Bedford Harriers AC

Our wonderful beginners and returners tonight gathered in Bedford Park to top off their bank holiday weekend with a little bit of run-walk!

After a nice warm-up, the session was a steady and simple 60 seconds' light jog followed by 90 seconds' brisk walk and repeat.

The group are really taking to it and are building a great camaraderie.

If you're interested in coming and joining, then get in touch at [email protected]

- So Nora, how did the Beginners welcome evening go last night?

- Well Kevin, I wasn’t there. Too busy wading through a mud pit by the look of my legs. But I did hear it was a roaring success!

- That’s great news, Nora! I guess it’s a shame if someone missed out, though?

- Well yes Kevin, but I hear from the coach team that it’s never too late to start! They are doing a gradual build up over the next few weeks to a 5k at the end of July. So plenty of time for people to still come along!

- That’s fantastic news Nora! But how can people find out more?

- Dead simple, Kevin. Thanks for asking. They just need to email [email protected] for more info. Everyone is welcome - new to running, returning after a break / injury, or just plain old run-curious.

- Fantastic. Best news I have heard all week! Now…please go shower. Or you are not getting a lift home.

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Postscript:

This may or may not be a direct transcript of Nora and Kevin’s convo - but the info is all true!

Come join us! Email address above 👆

Every one of the people in these photos had a "what if" moment once.

Watching the London Marathon this weekend and having yours?

That's exactly how many of our 500+ members started - with a moment like this one, wondering if they could ever do something like that.

𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 launches this Monday, 27 April.

It's a structured 25-week programme - couch to 5K and beyond - designed for people who are completely new to running, returning after a break, or just wondering if they could actually do this. Early sessions start with walking - there's no pressure, no one-size-fits-all approach...and DEFINITELY no burpees!

By July you'll be running a 5K. By October, a 10K.

Led by Helen and Mark, both qualified run leaders who've been in your shoes.

📅 Intro talk: Monday 27 April, 6:30pm - sessions start 29 April.
(Don't worry if you can't make the first sessions - just get in touch!)

📍 Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, MK41 9SB

🆓 First month completely free!

Drop us an email and we'll send you everything you need to know.

📧 [email protected]

Bedford Harriers ready for the off at The Grizzly!

RUNNERS, we are starting to get ready …

Are you ready?
https://bedfordharriers.co.uk/Oakley.asp

It may have been -5 degrees but a few hardy souls made it out for the Saturday Earlybirds trail run this morning!

Coffee and breakfast at the Sharnbrook Deli Café afterwards - great service and lovely food!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄!!

It’s that time of year when the various Bedford Harriers groups hold their annual “Xmas Lights Run”. Tonight was Group 3’s turn and even the rain couldn’t dampen our spirits!

Feliz Navidad! 🏃🏻

Bedford Harriers AC were honoured this evening to attend the 2024 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards at Bedford Corn Exchange

As a club we received a nomination in the category of Club of the Year, alongside a number of our club members who were nominated for Community Person, Adult Personality and Service to Sport categories.

Though we did not win we are delighted to have been recognised by our community and extend our congratulations to all the winners 🏆 and organisers Bedford Borough Council, Sports Development Unit

On Wednesday, we once again hosted the Doug Anderson 5k race. 389 pairs of feet flew around grade 2 listed Bedford Park and as our 5K club championship race, 103 of us raced, and were supported by 105 of our club volunteers. Our thanks to everyone who entered, raced, helped out and made the race another fantastic success. 🎽🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️💛🖤

Last weekend, our yellow army were at the Welly Five and the Ultra 5ks at Box End, whilst on Saturday, Joe Warren did the pilgrimage of parkruns – Bushy parkrun in Teddington and Stephen Ball found a newish event in our region - Bug Hunter Waters parkrun in Cambridgeshire.

Ronnie SL finished the first week of her beginners Welsh course at Aberystwyth University and attended the local Aberystwyth parkrun. She wasn’t the furthest tourist though - a classmate had come all the way from Switzerland and after being told about parkrun, he registered that morning and made his debut! Well done Ronnie! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Bedford parkrun had 28 Harriers, whilst Great Denham parkrun had 13 club members – Elaine did her 180th parkrun and as a massive fan of the duodecimal system of counting, Chris Fadden timed in his 144th parkrun. 🧮

A number of Harriers were also instrumental in the start up of a new junior parkrun event – at Great Denham junior parkrun, where over 70 children took part, including 30 who were new to parkrun.

