olneyrunners

Olney Runner Justin Crook Takes Marathon to New Heights in Multi-Storey Car Park Challenge!!

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:15:28 GMT

Quite literally taking his marathon running to the next level after completing a full 26.2 miles inside a multi-storey car park.

Justin Crook was among 100 participants who tackled the quirky endurance event at The Victoria Centre in Southend-on-Sea on Sunday 8 February 2026.The unusual race saw competitors complete 63 laps of the car park — covering every floor, every ramp, round and round — to clock up the full marathon distance.

While it may not have offered sweeping countryside views or cheering crowds lining closed roads, the event proved hugely popular. When entries opened in November, all places sold out in just seven minutes. The challenge was not just mental but physical. Over the course of the race, runners climbed a staggering 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) of elevation — just shy of the height of Snowdon!

For Justin, however, this was exactly the kind of challenge he relishes. A keen ultra runner, he is no stranger to unconventional endurance events. He has previously completed a marathon inside a prison and has run the full 26.2 miles along Southend Pier.

“This one was definitely different,” Justin said after completing the race. “You lose track of which level you’re on and it becomes a real mental battle as much as a physical one. And who would have guessed there would be so many puddles!”

We are grateful to Mary Jones for this write up.

Chester Marathon Race Report

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:27:40 GMT

Yesterday I took part in the Chester Marathon. I had qualified at the London Marathon to run in an England Masters vest, and couldn’t resist the opportunity, and another cycle of marathon training!

England Athletics take over a suite at the Racecourse so you can have a place to get changed, leave your bags and return to later on. And the toilet queue was no worse than the Brewers on OR chip night!

It felt a bit special, especially when it started to drizzle on those outside

There was a bit of eyeing up competitors’ category numbers (on their backs!) then team photos and then I walked with Greg Penn (old OR member, now a super speedy V60) to the start on the racecourse.

The England squad get to line up at the front, we kept humbly just to the side!

Hitting a hill in the first 800m there were some nervous jokes about it not being as flat as advertised, and that was the theme of the next three hours, six minutes!

The route is very rural, with very little support anywhere. Just cows, sheep, rolling lanes and mud on the road signs. It could not be more different to London!

I came unstuck at 17miles, a few too fast mile splits tucked in with the sub 3 pacers, and a few too many Cheshire hills for my pins! I lost two places to rival V45s in the last few kms, but that’s racing for you.

You win some, you lose some!

Next stop London

By Kaie Godof

Cross Country Weekend Double

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:20:54 GMT

Well done to all OR members who represented the club at both XC events over the weekend, some great results as always! An extra well done to Chris and Matthew for running in both events!

Saturday was the Chiltern League race at Cassiobury Park, Watford, a nice venue and surprisingly quick and easy to get to! Special mention to Matthew Dicks who finished top 5 and 1st MK Marshall home! Results aren’t out yet but some great efforts from our small team should see us maintain mid table in division.

Sunday saw the 3 Counties event at Stopsley and although a smaller turnout than normal, some more great running from team OR sees us stay mid table. Special mention to Matthew and Katie finishing second male and female respectively. Final rounds are Sunday 4th Feb at Dunstable for the 3 Counties and Sat 10th Feb at Oxford for the Chiltern, let’s see if we can finish both competitions with a great showing from OR!

3 Counties XC Race 1- Wellingborough

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:34:35 GMT

A new season and a new venue, with WDAC moving from the typical Croyland Park venue, to Irchester Country Park. Admittedly, a slight eyebrow was raised to the location, which has a lot of tarmac and hard core paths, but actually there were some very nice twists and muddy hilly sections to add in a little more challenge to the park run venue.

Pleasingly ORs came out in force with a record number of 29 runners turning up for a lovely sunny morning. This alone should be celebrated as a great feat, perhaps the most important, but also the men's team produced an outstanding performance to hit a record high 4th place with not only all of the men's top 8 (8 runners count for points) finishing inside the top 80 with more still inside the top 100 showing the strength in depth of the men's team that turned out. There were some great individual performances to note, with the return of Matt Dicks executing a masterful performance to secure the outright win, John Risby and Terry O'Cleirigh getting 2nd in age cat despite missing out on scoring for the team, and a great debut from Tom Baggott finishing 38th.

And whilst not everyone scored for the team, those great performances still go a long way to playing 'defence' in the words of the great David O'Connor as they push scoring runners in rival teams further down the leader board.

