Newsletter April ‘14
A very warm welcome to new members Amanda Clare, Amanda Wilson, Lorraine Sargent and Michael Clarke.
IMPORTANT Change of Venue for the Summer
During the Summer months of May, June, July and August we will be meeting at Westley Heights (behind the Crown ‘Harvester’ Pub) on Tuesday evenings to allow everyone plenty of time in the nature reserve. On the third Tuesday in each of these months we shall be holding our ‘Summer Series’ of races from the Langdon Visitor Centre Lower, Lower Dunton Road. See attached flyer. Hopefully most members will take part, as it is a 2 lap course it is suitable for both runners and walkers. I will be asking for volunteers for marshalling on these occasions. The runs are fund raising and the takings are divided between Essex Wildlife Trust and our chosen charity for this year, ‘The Salvation Army, Basildon Corps, Christmas Appeal’
London Marathon Runners
We have several members running in the London Marathon this year and raising money for various charities. If your name isn’t here please let me know.
Kristina Girdler I'm running the London Marathon for Asthma UK.
Tony Davis israising money for Cancer Research UK in the London Marathon.
Anne Pettican wrote:- Hi all, this is a message I posted to club runners on Facebook, but I know not all of us use it.
Can I do a little shameless self marketing please? I'm running my first ever marathon on April 13th (London...very excited!!!)and have a charity place to run for Macmillan cancer support. Having had so many friends and family (including my sister) that have had such warm support from their nurses, it is a charity close to my heart.
If you could sponsor me, even for £1 that would help greatly. I still have another £1000 to go!
My fundraising page is text NANC61 £.... to 70070.
Thank you for reading and also for the great support and camaraderie throughout my training so far .
Members out and about at races
**Sunday 23rd February Apologies to Matt Rayner who also took part in the St Luke’s Ford Dunton 10 mile race and finished in 1hr 33mins 33secs. Well done Matt sorry I missed you out.
**Sunday 9th March ‘Essex 20’. This is a 20 miles road race with a 4 hour cut off time. The weather was absolutely beautiful for Jim and Judy to stand out marshalling for 4 hours, but rather too warm for some of the runners. The winner crossed the finish line in 1hr 48mins 27secs, 5.4min mile pace!!! Our four girls did really well with Beryl coming in at 3:10:57, Nicola M 3:20:46, Anne P 3:23:04 and Adele 3:44:30. Although a 4 hour cut off time 11 runners came in after that with the last timed at 4:56:30. With 600 entries only 452 completed the course!!! Well done girls.
**Sunday 16th March Colchester Half Marathon. Nicola wrote:- Ruth was pleased with 1:51:38 which is her fastest over that course, Nicola completed in 2:06:30 not a PB but was also pleased considering she ran Essex 20 the week before. Good course with excellent facilities at start and finish but not quite as well organised this year with congestion at the finish! Perfect weather conditions and great support! Excellent running Nicola and Ruth.
**Sunday 23rd March Brentwood Half Marathon. Eleven PS members took part in this annual half marathon. The weather was ‘mixed’, much colder than we’ve been used to recently and quite windy. The race winner crossed the finished line in 1hr 7mins 42secs (5.1 min mile pace!!!) Laine was first of the PS contingent in 1hr 40mins 42secs, he was followed by Dave 1:43:56, Hayley Sa 1:50:20, Beryl 1:51:17, Debbie S 1:52:48, Eddie 1:55:58, Jumana 2:07:51, Tony D 2:14:12, Karen H 2:15:54, Sue B 2:36:36 and Gemma R 2:51:28. Last runner came in at 3:21:26. Really well done guys, good practise for those attempting a full marathon in the near future.
Forthcoming runs/race
Park Runs message from Kalli
A free, weekly timed 5km every Saturday at 9am, at Northlands park, Basildon. Starts Saturday 5th April. Please go to to register if you are not already a parkrunner.
We can be found on facebook and twitter, just search for Basildon parkrun.
Hope to see lots of you there and don't forget your barcode.
Sunday 6th AprilA trail race being organised by Springfield Striders
from Danbury Common National Trust Car Park, Bicknacre Road, Danbury near Chelmsford (grid ref 782 044)
Start times are between 9.30am and 11.00am
There are two distances 5 miles and 11 miles, navigationis by written route description.
Both courses are quite technical, with plenty of twists and turns in the woods, and the longer course is also quite hilly.
Entry is on the day- £1.50 attached and £3.50 unattached.
Please note there are no toilets or changing facilities at the venue.
If you require any more information please contact
Friday 18th April‘Crown to Crown’ Westley Heights
Wed 23rd AprilSkylarks 3K The Wick Country Park 7pm
more information from
Sunday 27th AprilSkyline 120 Braintree 5 mile race 11am The Discovery Centre Great Notley Country Park. Braintree & District Athletics Club
Saturday 3rd MayWomen’s Running 10K Race Series. River Lee Country Park
Sunday 4th MayMaldon Mile Races, all ages. Commemorating Sir Roger Bannister’s sub 4min mile.
Sunday 11th May Farleigh Hospice ‘Walk for Life’ 22K or 10.5K
Wed 14th May‘Crown to Crown’
Sunday 18th May30th anniversary of Great Baddow 10mile road race also 2m Fun Run
Tuesday 20th May‘Summer Series’ see
Sunday 8th June Trail Run, Saracen’s Head Hotel, High Street, Great Dunmow
7.5miles mainly off road. Start time between 9.30am & 11.00am
£5 entry inc. £2 drink voucher. Public car parking in Chequers
Lane, free on Sundays.
Sunday 15th JuneGreat Easton 5 ‘Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners’ website
Tuesday 17th June‘Summer Series’ see
Sunday 13th JulyBritish 10K London Run
Sunday 13th JulyFelsted 10K ‘Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners’ website
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
On line entry only for 10K until 1st September
Saturday 27th Sept Women’s Running 10k Race Series Finsbury Park
Sunday 28th Sept‘Dunton Demon 5’ see PS website
Sunday 9th Nov‘Stebbing Rememberance Day 10’ Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners website
***TheEssex 10k Cross Country Series is now in its second year and we just wanted to make you aware of the races. The race series will take place one Saturday each month, May through to September, in various country parks around Essex. All races are open to every level of runner nobody is too slow or fast for our traffic free, chip timed, runs. Results will be posted on line shortly after each race. Races can be entered either individually or as a series. Runners that sign up for the entire series receive a Technical Series T-Shirt. Every runner will receive a goody bag after each race.One Pound of every entry goes to St Francis Hospice
Essex 10k Cross Country Series 2014
Danbury: 3rd May
Hylands: 14th June
Thorndon: 5th July
Hadleigh: 2nd August
Weald: 6th September
NEW COURSE WALK
Some of the committee will be walking the course of the new Stanford le Hope
Community 5K on Sunday 27th April.
Nick and Judy will be jogging round at 9.00am followed by walking at 10.00am. If any
club members wish to join them at either time please meet at Thurrock Thameside
Nature Park, Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford le Hope, SS17 0RN. Tea/coffee
on sale afterwards in the Trust Centre.
Our ‘Summer Series’ start in May. If you work locally and
can put the flyer up somewhere prominent, please print and
display. Thanks
Finally ‘Birthday Wishes’ to Marian B, Tony B, Nick, Jackie, Sheila, Jill, Sherrie, Daniel G, Sue H, Hayley J, Peggie, Alan L, Hannah, Suzi, Sharon N, Kathryn, Lucy R, Sharon S, Natalie W, Stuart
Judy