The main race this weekend was the Santa 5km fun run around the streets of Winchester. It's a great fun event where everyone dresses up as Father Christmas and runs a short loop around the city. Fit Club had a cracking turnout of over 30 runners, and were the best represented club or organisation at the event; a sign of how far we've come!! It was very much a fun run, with times unimportant, and the emphasis on fun. There was a good medal at the end and plenty of mince pies to go around! It was a superb morning and there will hopefully be a more complete write-up for next week's blog.
In addition to the Santa fun run we also had Lynn running the Victory 5 in Portsmouth. Lynn ran an excellent 37:14 in this Hampshire Road Race League meeting.
At parkrun this week we had 12 Fit Clubbers running at 5 different venues. We had Trish at Penrose, Mike and Anna at Bury St Edmonds, Elise at Lee-on-the-Solent, myself at Rickmansworth (write-up coming next week) and 7 of us at Winchester. Unfortunately Southampton parkrun was cancelled at very short notice after a body was found in the lake. 
Weather conditions were not great and so PBs were hard to come by, however Trish managed a course PB at Penrose on her second running of the event. Simon H also ran a PB, however unfortunately he forgot his barcode so will have to try again next week!
The big news was Lynn completing her 50th parkrun. Lynn has done 37 at Winchester and 11 at other venues. Lynn's PB was set at Navan last week with a stonking 22:31. Lynn has also volunteered 16 times. Congratulations Lynn, look forward to seeing you in your new 50 t-shirt soon!
Here is the consolidated parkrun report for this week: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=26888&eventdate=2018-12-01
This week saw the runners head back to more familiar stomping ground of Barfield close for a pyramid session. Despite the inclement weather there was a good turnout of 22 runners, lured in with the promise of drink and cake!
Read all about it here: https://wfcrunners.
This week (6th December) we will be meeting at Dean Lane Park opposite Waitrose in Weeke.
A number of members are also doing an advent of running; running at least a mile every day from the 1st to teh 24th December. Look out for more updates in the coming weeks!
Runner Profile - Allen Westoby
Why did you start running?
Topical today but I started running after I did the Santa Fun Run in Southampton in 2011. Catherine got me into running by bringing me to the event. I loved the buzz of everyone around me and I thought the nature of everyone there was great. I only really started training in 2016 when Cat had signed up for her first half marathon and needed company on her long runs. I now love the sport.
What do you like most about running?
The best thing about running is how different people can surprise you. I’m a firm believer that neither size nor age is an obstacle to fast or long distance running. I’ve been passed by people younger, older, and larger and anything in-between in races. I think the sport is a great leveller, it's open to everyone and you can be committed or head out just for fun every once in a while. There aren’t many sports where you can just buy a pair of trainers and head outside!
What aspect of running to you dislike?
Blisters.
Favourite race or training run?
Winchester 10km has to be my favourite race. I really enjoyed the Wyvern 10k last year as well as it was an out and back on a pretty fast course. Winchester is all around a different race, it’s a loop not out and back, and it’s not flat either! It’s great running on home soil and I’ve settled on 10k as my favourite distance to race.
Running moment you are most proud of?
When doing the Brighton not-quite-a-half-marathon in 2017 I’d targeted around 1 hour 50 mins but felt really comfortable on the day and ended up sticking with the 1:45 pacer for the first third of the race. I got my confidence up and pulled a minute or two ahead of the pacers but towards the end of the race I was absolutely dying… I’d run consistently but at a pace I hadn’t really run in training. About 2km before the end of the race, I was slowing massively and another competitor ran past me and said “keep going, you’ve been pacing me the whole race!!” 50% happy for her, 50% gutted I’d been overtaken by someone who had shadowed me the whole race I dug deep and finished with a sprint. I’m proud of finding more energy when I thought I had nothing left (adrenaline is a wonderful thing).
Favourite cake?
