The Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club
(Established 1888)
Club News
February 2012
Hot, hot, hot
With the majority of us chilling out in more ways than one - Nik Windle reports
minus 3 for a recent parkrun - Jo Starr has been training and running in Nevis.
That's Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, not the Ben. Jo ran the 10km at
the Nevis Half Marathon coming 2nd and third overall. Coming up in March, Jo
has the 2.5 mile OECS swimming championships between the islands and a sprint
triathlon. Are we jealous? Not many.
Meantime, our parkrunners kept the faith with 5 plus Nik out at various chilly venues. John Allan beat Steve Coote at the Platt Fields run in Manchester, though neither was aware of the others presnce - it's this not wearing team colours thing - while Emily Braverman, Stewart Boulton and Dave Andersen were out at Heaton Park, Newcastle and Coventry respectively.
January 2012
Frozen Veg
VCAC members have been really putting it about as the new years running gets
into
full swing. Highlights include Manuel Corriente's running a 68 minute 10
miler in St. Albans and Jeff Adams 1:48 15 miler. On the half mara front, Dave
Andersen ran sub-1:30 for the appropriately named Brass Monkey Half - Emma
Smith also competing, whilst Graham Tracey and Steve Coote were out at a very
windy Helsby for the 4 Villages Half. Parkrun has also continued with Nik
Windle in Oxford - followed in his case by a 10km the next day - and Keith
Hammond and Paul Evans at their respective home venues.
And the evenings just starting to stay a bit lighter, too. Can't be bad.
A Run in the Park
Happy New Year to everyone, and particulaly to those members who have been out participating in the fast-growing 5km park run events. Amongst those who have taken to this challenge already this year are Keith and Sharon Hammond in Bedford, John Allen and Emily Braverman in two of the Manchester venues, Simon Dunk in Killerton and Paul Evans in Cambridge. To check out and sign up go to the Park run website, or have a look at our diary page for where our members are often to be found competing.
December 2011
Running in the Rain
With the nights drawing in and some days seemingly barely getting light at all, one can well understand the appeal of hibernating. James Cheseldine kept the veggie flag flying with a sub-30 minute run at the Quedgely 5 miler. Meantime, despite the icy streets and rain, Steve Coote stuck with his Manchester Marathon training plan of getting in a 10 mile race pace effort at the Stockport 10 and completing a 15 mile training run along the banks of the Mersey at any pace.
Merry Xmas, and let's hope the weather, and underfoot conditions, are better for the holidays.
November 2011
New for November
Mick and Steve Wigglesworth took the club into yet another new sphere of
activity with their participation in a mountain bike orienteering marathon.
On a tough 61km course in the Peak District the pair got the gold standard with
a time of 4:41 and were second overall.
Report
In the Luton Marathon Relay our team of Andy Harper, Keith Hammond and Mark Affuso came 7/52 teams with a time of 3:06, while at the Herbert's Hole 10.5km multi-terrain event Ade Gibbon ran one of his best times for the course with Scott Baillie only a couple of minutes behind. Support was provided by Peter Simpson for whom a cancelled train meant arriving too late to run.
AGM News
In brief, at the AGM last weekend Heith Hammond added Athletic Secretary to his portfolio of jobs and Mark Affuso has taken over as clothing Secretary. We do still need someone to take on the role of Newsletter Editor - any offers to the committee gratefully received - though Steve Coote will be doing the job on a temporary basis. Annual subscriptions and clothing prices to be held at 2011 rates pending a new clothing order going in. Full minutes and reports in the next Vegpatch.
October 2011
Autumn Achievements
Congratulations from us all to both Jon Zigmond and Nik Windle.
Jon has recently heard that a fine set of results including three age group wins and two second places have resulted in his winning the 60+ category of the Triathlon National League. Nik, meanwhile, completed his 9th Randonneur Round the Year series with a 220km ride on the Moreton Marlborough Perm. Suitably inspired, Jon shortly intends resuming training ahead of next year's efforts as soon as a dodgy ankle permits, whilst Nik has heard the - good? - news that a new badge is available for 10 RRTY completions.
September 2011
Indian Summer
The steady rhythm of the seasons had a brief hiatus last weekend as autumn slipped into...summer. With the temperature in the eighties, Keith and Sharon Hammond were in Mablethorpe, with Keith coming 5/34 in the MV50 in the marathon in 3:25:57 and Sharon doing a 2:16 completion of the Half. The unseasonably hot weather meant an early rise for Steve Coote and Di holidaying on the South Wales coast as the organisers of the Pembrey Forest cani-cross brought the start forward by two hours to avoid the dogs running in the sun. Steve and his veggie dog, Len, ran the 5km in 22:23.
