Weekly News: Sunday 4th April

 CWR - Cotswold Way Relay

As per the last blog post on the CWR -  if you want to be considered for the ballot team send Paul Dodd an email/message. We need to enter teams this week so have to decide if a 4th (reserve) team is needed. Deadline Thursday 7th April.

Heads up - the organisers have changed the rules on mixed teams. Each team now needs a minimum of 4 ladies instead of the previous 3. This means that two men previously selected for the competitive teams may not get a definite place and will have to put into the ballot for the 3rd team. However, don't worry too much, if previous years are anything to go by, there will injuries and drops out's and we may end up being short of runners. Doh. 😖

Club Fell Series

The planned Steam Bunny will not go ahead on 1st May due to Welsh covid regs so Paul and Denise have updated the calendar of events for this year's fell series. We are not sure if Mynydd Llangors (Grim Reaper) will go ahead in early May yet either so the Longtown/Llanthony fell race will be the May fell race.
Entries for this race are now open and are limited to 30 in each of the two waves. One starting at 12noon and the other at 2pm. I suspect places will be in high demand so enter soon if you are thinking of doing it. Go to fellrace.com for details and entry: www.fellrace.com

There will be an April race. A virtual event using the maprun app. It's a new one set up by Paul from Cwmdu village hall - Pen Tir Maprun. It's ready to go now so any Welsh members can give it a go straight away until end of month. Members from England will have to wait until the 12th. Please remember to abide by all local and national covid rules/guidelines if/when you do go.
Information on maprun is here: Mapruns
For those familiar with the app. The Pen Tir maprun can be found within the app here: UK/Wales/South Wales Trails/Pen Tir.
More news on a club recce of the Pen Tir route (max of 6 in each group) coming soon.

Runner of the week:

Another club legend is in the spotlight this week: Sue Ashton. I think I'm right in saying that Sue is the  longest serving female club member, and you name it ... she's done it: XC, orienteering, fell races, road racing, marathons etc. She's a keen hill/mountain goer so has taken part in (and helps in) many mountain marathons and fell based challenges. As someone with so much experience she makes a valued member of the coaching term and is part of the core team of  helpers/volunteers ever present at club events. 
 

 

Why did you start running?
I started running when the children were small mainly to have the patience to do everything at a 2-year-olds pace
What was your first ever race?
My first race was the Cheltenham half marathon about 3 months after I started running, I ran all the way with a friend and finished in 1:55 a time that put us among the last finishers.

 
How long have you been running?  Nearly 40 years.
Why did you join Chepstow Harriers? I didn’t want to run on my own in the dark.
What runs/events do you like best? Fell races, especially in North Wales unfortunately I am too broken to do them now.
What’s a typical training week for you? Include any cross-training (other activity that impacts on running) you may do. I aim to run 5-6km every other day, lots of walking, lots of cycling and one day hopefully swimming.
What ways does running impact on your life? I have been running so long now it’s just part of who I am
What do you feel is your best running achievement? On the roads, winning the Taunton Marathon. On the fells, completing the Trans Fan as one of 20 starters in weather so evil marshals couldn’t get to their positions In X- country, running for Wales as a senior and a master.
Do you have any short term/long term goals in running? Complete another 4 parkruns to get to 250?
Advice for others? Try not to worry about times, winning and PBs all the time, sometimes life is too busy and stressful, these are the times to just run and enjoy it.