This week saw 6 amazing Fit Clubbers running at the Gosport Half Marathon. In near perfect conditions we had some stunning results. PBs for both Philippa and Rachel (both under the 2 hour mark, Rachel for the first time).We also had strong performances from our newest member, Sarah C, and from Anne, Charlotte and Sarah L. Sarah L showed great mental strength to finish the race despite an old knee injury flaring up part way round. Charlotte also showed her fantastic base fitness having only stepped into the race as a last minute substitute for the injured Catherine.
It was also superb to see that despite not running we had Catherine, Allen, Simon and Will out on the course supporting the Fit Club gang.
Here are the results for Fit Club members at the Gosport Half:
Philippa G - 1:53:19 PB
Rachel M - 1:59:39 PB
Sarah C - 2:05:26
Anne A - 2:15:17
Charlotte R - 2:16:17
Sarah L - 2:20:15
Congratulations to everyone who took part! Rachel and Philippa have kindly agreed to do write-ups so look out for those next week!
Up in London Simon “Wee Man” Holman also had a superb run at the Fulham 10km. Simon stormed round in 56:31! Great running Wee Man!
This week saw 12 Fit Clubbers running at Winchester parkrun, Glenna running at Kingston parkrun and Lynn at Cootehill in Ireland. We also had MC on scanning duties at Winchester.
It was another great display of teamwork, support and fantastic running from the Fit Club family at Winchester. Of the 12 Fit Clubbers running we had a whopping 6 PBs! The legends this week were Sharron, Shelley (course PB), Philippa D, Jenny, Ben (course PB) and Tom. In addition we also had Simon M equalling his best and Carrie running a post-injury best time. Special shout out also to Sharron for running her second ever parkrun 1m29s faster than her first; it shows how good the Couch to 5km programme is. 
It was great to see everyone motivating each other to achieve faster times. I loved seeing Sarah, Jenny and Carrie working together and pushing each other to work that little bit harder. It was also my pleasure to run with Philippa and see how hard she worked all the way round to achieve her shiny new PB! Adam even came down to cheer the Fit clubber round despite having run 10 miles beforehand! We also had Lynn running a superb new course PB at Cootehill in Ireland. Great running!!
This week's Thursday club session saw 19 runners meet at the South Winchester park and ride for a tough circuits session. After a warmup we started with a couple of laps of the circuit with sprints separated by short jog recoveries. We then played three rounds of "meet and retreat" before finishing up with another couple of circuits.
It was a cracking session that mixed some tough running with good fun and excellent company!
Read all about it here: https://wfcrunners.blogspot.
Other notices
The Naomi House Santa Fun Run is being held 2nd December this year. Last year we had a huge turn out from Fit Club and it looks like it'll be the same this year so get booked on early! https://www.naomihouse.org.uk/events/448-santa-fun-run
There are a number of 2019 races now open for entry:
Stubbington 10km is now FULL!!
Romsey 5 is now FULL!!
Winchester 10km: It is being held on the 24th February 2019 and you can enter here: http://offbeat-events.com/event/winchester-10km-road-race/
Eastleigh 10km: It is being held on the 24th March 2019 and you can enter here: https://www.fullonsport.com/event/hendy-eastleigh-10k-2019/profile
There is a new YouTube channel called The Running Channel which has videos covering all manner of running related items. They are short videos which are clear and concise and easy for follow. I would recommend taking a look. It can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX7dV4OPDSutwMUauSD5AAA/featured
Runner Profile - Philippa Drew
I’d dabbled with running on-and-off for a few years with the pretence of ‘getting fit’. This mainly consisted of pottering along on a treadmill or doing a couple of laboured laps around the block. However, in 2014 I decided I needed a personal challenge so I signed up for the Great South Run. The 10 mile course did seem like a bit of a stretch, but I devised my own rudimentary training plan and before I knew it I was crossing the finish line with a rush of endorphins and a very sore knee. I continued to dabble but then I spotted a post on Facebook advertising a new running group in Winchester and I knew this was just the thing I needed to give me some much needed motivation and guidance. So on a rapidly darkening Thursday evening a week or so later I found myself smiling nervously at a handful of other brave souls ready for the first WFC running session. Fast forward one year and I would almost go so far as to call myself a ‘runner’.
What do like most about running?
I love the feeling after a run, even just a short one, there’s no other exercise that gives me quite the same sense of accomplishment. But just as important, if not more so, are the people I’ve met through WFC Runners, a really fun, inclusive and encouraging bunch, some of whom have become wonderful friends beyond running.
What aspect of running do you dislike?
It’s not so much the running, more the elements! Apparently there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing…but try telling me that on a freezing Thursday evening when it’s lashing down with rain and blowing a gale!