Very tough choice… it’s between pretty much any Lemon Drizzle Cake and Spiced Apple Cake (Winchester Mill recipe found here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill/documents/spiced-apple-cake-recipe-card.pdf). The Apple Cake is probably no.1 for me, must be enjoyed with Coffee or Tea and it’s best when it’s still a warm just out of the oven!
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
Other Fit Club Dates
December 7th - Fit Club Christmas Party - The Willow Tree 6:30pm
Race Write-ups
Hell Runner by Caroline Tyree
I’ve done Hellrunner a few times before and the pre-race nerves are always the same; it’s cold, it’s wet (we’re in November, so what do I expect..), I could do with a lie in and my left leg has been playing up recently. But was soon as we’re en-route; caffeine charged, e-bay beards ready and previous Hellrunner memories flooding back, the adrenaline starts pumping and it feels more like fun. And by the time we’re finally parked up in a muddy field, along with hundreds of other foolhardy thrill seekers, I just can’t wait to get started.
Hellrunner is a blast from beginning to end! I can’t think of a better way to spend a damp Saturday November morning (well, maybe that’s not strictly true..) or a better way to take you out of your comfort zone and to find that liberating feeling comes with surrendering yourself to the elements and immersing yourself in bitterly cold, muddy water!
Set against a backdrop of stunning autumnal colours and a misty horizon, Longmoor military camp is a genuinely beautiful place to run with forest trails that are soft underfoot, steep muddy banks to clamber up and slide down, dips to fly through and long stretches of sand for those who favour trail over road running. But what makes Hellrunner unique is the utter fun of plunging into a swamp of waist high sticky mud, the sense of euphoria when you’re up to your neck in ice cold water, and the fact that you feel like dancing as you negotiate your way through the notorious Bog of Doom, music blasting, minutes from the finish line.
For me, Hellrunner is all about Teamwork – about waiting for your friends, about linking arms as you negotiate your way through a seemingly endless stretch of water, propping each other up, and laughing together at the sheer absurdity of it all. Oh, and about being outsprinted by your friends at the finish as you dig hard for that final burst of adrenaline.
Hellrunner – you make me feel connected and alive and I’ll be back again next year – hopefully with fellow Hellrunner aficionado Tina Jury!
For videos and photos that will send shivers down your spine visit: www.hellrunner.co.uk
To celebrate my birthday Sarah had arranged for us to spend the weekend in Dorset, and see family and friends. This all kicked off on Saturday morning with a run around Upton House parkrun. Upton House is a small manor house on the outskirts of Poole. Being close to my parents' house I had spent many happy days playing in the extensive grounds and so was overjoyed when they decided to set up a parkrun there last year. I ran it soon after it started and this was my first return visit.
The day hadn't started well...when unpacking the double running buggy (kindly donated by Mik) for it's first trial run I managed to get my finger trapped! It immediately swelled and started turning purple and was incredibly painful! However that did not deter me from running!
Being my birthday weekend my brother had travelled down from Wales with his girlfriend and her parents. My sister also joined us with her hubby and their two kids. I was pushing Elsie in the double buggy and had Olivia running alongside. My bother decided that I should dress up, so bought me a tiara and sash to wear, along with a birthday princess balloon.
The course starts near the walled garden and cafe and is a two lap route. the first lap heads downhill along the woodland trail before turning onto the shoreline trail and heading back up to the start/finish. As you get onto the shoreline trail you get great views across Poole Harbour which really distract you from the fact that you are running back uphill!At the start of the second lap you head off for a shorter loop. This starts with a sharp downhill before heading around an area of parkland and past the dog training area. You then run back up the sharp hill before basically repeating the first lap.
The run went well with Olivia running more than she walked for the first time in ages and the new buggy being really comfortable to run with. Elsie said the new buggy was more snuggly than the old one. We finished in 34 minutes which for an undulating trail course with two kids in tow I was really pleased with.
After the run we all headed back to my mums where she had cooked a huge fry-up for us all. It was a great day and a really good way to start my birthday celebrations!
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!
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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