Several Weeks of Great Running – What’s Next?
Hi folks,
I hope that you are as well as can be – browsing Strava, there’s certainly a lot of running going on out there!
Since August, we’ve had several weeks of great running and I hope this update, together with the ongoing motivation and structure from Ian (our Coach) and Graham (Website, stats and super-runner), will serve well in the interim of us getting back together at our target date, during the week of December 7th.
We’ve moved some dates – to keep you posted:
The Candlelit Run will hopefully be our first Club Night back – we are targeting Dec 9th – groups of 6 will leave the pavilion in sequence and make their way up to space near the Chalet, in Wytham Woods. Nigel is the event leader and will be assisted by Tess and the committee. As well as a lovely run, this is an opportunity to pay our respects to those we have lost this year.
Mark’s Run (formerly known as The Breakfast run) is re-scheduled for December 20th. It will start and finish at the Chalet, in Wytham Woods, in groups of 6 similarly paced runners.
Graham is the event leader and assisted by Richard and Arthur.
We plan to have club nights on both Dec 23rd and Dec 30th – pre-booked paced runs, with leaders, as usual.
Date for the Diary:
Annual Review/ AGM will be on January 24th at 18:30, on Zoom. Please hold the date. Details to follow – it will be a celebration of our club as well as Admin!
Please let me know if you’d like to chat about your worthy temptation to join the committee team in 2021!
A New Challenge – England Athletics Weekly Cross Country Challenge:
“You can never have too much cross-country” Benedict Pollard, Men’s Club Captain. Well, BP, your dreams have come true!
How does it work?
“Your route must include being on an open or woodland area, covered as far as possible by grass, with natural obstacles. This is what makes this different to a Virtual Road Race. You can upload your time and distance through Strava or manually upload your time.” EA Cross Country Challenge…
- Simply select a distance and try to improve times between now and the end of November. Please enter using the link below.
- Enter multiple distances if you wish – 3,500 metres would make a change?
- The distances are: Age Group Maximum Distance: All Athletes Under 13 years 3,500 metres, Under 15 years 5,000 metres, Under 17 years 6,500 metres, Under 20 years 10,000 metres, Seniors Unlimited
- A good chance to motivate the kids out the door too, who might be missing all the usual sports club activities – what they might not know they need is a cross country run!
- Run any Sunday and/ or any Wednesday during November – that gives 5 chances (starting Sunday November 15th).
- Graham will compile club results, similarly to the Virtual Park Run, we can ask to please log your run on Strava and mark it “EA XC challenge – 10,000m” (or other distance). Alternatively, please contact Graham with your result and distance.
- Nigel will work on a 3,500 m route in Wytham.
- There will be spot prizes (Ooooh!) – more news on that soon…
Full details and what you must do to enter are here. I’ve entered the 10,000 distance. It was a bit clunky but OK to use. This puts you into a EA league table too.
It also presents the event disclaimers which you must read and check (running per social distance guidance and running at our own risk).
COVID-19:
You will have been aware through other emails that some of our members have tested positive for the coronavirus and are isolating. Most of all, we wish them well.
We think that the infection can be located to an indoor activity that took place outside of club running.
All of the runners who tested positive, or needed to isolate, did not attend any running last week (of Nov 4nd). Runners who ran with these folks on Oct 28th were informed to seek advice also.
When we return, all club events will continue to be subject to England Athletics (EA) advice and our COVID-19 risk reducing measures – pre-booked only: separate paced groups of 6 at a minimum 2m distance: full hygiene measures.
Other news:
We have 24 new members this year, making 179 of us in total – welcome again to all our new members – it’s great to have you and your energy on board and our mission is to keep activities interesting and engaging for you. We also welcome your ideas and feedback!
We’re looking forward to supporting your running journey – whatever it may be we will cheer!
You saw Ian’s note about Pilates (Pilates = Strength in movement + Injury prevention) – It’s brilliant and perhaps a welcome addition to your lock-down routine? Please check out here for how to – It’s live at 18:30 every Monday and you also get a recording, if you want to repeat or can’t make the Monday.
You Can Run – our take on Couch to 5k – has more graduates! As some participants were ‘almost there’ prior to lockdown, Ian (Coach) and Marisa (Leader in Running Fitness) have been running – at a distance and one-to-one – to get the participants over the line and able to meet their goal of running 5k – amazing achievements and inspiring commitment!
Take a look the Club Strava page – there’s so much happening on there and a good way to meet new members – there are many encouraging conversations and some great photos.
As usual please let me or any other members of the committee know if you have any questions or feedback – here were are.
Enjoy your running and stay safe.
Best wishes,
Simon
ERR Club Chair
