Hello everyone
The winter training season is almost upon us and with this in mind there are a few things to announce for the coming months.
Last road counter (Norton 5)
The beady eyed amongst you will have noticed that the Norton 5 (our final road counter) isn’t going ahead now. We have scratched our heads trying to find an alternative but there doesn’t seem to be anything else suitable around this time. Therefore it’s been decided to have the 2nd borders league in Chester as the final road counter. More details will be announced nearer the time but the idea is to get as many green vests to the borders as possible and we hope this will encourage more members to take part. The date doesn’t change as this borders league race is also on the 6th November.
10k Time Trial
A new and improved (also a lot safer) course will see the 10k time trial on the Greenway at Mickle Trafford. The first one is on Wednesday 5th October so put this date in your diaries. It’s more of a recce for this first one but please all come along, Jackie has checked with the owner’s of Meadow Lea Farm Coffee Shop and parking is fine on this date so we can car share from the club. The course couldn’t be simpler, just an out and back route, the turn around point is close to Total Fitness, a sign will be there. Head torches and high viz vests are essential on this course as there is no lighting so please bring these along with you. If we can all meet at the club at the usual 6.30pm and travel down to the Greenway from there following Joe’s club talk.
Map of the new route is below:
Wednesday Winter training runs
It will soon be time for winter runs so please dig out your GreenArmy high viz vests and bring a head torch for some of the runs. I think for the first few runs we decide what run to do on the night depending on the numbers and what the local conditions are like. The important thing is we split into similar paced groups and look out for each other, especially the newer runners who may not know the routes. It is also important we all do the same route on the night, this is in part down to safety, if a runner is struggling with the pace of their chosen group an option will be to drop down a group and they won’t be on their own if all groups are on the same route. As we have found in the past it’s difficult allocating leaders each week and can tend to over complicate things but with the runners we have who know the routes it all generally seems to work out ok on the night without being too prescriptive – but we do need to look after each other!
Other options will be available over the weeks and months, Paul Frodsham’s “Fartlek” runs were very popular last year so I’m sure we will add these in again as they were brilliant training and inclusive of all abilities as were the “eye balls out” training runs.
London Marathon
For those who have entered the London Marathon but don’t get in through the ballot (folks should hear mid October), the club should hopefully be given 2 places (to be confirmed mid Nov). Those with rejection slips can be entered in the draw for these places BUT please be reminded that there is a further club requirement that you must have completed at least two (and preferably more!) Border League races in the preceding 12 months. A reminder as this seasons first two Border League races will count so there’s a great opportunity to qualify for a place if you have not already done so!!
That’s all for now, any questions or queries please get in touch with any of the committee.
Looking forward to the winter running season!