Favourite race or training run?
My one attempt at the Great South Run is still up there for me, but I also love parkrun. It’s a fantastic concept and although I don’t get to do many due to my work commitments it’s a great start to the weekend. There’s always the outside chance of surprising yourself with a PB too!
My one attempt at the Great South Run is still up there for me, but I also love parkrun. It’s a fantastic concept and although I don’t get to do many due to my work commitments it’s a great start to the weekend. There’s always the outside chance of surprising yourself with a PB too!
Running moment you are most proud of?
Without a doubt it was crossing the finish line of the Great South Run in 2014. It's still my biggest run to date and the combination of an unexpectedly speedy time, some wonderfully generous donations to my fundraising page and my admittedly astounded family cheering me round made it quite an emotional experience!
Without a doubt it was crossing the finish line of the Great South Run in 2014. It's still my biggest run to date and the combination of an unexpectedly speedy time, some wonderfully generous donations to my fundraising page and my admittedly astounded family cheering me round made it quite an emotional experience!
Favourite Cake…
I’m absolutely not fussy when it comes to cake but if pushed I’d have to say a big gooey chocolate brownie. Preferably warm, served with a side of peanut butter and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. (And it tastes even better after a run!).
December 2nd - Santa Fun Run
December 2nd - Christmas Jumper Social - Slug and Lettuce, 2pm
December 7th - Fit Club Christmas Party - The Willow Tree 6:30pm
Race Write-ups
Wimpole Estate parkrun by Karen Parker
Set in beautiful parkland a few miles from my parent’s house, Wimpole Estate parkrun was definitely on my to do list.
I arrived in plenty of time to listen to the briefing. The run director explained that the torrential rain that night had caused flooding on the second cattle grid, and the stuff that was overflowing wasn’t just water! We were all to go through the narrow gate. She asked us to thank the marshals in field two for cattle- whispering the cattle away from our route. The final thing she mentioned was the rain had made the course very slimy and we were to take particular care on the turn into the final leg, when we might fancy picking up our pace.It sounded an interesting parkrun!
We ran to the first cattle grid, and went through a wide gate so all was fine. Then on through a field of sheep looking at us, straight to the second cattle grid. There was a polite queue through the narrow gate, two at a time, then off. Into the cow field, but they were well off in the distance. Thank you marshal!Then I noticed a hill! Wimpole Hall is in Cambridgeshire, so shouldn’t have a hill,but it was there. I remembered my brother telling me there was a hill but I thought he was joking. The hill was real, steep and slippery, with mole hills and holes. I gave in near the top and walked. (sorry coach!) After the hill there was an amazing view of the route along the lake towards was a very slippery wooden bridge, onto the final slimy hill down to the front of Wimpole Hall itself, finishing with a sprint on tarmac to the funnel.
Would I recommend Wimpole Estate parkrun? Definitely. It is beautiful and varied.A real challenge. The only drawback is that buggies are not allowed. The Hall itself is a National Trust property, and has a lovely farm and play area for children after the run.
The Whammy parkrun by Coach James
The weekend Sarah and I were visiting friends in Stoke. Having done the nearest ones to their house already I had to drive slightly further afield to find a new one! Fortunately the interestingly named The Whammy parkrun was a half hour drive away so after a Friday night on the wine, Elsie and I headed over there on Saturday morning. 
The Wammy starts in a small park on a housing estate just outside Newcastle Under Lyme in Staffordshire.
The run is a simple out and back along a disused railway line which means it’s fairly straight forward run. After a short dip down at the start the route heads gradually uphill for a mile and a half before you get to a cone and a marshal.
When you reach the cone you run round it and head back along the route you’ve already come. As the saying goes “what goes up, must come down”! This means that the second half of the run is entirely downhill, making for a quick finish.
The paths are all concrete and all really good condition. They are wide enough to make overtaking easy and therefore are perfect for buggy running. The down hill finish really helps with the buggy as you have gravity assisting you!
We were made to feel very welcome by the core team and volunteers and had a thoroughly enjoyable morning!
This was different event #98 for me as I edge every so slowly towards the magical 100 different! No idea where I'll be next week!
General Announcements
WFC parkrun Club
Winchester Fit Club Runners is set-up as a club with parkrun. If you go into your profile (there is a link to it on the parkrun results email and newsletter email) you can select your club. Change yours to Winchester Fit Club Runners and you will appear in the consolidated club report that we get each week.
WFC Runners WhatsApp Group
There is a WFC Runners WhatsApp chat group where we generally just wang on about running, races and cake. If you are not already part of this then please get in contact with Coach James or Coach Mike who will add you.
