Runners blow away Christmas cobwebs

THIS year’s Woodcote 10km recorded the highest turnout since before the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 364 runners completed the annual event, which started outside Langtree School in Reading Road.

The atmosphere was jovial, despite the cold and windy weather, and participants kept warm before the start in hats and extra layers.

The route took participants out of the village and towards Goring and back, with the latter half of the course featuring a steep climb.

The event, which was organised by the Pangbourne Rotary Club, raised about £3,500 for Daisy’s Dream, based in Earley, which supports bereaved children and young people, as well as the club’s own charitable trust.

Rob Corney, from Reading Roadrunners, was fastest to finish, completing the course in 32 minutes and three seconds.

Mr Corney, 37, from Aldermaston, said it was his first time entering the event.

“I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I've done Goring 10km before and it shares the bottom section. But I used to do a lot of cycling up in the Chilterns, so I know the climb and how long it is to get to the finish, so you can pace it off that.”

In second place was Tom Epton, who crossed the line in 34 minutes and 47 seconds.

Mr Epton, 28, who lives in Mortimer, is the founder of the app, Running Algorithm, and set up an information table at the event.

The app creates tailored training plans for runners that continuously update after each run. It uses similar machine learning algorithms as that play chess

Mr Epton described the race as the hardest road 10km he’dever done.”

He said: “It was really tough and it’s very windy as well — all of the things that can make a race hard.” Mr Epton, who used to work as an optical physicist, added: “I’ve always been a runner and all the machine learning stuff that we do in physics is similar to how we make training plans.

Matthew Ploszynski, 32, from Benson, came third in a time of 35 minutes and nine seconds. He works in sales and marketing and grew up in Woodcote, where his parents still live.

Mr Ploszynski said the first half was more favourable than the second. “It’s flat and then you get into Goring and you climb up past the fire station,” he said. “It’s then uphill for three miles, which is a bit of a leveller.”

The first woman across the line was Kate Williams, from Sonning Common, who finished in 40 minutes and 39 seconds.

Ms Williams, 47, who runs fitness community, Raise the Bar, described the climb as “brutal”. She said: “Your quads are burning the whole time but, once you get to the last kilometre, then it flattens out.”

She added: “I haven’t done a 10km race since last May, so I’m pleased to come back and smash that one.”

Ms Williams was cheered on from the sidelines by her family. She said: “It’s lovely to have them come along and give me a cheer.”

The second woman across the line was Rosie De Laune, who finished the course in 42 minutes and 53 seconds and Edwina MacDowall, who completed the race in 43 minutes and 45 seconds, came third.

Ms MacDowall, 55, a non-executive director from Hermitage, said she had enjoyed the race despite the conditions.

She said: I was a bit concerned that it’s going to be slippery but, in actual fact, the course conditions were fantastic. It was a really tough climb and there’s quite a headwind, which made it really tough, but I enjoyed it.”

Ahead of the race, many runners sheltered in the village hall for as long as possible, to avoid the cold. Tea, coffee and biscuits were provided by Rotary members.

Abbie Clayton, from Berrick Salome, came wearing a matching Greggs-themed outfit. She wore a top, hat and tracksuit bottoms all with the bakery’s logo on.

“I just love Greggs,” she said. I treat myself to a Gregg's whenever I go for a run as I feel I can eat as much as I want.”

She added: “I’ve got a friend I normally run with and occasionally we run together in the Gregg’s outfits too.”

Mothers Emma Gammin and Becky Galea, from Whitchurch, said they had been persuaded to do the run by Jessica Sloper, who came with her coffee truck.

Ms Gammin keept warm with a hot water bottle before the race, adding: “It’s really cold, it feels like it’s minus four. It’s not the best condition to do the 10km but we are a last-minute entry.”

Water stations were set up around the course, including one at the finish line which was operated by 1st Goring Scouts.

Scout Leader Matt Peates described the event as “always” a good time.

He added: “They enjoy the k spending time together complaining about having cold hands.”

The event was sponsored by Warmingham estate agents.