The Gloucestershire AAA race series

The Gloucestershire AAA race series is a series of 12 races around the county. Adult runners of all ages take part and are awarded points depending on their position against other Gloucestershire runners in a particular race. There is an open category of all runners and masters categories in five-year increments from age 35 upwards.

There are 10 points for coming first in a race, 9 for coming second, 8 for coming third etc. To qualify for a prize you need to have run at least five races and your best eight races will count.

I was only vaguely aware of the series. I had no idea which races were in it or how many races I needed to run to take part. In January, I unexpectedly came first in my age category at the Linda Franks race, which is a very competitive local five mile race. One of the club members told me I should give the Gloucestershire AAA series a go because ‘you’ll probably win it’.

So I looked at last year’s results and concluded that the 2024 winner of my age category would probably have beaten me, but I would have probably beaten the runners in second and third. So I decided to give it a go. Of course, winning was the ultimate aim, but I was aiming for a medal of any colour. Coming fourth wasn’t an option!

I  missed the first two races of the series. I was skiing when the Boddington 10 took place. And I didn’t want to do the Berkeley Fission 20. It’s 20 miles, for goodness’ sake! I’m pretty sure the only people who run that race are people using it as part of their marathon training.

So I quietly entered the series on the third race – the Bourton Mile – coming second in my age category.

I also came second in my age category in my second race – the Stroud Beer Race – the first time the woman who was initially my main rival beat me. Once I’d beaten her at Cirencester 10k, my aspirations rose from any medal to a gold or silver.

Coming second in my first two races meant the opposition might not have noticed me initially. But then I came first all the way – Cirencester 10k, Bugatti 10k, Cranham Boundary Chase, Angels 10k, Bourton half, Sharpness 4…

In the series, I was in sixth place after my first race, fourth after my second, second after my third (three races out of five), then slipped back down to fourth as I missed Blaisdon 10k.

After Cranham Boundary Chase, my fifth race, I had officially qualified, so moved into third – my rightful place on the table. The two women above me had done six races. Now I had my eye on the gold…

After Angels 10k, my sixth race, I moved ahead of the woman I’d assumed was my main rival as we were both on six races. The top spot was taken by the woman who herself expected to come third. She’d run seven races and was just one point ahead of me. I’d come second in two races (nine points) and first in four (10 points).

Bourton half marathon was my seventh race. I won my age category again. My main rival didn’t run it and the woman who was in first place came second. So having run seven races out of a possible 10, I finally made it to the top of the rankings for my age category, – albeit equal first with the woman who thought she would come third, who had run eight races.

Sharpness 4 was my eighth race. Coming first in my age category again, and with the woman who was leading the category initially still not racing, confirmed my place as first LV50 in the series.

I took part in the final race of the series – Guy Fawkes 5 – even though I didn’t need to. Coming first would have just wiped out one of my nine points and replaced it with a 10. But I actually came second. My main rival was back and I didn’t see her for dust! It was her seventh race, so didn’t change the fact that she was getting the bronze.

I loved taking part in the series, trying new races and meeting new people. Driving new places on my own is out of my comfort zone, but I’ve really enjoyed it. Talking to people is usually difficult for me, but I’ve become friendly with runners from other clubs. It’s often the same people picking up the prizes in each of the races.

A chance remark in January 2025 took me on a literal and metaphorical journey around the county and from the aspiration of a medal of any colour in the Gloucestershire AAA race series to winning my age category. I will be presented with an engraved shield at a ceremony in January.

Will I try to defend my title in 2026? Maybe.