3C Racing

3C Runners have been making the best out the summer months with consistent training on everyone's favourite sandcastle 🤗

Birdcage Mountain leaderboard (4.3km segment / ca 120m ⬆️) is keeping us as motivated and competitive as ever 😅 and times are tumbling, which must be a good thing 🤞

RAK lives up to exbektations

As the dust settles on a superb 3C weekend in RAK, the running squad have plenty to reminisce about during the final few weeks of Spring marathon training and the hot months to follow.

The results speak for themselves with the whole squad finishing inside a 10 minute window with quality times all round.

7 runners in the Top 60 of such a high-level race, with 4 PBs - 3C can be proud!

PAul Faulkner Liam Bek Paddy Harrington Daniel Richardson

Two 1s, a 2 and a 3 for Team 3C on a chilly Tuesday night at the Yas Marina Circuit. Another well organised event by GMS and ADSC. The challenge of a short-sharp hill in the middle of the 2.5km loop was compensated for by long straights and a perfect surface which led to fast times all round.

Great spirit with team, family and friends and lovely to see everyone smiling and on good form. Kudos deserved all round.

Becky Faulker looking really strong, straight off the back of her first Olympic Tri took the win in the ladies 10k. Expected beking order for the men, with Liam Bek taking the win, one minute ahead of PAul Faulkner, one minute ahead of Daniel Richardson to make it a 3C cleansweep. Well done also to Helen Currie taking a big win with a fast time in the 5k.

Up next - RAK ...

Most of the 3C running squad, currently getting stuck into the rigours of spring marathon training, decided to give their threshold a spin in challenging but enjoyable conditions at ZSC this morning.

Boosted by the privilege and excitement of a start & finish line inside the Zayed National Stadium, strong winds and wet roads gave a rare flavour of home conditions, relished by the British lads.

Aligned with the 10th anniversary of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, excellent organisation from Gulf Multisport laid the backdrop for more 3C podium success.

Congratulations to Liam Bek doing a lot of things right at the moment and running an impressive 34:28 for a clear victory in the 10km. Speaking of Wright, veteran Simon Wright produced an emotional moment breaking the sub-40 barrier for the first time at the ripe old age of 47. How about that for dedication and motivation? Congrats SW!

Daniel Richardson was bang on expectation with an equally solid 37:16 to take 3rd place overall; short shorts included.

One can only wonder watt would haf haffened if Nearida Clark had been pushing the buggy in that wind, but on this occasion she was free to nail 2nd open / 3rd overall in the 5km with a smartly run 22:47.

Special mention to Zsofia Richardson, who chose a wet day to swap her swimming costume for a pair of trainers but was rewarded with 1st place in the U10s Mile for a Wish race giving 3C yet another podium place to be proud of.

An extra big thankyou to the volunteers who braved the conditions today - we massively appreciate it, and to the organisers for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Great also to see many familiar faces and share a lovely atmosphere in the stadium.

The squad will be focussing their attention to RAK Half next. Watch this space ....

A (podium) productive day out at Al Wathba on Friday, with 3C’s runners and cyclists participating in the cross country hill climb and 90km cycle race.

Of the runners, Paddy Harrington finished second overall and first in the master’s category in the 10km race, while the Faulkner Family were as strong as ever, with Bekky second overall and first in the master’s category over the five km distance, and Leo and Freya finishing first and second respectively in their age categories.

In the cycle race, Richard Roebuck showed plenty of fight to finish first in the master’s category, while Brenton Clark and Paul Walsh kept themselves busy throughout the race, crossing safely over the line with the bunch.

Thank you to Gulf Multi Sport, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Steve Watson, and the volunteers for arranging yet another fantastic set of events.

Haffy Christmas from Team 3C

The social meets always give good vibes 🤗

The 3C cycling lads were out this morning for the Emirates Cycling Club’s monthly TTT at Qudra. Ably supported by Primero Bike Shop’s TT weapon, Dominic Ford, and with Paul Walsh making his debut on a road bike with borrowed extenders and wheels, the boys managed to finish second overall (1 hour and 10 mins with an average speed of 44kms/hr).

A superb effort leading into the Christmas break!

Thank you as always to the organisers and all the teams that took part.

3C Running were out in strength again this morning at the Al Ain Water City Run.

Congrats to Phil Yates for a big PB in the 10k at 35:41, 2nd overall in the process. Felicitations also to Jc Haramboure for the win and another great run.

Congrats also to Tom Crompton perfectly paced to a PB in the Half at 1:24:32 by Liam Bek who chalked up a solid MLR in the process.

DR took it easy entering the 5km but he didnt really take it easy and was very happy to clock 17:50 and 4th overall.

Lots of familiar faces again and another great event thanks to and 👍

Great morning all round.

Friday 6th December will surely go down as one of the highlights of the season for 3C Racing at ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Numerous stories of success, grit & determination from the squad and their families & friends to be celebrated.

