WFC Runners: WFC Runners - News, Remembrance Day runs, parkrun tourism

News

The only racing we saw this week was at the Remembrance Day 10km on Saturday where Philippa G and Simon H were competing. This run is on closed roads, through country lanes and along part of the top of Portsdown Hill, which meant all that hill training came in extra useful! There was even a poppy themed medal at the end! Congratulations to both of you.

This week saw 18 Fit Clubbers running at 4 different parkrun venues in 2 different countries.

As ever the bulk of our runners were at Winchester with 15 of you and enjoying a sticky, muddy run around the North Walls Rec.

In addition we had Karen running at Wimpole Estate parkrun in Cambridgeshire and Alex running at Ormeau parkrun in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Lastly, Elsie and I visited The Wammy parkrun in Staffordshire.

We will have full write-ups of both Wimpole Estate and the Wammy next week.

The notable achievements were PBs by Jenny and Ben at Winchester parkrun. Congratulations guys!!

For our Thursday session 30 Fit Clubbers meet at the new location of Badger Farm for another tough but enjoyable hill session. We welcomed 5 new members to the Fit Club family and 3 existing Fit Clubbers joined us for the first time!

The runners smashed out 2 sets, comprising of 4 short hill sprints followed by one long with active recovery in between. The session also saw us hit a whopping 400ft of elevation!

Read all about it here: https://wfcrunners.blogspot.com/2018/11/wfc-runners-8th-november-badger-farm.html

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 - Rachel Mills

On the suggestion of Jo H we are going to start profiling Fit Club runners in the blog. This is a great way of getting to know each other. To kick us off we have one of the founder members of the group, the queen of jumping shots, Rachel Mills.

Why did you start running?

I was keen to start exercising again after years of ill health caused by Crohn’s Disease. This resulted in major surgery in September 2016, which took me what felt like forever to recover from. I used to run a bit and thought that might be worth a try again. My husband Simon already attended Winchester Fit Club and told me they were starting a running group, suggesting I went along. I was really worried about doing so, and how I would physically cope, but felt it was the right time to try with it now being a year since my operation. I really needn’t have worried. There were a real mix of ages and abilities – from beginner to ultra-marathon runner and everyone was super friendly. Now just over a year from joining WFC runners as one of the founder members, I genuinely love coming to Thursday sessions. I have made some truly great friends and often meet for runs on other days. I have entered and run in 10km races, two half marathons, and starting training for my most ridiculous challenge so far – the Virgin Money London Marathon 2019, after successfully winning a ballot place on my first time of applying! (Never believe anyone who says you won’t get in first time! Sharon Smith will back me up on this!)

What do like most about running?

I find running is a great way to clear your head after a busy day. I also love that I have made friends who will come out running (or for Cocktails!) with me regardless of the weather. I also thrive on a race atmosphere and so am enjoying entering races as and when I can, in-between juggling family, university and work!

What aspect of running do you dislike?

Well, if you asked me a year ago, I would immediately have said HILLS! However, I now understand how they have made me a stronger runner (I can hear Coach James saying, ‘I told you so!’). I actually can’t think of anything I dislike, apart from the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) if I can’t get to a Thursday session or a race.

Favourite race or training run?

I love any race as love the atmosphere. But my favourite races to date are the Great South Run which I ran back in 2010, and the Winchester Half Marathon I ran this year. The support I had from my husband, children and fellow WFC runners was amazing. With people at various points of the course cheering on me and other fit clubbers who were running. It really was a great boost to see friendly faces along the way!

Running moment you are most proud of?

Definitely running the Winchester Half Marathon this year. Having gone from virtually no exercise, let alone running the year before. I initially laughed out loud when someone suggested I run it post Winchester 10km; telling them there was no way I would enter – particularly having seen the profile of the course. Six months later, I decided to give it a go, and made a last-minute entry. I completed the hilly course faster than I had imagined, in the most miserable rain and wind that descended on Winchester that weekend! Especially hard after having trained over a hot sunny summer. There were tears of happiness upon crossing the finish line!

Favourite Cake…

Well, as many of you already know from the runners WhatsApp chat, I LOVE cake! Running means, I can eat more cake without feeling guilty! My absolute favourite though would have to be lemon drizzle!

Other Fit Club Dates

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

Cirencester parkrun by Coach James

With my Sister living in Dorset and my Brother in South Wales we often find it difficult to meet up. As we all run we normally try and meet up a couple of times a year and all run a parkrun together. This week we all met in Cirencester which was my 97th parkrun location.