At other times, Nik Windle completed the first running in 20 years of the Oxford Half Marathon in 1:47:42 and Jim Cheseldine was third MV40 at the Cricklade 10km, while Ryan Procter returned after a lay off to claim 24th place overall in the Oulton Park Autumn Duathlon.
Len - ready to run
Autumn's coming
Regular Wolverhampton Marathon runners Robert Mottram Jones and John Morris were joined at this month's event by Peter Simpson. RMJ finished in 3:15 whilst John got through in around 3:40. John intends joining the growing band of VCAC members intending to do next year's Manchester Marathon. Peter Simpson struggled to a finish in the half with a recurrence of his calf injury
RMJ after the Marathon
Later in the month, as autumn announced itself with a heady mix of storm force winds, sunshine and squalls, new member Mark Affuso completed the Cranford Half with a 1:34:48 PB. Elsewhere, Cycling Secretary Noel Molland did a sub-5 hour completion of the Cheddar Gorge 100km cyclo-sportive and Steve Coote put up a club record for a two-mile, fully wetsuited run in the dunes at Perranporth as part of a hastily arranged aquathlon when the bike leg of the Perranporth tri was called off. Steve wishes to record his thanks to all of the marshalls who were the real stars of the event.
10ks, Two ways
In mid-August five members turned out for one of the most popular races in our calendar - the Bearbrook 10km - with Peter Simpson following the action with his camera. Three weeks later, on Sept 4th, Keith and Sharon Hammond were out again, this time with more intent, at the Bedford 10km. Keith was only a few seconds outside of his PB with 38:13 - 3/25 MV50 - whilst Sharon ran to schedule in 57:20.
Meantime, down in Devon the day before Bedford an altogether different type of 10km event was taking place in the River Dart. All three VCAC members who took to the water - Jo Starr, Paul Kerrison and Steve Coote - completed the 10 kilometre swim challenge. Report
July 2011
ITMA
A bare month after his first ever outright win in a triathlon Steve Wigglesworth was at it again, this time taking the honours in the Newbiggin Sprint Tri in Northumberland. After surviving the waves of the windy sea swim, Steve took the lead at halfway in the bike leg and never looked back.
Steve Coote continued his quest to have the weirdest set of results for the year, this time completing the Manchester Urbanathlon. The event included a climbing wall, a water slide powered by the local fire brigade's high pressure hoses and some abandonned cars to hurdle amongst other obstacles scattered throughout a 5km run. Strange, indeed, where this running lark can take you.
Run Veggie Run
July 17th was a busy half marathon day for our runners. Mary Davies, Caroline Chapman, Simon Cope and Ade Gibbon ran the Wycombe Half with Ade first VCAC in with a time of 1:44:56. Meanwhile Keith Hammond and Roy Hughes raced the Milton Keynes NSPCC Half, Roy coming 6/34 in the MV60 category with 1:42:32 while Keith finished in 1:28:39 placing 4th of 80 in his new MV50 category.
Elsewhere on the same day members Steve Coote and Nik Windle got their bikes out for the Anthony Maynard Sportive where they both managed bronze standards - Nik on fixed wheel and Steve only missing out on silver by the time it took to fix a puncture.
Roy and Keith at the NSPCC Milton Keynes Half
Ripon and Bristol
VC&AC triathletes are continuing to shine with some great results this July. Jon Zigmond came 1st MV60 of 11 at the Ripon triathlon on the 9th. A week earlier Jo Starr finished 2nd lady at the Bristol Harbourside tri - according to coach Graham Jo was right out front for all of the swim stage but lost time after being directed the wrong way into the transition. Needless to say the club are feeling pretty proud of their triathletes this year!
June 2011
Steve Wins Tri
Steve Wigglesworth won the Cholmondeley Castle sprint tri outright, in his own words:
"Sunday 19/6 Cholmondeley Castle sprint tri in Cheshire. I'd picked out the event as it was a 400m open water swim / 22K (hard) bike and 4K run to finish. Ideally suited to sprint competitors who have a strong bike, reasonable run, and average swim capability.
I won it overall - something I've never done before in a triathlon. I won a duathlon overall last year and (as you know) have had plenty of age victories but this was my first genuinely open-to-all-comers triathlon win.
It didn't feel like a particularly good effort at the time, I had to fight the bike over the hills and muscle it a bit, and the run just felt like a struggle. At no point did I 'flow', but there you go.
I'd like to say it was the start of a trend but it isn't."
- excellent result Steve but we reckon you could be wrong on that last point!
May 2011
Spring Wins
May 15th saw two age group wins for the VC&AC. Steve Wigglesworth got his multisport year back on track by winning the V45 category at the Newmarket Sprint Tri and coming 3rd out of 140 overall.
On the same day Peter Simpson fufilled his ambition of an age group win coming first V50 at the Prestwood 10k, a not-so-flat race in the Chilterns. Read Peter's full report here. Mary Davis, Sharon Hammond, Keith Hammond and Nik Windle also ran at Prestwood representing the club.
