MAC members feel the heat at humid Cliveden 10k race

The annual Cliveden Trail 10k run was held in hot and humid conditions on Saturday evening, with some 40 MAC members limbering up for the race.

Among them were Adam Stage who was quickest home for the club in 45.59 with Stephen Francis not too far behind him in 47.29.

The Cliveden course is technically demanding and MAC's Julie Whitaker certainly found the change from its usual morning slot in January a little discombobulating. She was also the victim of a tree root which brought her crashing down about 0.5kms in but she escaped with superficial grazes. The club's road running captain, Sarah Fogg, wasn't so lucky as she succumbed to a hamstring injury and had to be rescued by a National Trust buggy.

MAC's first female finisher was Fran Sille in 49.20 while other notable performances came from Beryl Nyerere who finished 11 minutes quicker than the previous year in 1.02.42. Richard Pink was also competing in his third event of the day, after Osterley Parkrun and Osterley 10k, and managed to finish in 1.13.42.

Brett Siddons was the third MAC member home in 47.50, despite having to stop to deal with a wasp that got into his shoe and stung him on the foot.

Nick Sille completed the South Downs Way 100 this week, a race nicknamed ‘Evil under the Sun' and it was brutal and beautiful in equal measure.

The race follows the downs ridge southeast past Worthing and Brighton and finishes in Eastbourne, with amazing views of the North Downs on one side and the English Channel on the other.

Starting at 6am, Nick texted his wife Fran to tell her he thought his race was down after 54miles, as he was struggling to do much more than walk, however, with the support of his family and fellow runners, he managed to keep going through the night and finally crossed the finish line in 25 hours and 38 minutes.

“Whilst it was a long way off my fastest time it was without doubt the hardest, I have ever had to fight to finish a race, and whilst portions of it were horrendous overall it was a fantastic experience,” he said afterwards.

Sarah Simms was one of the MAC members who opted for the Osterley Park Summer 10k over the Cliveden 10k on Saturday.

On a warm afternoon she was grateful for several water stations as she knocked 30 seconds off her winter 10k time and achieved her second fastest 10k. She was, however, slightly disappointed not to break her personal best, finishing in 45.47. MAC's Kirsty Matthew finished as the sixth female in 42.27 and was second back for the club behind Tom Easten in 39.49. Dennis Murphy broke 44 minutes for the first time to finish in 43.53. MAC's other finishers were Sayeed ISLAM 00:47:57; Graham MATTHEWS 00:47:59; Richard PINK 01:06:26; Sandra KOCH 01:28:37.

MAC's Andrew Lowdon completed the Hampshire Hoppit marathon as he continues to taper for the 100km Race To The Stones on July 8.