My sister ran with her hubby and their two kids, my brother with his girlfriend and his in-laws and I was pushing Elsie in the buggy.

The course is set at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. It is a three lap course, all on grass. The initial section of each lap was fairly uneven and care was needed, especially with my dodgy ankles. Other than that the route was on really nice manicured grounds and fast and flat. Elsie and I ran round with my sister and we had a lovely 5km chat. After we finished we cheered the others in and got scanned.

Afterwards we all went for a long, lazy breakfast together. The university canteen offers a special £5 breakfast offer. For that £5 you get a full english, cereal, fruit, juice and unlimited tea/coffee. It was lovely!! We then headed to the Hoborne Cotswolds park for a day of fun and games with the kiddies. Next week I am visiting friends in Stoke so I will be visiting the interestingly named The Whammy parkrun for location number 98!

Salisbury parkrun by Trish

Salisbury parkrun is a sinuous route through the attractive Churchill Gardens which border the River Avon. It’s a flat, 3-lap course with a mix of grass and tarmac paths, so quite quick - even for me! In winter, the course is run on tarmac for 4 laps.

444 runners completed the course today in beautiful autumn sunshine with lots of vocal volunteers, including one with some bubble machines. There’s a handy car park and, today, a van selling coffee etc and - yes - cake. If it proves to be popular over the next month, it’s hoped that refreshments will become permanent feature.If you’ve not done Salisbury’s event, it’s certainly worth a visit.

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!

Gosport Half - 18th November

http://www.gosporthalf.org

Festive Frolic (6 hour challenge, 4.7 miles laps) – 25^th November 2018

http://www.onthewhistle.co.uk/winter-festive-frolic/

Victory 5 - 2nd December 2018
http://www.athleticevents.co.uk/page2.html

Resolution Run (6 hour challenge, 4.4 miles laps) – 6^th Jan 2019

http://www.onthewhistle.co.uk/resolution/

Stubbington 10km - 13th January 2019

http://stubbingtongreenrunners.net/index.php/10k

Romsey 5 - 27th January 2019:

http://offbeat-events.com/event/romsey-5-mile-run/

Farnborough Winter Half and 5km – 27^th January 2019

www.farnboroughhalf.co.uk

Ryde 10 - 3rd February 2019
http://www.rydeharriers.co.uk/the-ryde-10-mile-road-race/

Portsmouth Coastal Half - 3rd February 2019

http://www.fitprorob.biz/half-marathons/

Longleat 10km - 3rd February 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/longleat-10k

Hampton Palace Half – 17^th February 2019

http://hamptoncourthalf.com

Bramley 20 and 10 milers – 17^th February 2019

http://www.readingroadrunners.org/bramley.html

Winchester 10km - 24th Feb 2019

http://offbeat-events.com/event/winchester-10km-road-race/

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) – 3^rd March 2019

http://www.onthewhistle.co.uk/batty/

Bath Half - 17th March 2019
https://bathhalf.co.uk

Reading Half - 17th March 2019
http://www.readinghalfmarathon.com

Fleet Half - 17th March 2019

https://fleethalfmarathon.com/entries/

Eastleigh 10K - 17th March 2019

https://www.fullonsport.com/event/hendy-eastleigh-10k-2019/profile

Hampton Court Palace Half - 17th March 2019

https://www.palacehalf.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsMDeBRDMARIsAKrOP7HuyPHMBlN6FyNNKOay414ajc2Ma4LoNqKhX883znS8IFi25Bej2UEaAlc3EALw_wcB

London Landmarks Half - Ballot - 24th March 2019
https://www.llhm.co.uk

Wickham 20 – 31^st March 2019

https://www.eventrac.co.uk/race-course-map/wickham-20-wickham-20-31-03-2019-00-00

Manchester Marathon - 7th April 2019

https://www.greatermanchestermarathon.com

Brighton Marathon - 14th April 2019

https://www.brightonmarathonweekend.co.uk

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 2019
https://www.runninggrandprix.com/event/goodwood-half-marathon/

London Marathon - 28th April 2019

May the Forth (6 hour challenge, 3.3 miles laps) – 4^th May

http://www.onthewhistle.co.uk/may-the-fourth/

Revenge of the Fifth (6 hour challenge, 3.3 miles laps) – 5^th May

http://www.onthewhistle.co.uk/revenge/

Southampton Marathon, Half and 10km – 5^th May

http://www.abpsouthamptonhalf.co.uk/

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

https://www.runrocknroll.com/events/liverpool

Endure 24 - 14th-16th June 2019