Sunday 26th February
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
If you like watching sport on the telly there’s a feast of athletics to watch on the BBC iPlayer including the UK Athletics Indoor and World Championships at Birmingham and the European Indoor Athletics from Istanbul.
Tuesday Running Session at Yate Track and Thursday Intervals
The running session at Yate Track will be advertised on facebook.
For Thursday we will be on the road for some hills efforts. Plan is for groups 1, 2, and the quicker end of 3a to head to Glenavon, the rest to Woodland Grove.
Member of the Month Winners
Richard Hughes is our senior winner of the month. Not only is he a regular runner and racer for the club, but he’s also very quick on his feet! He’s a great run leader and his Wednesday hills sessions are particularly popular. Richard, pictured below, with Sandy in hot pursuit!
Our junior winner is Joey McClelland as he has really thrown himself into running in the Academy and competing in Gwent league races since September. His progress has been amazing and so encouraging. Please keep it going Joey!
Well done to you both. Up and Running vouchers will be on the way soon.
PLEASE DO KEEP THE NOMINATIONS COMMING!!!!member.of.the.month@westburyharriers.co.uk
Newport Half Marathon
Well done to Ben Wood, Jonathan Riley and Nick Dobson who were running today’s Newport Half Marathon and all of them came away with personal bests. Fantastic running by you all.
Green Man and Green Boy Ultra
Seema Srivastava had a very busy Saturday competing in the Green Boy Ultra in 6 hours 37. She says, ‘it was touch and go whether I was going to manage it with a bad back at the start of the week but thankfully my injury improved by race day. A really well organised event and wonderful marshals who popped up around the route with encouraging smiles. The man with Frazzles was epic! Seema, pictured below.
Running the full version of the event was Hannah Large (pictured below with her trophy). She reports, ‘I ran the Green Man Ultra today (45 miles) and it was my third time running the event and I was pretty astonished and delighted to come away with an 84 min course PB, finishing in 7hr40. I was 2nd lady and 15th overall. Just a shame it clashed with the final Gwent League!’
Marathon Training Routes, by Chris Palmer
In response for Ian’s request for articles I thought I’d share some long runs that I’ve done in the last couple of years and perhaps give some ideas to anyone training for a marathon. If anyone wants more detail then let me know and I can get send you the routes or share them with you through Strava (chrisedwardpalmer@gmail.com).
2 Bridges Loop (12 miles +) A classic route – 12 miles or so crossing the river over Avonmouth Bridge and the Cumberland Basin or Suspension Bridge, with the long stretches down the Portway and the Towpath. Easily extended with a harbour loop or up to the Downs.
Strawberry Line – out and back (up to 20 miles) As recommended by Ian himself. Park up at Yatton train station (good coffee shop for your return!) and run out and back along a quiet and runnable cycle path as far as Cheddar (10miles out).
Bristol to Bath (20 miles) Start anywhere in town but a handy 20 miles from Sea Mills Train Station: down the Portway, Cumberland Rd, and get on the cycle path just beyond Temple Meads. Eat lots in Bath and get the train home!
Berkeley to Bristol – (20 miles to Coombe Dingle area) If you can get to Berkeley! Nice through the lanes to Falfield and then a bit of a slog to be honest along the A38 (all footpath) to Aztec West, cut through the back of Patchway and onto Cribbs, through Henbury, Blaise Castle and home! Avoid on a day with a strong south westerly wind as I found to my error (or do it the other way).
Magor Loop (18 miles ish) Park up in lovely Magor and follow the majority of the route of the Newport Marathon. Quiet pan flat country roads and a good recce for those doing Newport.
To Portishead (Various distances) Another nice place to finish if you can get back home, or loop to Portishead and back. From Pill follow the cycle paths round the side of the Portbury docks and onto the Sheepway and then head into town and enjoy the Marina and the Esplanade.
Severn Beach Loop (18 miles) One I did with Alex Hamblin recently from Shirehampton. Up through Avonmouth via cycle paths to Severn Beach, along the river front and back through the M49 junction (that has been built but isn’t used), Farm Lane, Hollywood Lane, Cribbs Causeway, Henbury, through Blaise, Sea Mills, and back to Shire along the Portway.
Editors Note: Just a reminder that Chris is running the London Marathon in memory of his mum who passed away last year and while doing so will be collecting donations for St Peter’s Hospice. His just giving link is below.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-palmer-london2023
Cotswold Way Relay
The Cotswold Way relay is taking place on Sat 1st July. There are 10 stages varying in distance from 7 to 13 miles and the route follows the Cotswold Way from Chipping Camden to Bath. Eithne has applied for three teams Open, Mixed and Vets so all abilities will be covered.
