All posts by Tanya Weaver

Centurion Autumn 100

26th October 2017enduranceTanya Weaver

Helen’s 100 Miles!

The Centurion Autumn 100 is a 100 mile continuous trail race based in the twinned villages of Goring and Streatley on the river Thames. The course reflects the shape of a cross and takes runners on a series of four different 25 mile out and back spurs using sections of both the Ridgeway and Thames Path National Trails.

We have many awesome ladies in Regency Runners but not many are crazy enough to want to run 100 miles … Except Helen, who did just that last weekend! Here’s what she said about it after the event:

“I won’t sugarcoat it; I knew it was going to be tough … but I was no way prepared for quite how extraordinarily hard it would be. I’m swollen from head to toe, I have comedy knees, I have sore shoulders, arms, back, forehead, a weird rash on my feet and a weird swollen top lip.

Each leg had it’s own challenges, mud, wind like I have never known, cold, terrain, desperate tiredness, tears … but the views were stunning, the nights were peaceful, the sunrise was spectacular.

But, I did it and will forever have run 100 miles. My first attempt and I finished it. A little close to the cut off to be worried towards the end (and totally confused!) but I still got there. 242 starters and 168 people finished, the others either dropped out or got timed out (they were awesome too).

As with anything, the people that keep you going are the people you choose to surround yourself with. Thanks so so much for your support. My mission is accomplished.”

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Read Helen’s full account of the race in 3XSport: Running 100 Miles as a 1st Timer

For more information, go to Centurion Running

Equinox 24

26th September 2017enduranceTanya Weaver

Maggie at Equinox 24 Well Ladies, let me introduce you to one truly remarkable, brave and determined lady. When you are surrounded by lovely people, fabulous support and a beautiful course – and some true self belief – you can do anything. Maggie walked 50km at Equinox 24 this weekend, over a 24hr period that including a night lap. She was utterly amazing! It was an absolute privilege to be there with her and watch her do it. Well done Maggie!

Helen

We should also add that Helen did an amazing 110k! (Just a little ‘training run’ for the 100-miler she has coming up!)

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Harriet’s 100th Park Run

19th August 2017park runTanya Weaver

Our awesome Harriet ran her 100th Park Run on Saturday, 19 August 2017. Needless to say, several of our ladies joined in to support her and cheer her on! Well done Harriet!

“Back in 2011, one of the Regency Runner Leaders mentioned an exciting new venture in Leamington that she had helped with, a ‘Parkrun’ on Newbold Comyn. ‘Try it!’ she said – and that was how I came to run my first Parkrun (a weekly, timed, completely free 5K race). There I found the same friendly welcome that there is in this running club; I loved it and have been back regularly since. Last Saturday when I revealed that I was heading for a landmark milestone, a few of my RR friends joined me!”

Harriet

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If you haven’t taken part in Parkrun yet, you’ll find a warm welcome and, of course, tea and cake afterwards! Leamington Parkrun >>

Run for the Hills, Burton Dassett

17th July 2017enduranceTanya Weaver

Burton Dassett Hills

13 July 2017

Hill running is a regular feature of training at Regency Runners. It’s always hard work but great fun – no, really, it is! Add in the attraction of the Burton Dassett Hills and a fish and chip supper as a reward at the end, and this event was definitely a winner! A great turn out and the feedback at the end was ‘Let’s do it again!!’ I’m sure we will!

Here are some of the photos our ladies took during the evening:

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Two Castles 2017

21st June 2017UncategorisedTanya Weaver

As always Warwick castle looked spectacular with the rhododendrons in full bloom and the peacocks displaying their magnificent tails. However, the peacocks were upstaged by the myriad colours of the running outfits on show. The new Regency Runners kit stood out well, the vest top, t-shirt and high vis clearly supporting our new logo, making it relatively easy to gather as a team before the start.

I thought the weather was a good temperature as I was waiting to run. Not really cold but a little chilly, this turned out to be too hot. One of the highlights was being squirted with water by the children with water pistols, through the housing estate. I also stopped at both water stations to have a quick drink and poured the rest over my head. It was lovely to see RR runners throughout the course and say hello as we passed each other. The spectators were as encouraging as ever and we seemed to have an RR team spread over the whole course.

My thoughts for next year … we need a clear meeting place at the end to gather, preferably with something cold to drink.

Tracyann
June 2017

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Maggie’s Triathlon Triumph

20th June 2017UncategorisedTanya Weaver

Maggie finishing the Leeds Triathlon - the smile says it all! — Maggie finishing the Leeds Triathlon – the smile says it all!

It’s been a tough year. The 2017 Leeds Triathlon has been my goal – something that I absolutely had to do, no matter what physical state I happened to be in when the day arrived. Not taking part, and not finishing was not an option.

Some of you know I was hit by a drunk driver last June – bringing me down from the high I was still on after the 2016 Leeds Triathlon. I was a bit bashed up, to say the least, but it was the taking away of my joy that really got to me, so I knew I had to go back again this year to put things right.

The injuries were worse than was first thought, so walking is now a “different” way of walking (hopefully only temporary). I wanted to be able to run the run part of the Tri – I’m still working on it – but had to settle for walking it this year. I’m absolutely fine with that. This year was a celebration of what I can do, not a mourning of what I can’t do.

The joy that I felt robbed of last June came back in bucket loads on Sunday – from my own achievement and from the heaps of support from Regency Runners. You lovely ladies said such wonderful things – I cried at every single message, and I’ve been tearful on and off all day today! I just wanted you to know how much your support meant – Sunday’s Two Castles runners had that support too, and I know they will have appreciated every single cheer along the route.