It was a big turn out all round for the first race with nearly 500 runners across all clubs, and it was a strong showing on the ladies side with over 200 runners. This did hurt our fortunes, with most of our turnout on the men's side, the ladies', normally our team's backbone, had an unlucky day.

We move on to the next race at Delapre on November 26th! 4 weeks to prep... be there!

Full results can be found at:

http://www.threecountiesxc.co.uk/3CXC_Fixtures.html

What a weekend!

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:22:18 GMT

Ultra madness!

Race Report - Are you ok hun?

8.10am Saturday 8th July, Justin and I begin Race to the Stones (Day 1) 50km. Starting in rural Oxfordshire, we follow the Ridgeway, until we are in the middle of the downs, still 50km from the stones at Avebury. The weather was described as being changable, and it was not long before the rain came down. It was lovely and cooling, but made the surfaces greasy, and a little slippery. Having run the Ridgeway many times over the last ten years it is always nice to be back.

The first 19 miles took us to the Goring gap where we crossed the Thames, and despite a few challenging hills, I knew that as we ascended on to the downs, the undulation would be far more frequent, and the chalky trail more tricky to run on. From experience I was expecting the weather to change up on the ridge, and it did. You would be forgiven for thinking that there had been no rain whatsoever, apart from the humid air that hung along the trail and consumed all the fresh cool air.

Justin was doing great, and the sandals were doing well. I have experience of this race in Sandals, from dry dusty heat, and the damp first few stages, so could empathise with how well he was getting grip. But with no complaints and effective maintenance Justin ploughed on through. As we reached the last 400 meters, the oven was cranked up, and the sun blazed its way across the base camp area. Justin tried to say that I should go on, but race etiquette (in Ultras especially) is that you do not ditch your running buddy. You start as a team, and you will end as a team. Oh, and by the way, Justin then proceeded to sprint to the line!

A fantastic event as always, made more memorable by sprinting for the coach with seconds to spare. Well done Justin you did yourself proud.

then.....

10.00pm Saturday 8th July, what's this? I am now at Wendover Woods and at the start line for the Wendover Woods 50k night race by Centurion events. There was no way I was going to miss the earlier Race to the Stones event, but some FOMO set in when I realised Helen was running the night race, so naturally I decided, yeah I can do both! The event had 4 Olney Runners as Ian and Jo were also taking part, the same 4 as last year. This year Helen needed to nurse me round, and keep me going. The warmth of the day was still hanging in the woods like some sort of energy vampire, and each step I was losing energy, the will, and my marbles. The first lap (of 3) was about remembering the course, which steep inclines to use the poles, and where we could run normally. At the end of the first lap, I needed to get back out on the trail as soon as possible, and ignore the seats. The second lap was more energy sapping, head torch illuminating, fun - yes it was huge fun, even if my face was not showing it. Running around at 2am in the woods, with owls providing the soundtrack is hugely uplifting. Although the uphills were breaking the will, I knew that if I could just get round this lap, and start the final lap things would be ok. Helen and I left on the final lap with plenty of time on the clock, and knowing that the darkness would soon give way to the early morning dawn. The first few miles were done, and mentally I was ticking off that these sections wouldn't have to be run again today. Then the morning light began to seep in to the woods, and the energy vampires started to retire for another day. The determination now to get things done were foremost in the mind. One final time up 'Chiltern Scree-ming', then up the hill to Go Ape, then the final visit to the aid station in the woods. Now we had the final ascent of 'The Snake' which seemed to never end, before we were now just 2 miles from the finish. A couple of nasty hills left, still time to burn up those calf and thigh muscles! Then no more hills, a final quarter miles of flat, and the end in sight.

We crossed over the line, and its fair to say I was exhausted.

Now at home relaxing/recovering, would I suggest that anyone else attempts this. Sensibly, of course not, I mean are you ok? However that slightly bonkers (thanks Justin) ultra runner mentality would state, yeah, how hard can it be....umm very hard, I would far prefer to run through 100k in one go, rather have 7 hour gap in between.

Regrets, none

Medals, two

Write up by Dean Sartin

Beds AAA 10k

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:57:18 GMT

Well done to the two OR members who took part in Friday's rather warm Beds AAA 10k. Anthony O Neil smashed his target with a time of 43.29 minutes, super speedy and a PB to boot! Katie Godof also achieved a fantastic time of 39.09 to be awarded first lady! Amazing stuff!

