Westbury Harriers Weekly Newsletter 19/08/24
I hope everyone is fit and well. I have just got back from the Avon Road relay championships in Cleeve, and am sat at my lap top, drinking a tea from my shiny new club centenary mug. It was great to see so many Westbury runners turning up and putting in a good stint for their respective teams. It certainly adds a bit of pressure when you have others relying on you. Great to run as a team, and lots of support on the finish/start line for returning and starting runners. Well done everyone who ran, and everyone who stood around in the wind waiting for the awards! Whoever brought the cakes… I salute you. I look forward to seeing the full results in the coming days, and we shall get a full race report up ASAP.
Apart from racing I was training on Thursday night at the interval session*; it was a great turn out and we had some nice new faces as well. It’s always great to see some new blood at Westbury and I always try to make the effort to chat to newcomers. I remember my first session there, and being made to feel very welcome, and I’m still here! I’ll be there again this Thursday night, and I hope to see you there too. Why not drag a friend along and try to seduce them with the lactic joy of group intervals….
*Other training sessions are available
RACE AND EVENT REPORTS
Towpath 5k, Final Race of the 2024 Series.
By Mark Andrews.
The last race of a summer series always has that feeling that Autumn is approaching! It was nearly dark by the time the presentations were finished!
The last race of the series is a 5k, rather than the usual 10k. I think the course suits this better, you avoid the nasty uneven hill and the really narrow overgrown section at the far end of the 10k course!
We arrived at the start to be told that a tree had fallen across the towpath and was blocking the course. We set off on our warm up and quickly came across it. It is amazing what a group of determined runners guided by a lady dressed as a unicorn can achieve by working together! The tree was dragged away and we were able to jog back to the start line!
With many of us also racing on Sunday very few records were set in the race! Congratulations to Paul Turner who celebrated his birthday week by being the first Westbury Harrier to cross the finish line! A belated happy birthday Paul, thank you for bringing the cakes and beers for us all to enjoy afterwards!
As always there were prizes! This time for the race and the series. Congratulations to Kate Hoffen who was the first FV50 finisher and to Heidi Andrews who followed up her FV40 series win from last year with the FV50 series win this year!
I completed the whole series for the first time! Whilst not my favourite course I have really enjoyed Friday nights out with the Westbury gang, both at the race and in the pub afterwards! Looking forward to doing it all again next year!
CLUB NEWS AND ADMIN
ANNUAL CLUB HASH AND CAKE SALE
Many thanks to Neil Miller for setting the hash course and for all the wonderful cake bakers. We raised £233.67 on the night and the Justgiving page is currently up to £165. For anyone who couldn’t make it or is away on holiday and wants to donate, the link is below. Doesn’t have to be a lot, your usual £1.50 Monday night training fee is appreciated.
JUST GIVING – https://www.justgiving.com/page/elizabeth-smith-1723495419272?newPage=true
Any feedback you have please email manager.women@westburyharriers.co.uk so we can consider for next years event.
Penny Brohn are very grateful for our support.
ACADEMY NOTICES
As we are entering the fourth week of August, we are rapidly heading towards the Academy resuming training on 9th September.
It is now possible to renew your child’s membership for the Academy Term 1. The cost has remained static at £20. To rejoin, please use this link https://westburyharriers.co.uk/membership/how-to-join/. You will then need to select Academy 24/25 – Term 1. As an existing Academy athlete, your child has priority membership for the coming year. Further places have been released on Friday 16th August. So if you have not signed your child up for the new term by Thursday 15th August, we will not be able to guarantee that a place will be available for them.
Secondly, the Academy is entirely reliant upon volunteers and parents to continue. Unless we have more volunteers, the future of the Academy could be at risk. We very much want to be able to continue nurturing the next generation of Olympians. This means that we need everyone to help where they can. You are not being asked to help every week, or even every fortnight. However we do need a core group of adult helpers who are enthusiastic and can support the running of the Academy on a fairly regular basis (say, twice or three times a term). Please – can you help?
If you can offer support, please email me with your phone number (and name) and I will call you to have a chat! (Lizzy)
THIS WEEK’S TRAINING
Monday
Group tempo runs from Blaise at 6.30pm, with Wellbeing run at 7.15pm
Tuesday: Track session at Yate 7pm
Seniors book on via RunTogether. Check the FB page for session details.
Wednesday: Hill Session
Adults, all abilities. Meet every Wednesday at 12pm at the traffic lights by Saville Road on the Downs. Book on via RunTogether. Coffee in the Downs Café at 1pm for anyone that wants to come along.
Thursday 15th: Intervals
Coombe Dingle at 7pm.
Warm up & running drills then;
4 mins @ 5k pace
4 x 1 min @ 3k pace
4 mins @ 5k pace
4 x 1 min @ 3k pace
4 mins @ 5k pace
UPCOMING RACES AND TRACK FIXTURES
A reminder that we have an events calendar on our website where you can keep track of dates for training, events and races. (Thanks, Vicky, for keeping this updated). https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/events-calendar/
Club Championship info and rules on this link: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/club-championship/
RACES
Saturday 14th September: The rearranged English National Cross Country Championships. Weston Park, Staffordshire. Team managers have sent out details via email. Club pays entry fee. Target team race.
Saturday 21st September: Midland 6/4 stage Road Relays – Sutton Park. Target team race.
Sunday 29th September: Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon, club championship #12
Saturday 12th October: Pembrey Park, Gwent League XC
Saturday 9th November: Cardiff Cross Challenge, including second Gwent League fixture
Saturday 30th November: Blaise Castle, Gwent League XC
8th or 9th February: Margam Park (TBC), Gwent League XC
Saturday 1st March: Venue TBC, Gwent League XC
TRACK FIXTURES
August 21st: Bristol Track Night – Whitehall Athletics Track, Bristol, BS5 9AZ – 800m and 3k available, open to all:
https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/bristol-track-nights-24/fbclid=IwY2xjawEn8NdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHf587JmTfZZ78WPPtQOuHHxKLrqvGYBHZ9DpCg6HJhbD1Sx9sryyX0Z7DA_aem_1PZX9goBchTxF_MpXD0woA
August 27th: Avon AA Open Meeting – Filton – Avon AA Open Meetings
Midland League at Yate – Endurance runners needed.
Check out Yate Midland League FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/735921887780553
This week’s editor: Ben Wood
