Weeky News 2. Sunday 7th February.

Virtual Racing this coming week
From Niki:

 

"This coming week it's the penultimate GLCL virtual challenge of the winter 5 x 5 mile series. It's also the Welsh Athletics 5 mile road relay champs. It's also Valentine's Day. A chance to slay 3 lovebirds with one heart-shaped stone. What could demonstrate true love more eloquently than an offer to your spouse/partner/someone you fancy to go down the Industrial Estate to bash out a 5 miler.

Single? It's the place to be - you may catch a social distanced glimpse of your future partner gracefully bounding onto the pavement to miss a Downton lorry, or attract the eye of a passing Asda artic driver. The possibilities are limitless.

Other venues to bash out a 5 miler are available, but sadly without the ambience.

The GLCL challenge runs from Monday 8 to Sunday 14th Feb. The WA 5 mile challenge starts Friday 12 Feb and finishes Monday 15th so if you want your stunning effort to count for both, do it between Friday - Sunday. Don't forget you need to pre-enter the WA champs and do this by 10th Feb. As Niki/Nike says, Just Do It".

For more information about the 5 mile challenge see the GLCL website here: GLCL Website

Here is the link to all the details: GLCL 5 Mile Virtual Run Details

Here is the link to submit your time: Form to submit your GLCL 5 Mile time

Here is a link to the Live Leaderboard: GLCL Leaderboard 

If you haven't yet entered the Welsh Athletics Virtual 5 mile relay challenge and would like to, here is the link: Welsh Athletics 5 Mile Relay Challenge   You have until 10th Feb.
At the time of writing Chepstow Harriers had 30 already entered.

MapRuns

Just like the proverbial London bus, from nothing much in sight, 4 off-road MapRuns turn up at the same time.  😀
Two are based on the Three Woods Training Run - a linear, which is a go to each checkpoint in order route, and a score - get as many checkpoints as you can in any order in an hour.
The linear MapRun requires little or no map work/navigation as it's just a way of recording one of the standard 3 Woods training routes. The score MapRun needs some planning as you can visit any checkpoint in any order, and have an hour to do so.

You can now get the MapRun app to work on your Garmin watch only, but if you are new to MapRuns it's probably a good idea to stick to the phone app initially to get familiar with how it all works.

For more information about these new MapRuns and other locally go to the club website - menu at top -  Training/MapRuns. Or for the click weary here:
https://sites.google.com/view/chepstowharriersrunningclub/training/mapruns

Many thanks to James and Vanessa for doing the leg work to check the map and accuracy of the checkpoints.

Another two orienteering type MapRuns are based in Piercefield Park.
Andy says:

"The Piercefield Park Maprun is available permanently.

Download Maprun6 to your phone. Open up the 'Maprun' app on your phone: Tap on: Select Event/UK/Wales/South Wales Trails/Severn and Wye . . . and then whichever Piercefield course you want. You have 40 minutes to visit as many controls as you want. All controls have the same value (20) Penalties for taking longer than 40 minutes !

As a guide, I walked the thirty ‘Night’ controls in the daylight, and took 54 mins. Last night, in the rain and mist, and using a compass where necessary, I took 29 minutes to run around the 40 ‘Day’ controls. A daft way of doing things, I know. You will find things at night quite challenging, if it is misty, snowing, or raining heavily. One “control” in particular, which is in the middle of nowhere, and not on a feature, will prove interesting, if you do not have a sound strategy for getting to it.

Assuming you’re using your phone (not your watch) tap “Go to Start”. When you actually get there, the application (and your timed run !) will start. Do not go within 40m of the ‘Finish’ until you are ready to Finish"!

Downloadable maps (available for printing) for both the Piercefield MapRuns and the 3 Woods MapRuns are on the club website - Training/MapRuns ... or here here:
https://sites.google.com/view/chepstowharriersrunningclub/training/mapruns

Update on The Forest Mile Challenge (week after next)
From Cherry:

"For those of you who live within running distance of Piercefield Park, please be aware that Bill Savage has kindly marked out some routes to help you meet The Forest Mile challenge requirements for the first two weeks. 

Here is what he said:

"Reverse Mallards 2.20km - 1.4 miles
Mallards Mallards 3.06 km - 1.9 miles

I have positioned small 25mm x 25mm posts with Green tape to help with the distances All posts are on your LEFT as you run.You start just inside the entrance gate to the park there is a small bush about 5 mtrs on the left with the marker at the base.
You then run to the far end off the track there is a tree stump the marker is beside that then return to the start and back again to the tree stump then on the return about 100 mtrs on your left is the Finish marker for the 1.4 miles or 2.2 km.
The marker is on your left near the first bend on the track just before the grass track goes across your front towards the house.
To complete the 1.9 miles or 3.06 km course continue to the start and turn around and about 200 mtrs from the start on the brow of the first small hill near a large tree stump on your left is the finish for this run.
So to sum up the the Reverse Mallards is just over 3 lengths of the track and the Mallards Mallards is just over 4 lengths of the track"

Many thanks to Bill for his great idea and for making it happen".