Please let me or Eithne Noonan know if you are interested in taking part either here or email enoonan@blueyonder.co.uk
If you are a regular ‘Cotswolder’ let us know which stage you would prefer this year.https://tinyurl.com/4z97yxtm
Club Membership Renewals
As we move towards the Spring, so we reach the end of the athletics year!
This means that now is the time to renew your membership of Westbury Harriers. Please ensure that your membership is renewed by no later than 31st March 2023. Adults are £45, juniors £35.
In order to renew your membership, simply visit the Westbury Harriers’ website by clicking the link below. https://westburyharriers.co.uk/membership/how-to-join/
Gwent Cross Country Saturday 4th March
Well done to everybody who ran yesterday’s Gwent League at Pontypool. Apparently it was particularly hilly so congratulations for getting around the circuit in some very nippy times.
Our younger runners did especially well with Elizabeth making it 5 wins from 5 Gwent in the U11 category this season. She joins a small list of club legends, including Kate Howard and Dalis Jones who’ve achieved the same feat.
Lola was also flying, coming 4th in the U13 category this season and never outside the top 6, plus finished third in yesterday’s race.
A full report and race round up will follow in a future newsletter.
Club Awards Evening- Saturday 20th May
A date for your diary is Saturday 20th May for our annual Awards Evening. A new location this year as we will using the fantastic facilities at Shirehampton Golf Club.
Back to Blaise Senior Training – Monday 17th April
It’s back to Blaise and our club house for training in the evenings. Juniors will be notified separately of their start date at Blaise.
Great Western Runners Towpath Series
The GWR towpath series is back with the whole series costing only £26! There are four races with race 1 including the mob match. Details in the link below.
https://www.greatwesternrunners.org.uk/towpath-series/
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Martin Platt on his long run today. 26km which included some of the Downs and a 2nd fastest time on Strava segment Grange Park up hill in a time of 2:06
Diary Dates
Sunday 12th March Lisbon Half Marathon, part of the Super Half Series
Thursday 16th March Weston Prom
Saturday 18th March 20 and 1/2 Fission. Road event, good tester for an upcoming marathon
Sunday 26th March Club AGM via Zoom
Friday 31st March Severn Bridge Twilight 5 (and Club Championship event)
Sunday 23rd April Offa’s Orror 10k and 10k trail run, Chepstow Harriers
Sunday 2nd April Forest of Dean Spring Half Marathon
Friday 7th April Bristol Track Club 5 km
Sunday 16th April Frenchay 10k, it’s hilly!
Monday 17th April Seniors back to Blaise estate for training
Sunday 23rd April Offa’s Orror trail race including both the 20k and 10k options
Thursday 27th April Weston Prom
Saturday 29th April Butcombe Trail Ultramarathon 50 or 56 miler
Tuesday 9th May Race 1 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Sunday 14th May AJ Bell Great Bristol Run 10k and HM
Friday 19th May GWR Towpath Race 1 (including Mob Match)
Saturday 20th May Club Awards Evening at Shirehampton Golf Club
Thursday 25th May Weston Prom
Saturday 10th June Man V Horse
Tuesday 13th June Race 2 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Tuesday 13th June Clevedon AC Midsummer 10k
Friday 16th June GWR Towpath Race 2
Thursday 29th June 19:30 Thornbury 10k Road Race, Thornbury Running Club
Thursday 6th July Tintern Trot Trail Race, Chepstow Harriers
Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th July Brecon Fans Race Weekend. Horseshoe 10 miler and Pen y Fan
Tuesday 11th July Race 3 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Friday 14th July GWR Towpath Race 3
Saturday 29th July Magor 10k Road Race massive PB potential on a mega flat route
Tuesday 8th August Race 4 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Friday 18th August GWR towpath race 4
Saturday 19th August Race the Train, trail event and you chase the choo choo
Sunday 27th August Severn Bridge Half Marathon and 10k
Friday 29th September – Sunday 1st October. Trail running weekend, Peak District.
Saturday 30 September – Sunday 1st October World Athletics Road Running Champs Riga 1 mile, 5km and half marathon
Sunday 17th September Copenhagen Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Sunday 17th September Oldbury 10 miler Thornbury Running Club
Sunday 24th September Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon
Sunday 1st October Cardiff Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Editor this Week
Ian Gawinowski is Westbury Harriers Communications Officer and can be contacted via communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
