A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF RIOT! IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER HERE ARE OUR TOP 5 HIGHLIGHTS…
SOCIAL RUNS!
With every season came a social Sunday run, though the weather hasn’t always been kind we’ve enjoyed every one! 2018 began with a wintry Purbeck run, starting with snow, finishing with a pasty. Spring saw RIOTers run up to Hardy Monument to kick off our Everest challenge, with tea and homemade brownies to coax us up the hill. Scorched by the blazing July heat, RIOT runners tackled the infamous ‘rollercoaster’ from Ringstead to Lulworth and were rewarded with some of the best views that Dorset can offer. In Autumn, 24 RIOT runners ran through mist, rain and cow fields from Dorchester to the pub in Osmington for a roast dinner reward. Our social runs have been great for views and to meet runners from a range of Thursday groups. Our next social Sunday run is on January 6th starting at Worth Matravers, we hope to see you there.
CHALLENGES!
They are like marmite, you love them or hate them… but they have become a part of RIOT life that we all secretly look forward to. In 2018 we’ve run 24 runs in 24 days, from Dorchester to Paris, up Everest, from sunrise to sunset and, as a team, 230 miles. Some challenges got highly competitive with rigorous Strava policing, spreadsheets, strategising and tactics. Others, brought people together to work a club or a small team, all were designed to challenge us and mix club members together. Who will top the challenge leader-boards in 2019? Will someone beat Team Matt’s Race to Paris record? Will we finally see Paul in that tooth costume? Will another team survive a challenge under Rachel’s rule? Oh, and did anyone find Team Amy?… last seen a quarter of the way up Mt Everest.
EVENTS!
RIOT was well represented at parkrun and events over the year, from Dorset to Snowdon, Las Vegas to Iceland. At events it’s always great to see that reassuring flash of blue and orange. Here’s a few of our event highlights; in May, RIOT took to the streets of our home-town for Dorchester marathon and Casterbridge half, see our blog about the event. Lions 10k and Colmers Hill Challenge were both hilly and hot but had great support and saw many RIOTers completing their first 10k race. However, all the best made plans…RIOTers “dressed to impress” for our social East Farm Frolic event, but ended up more “drowned rats” after a day of running in heavy rain and gales, but the camaraderie of us all being in it together meant it was an event to remember. It has not been just about the running, we’ve volunteered at many events and Weymouth Ironman 70.3 brought over 25 RIOTers together to volunteer, passing bananas and perfectly mixed energy drinks to the cyclists. We can’t wait for more big RIOT events beginning with Yeovil half in March 2019.
COUCH TO 5K!
We’ve run two Couch to 5k courses in 2018 and have loved seeing the runners progress over the 12 weeks to smash their first parkrun! It has also been great to see the January graduates continue to be rewarded for their hard work, training and determination to complete both 10k and half marathon races, something they never once expected possible. If you fancy joining us, kicking off your New Year resolutions with a bang and seeing how running can change your life then the next c25k course begins in January. Well done to everyone that has begun their running journey with us in 2018, we’re excited to see what you do next!
YOU!
Finally… a slightly cheesy one, we’ve been overwhelmed with the support for RIOT, we’ve come a long way from our very first run in January 2018 and we can’t believe how much we’ve grown (who will be our imminent 200th member?). As a new club and committee, it’s been a learning curve for us over the year and we’ve welcomed your suggestions and help. It’s been amazing to meet lots of new people and rewarding to see runners achieving great things after their training, from sub 30 parkruns, to first half marathons, from 10th marathons to Weymouth Ironman 70.3! We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us by becoming a member, buying a T-shirt, volunteering their time to lead and tail runs, represented RIOT at events and ran with us on a Thursday. It truly is you lot that shape this club and make it what it is!
