Weekly News. Sunday 4th July.

Weekly News. Sunday 4th July

A repeat appeal to message me if you'd like anything appearing in this blog news. Can be results or information on upcoming races or club events. Thanks to Anne for her A team inclusion this week and to Syd for some upcoming race ideas.

Race Ideas

Four Fans Sat 10th July - www.fellrace.com
Midweek Castle Combe 10k. 14th July. Here
Waun Fach - Fell Series Race - Sunday 18th July www.fellrace.com
Age grader - Sunday 25th July  www.rogueruns.com
Coppett Hill Race Goodrich Sat 24th July 2pm, www.fellrace.com
Brecon Beacons Fell Race - July 25th - www.fellrace.com
Standish Woodland Chase Sun 8th Aug, Berkeley 10k 3rd Oct here
Llangollen Fell Race 22nd August here
Severn Bridge 10k/Half - August 29th here
The Steam Bunny Stomp 11k on 4th Sept near Pontypool
Stroud Half Marathon Sun 24th Oct here.

The CC coordinates tell me that there will be an 'Any Half Marathon'
race in the championship for October so this would be a good one to enter early.

Cotswold Way Relay

A message from Paul Dodd (CWR co-ordinator 2021)

"30 Harriers (in 3 teams) took part in this annual event running the full length of the Cotswold Way - Chipping Campden to Bath. There was a 100% turn out and we registered a time for each leg in each team. Brilliant! A big thanks to everyone for their hard work and commitment and a special thanks to those who either came in last minute to fill a gap or really operated out of their usual comfort zone in getting used to the tech or confronting personal nav issues/worries. Individuals often forego other race pleasures and social/family occasions or even re-schedule their holiday to take part.

Thanks also to Cherry and Niki for taking on the leadership role of the other two teams - it involves a lot of communication and head scratching I can tell you.

As well as the usual pressures of going on a recce and getting to know the route, sorting transport on the day to and from your leg, all runners had the added complication of getting used to the maprun app - compared to many other clubs we did really well with that. In my view the maprun app is not suitable for this kind of event. Results are a bit of a mess at the moment but it will settle down during the week as more and more app issues are sorted. The current team placings are very provisional.

At the time of writing the Vet's team are in 1st place in their category with an overall time of 13:36:59. As a club we've always been strong in this area. We had the added bonus of being able to field 3 ladies in the team - something I believe no other club has done before. However, it seem that results were published with cut-off times for those runners who had app issues. This could mean other team's times coming down markedly before Thursday when they plan to fully update the results.

Mixed team A are showing as 22nd in category and 50th overall. Mixed B 39th in category and 79th overall. As above - this could all change in the next few days. Team Bath have been in touch and are desperately trying to sort loads of missed times.

James Blore won his his leg (leg 9) outright - fantastic achievement James. That's a 'biggie'. I'm really looking forward to seeing your overall time when you tick off the remaining legs and become a 'King of the Cotswolds'.

Regardless of what team you were in, you should all be very proud of the clubs achievement. We worked as one to achieve the best possible club and individual performance. Well done everyone and huge thanks for all you did to get it right on the day. Same again next year?"  Paul.

Frampton 10K - Monday 28th June
Cherry Fowler and Paul Dodd took part. Cherry beat her previous 10k by 2:15 secs and achieved a time of 39:14. She was 3rd lady overall. The time gives her an AG percentage of 89.64% - only 0.36 away form the magic 90%. 

Fan Dance High Moon - Saturday 3rd July
While most of us were running on selected bits of the Cotswold Way, Andy Creber was over in the Brecon Beacons and became the High Noon Fan Dance Champion. 

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon - Saturday and Sunday 3rd/4th July
Vanessa and son Reuben took part in this 2-day mountain event. They competed in the Bedafell Class and were 11th overall out of 47 teams starting. A brilliant result in a testing event.

11th

316

Vanessa Lawson + Reuben Lawson

MIX

03:32:04

10th

03:16:54

13th

06:48:58

29

Club Social Thursday 15^th July - Yipee!