April 2011
London Marathon 2011
At least six members successfully completed this years rather warm Virgin London Marathon. Gert Cowling was first VC&AC lady in with a time of 4:56:39 placing her 19th of 59 finishers in the 65-69 female band. Not far behind were members Caroline Chapman 5:02:15 and Mary Davis 5:03:06.
Andy Jordan was first VC&AC man in, easily achieving his good for age target with a time of 3:10:32 with Jeff Adams finishing shortly after in 3:17:32 and Ryan Procter in 3:27:29. Well done all!
Going Strong 30 Years On
30 years ago Danish member Jens Kieffer-Olsen ran his first marathon, the Canberra Marathon. Last weekend he returned to Australia to run Canberra again as his last marathon having run a total of 42 marathons in 7 different countries. Jens, now 63, finished in 4:21:30.
Oulton Park Duathlons
Not one but two wins for the Vegetarian Cycling & Athletics Club at Oulton Park last weekend. Steve Wigglesworth came 1st in his category at the duathlon sprint event and 5th overall. Meanwhile Steve Coote and Mick Wigglesworth finished first team in the standard distance event. Full report here.
Only a week earlier Steve W came 1st in his age category and 7th overall at the East Leake Sprint Tri - well done Steve!
March 2011
Two Runners - Six Legs
A good run for veggie CaniX team Len and Steve Coote at the Fineshades Wood CaniX last weekend. They finished the 5km course in just over 24 minutes coming 24th of 60 teams - talk about running with the pack!
In all 7 VC&AC members ran at the Milton Keynes Festival of Running, a good turnout. A report is on the website here but a special mention due for new member Roy Hughes who came 3/10 in the V65 category finishing in 1:43:11
Nik Windle stepped up his cycling distance a notch completing The Dean 300k audax on 67" fixed.
Another Win for Jo!
Jo Starr finished first lady at the CTS South Devon Half Marathon in February with a time of 2:08:19. Claiming over 450 metres climbing, much of it up Devon coastal paths no doubt, this must have been another toughie!
Meanwhile Steve Coote completed the 50 mile Winter Poppyline LDWA event last weekend of February, you can read his full report here.
On the cycling front Mike Betts has been busy on the closed circuit racing scene competing 3rd Cat in both the Hillingdon and Upavon Winter Series. Nik Windle continues slowly knocking out the miles on his fixed wheel having completed three 200 kilometre audax events so far this year.
Feb 2011
PBs for Andy and Manuel
An excellent run for Andy Jordan at the Watford Half Marathon first weekend of February. Going out a little faster than he felt he ought Andy managed to keep the pace up and finished in 1:25:44 knocking almost 6 minutes off his PB and making him 98th of 1984 runners.
Manuel Corriente also had a fine run at the St Alban's Striders Fred Hughes 10 Mile race in January setting a new 10 mile PB and finishing 45th of 701 runners with a time of 1:05:41.
Both Manuel and Andy have marathons planned for Spring!
Manuel running last year's Fred Hughes 10 Mile
Jan 2011
Good Run At Edwinstowe
A fine start to the year with a good result from member Steve Wigglesworth earlier in January at the rescheduled Edwinstowe Christmas 10k trail race in Sherwood Forest. Steve finished in 40:08 coming 4th in his category and 10th out of 299 runners overall.
Steve Coote was also to be found running off-road managing 36th of 130 runners at the Hit The Trail 5 miler. Peter Simpson meanwhile ran in the Bucks & Beds XC championships in Hughenden Park.
Nik Windle started the year as he intends to go on by (mostly) riding his fixed wheel bike round the Poor Student 200k audax.
Club Casual Clothing
Vegetarian Cycling & Athletics Club Clothing Secretary Peter Simpson has just received a delivery of casual t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and such in our club colours. The photo below shows just some examples - check the updated stock and price list for full details. Peter can now be emailed direct via the website Contacts page.
New VCAC Casual Clothing
Race Kit Etc.
New Year
Peter Simpson reports coming in third V50 and 16/102 overall in the New Years day Milton Keynes Parkrun round Willen lake, this was despite it not being as flat as he'd expected and being one of his slower 5km times, around 21 mins. The Bedford Half managed to escape the glut of December bad weather cancellations allowing both Keith and Sharon Hammond to get course bests. Keith came in 105th of 1461 runners with a time of 1:26:33, Sharon finished in 2:12 - her fastest half since 2007. Max d'Ayala was running well in December coming 11th in his local XC league on a near perfect day.
On the cycling front the thaw came in time for Nik Windle to get out on his fixed wheel for a late December 200km Audax DIY Perm, a flatter than usual route but still a few Chilterns and Cotswolds to warm him up.