12/03/2010 by Dick.

Please note that we’ve been giving wrong directions for Sunday’s LCL Cross Country.It’s at HIGH CROSS JUNIOR SCHOOL, NOT Rogerstone Primary.

Postcode NP10 9AB. M4 J27 third exit towards Risca. Take first left by petrol station into High Cross Lane. After about 600 metres, take 2^nd right into Ebenezer Drive. School is at end of the road. We ran the final xc there last season.

Ivan has now put  correct map on LCL XC page. Even this is a bit confusing! The balloon showing High Cross Junior School is above some private houses on the main road.Please follow the directions to Ebenezer Road, and I guarantee you’ll get there.

Apologies for confusion. Not webmaster’s fault.

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08/03/2010 by Dick.

Only 3 weeks to the FoD Half and what training you decide to do is important in  optimising your race performance.

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01/03/2010 by Dick.

Ivan starts his stint as March’s Coach of the Month by offering us another go at his Beech Grove (gentle) hills session on Tuesday.  Just round the corner from the top of the Link Road, it’s 3 or 4 sets of four 40 second hills with a jog back recovery.

He’s also given us the option of four laps of the Thornwell Loop.. This is a very effective session, but as Thornwell is a good two miles from the LC  SOME RUNNERS MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT DRIVING DOWN OR AT LEAST GETTING A LIFT BACK. There’ll be a chance to make that decision before we leave at 7.

With both sessions the recoveries are longer than last month’s to encourage a faster pace in keeping with March’s dedication to peaking for the FoD Half Marathon.

Thursday’s run will be the Hayesgate route which can be viewed on the Training & Coaching page.

The final Gwent League cross-country on Saturday is just over the Bridge at Blaise Castle in the north Bristol suburb of Henbury: less than a half-hour drive. We’re meeting at the LC at 11, with the men’s race at 12 and the women’s just after 1. Blaise is a very family friendly country park with an adventure playground and café.

And finally…you will have seen the email advertising the recce on Sunday morning of April’s Club Champs race, Mynydd Troed. This will be a gentle jog round the course which is seven miles long with three ups and downs in the heart of the Black Mountains. We’ll be based at a very nice pub, the Castle Inn at Pengenffordd into which we may slip after the run

It is classed as an A medium fell race which shouldn’t put anybody off. It will be marked by tape and friendly marshals.  

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28/02/2010 by Ivan.

The format for the 2010 series will be very similar to last year. There will be three events (please note, not four), all on Thursday evenings starting at 7.15pm. The dates for your diaries are 22 April, 6 May and 20 May.

The course will be the usual one in Chepstow Park Woods, a hilly circuit of just under 5 miles that will be marked.

The slowest runner starts first, the next slowest second, and so on, until the fastest runner who starts last. The idea is that everyone finishes together at exactly the same time! This never happens so there is always a winner who gets a trophy on the night. There are also trophies for the three runners who do best in the series, with each runner’s best two results counting.

If you have done the handicap before then you know how exciting the races can be, trying to chase the runner in front without being caught by the one behind! If you have never done a handicap then come and have a go! They are great fun – no denying that they are a bit tough, but great fun nonetheless!

I will need helpers so if you are not planning to run and are willing to help then I should be grateful for your assistance.

Any questions let me know. I look forward to seeing all of you on 22 April at Chepstow Park Woods!!

Vanessa

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24/02/2010 by Dick.

All Harriers who turned out for the Club at Piercefield last Sunday are called to arms again for this Sunday’s race at Bryn Bach Country Park, just off the Heads of the Valley road near Tredegar.

Our women’s team needs a good turnout to consolidate the lead, while our men have climbed from bottom at the first race to equal second after three races.

And we have individual category leaders in Berta, Lou and Sue, and top three-ers in Nikki, Vanessa, Marianne, Rob, Laurie & Dick.Meet at our Leis Ctre at 9 to drive up country in force.

It’s a good course round the Park with hot showers and hot food afterwards … and before if your name’s Kevin !

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22/02/2010 by Ivan.

With the February race completed there are 28 men and 18 women with scores. Of these there are 23 who have done both races.

Results can be found on the website http://www.chepstowharriers.org.uk/champs.htm

The next race is the Forest of Dean ½ Marathon – move quickly as entries close on 28^th February.

The April race is Mynydd Troed – a fell race. Look out for recce runs – check with Sue or Vanessa.

 Photos of the race (courtesy of Paul Lidgett) can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/26482713@N03/sets/72157614721047802/show/

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21/02/2010 by Dick.

