Weekly News 3. Sunday 14th February

Virtual Racing

1. Next week is the first one of five Forest Mile challenges organized by Cherry. Please see her post below for all the information on the 2.2km challenge.Those of us over here in sunny FoD are lucky enough to be able to do the actual route (Strava segment) from GoApe. Members in Chepstow have Piercefield Park and Gt Barnets Wood, but I'm sure everyone has off-road terrain close to home that they can get to.
    
2. Well done all those that managed to submit a time for the 4th event in the GLCL Winter 5x5 Virtual Series. The leaderboard is here: GLCL Leaderboard.
   
   Full results will be available soon on the GLCL website here: GLCL Results
   
   
3.  If you entered the Welsh Athletics Virtual Relay Challenge then you have until midnight Monday 15th Feb to submit a time. Over 30 Harriers are taking part.The leaderboard is here: WA Leaderboard
   
   
4.  The week after next (Sat 20th - Sun 28th) sees the second virtual race in the GLCL Spring Marathon Preparation Series. It's the Half Marathon distance. More information is here: February Half Marathon
   

MapRuns

A reminder that there are now 4 off-road MapRuns in Chepstow. 2 orienteering type runs in Piercefield Park and two based on our summer training run - 3 woods. For details of these and all MapRuns in the area visit this page on the website: Club MapRun page

Training Progression Database

Many Harriers have been submitting their times achieved in our many virtual challenges, for the club database. The idea is that by setting an early benchmark you and others can see any progression you make over the course of several months of training. This facility is for runners in all pace groups.
If you like the idea and haven't done this yet then all the forms for submitting a time and the spreadsheet of results can be seen at the bottom of the 2021 Virtual Races page of the club website. Here: 2021 Virtual Races
You can of course submit a time from last year to use as your benchmark. 

Runner of the Week

Each week one of our roving reporters will be interviewing a club member. This week it's the turn of Olive Yew 💕 (well, it is valentines day) to get the low down on club Chairman, Neil Grant:

Why did you start running? A mix of training for orienteering and going up the hills of Abergavenny with friends early Saturday and Sunday mornings.
What was your first ever race? The first race I can recall was a half-marathon from Aberdare.
How long have you been running? About 40 years but I only joined CH in 1999. I’d always thought clubs were for “proper” runners.
Why did you join Chepstow Harriers? To get to meet people having moved to Chepstow.
What runs/events do you like best? I most enjoy off-road, trail and fell races. Night races are great fun too.
What’s your favourite distance? I prefer any distance from 10K to ½ marathon as well as the mountain marathons I’ve done.
What’s a typical training week for you? Usually I do 3 runs, a gym or strength training , occasional Yoga and a long walk.
What ways does running impact on your life? Harriers brings lots of opportunities for social contacts as well as time commitments as Chair and previously Membership Sec.
Do you think you fit into any particular category of runner? I run because I enjoy running and exploring rather than being a focused racer.
What do you feel is your best running achievement? Setting a target to run 5K in under 20 and a ½ marathon in under 90. Both achieved back in 2013
Have you got a short epic/funny story to tell about running? Coming 3^rd in a race on Pwll Du which was on a P shaped course. Knowing the area I recognised the turn off, the signage had blown away, while the large leading group set off on a second lap in appalling conditions.
Got any advice for others? Always remember when injured you will recover and when fit you’re not invincible! Also, the less you feel like going out for a run the more benefit you’ll get from going, you never regret going and need to remember that next time you don’t feel the love.
Anything else you'd like to say about your running? Running is good in itself but also it helps prepare for other activities. It has benefited me when on Mountain Marathons, sailing, ski touring,  orienteering and indeed life! In fact anything where endurance is necessary.

 

Big thanks to Neil and Olive. Next week Barb Dwyer (from the local family fencing business) will be interviewing another unsuspecting victim member. 😀