On Wednesday, 10 July Juan Carlos Augusto ran 1:15:49 and was first in his AG at the Gateley Victoria Park 10 mile. 🏆

Over the weekend of 5-7 July, Shuan Busby ran 44:42 at Beds AAA 10k, and then 22:24 at GD parkrun the next morning.

Richard Lawson, Elaine Massie and Sylvia Jones ran the - FetchEveryone F'laps challenge, finishing on 10x2-miles, 12x1-mile and 5x1-mile respectively.

Chris Capps was one of 6 Harriers at the Hitchin Sprint Triathlon, consisting of a 400m outdoor pool swim, a 20km cycle into East Bedfordshire and a 5km run around Hitchin town centre, whilst Eva Kovacs did away with a run by competing in the St Neots Standard Aquabike. Also completing solo was Dea Ditchfield, completing the Challenge Roth Tri in 4:18:40. Well done everyone! 🖤💛

On Saturday 6 July, getting thoroughly soaked to the skin, Group 8 did Millennium Country parkrun, Sheila Nicolson was at Flegg High parkrun, Noel enjoyed GD. David Sheffield & daughter did Moors Valley parkrun in the New Forest in 34 minutes and Peter and Chris Fadden were in Buxton, at Pavillion Gardens parkrun.

Hooray to only marvellous milestone achiever:
Huafu Wang, 250 runs 💚

Thank goodness it’s the weekend now, are we going to rest or race ❓

A recap on last weekend’s parkrun activities in the club.

It was Bedford parkrun's 600th event with many Harriers attending to celebrate the milestone, but also to achieve their own milestones.
- Kirsty Jones completed her 150th Bedford parkrun
- Lesley Gaunt achieved her 200th parkrun
- Steve Gaunt achieved his 250th parkrun

Celebrations were kindly hosted at the Gaunt’s house post-parkrun, attend by a big flurry of Harriers. The BBQ breakfast and homemade cakes went down a treat – thank you!

At Great Denham parkrun Shaun Busby achieved his best time only a week after running the Greensands Ridge event solo - two huge achievements! Robin Fiander ran and came in 99th position with Fiona Fiander Nordic walking her way to 199th person.

Over at Millennium Country Park parkrun, Bev Gous started a double volunteering weekend with her 48th time as Run Director and then 33rd time timekeeping at Bedford junior parkrun. In other volunteering news, Helen Whiting volunteered as Run Director at Bedford parkrun with many other Harriers volunteering too. Then finished up with marshalling at Bedford junior parkrun with Richard Evans handing out Finish Tokens.

Looking to see what we’ve all achieved this weekend!

On 7th June, Sue and Nick Cross were in Framlingham, Suffolk for the ‘Friday 5’ road race, which saw over 400 runners take on the undulating, country lane 5 miler and Nick was pleased to record a PB.

Much closer to home, sporting 💛🖤 at the Forest 5K saw many Harriers including Leigh Kendall, Sue Pyecroft and Vicky Shaw running. Michael Capon took part in his first ever race, with much appreciation to beginners coaches Angela and Steve. It’s always a lovely run through the forest.

Elaine Massie, Richard Lawson, Michelle Fadden, Chris Fadden and Sylvia Jones were part of the team who swam at a 24-hour swim relay at Shepperton. 🩵🏊⏱

Josh Evans raced London’s Victoria Park 10k. He’s very happy to dip under 36 mins for the first time, and finished in 5th place, whilst Bob Wells ran 48.04 at the Morecambe 10K, which starts and finishes on the Promenade and boasts lovely views across the Bay when out on the course. 🏆

Mark Clements ran 1.49.01 at the Hitchin HM, whilst Richard Beard was at Nene Valley Races 20-mile race, finishing in 4.03.14. 👏👏

Chris Leigh ran back-to-back day races – on Saturday the Farthingstone Footfest 27.7 mile, which he finished in 6-hours exactly, followed on Sunday - the Pick and Mix, with its 6.4m lap course. Ending at 6 laps, Chris completed a total distance of 38.5 miles!

💥💥 And lastly, huge congratulations to Steph Macleod who improved the 50k club best time at the Ultra Perth 50k with a time of 4:02:58, beating the previous best of 4:06:51 set at the Enigma Ultra in 2021 by Claire Rulton ✈️

Well done to all our 💛🖤