We would like to express huge thanks to Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the organisers, volunteers, sponsors & supporters who contributed to make this world-class event run to near perfection. Once again, full organisation team including a special mention for timing service; Steven Watson - it was great!

The support on and off the superbly planned route was exceptional on a day when local runners got to enjoy mixing it with the elites & some of the best runners in the UAE across marathon & 10k distances. Total admiration for 3C stalwart Richard Roebuck and the whole medical and emergency support teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes keeping people safe.

Now to the action: Many congratulations to Liam Bek who is running smarter and stronger than ever with a superb 2:46:39 securing 3rd place in the Age Category and once again getting 3C some serious podium time. Huge kudos and respect also to friend & training partner Jc Haramboure with an incedible time of 2:40:39.

When it comes to combining talent with hard work and dedication, no-one does it better than Phil Yates who donned his 3C kit and casually knocked a minute off last year's time at the same event - 2:52:46 for Phil. Amazing things beckon in spring for Phil, who deserves the added respect for pulling out such a strong marathon performance so soon after the birth of son Noah.

Following in their footsteps and not quite nailing it the way he would have hoped for, Daniel Richardson salvaged a respectable 3:05:44 out of a situation that could have ended much worse after some mid-race wobbles. For DR, motivation burns stronger than ever for a solid training block for the European spring season, looming on the horizon.

Jane Harrington came home with mixed feelings which will surely turn positive as the sub-4 goal was missed by a margin narrow enough to be put to rights next time: 4:02.08 for Jane. Congratulations Jane on a 7-minute PB which is a superb performance. The male side of Family Harrington was represented in typically determined fashion, 5-year-old Blake spontaneously deciding to "upgrade" from 2.5k to 5k.

In the 10k PAul Faulkner weaved his way through the darkness for a 36:59, impressive stuff 1 week after his incident-packed trip to Oman. Becky Faulkner also performed as consistently as always, just outside the overall Top 10 with 46:13 in the 10k.

Congrats to Nearida Clark sub-50 again and going from strength to strength. Nez must have surely loved running the closed roads on those all too well-trodden training routes on the Corniche. 7th AC for Nez who is always up there and having a great season in 3C colours.

So many stories on such a memorable day. Congratulations to Kevin Rosbotham Jovi Kevlar LR Helen Currie Toni Metcalfe Fady Atef Ejawy and everyone who participated yesterday on a day which shows the strength of Abu Dhabi Striders and of running in Abu Dhabi. We absolutely loved it!

Well done to PAul Faulkner and Paddy Harrington for finishing first and third respectively in the masters category of the Oman UTMB 50 kilometre ultra race. Superb effort, particularly from PAF, who made his ultra debut and nearly lost a hand in the process.

A top effort also from Tom Crompton who blitzed the field to finish first at the Olympic Distance Hudayriat Triathlon.

Bring on the Abu Dhabi Marathon this Friday!

The 3C lads finally got a TTT under their belt over the weekend. A decent fifth placed result at Qudra in windy conditions. The boys will be hoping for a gentle breeze and a good result this weekend at Hudayriat 😉. Thanks to the Emirates Cycling Club for arranging the event, and Darren Rycroft for the photo.

On a crisp November morning (read 17 degrees), that started at 4.30am with woolly hats and hot coffee, the 3C boys and girls were out in force again at the Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon and 10k.

Accompanied by the best race conditions this report writer has seen in Abu Dhabi, the half marathon event kicked-off right on time at 6.33am. Chief srutineer for the day, on a temporary injury lay off, PAul Faulkner (PAF) ushered Liam Bek (Bek), Richard Palmer (RP), Paddy Harrington (Paddington), Simon Wright (SW) and the female contingent of Nearida Clark, Helen Currie and Sarah Wright to the start line.

The new faster, flatter course treated us well with Bek coming in 4th Overall (behind, amongst others, the indomitable JC) and 1st Master to get his 3rd fastest ever Half in a time of 1.16.11. Taking second step on the Masters podium was Paddy in 1.25.10. RP came in close to his PB with a fantastic time of 1.27.34 in his final race as a UAE resident (😢), with SW hot on his heels in 1.27.43 with the standout performance of the morning to bag a 2mins PB (🥳).

Representing the females of the HM team, Nez and Sarah both smashed their targets with a 1.41 and a 2.03 respectively. Kudos to them! Unfortunately Helen was not feeling it on the day and dropped out. But we all know she’ll be back - stronger than ever!

In the 10k race, Rebecca (DMP) Faulkner narrowly missed out on victory coming off the worst in a 3(C)-way sprint for 1st in a mighty time of 44.45, to bag 3rd Overall, 2nd Master, and only 5s off 1st!! Ooof!

Podiums galore and brekkie at Yas Waterworld rounded out another outstanding morning for Team 3C. The afternoon also proved noteworthy 😎

Watch this space for more tantalising tales of endeavour from Oman UTMB and Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon in the coming weeks!

Thanks as always to Steve Watson and the gang at Gulf Multisports and the Abu Dhabi Striders. Cheers!