James Rose, Severn Athletic Club’s captain since 2018 has had a successful time competing in local distance running after six seasons playing football for Newent Town Football Club. He joined Severn in 2008 after a good run in the Gloucester Carnival “7” Road Race.
His PB’s are 5K-16:22, 4 Mile-21:49, 5 Mile-27:55, 10K-34:30, 10 Mile-58:08, Half marathon-75:15, 20 Mile-2:02:11 & Marathon- 2:51:32(London 2018). He was County 10 Mile Champion in 2015. Open race victories include Gloucester Carnival “7”(2010 & 2012), Crowle 10K, Upton Bishop 5 & 8 Mile & Hereford 5K Road Race Series Champion in 2012. He particularly targets his local race the Dymock Half Marathon held in late May, winning in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 & 2019, leading Severn to team victory four times.
At cross-country between 2008-2010 he had to establish himself in the strong Severn teams, becoming the club’s leading runner often heading the team scorers. He won a bronze team medal in the Midland “7” Championship in 2012, a team gold in Severn’s Division Two championship in 2012-2013. He represented the county in 2013 & 2014 relishing the Severn win in the County 4 x 2 Mile Cross-County Relay Championship of 2014 when they beat Cheltenham by half a metre.
As club captain he has led from the front in Severn’s re-establishment as a local distance force after the club almost folded in 2015.
His cherished ambition is to lead the club to a Birmingham League Division Three Championship. “We’ve had three near misses and felt we could do it in 2020-21 but then lockdown.”
James is now refocusing the club’s target for 2021-22, “Hopefully the Midland 6 Stage Road Relay in September will mark the return to normal, then winning the four Birmingham Cross-Country League races.”
James has a heavy work schedule which keep him to 30 miles a week training, increasing to 40 miles for specific targets and has encouraged his children Thomas(10) and Emily(9) to run the Newent 5K Park Runs.
Severn AC 
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