OR Shout Out

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 17:56:18 GMT

In no particular order...

Shout Out #1: Jo-Anne Rouse was nominated because of 'Friendship'. "I am incredibly thankful to Jo for encouraging me to join Olney Runners and become part of this amazing community! Not only does she give me a lift most weeks but she also got me to sign up and run my first event which was a mega confidence booster. Thank you Jo!".

Shout Out #2: Simon Cook was nominated because of 'Friendship'. "When we are stopped from running by injury it can be tempting to hide away and feel sorry for ourselves , but Simon who is giving his knee a bit extra rest, turned up at 7pm to support and coach group 2 so they could achieve something on their Wednesday night. Chapeau Simon!"

Shout Out #3: (Our first joint nomination). Iain Dickinson and Jo Marshall Based on Performance they were nominated because "Iain and Jo managed to cover 50miles on a super scorching hot day, with very minimal shade! They supported each other yet again through many highs and lows and kept going when the going got tough."

Shout Out #4: Tony Lamming . "Tony has achieved a PB in both the half and full marathon this year, which is impressive enough, but in doing so he ranked 6th nationally and 22nd in the world for his category in the marathon. It's truly inspiring and gives us all hope that's it's never too late to improve and achieve amazing stuff!"

East Midlands Grand Prix- Corby 5

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:56:28 GMT

After the Colworth Challenge (the Sunday half was simply survival in the hot conditions), last night’s Corby 5 (East Midlands Grand Prix race 6) was always going to be a hard one for me.

But I was after those points as to qualify for the overall series scoring you need 5 of the 8 races).

The route is fortunately brilliant fun- immediately uphill (!) then about 100m flat then a long and at times steep downhill!

The official said we’d feel like we were in the South of France and he wasn’t wrong, such a fab descent I felt a bit unnerved, knowing what was to come….!

So, a fast flat mid section, chopping along with a little pack and then the ascent. It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated but maybe my legs are getting used to this hilly series.

Chris Ling managed an impressive 11th place, hopefully he won’t get too comfortable in that luminous green vest...

Write up by Katie Godof

Colworth Challenge

info@olneyrunners.org.uk (Olney Runners) — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 17:56:30 GMT

Colworth 5 mile trail run

Liz, Helen Knight and Gail from Group 4 ran. Well done to Katie Godof, 3rd fastest lady! Good luck to her tomorrow and Sunday for the 8 miles and half marathon. Scenic route on field headlands and through the woods. Lovely evening made better by free Magnums courtesy of Unilever

The Colworth trail 8.1

If you enjoy immersing in off road countryside then today would be a highlight of the series.

Some very welcome shade in the woods again, mixed in with plenty of blazing heat in the long grassy fields and a return to that ridged track from the Sharnbrook XC (now devoid of mud and very hard and tricky!) It was a varied enjoyable route, tough trying to race it at midday but a good sense of we’re all in it together!

Less than half the competitors of the 5m, with 144 finishers and the last coming in around 2hours.

More free ice creams, lollies and iced teas were consumed on the comfy garden chairs at the finish and the chat turned from relief at it being over and comparing countryside related rashes to how we will survive Sunday’s finale...

Write up by Liz Conibere and Katie Godof

Newport Pagnell 5K

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:56:33 GMT

Katie Godof and I embarked on what is probably now the quickest 5k in the region these days. We entered ‘the serious one’ and I believe Phil Catcheside entered ’the fun one’.

The race has only been going a few years and leads out ahead of the carnival route ending in the park, the route is pretty flat with an overall slight drop and mostly runs west to east so the wind can often be kind to you.

Normally popular with Olney Runners, this year there were fewer but some of the areas serious clubs came out in force with a flock of strong runners from the marshals as well as some of the best of Stopsley and Bedford and County. The swath of sub elites on show meant the top 5 all scored low 15 minute times and indeed the top 60 were all under 20 minutes.

Despite the strong field Katie still managed a superb second place only defeated by the indefatigable Elle Roche. I managed to shave a good 28 seconds off my PB so it was another good day out, and a really well organised event. The crowds through Newport Pagnell are superb and if there is a 5k worth paying good hard cash for, it’s this one. PB hunters should get this one in their diaries for next year.

Write up by Chris Ling