Club Race

Virtual Motavation Number 3 (25 June 2020) Report – Kathryn Dally

Taking part in the Motavation series has been a slightly surreal experience for me.   I joined ERR in April 2019 and just missed the deadline for entering the 2019 Motavation races, so 2020 has been my first year of competing. It means I haven’t a clue what any of the real-life courses actually look like, but running the series virtually has still been great fun.  When running solo, knowing that other clubmates are running the same distance on the same day, you’re definitely spurred on to run a bit faster than you would normally.

The ‘1 Hour Challenge’ has been a total new running concept for me – not knowing where the finish line is but knowing when the finish is.

Last year was my first experience of taking part in the Mota-vation Summer Road Race Series, a series of five road races, each approximately four miles, held monthly at various venues in Oxfordshire on Thursday nights.   

The ‘Eynsham 13’ were among a field of 250 runners for the ‘Banbury 15’ 2020, run over a 15-mile course in challenging and wet conditions.

Race Report: Ascot-under-Wychwood  Multi-Terrain 10K

The race is set in a picturesque village in the Evenlode Valley, organised by a band of very dedicated people who put on a well organised event to raise money for their local village charities.

Woodstock 12 (The Golden Loo Heist)

A lovely sunny September morning as we set off from Eynsham to Woodstock. 

All I can remember about this race was the booze.

Ian’s plan had me down for 15 miles that day, but I had entered the Hooky 6, so went for a long warm up and stumbled across the Hook Norton Brewery, before finding my way back to the start line.  It was a two lap course and 6 miles later we ended up back where we started.

The race, which is in the Club Champs and is the reason why I had entered, sells out quickly and unfortunately quite a few people were not able to get a place.  There was a bar at the finish and although Adrian and other Eynsham Road Runners had missed out on getting a place they did not miss out on getting a pint ready for the presentations.

Kate finished second lady overall and won a box of 3 Hook Norton beers and a beer glass.   She didn’t like beer so promptly gave the beer away to Jackie and Adrian, but kept the beer glass – because having won the race last year she now has a matching set.  Top tip, if you like beer make sure you are near Kate at the presentations.

Jackie was then declared second in her age category and won more beer. 

Jackie and Adrian had kindly given me a lift and on the way home talk was about the Hooky Christmas Canter, which again sells out.  Adrian was telling us that he enjoys that race because as you run round you pop into the church and get mulled wine and mince pies.  Jackie didn’t know of this, as she’d always sprinted past the church to win the race!

I did not win any beer that day, but did complete the 15 miles and won the wine 3 weeks later.