The “A” Team are back!
You should already have this date in your diary. Come and meet up with your fellow Harriers and enjoy a bit of socially distanced fun.
Venue :   Tintern Railway Station
Date:       Thursday 15^th  July
Time:       Arrive by 18:45 for a briefing
There will be several options:
*   A 5k off road run  (following a set flour trail - some "up and down") or for the less serious,
*   A "fun run" with a few challenges on the way
*   Do your own thing and then just come to have some food and a catch up.
There will be food which will include baked potatoes and various options.
Please can you complete the attached form to let us know you will be coming and indicate your food choice. Only members who have filled in the form may attend.  The plan is to eat around 8.00 pm.   To keep things as covid safe as possible we ask everyone to bring their own drinks, plate and cutlery.
There will then be a short presentation by our chairman - Neil.
There is a £2.00 car parking charge so please bring change.   Those who are driving will be expected to pay parking as we are not being charged to use the facilities.   There is plenty of seating so no need to bring anything to sit on.   Toilets will be available but nothing else so please come prepared.
Of course the weather is going to be glorious that evening and we are looking forward to seeing you all.
Please get signing up:  HERE
Replies Close: Sunday 11^th July

Runner of the Week

Why did you start running ?  A teacher said that whoever won the ‘Treasure Hunt’  at Sports Day could sit by the window in class, for the rest of term. I could tell you a lot about how cows copulate off the back of that ‘win’, and which dinner lady spent an awful lot of time at the farmhouse across the fields and always left with a smile on her face. I always ran in Sports day after that. (We wondered what you did with your time at school - Ed)

What was your first ever race? At college. A 5am “Freshers Week” 5 miles race, from Bangor and over the Menai bridge. Thing is, we’d been told at the previous evening’s ‘Blind Date Night’ to ensure we acquired an article of clothing from our ‘date’, not knowing that we’d be forced to wear it at a race later. I ran 5 miles in a pair of trainers . . . and black frilly knickers. Nothing else ! I’ve taken a liking to wearing them ever since. . . . . soft on the skin . . .

How long have you been running ?   1978. Almost exclusively Orienteering and fell racing.

Why did you join Chepstow Harriers?   Thought I needed to do some speedwork. Caused more tendon/muscle injuries than either of the above ever did. 

What runs/events do you like best?   Outside of orienteering or mountain navigation events, then anything nasty underfoot, preferably in poor weather and at night. 

What’s your favourite distance?  I don’t have one, but cramp has been a recurring ‘achilles heel’ in longer stuff. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to remedy this.

What’s a typical training week for you? No such thing. Probably average 30 miles max. I do ‘tech’ exercises for orienteering as well, but not always running.

What ways does running impact on your life.I have to travel a lot to feed my fetish, so this has ramifications on time at home.

Do you think you fit into any particular category of runner.A mysterious, highly specialised leper. Which is how I often get treated !

What do you feel is your best running achievement ? Difficult. Won the British night orienteering champs several times. However, with my ‘lover’ Bry (as Niki refers to him !) I’ve won Mountain Marathons in all classes from Elite to ‘D’ outright over the years. That also means of course, that I’ve had my fair share of injuries, cock-ups and retirements.

Best running trait ?  I race far better than I seem able to train. 

Have you got a short epic/funny story to tell about running? Refer to ‘Fresher’s Week !’

Best development in Running  Parkrun and Garmins.

What aspects of running do you think are a retrograde step ? ‘Pacers’, (especially on the track), Garmins and ‘comfort’ drinks bottles.

Do you have any short term/long term goals in running?  No, not really

Is there an event you’d really like to do ?   The Iditarod 1200. 1200 miles across Alaska. I’d go for snow shoe or ski option. Never going to happen now. Always wanted to do it since my mid-twenties.

What running related activity makes you smile   I love to watch kids run in fell races. From 5 years old some of them just love it. And they bounce well and repair quickly. All that fresh young cartilidge . . . the sky is the limit if we can only give them the opportunity. 

Interesting fact ? I’ve had a lot of success at orienteering, but never won the British Championships ‘Long’ course in any age category. However, I have managed to win a Gold medal at the National Sugarcraft Exhibition in London. You see, I do have a softer side . . .

Want to get something off your chest?  Where to start . . . .