February Newsletter ‘14

Hi Folks

For safety reasons the club has a ‘no go’ policy on Ipods or any otherappliance(apart from hearing aids) worn in the ears. Please don’t let us have to ask you to remove them!!

Welcome to new membersKathryn Otoka, Michelle Truman, Christine Chambers, Nick Chambers, Michael Patrick-Dawson, Katie Wakefield, Sarah Ransom, Yvonne Rimell, Ian Collier, Joanna Collier, Cheryl Lovejoy, William Farnham, Gareth Duffy, Shalu Jagota and Stephen Lennon.

CHARITY

Our charity for 2014 is The Salvation Army, Basildon Corps, Christmas Appeal.

Members out and about at races

**Saturday 4th January. The Cross Country Championships took place at Hilly Fields Colchester. How lucky can you be with the weather, no rain until we were in the car coming home!!! PS were unlucky as 2 of the girls and 1 of the men couldn’t be there through injury or illness. PS started the women’s race with 6 runners, but Sue B had to drop out with a bad chest and the men’s race started with 5 runners and then Ross dropped out through an injured calf. This is beginning to sound like ’10 green bottles’!!!!!

The women’s race at 5 miles was won by Gemma Kersey in 30mins 43secs (reflected glory as she’s one of Nick’s clients!!!), just over 6min mile pace!! Debbie was first PS crossing the line in 45:16, pursued hotly by Ruth in 45:35 they were followed by Beryl 48:44, Nicola M 49:08 and Adele 54:28. Last runner 58:28. Team placing 23rd out of 24.

The men’s race, 7.5miles, was won in 39mins 56secs (5.3min mile!!!) With Crispian coming in at number 7 in 42:13 it gives some idea of the standard!!!! Carl crossed the line first for PS in 57:39 he was followed by Stephen H 59:28 and Chris 59:32 Eddie was next 70:04. Last runner 78:01. No team placing as we didn’t have a full team.

Really well done guys. The standard for these championship races is very high as they are used as selection for county representation so all the athletic clubs bring out their ‘big guns’!!

**Saturday 11th January. Fourth of the Essex cross country races, this one held at Hockley. Although a beautiful day overhead the same can’t be said for the terrain!!!!! Both male and female courses were cut short because of the conditions, mud, mud and more mud!! I’m afraid, because of this, I don’t know the exact distances except for the mud heights as runners came in some of which were up to the neck!!! 1st lady crossed the line in 21mins 42secs. Debbie S was 1st PS in 30:24, closely followed by Ruth 30:46. They were followed by Beryl 32:29, Debra P 32:36, Nicola M 34:27, Nicky G 34:37, Adele 36:17 and Sue V 36:52. Last 38:29. The men’s race was won in 22mins 42secs; 1st PS was Chris 31:31 he was followed by Stephen H 32:31, Dave 33:50, Rob 35:50 and Eddie 39:04, last 46:51, unfortunately Adam G had to pull out through injury. Excellent effort guys especially in those conditions. After 4 races team standings are senior women 13th out of 22 and senior men 12th out of 24. Last race 8th February.

**Sunday 19th January. ‘Benfleet 15’ This is where we find the real masochists!!! I have never run the Benfleet 15 but it sounds like 15 miles of hell, especially in the conditions this year!!!! 1st runner crossed the line in 1hr 34mins 06secs (just under 6.3 min mile) it’s not natural!!! Stephen H finished first for PS in 2:25:24 he was followed by Dave 2:27:48, Nicola M 3:00:47, Anne P 3:03:17, Beryl 3:05:56 and Adele 3:12:58. Last runner crossed the finish line a whole hour later at 4:12:56. Really well done, hope you got a medal you deserve it!!

**Sunday 26th January ‘Hadleigh 2012 Legacy 10K’ This is run on the Olympic mountain bike course so definitely not for the faint hearted. 10 PS ladies tackled this (where were our men I hear you ask?!!!!) tough race. The winner finished in 40mins 21secs (6.5 min mile pace!!!) Ruth was first PS across the line in 1:06:23, she was followed by Jumana 1:10:20, Beryl 1:10:42, Nicola H 1:11:41, Claire F 1:14:36, Joy 1:15:35, Michelle H 1:15:55, Nicola M 1:18:07, Danielle H 1:21:07 and Kalli 1:41:13. Last runner finished in 1:56:57. Well done girls!!!

Essex 20 is filling up, excellent try out for the London!! See below

Future Runs and Races

Saturday 8th FebLast Essex League X-country at ChingfordSunday

Sunday 9th March ‘The Essex 20’ (miles) Langham 10am. Entries now £10

Sunday 23th FebSt Luke’s Hospice 10 mile. Ford Motor Company, Dunton

Sunday 9th March‘The Essex 20’ (miles) Good ‘try out’ for the marathon!!!

Cut off time 4hrs

Saturday 15th March Road Relays, Chelmsford. No details yet

Sunday 16th March Weald Country Park, Brentwood,. Extreme Duathlon, an endurance challenge. In teams of three complete as many laps as you can in 8 hours. One lap is 8 miles broken down to a 3 mile run and a 5 mile bike ride.....simple! For those real hardcore folk you are able to enter on your own. There is also a competitive element where prizes will be awarded to the teams who complete the most laps. Proceeds going to Little Havens Hospice.

Sunday 23rd March Brentwood Half Full Up

Saturday 23rd Mar Orion Harriers 15m cross country race. Testing 1lap course,

winding through the beautiful, medieval forest boasting views of the city of London.

Friday 18th April‘Crown to Crown’ Westley Heights

Wed 23rd AprilSkylarks 3K The Wick Country Park 7pm

more information >

Tuesday 20th May‘Summer Series’ see

Tuesday 17th June‘Summer Series’ see

Sunday 13th JulyBritish 10K London Run

Tuesday 15th July‘Summer Series’ see

Wed 16th July Skylarks 3K The Wick Country Park 7pm

more information from <>

Sunday 17th AugStanford le Hope Community 5K see PS website

Tuesday 19th Aug‘Summer Series’ see

Sunday 7th SeptLangham 10K

Sunday 28th Sept‘Dunton Demon 5’ see PS website

Essex Road Running website, which is really good, has a calendar of runs and races in the county

London marathon sponsorship

If you are running the London this year for a charity please let me know so that I can put details in the next newsletter.

If you have any news about runs or memorable events please tell me, everyone is interested

CLUB KIT

It would be great to see all members running the Brentwood Half in club kit and if you doing the Essex 20 you have to wear club vest/T-shirt as it is a championship race

Sue V has vests, T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts for sale, all have club logo and are very good quality. Anyone interested in purchasing any of these please contact her on 07909 778695 or <>.

Vest £13.50, Short-sleeved T-shirt £16.00, Polo shirt £13.50, Sweatshirt £16.00

INSURANCE As most of you know the club only has public liability insurance so if anyone wishes to take out their own personal insurance try .

For those who tweet!!!

Useful information can be found for Essex running on twitter@essexaarunning

Finally‘Birthday Wishes’ to Paul B, Bernard, Claire F, Nicky G, Calum, Simone, Jenny Mc, Carole O, Andrea, Maria P, Anne P, Sally, Matthew R, Danny and Chris T,

Judy

HEALTH AND SAFETY

It is still dark when we go out for our walk/runs and will be for some time. Please can you make an effort to wear either white tops or, better still, reflective tops or flashing armbands. Most members have been happy to comply with this wish, but one or two are still wearing black or very dark colours, and I don’t think they realise how vulnerable they are. It is also very difficult for the group leaders to check that everyone is OK. Sorry to go on about this, but we must all take responsibility for our own safety.