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In 2005 Quakers Running Club was 'Highly Commended' by Cancer Research UK for its continued support of Darlington's Race for Life. Click here to view the award.

 

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The club is also recognised by the Flora London Marathon for its dedication and support given to beginners and has been designated a Flora London Marathon Running Club Partner, the only club in County Durham to receive this accolade.

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About the Club

The club's main training base is at Queen Elizabeth 6th Form College Playing Fields, Abbey Road, Darlington, DL3 8LR. We train on a Tuesday and Thursday evenings (meeting at the school at 6:30pm). Formed in May 1995 with a membership of just six. The club was formed to promote the participation of all disciplines of athletics and has quickly established itself as one of the regions more active promoters of running events.

At present the club boasts a coaching staff of twenty qualified coaches specialising in a wide range of disciplines from sprints to ultra distance running, including field events, as well as more diverse disciplines such as fell running, strength & conditioning and orienteering. We cater for all types of runners and boast a varied membership, accomodating for all ability ranges. No one is ever left behind! We consider ourselves to be the most friendly and active running club in the area.

If you are interested in joining, you might find our membership introduction pack useful. Click here to download the file as a PDF.


Race Report: Caesars Camp Ultra 100/50 miles PDF Print E-mail
Written by Dave Thompson   
Sunday, 30 October 2011 22:17
What do you want for your 60th birthday my better half enquired: party,weekend in posh hotel,weekend in a health spa,go to London take in a show or running 100 miles around heathland on the outskirts of Aldershot. Being a Yorkshireman the last one looked the cheapest option so it was a no brainer.
 
So the Northern invasion consisted of Annete Clarke who wisely dropped down to the 50 miler as this was here first event since picking up a stress fracture in June,C in C of Support John "Ironman" Clarke,Linda Thompson,chief photographer and purveyor of champagne and one old bloke who should know better,myself.
We all had a pre concieved idea that being a garrison town the area would not be pleasant.Although the area was obviously part of MODS playground it was similar to some parts of the North Yorkshire Moors.The elevated sections giving great views as far as the south downs.
 
The races were over a ten mile loop with 1,520 ft of climbing per lap.Best described as,if the Thunder Run was your first cousin,Caesars Camp would be your wicked uncle.The majority of the climbs and descents had been turned to boulder scree by the actions of the army.If they did not get you the numerous tree roots and cattle grids were lying in wait. 
 
There was a strong rumour that a platoon of Gurkhas had been deployed to pick off any stragglers.
 
This did not deter a couple of loons raising charity funds attempting the 100 miler in Roman Costume complete with open toe leather sandals.I believe they reached 70 miles before retiring.Must have been like trying to run a marathon in flipflops.
 
The big plus point of the weekend was the superb organisation run by an eccentric dutchman Henk Vanderbeek.A man of few words mostly starting in F,his only failing was the country and western music blaring out from his checkpoint for the duration of the race.The two checkpoints had a mountain of hot and cold food  from jellybeans to hotdogs plus all manner of drinks with various levels of caffiene served up by a smiling and supportive gang of volunteers. 
 
The numerous retirements also demonstrated that this is a challenging event 56 started the 100 only 18 made it under the 30 hour cut off.Sightly better for the 50 miler 47 starters 25 finishers.Some of the injuries photos provided by Henk were not pleasent including one guy needing stitches in a calf wound after fighting with a cattle grid.
 
Annette who had trained no further than 12 miles since her injury got round the  50 in a commendable 14.19.37.The old bloke managing 27.09.35 for the 100. 
This race seemed to take an age to complete,I started when I was 59 and did not finish until I was 60.  
 
The champagne at the end tasted like nectar.My suggestion that this should be repeated at the end of every race did not meet with the approval of my better half.So it is back to small bottles of lager!   
 
Henk perhaps summed up my efforts "not bad for an old tosser".      
 

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