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Almost Athletes preparing for 26th running of ever-popular Linda Franks road race

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Tuesday, 24th December 2019, 09:00

The Linda Franks road race takes place on Sunday 19th January

Claire Hawes’ alarm clock will be going off extra early on Sunday 19th January.

Hawes is the chair of Cheltenham-based Almost Athletes and the third Sunday of the new year is the date of the club’s ever-popular Linda Franks road race.

Run over five miles around Hatherley, the annual race is named after one of the club’s founders who sadly died in the early 1990s while in her 40s.

The race gets under way at 9am and Hawes, who took over as chair in May, needs to be at Reddings Community Centre – the event HQ – by 7am.

The race starts and finishes close to the community centre and Hawes expects the winner to finish inside 30 minutes.

“It’s two laps around Hatherley, it’s pretty flat,” said Hawes. “The only slight incline is up Hatherley Lane over the railway bridge, it’s quite a fast route.”

Hawes, 65, is normally among the 300 runners who take part – all the places are taken – but this year she will concentrate on her role as club chair.

“I wouldn’t be finishing in 30 minutes,” she laughed, “more like 50!”

That’s still pretty decent, of course, as is the race which is one of the main events on the club’s calendar. This year will be the 26th running of the race.

“Linda Franks was a big part of the club,” continued Hawes. “She was a really, really good runner.

“Her twin sister June is still a big part of the club and until recently was treasurer, she’s a good runner too.

“The race has always been popular and we could fill it twice over.

“It’s the first road race of the year around here and is part of the Gloucestershire AAA Road Championship series.”

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Almost Athletes preparing for 26th running of ever-popular Linda Franks road race

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