My running and fund raising for the group By Ian Hobbs

 About my running

I have been running all my life and  I run distances from 5K to the 13.1 mile Half Marathon. My first race was at the age of seven the story my late mother (Ida) would tell was that I stopped to watch a train but still won that race. I ran for Stretford Athletic Club, which became Trafford Athletic Club in 1991/1992 now I run for Sale Harriers Manchester and I'm member of a gym. The race reports I have posted on this website are races I have used to raise money for our care group.

However, I do a lot more racing than the few I use to support charities and my goal is always to do a better time than I did in the last race.

By Ian Hobbs

The Chester half Marathon Sunday 23rd May 2004

In May 2004 in ran the Chester half marathon in a time of 2 hours 6 minutes to raise funds for Chorlton Good Neighbours.  I raised just over £500 for our care group. This was my first charity run for Chorlton Good Neighbours and I had a the fund raising support of my late mother Ida Hobbs. I was unhappy about the time but was delighted with the money raised. However, it was a very hot day and you never get good time on hot days'. My last half Marathon was 2003 Great North Run in Newcastle my time was 2 hours 4 minutes and I raised £275 for Leukaemia CARE and my life time PB for the 13.1 mile half Marathon is 1 hour 25 minutes and 15 seconds back in 1987 my best running year.

By Ian Hobbs

The Great Manchester Run 21^st May 2006

In January 2005 I offered to run in the Great Manchester Run, a 10k road race, in order to raise funds for Chorlton Good Neighbours. The run was due to take place on Sunday 22nd May 2005, however my mother Ida Hobbs passed away on Monday 16th May 2005, and I was not physically or mentally able to run. One year on, I offered to run in this year’s Great Manchester Run on Sunday 21^st May 2006 to raise funds for Chorlton Good Neighbours in memory of my mother.

This was my first 10k road race as a veteran and I was very pleased with my time of 53 minutes 43 seconds. My last 10k road race was back in 1987 when I ran a time of 34 minutes 27 seconds My PB for 10K road. However, I have completed a number of half marathons over the last three years including the Chester half marathon in 2004 when I raised about £500.

As a member of Sale Harriers Manchester I train 3 to 4 days each week. Therefore I just needed to sharpen up a little for the race with the support of my training friends at Sale Harriers.

On the day I got up about 6:00am after a good night’s sleep, had a light breakfast, drove to Stretford, and took the Metro into Manchester. On arriving, I had a walk around the charity stalls and then at 8:45am I placed my kit bag on one of the runners’ bag buses and started to warm up for the race by jogging and stretching. At 9:45am I took a 15 minute rest before the start of the first wave of runners (orange) at 10:00am.

For the race we all had timing chips around our ankles so when I passed the start line my race time would start, and as I finished my race time was sent to my mobile phone as a text message. I enjoyed the race apart from the rain, and the people of Manchester were out on the streets supporting all the runners by shouting things like “come on” and “keep it going” which can really help you to run a good time.

To sum up, I had a good race, enjoyed myself, and raised over £400 for Chorlton Good Neighbours. I would like to thank you all the people who sponsored me as well as all my training friends at Sale Harriers Manchester, and the members of the Rotary Club of Manchester South for their support.

 By Ian Hobbs 2006

 The Great Manchester Run 20th May 2007

This was my third sponsored run for Chorlton Good Neighbours and I am pleased to say that I have been able to raise £450.00p this year. However, I had a long-term shoulder injury over the winter months due to falling over in training last October. I only had about four to five weeks training for the run. Nevertheless, was able to do the race in a time of 53 minutes 48 seconds. However, I was looking for a time of around 47 minutes. Still we have the money and I am very pleased with that.

On the day I got up about 6:30am after a good night’s sleep, had my breakfast, drove to Stretford, and took the Metro into Manchester. On arriving, I had a walk around the charity stalls in Manchester Central and then at 8:45am I placed my kit bag on one of the runners’ bag buses and started to warm up for the race. At 9:45am I took a 15 minute rest before the start of the first wave of runners (orange) at 10:00am

For the race, we all had timing chips around our ankles I enjoyed the race the people of Manchester were out on the streets supporting the runner’s again and this can really help you in a race.

To sum up I had a good race and I have raised £450:00p for our group Chorlton Good Neighbours and thank you to all the people that sponsors me at Chorlton Good Neighbours. I would also like to thank all my training friends at Sale Harriers Manchester and the members of the Rotary Club of Manchester South for their support.

By Ian Hobbs 2007

The Wilmslow half Marathon Sunday 30th March 2008

This year I ran the Wilmslow Half Marathon in a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 50 seconds and used this race to raise funds for our care group. This was my fourth sponsored run for Chorlton Good Neighbours Care Group and I am pleased to say that I have been able to raise £434.40p for our group. On the day I met my friends from Sale Harriers Manchester and we had a great day. In addition, I would like to thank all the members of the Rotary Club of Manchester South for their support and all the people that that sponsors me.

by Ian Hobbs 2008

Thank you for sponsoring me over the years

To sum-up I have been able to raise  £1784.40p for Chorlton Good Neighbours over the years and I would like to thank all the people that supported Chorlton Good Neighbours by sponsoring me.

Ian Hobbs 2010