WFC Runners Strava Club
If you are a Strava user there is a Winchester Fit Club Runners club page. This can be accessed here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WFC-Runners. Request to join and we will approve!
Booking onto sessions
Booking onto our training sessions enables the coaches to plan the session accordingly. You can book on in the following location: https://winchesterfitclub.simplybook.it/v2/
Race Calendar
Here is an updated race calendar. If you have any others that you wish to add, please let me know!
Festive Frolic (6 hour challenge, 4.7 miles laps) – 25th November 2018
Resolution Run (6 hour challenge, 4.4 miles laps) – 6th Jan 2019
Stubbington 10km - 13th January 2019
Romsey 5 - 27th January 2019:
http://offbeat-events.com/event/romsey-5-mile-run/
Farnborough Winter Half and 5km – 27th January 2019
Farnborough Winter Half and 5km – 27th January 2019
Ryde 10 - 3rd February 2019
http://www.rydeharriers.co.uk/the-ryde-10-mile-road-race/
Portsmouth Coastal Half - 3rd February 2019
Longleat 10km - 3rd February 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/longleat-10k
Bramley 20 and 10 milers – 17th February 2019
http://www.rydeharriers.co.uk/the-ryde-10-mile-road-race/
Portsmouth Coastal Half - 3rd February 2019
Longleat 10km - 3rd February 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/longleat-10k
Hampton Palace Half – 17th February 2019
Winchester 10km - 24th Feb 2019
Wokingham Half - 24th Feb 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/wokingham-half-marathon-17697#source=header_search
Batty Bimble (6 hour challenge, 3.1 miles laps) – 3rd March 2019
Batty Bimble (6 hour challenge, 3.1 miles laps) – 3rd March 2019
Eastleigh 10K - 17th March 2019
Hampton Court Palace Half - 17th March 2019
London Landmarks Half - Ballot - 24th March 2019
https://www.llhm.co.uk
https://www.llhm.co.uk
Wickham 20 – 31st March 2019
Manchester Marathon - 7th April 2019
Brighton Marathon - 14th April 2019
Salisbury 10 - 14th April 2019
https://www.evententry.co.uk/the-rod-smith-salisbury-10-mile-road-race
Goodwood Marathon, Half, 10km and 5km - 14th April 2019https://www.evententry.co.uk/the-rod-smith-salisbury-10-mile-road-race
https://www.runninggrandprix.com/event/goodwood-half-marathon/
London Marathon - 28th April 2019
May the Forth (6 hour challenge, 3.3 miles laps) – 4th May
Revenge of the Fifth (6 hour challenge, 3.3 miles laps) – 5th May
Alton 10 - 12th May 2019
Netley 10K - 19th May 2019
Hook 10K - 19th May 2019
Alresford 10K - 16th June 2019
Liverpool Rock and Roll - 25th May 2019
Endure 24 - 14th-16th June 2019
Salisbury 5,4,3,2,1 (50km, Marathon, Half) - 11th August 2019
http://salisbury54321.com/index.html
Gravel Hill 5 - 17th August 2019
https://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/races
Midnight Marathon - 17th August 2019
https://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/races
Maidenhead Half Marathon - 1st September 2019
https://www.theraceorganiser.com/race-course-map/maidenhead-half-marathon-half-marathon-01-09-2019-08-30
Baccus Half - 8th September
https://www.209events.com/uk-running-events/surrey_bacchus_marathon_and_half_marathon
New Forest Marathon, Half, 10km, 5km - 8th September 2019
https://www.newforestmarathon.co.uk/the-race/race-entry/
Great North Run - 8th September 2019
https://www.greatrun.org/great-north-run
Swindon Half Marathon - 8th September 2019
https://www.newswindonhalf.co.uk
Bristol Half - 15th September 2019
https://www.greatrun.org/great-bristol-half-marathon
Winchester Half - 22nd September 2019
Berlin Marathon - 29th Sept 2019
Blenheim Half - 29th Sept 2019
https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/events/runs/blenheim-palace-half-marathon-10k-and-family-fun-run/individual-registrationSalisbury Half Marathon - 29th September 2019
https://www.salisburyhalf.com
Clarendon Marathon - 6th October 2019
https://www.clarendon-marathon.co.uk
Great South Run - 20th October 2019
https://www.greatrun.org/great-south-run
Dublin Marathon - 27th Oct 2019
http://sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie
http://sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie
Royal Parks Half - Ballot - Oct 2019
https://royalparkshalf.com
https://royalparkshalf.com
As ever, if you have any submissions for the next blog then please send them through to WFCrunners@gmail.com
Happy Running!
Coach James
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Kit pictures and prices
Kit pictures and prices
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