Regency Runners are so totally “totally” awesome!

Maggie Hall
June 2017

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Brighton Marathon 2017

11th April 2017marathonTanya Weaver

Tina and Faith recently ran the Brighton Marathon

Here are a few words from Tina:

“Well we did it! But was so tough! The first half went to plan until I fell at about 12 miles in and banged my knee. Though some very kind people picked me up, it shook me up a bit and was quite sore. The weather was sooooo hot and actually turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far at 21 degrees!!! Lots of runners suffered from the heat but it also showed the running community at it’s best: runners helping others and literally carrying strangers over the line! Also my Garmin packed up and I dropped my jelly babies. However amazing support from the crowds and amazing views and I finished it! My time was about 4.56 I think – about 30 minutes off my PB but this seemed to be the case for many others that day thanks to the weather. Faith did brilliantly despite the heat!”

Tina James

Faith and Tina earned their medals after running the Brighton Marathon on the hottest day of the year so far!

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Olivia’s Story – Great Birmingham Run

7th November 2016half marathonTanya Weaver

Olivia joined our Learn to Run course at the beginning of this year. Here’s her story:

Three weeks ago, I ran the Great Birmingham Run. It’s a half marathon. These are words I never anticipated saying (or typing!) when I joined the Regency Runners Learn to Run course in January 2016.

I’ve always wanted to run and been envious of the friends who do, even though I used to think they were mad for getting up early at the weekend or running in the rain (I get it now and love running in the rain!). I’ve played sports in the past and been fitter but I’ve never cracked running and thought I was one of those people who simply couldn’t run.

A friend and I decided to do the Couch25K programme in 2015 and I loved it; I couldn’t believe I was able to actually run, without stopping and I was soon hooked until a couple of injuries ruled me out for a good six months and I found myself back to where I’d started. During the Christmas break, my sister suggested that we start running again and, fuelled by mostly cheese and port, I agreed.

I knew Helen, one of the leaders at Regency Runners and she told me about the Learn to Run course. I wanted to say yes but a running club seemed like a frightening prospect to a scaredy-cat like me who finds the idea of joining a group pretty terrifying, let alone a group of people who can run. It turns out it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and now I find myself organising my work and weekends with time for running planned in.

Regency Runners is a fantastic group and one where advice, support and encouragement is always on hand. I’ve needed plenty of all of those in the run-up to my first half marathon. I’m not sure what I was thinking when I signed up but the relaxed reaction from people at Regency Runners gave me the reassurance that I needed that I could do it.

The run itself was brilliant. It was a huge event and much bigger than anything I’d run in before but I loved the atmosphere. The route was tough at times but there was support from spectators and supporters all the way round which was amazing and much needed for the last couple of miles and spotting my sister at the finish line was a massive highlight.

I’ve learned so much about what I can do and how much recovery is needed after a big run but I’m so proud of what I’ve done and I’m looking forward to the next half marathon in February (something else I never expected to be saying!).

Olivia

Tissington Trail 2017 – Harriet’s story

20th October 2016half marathonTanya Weaver

The Tissington Trail 2017 Half Marathon was brilliantly organised from start to finish. I had a few email queries beforehand, which were answered promptly and helpfully, then on the day the marshals were great.

If you are looking for a first half, and are happy travel up to the Peak District, then this is the one to do: it is truly either flat or a steady downhill for almost all of the 13.1 miles! (There are two short uphill sections; both in the second half of the race. One just after a water station and one right near the end – in both places plenty of support and cheering to get you up the hill!)

The only negative I can think of, is that for the rest of the race – away from the water stations and the finish – there is almost certainly less support than at most other half marathons, because you are on an off-road (though not uneven underfoot) trail which runs through beautiful countryside and farmland – you are likely to see more cows and sheep than anything else, although the occasional cyclists and walkers we met did cheer us on.

Having never run further than 7.5 miles before, I followed a 12-week training plan that I modified slightly so that for most of those three months I could tick off my ‘training runs’ by simply joining Regency Runners on their Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday regular runs (plus one additional run on my own most weeks). The support and encouragement from everyone there was incredible, and I was even lucky enough to have one of our leaders, Lina, run with me every step of the way on the day.

The medal (featuring a steam train, since the trail is a disused railway line) and technical t-shirt are great reminders of a fantastic race that will almost certainly be your half marathon Personal Best!

Thanks to Martin Hemsley for these photographs:

Over £6,500 raised for Sport Relief!

11th October 2016sport reliefTanya Weaver

Sport Relief attracts runners of all ages!

Earlier this year, the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile, which took place at St Nicholas Park in Warwick on 20^th March 2016, saw local people running one, three or six miles in aid of Sport Relief. The money has been counted up and the Warwick Sport Relief Mile organised by Regency Runners raised a total of £6643.77.

This year’s Sport Relief was a record breaking year with the campaign raising a whopping £72.5 million. The money raised will help disadvantaged people living incredibly tough lives, across the UK and the world’s poorest communities.

Tina James, a leader at Regency Runners, said “We are delighted with the total amount of money we have raised this year. It’s brilliant to have been part of such a successful Sport Relief year and know that we are helping to make a difference to people’s lives.”

Jess Kirke, Events Manager at Comic Relief, said, “We want to say a huge thank you to all of our local mile organisers. They work tirelessly to organise successful events up and down the country and we are truly grateful for all their efforts and hard work – Sport Relief wouldn’t be the event it is without them.”

For more information about Sport Relief, contact:

Ali Minto
Tel: 020 7820 2523
Email: a.minto@comicrelief.com
www.comicrelief.com/media-centre

Or contact Tanya Weaver at Regency Runners