliantly organised race is a picturesque course of 1 or 2 loops through the picturesque country lanes and forest tracks of the beautiful village of Bramley, near Reading. With a choice of 10 or 20 miles this relatively flat and fast course is great for testing race pace or getting in a good measure of your endurance levels in preparation for the fast approaching Spring marathon season, especially over the longer distance.

A car full of Roadrunners made the trip to the top of the county. Trish Train, still buzzing from her England Masters selection, was there to tackle the 10 miler accompanied James Shoulder, Micheal Coultrup and the double trouble duo of Julie and Peter Dixon all doing the 20.

The conditions were dry but chilly as they set out from the local primary school. A clear blue sky prevailed over the chocolate box cottages and leafy tracks they would pass along the way.

Trish smashed her single lap by completing it in just over 70 minutes bagging herself the pole position in her age category and a tidy 10th female overall.

“I was surprised to come 10th!” She tells me “It felt like I was getting overtaken a lot in the last mile so I’m really chuffed with my position”

In the 20 miler, Julie and Michael were home first having run the whole thing together. Mick, surprisingly fresh after his marathon only 48 hours before, decided to support Julie on her longest run for months

“I was not looking forward to that at all. I have been really doubting myself and my current ability” she said “ The last mile was tough but I managed the rest in good spirits thanks to Michael. I certainly wasn’t expecting to get the time that I did! I’m so pleased!”

“She worked so hard” said Mick “she smashed that”

Speaking of smashing it, husband Peter continued his recent good form by securing himself yet another PB this year by taking nearly 3 minutes off last years time.