A brand new session and an old favourite, both over in Tutshill, are your options on Tuesday.

Ivan has devised, and will be leading, the Severn Avenue speed session. It’s a 480 metre flat road to be run at your 5k race pace. The recovery is a 280 metre jog back to the start. Choose between eight and ten reps.

Chris will be leading Elm Road which is about the same length as Severn View but is of course an up and down route. Choose four or five each way.

With either session, choose your group carefully according to your 5 or 10k race time. Don’t be afraid to drop down a group if you’re struggling, or miss out a rep and come back renewed.

Our monthly visit to the Severn Bridge 5k on Thursday. A good tempo run will set you up nicely for Sunday’s LCL cross-country at Bryn Bach Country Park.

How many of the 36 Chepstow runners who competed at Piercefield Park this Sunday will make the journey to the scenic delights of Bryn Bach? We need as many as poss to keep up our challenge for the LCL titles. Meet at 9 at our LC to share cars.

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21/02/2010 by Lou.

The sun was shining on Piercefield Park this morning and the warmth was a nice contrast to last year. 

Thanks Rich for a great course – lots of good feedback.  Thanks to Syd,  Jane Rymer, Geoff Cram, Andy Ost, Geoff Bayliss, Stuart, Andy Meek-Welsh, Bram, and Anthea, for the finish and fantastically supportive marshalling.  Thanks to our photographer Paul Lidgett and your family’s support.

Thank you to everyone who brought cakes today, we had a fabulous spread – quite a feast.

The Race

I really liked the start – downhill and nice and wide.  Journalistically I like to start on the line, enough to ignore Mark and Steve telling me to get back, anyway they didn’t have to pass me.  But I did get to see Ivan, Matthew, Marianne, Kath and Sam go by.  Then I had a little battle with Nick B. which he soon won.

Our women’s team had 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd thanks to Marianne, Kath and Sam.  Julie Davies of Griffithstown was 4^th.

It was good to see so many women doing the cross country today – congratulations to all – I hope you enjoyed it ( at least now that the race is a few hours ago?).

Thanks Vanessa for doing the club champs times so quickly - see bulletin board for times.

The course allowed you to see the front runners in the first lap, I watched James leading the way.  First was Giffithstown’s relatively new cross country runner Stefan Simms, followed by Daryll Barnby of Fairwater. Our men did well today – a great sprint finish from Paul Murrin bought him in 3^rd, Mark was 5^th, next in were Stevie C., James, Steve H. and Laurie.  We had 21 men running today – great turnout.  Full list of times and positions are on the bulletin board.  Our men’s team are provisionally first. Commiserations to Andy C who was flying on his first lap but succumbed to his flu virus and had to retire.

So the next LCL cross country is next Sunday  at Bryn Bach Park – a scenic route through the country park.  Meet at the leisure centre at 9 am.  Sorry for the late notice – just announced today.  Please come and run if you can make it as many will have other commitments.

Thanks for the great photos Paul http://www.flickr.com/photos/26482713@N … 7802/show/

Posted in Championship, Cross Country, Races, Club News | 2 Comments »

20/02/2010 by Ivan.

Following the clubs international success last weekend, it’s now time for February’s club champs race.  Chepstow’s Leisure Centre League cross country on 21st Feb at 11am in Piercefield Park.
This is a great opportunity for everyone – even those who don’t often venture off road – to enjoy the open fields, to run for the club and to get points in the Club Champs.
No entry fee, just turn up about 30 mins before the start and give your name to Syd, he will issue you with a number if you do not already have one.
Everyone starts at 11 am, the women get to stop after 3 laps whereas the men get to do 4 laps. About 4 and 6 miles respectively.
Afterwards Dick has arranged for the leisure centre bar and the showers to be open . So a get together in the bar afterwards for cake and beverages.

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19/02/2010 by Lou.

Report in Welsh Athletics:

”Think of Barcelona and, if images of sunny walks down the Ramblas spring to your mind, think again.

The Welsh team travelling to Catalonia for the Barcelona Half Marathon endured snow and sub-zero temperatures and had to battle the elements on the way to achieve some great results.

The Welsh women saw Katherine Matthews and Emma Parry, who both had babies 12 months ago, come back to form and finish 6th and 8th. Matthews celebrated her first Welsh vest this way.”  Full report http://www.welshathletics.org/news/february-news/welsh-team-brilliant-in-barcelona/

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