Author Archive
Piercefield Park LCL Cross Country
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 1st 2nd and 3rd thanks to Marianne, Kath and Sam. Julie Davies of Griffithstown was 4th.
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 3rd, Mark was 5th, 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/
Welsh team brilliant in Barcelona
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/
| 6th |
Katherine Matthews |
(Chepstow) |
80:23 |
PB |
| 6th |
Katherine Matthews |
(Chepstow) |
80:23 |
PB |
| 6th |
Katherine Matthews |
(Chepstow) |
80:23 |
PB |
| 6th |
Katherine Matthews |
(Chepstow) |
80:23 |
PB |
| 6th |
Katherine Matthews |
(Chepstow) |
80:23 |
PB |
|
| 8th |
Emma Parry |
(Wrexham) |
81:46 |
Chepstow’s Leisure Centre League Cross Country
15/02/2010 by Lou.
Chepstow Harriers’ LCL XC is on Sunday 21st Feb. in Piercefield Park - 10 mins jog from the leisure centre - starting at 11 am. Course map and info go to piercefield-xc-course-210210.pdf
After the race there are showers in the leisure centre, the bar will be open, runners from all clubs are welcome to join us for a drink and some free homemade cakes.
Brecon GL XC by James + Dick
13/02/2010 by Lou.
Thanks Gerry, some really good photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerryashton/sets/72157623427895746/ That’s a great one of Marianne with the mountains behind. But…you should have run!
I think everyone had an enjoyable (and tiring) day out at Brecon. Conditions were good, a bit cold, and it wasn’t particularly muddy underfoot - although I didn’t see the colour of Dick’s feet at the end 
We all got there at about 12.20, leaving loads/not very much time for the girls to get warmed up for their race. I’d guess that Maz got there with Matt a good few hours earlier so she could get in a long run beforehand to warm up! Was fantastic to see Sam back running, and Steve looking like death - but hilarious as usual (at least you’ve got a week off now! lucky child out of wedlock 
). And everybody helped put up the imaginary tent. To the race…
Unfortunately I didn’t get to see most of the women’s race because I was with child (not pregnant obviously 
) walking round and feeding Seth; but from what I did see they were all fantastic. 
I expect lovely Lou will write a more detailed and better account than myself of the women’s race! I’m not sure of placings, but Maz was first in for Chepstow and 8th overall - brilliant. She even had to have a long warm-down run - to get in the extra mileage? - That Rich Matthews is a hard task master! Next in was Lou, (17th possibly?) and hopefully very pleased. Should have worn shorts, although I do like the pink stripes down the side. Then Sam, taking it easy for the first lap , wearing ridiculous pink fluffy gloves (and giving me stick for my attire!) was next. Covered in sweat - anyone would think you’d been for a run. Sue was fourth for us, running well and running tomorrow in the Rhayader Rant - good luck. Next up was Vanessa, who said she found it tough, but did great to run considering the ‘lack of running’ last weekend. Berta was next in and completed our strong women’s line up - I’ll look forward to seeing where the team finished overall when the results come out. All the women ran amazingly well
So the men had a hard task ahead of them if they were to live up to the women… personally I started off too fast and realised this after 1/2 a lap - mainly because I was knackered. It was all downhill (metaphorically speaking!) from there for me, trying to hold on for another 2 1/2 laps. Tom Cruise I ain’t (and if you’re too lazy to work that out…mission impossible). Luckily the support from the women was fantastic. They’ve all got a good set of lungs on them. And if I inadvertently mentioned I hated anyone, what I meant was that I loved them. And Marianne still seemed to be running around. By lap two, I was just waiting to be overtaken by Matt, Mark, Steve etc… I should mention the course here, but there’s not much to say other than it’s pretty flat with a few mole hills and one embankment you run up twice. Slightly undulating you could say, with a few tight turns to slip up round. Back to the running and at the start of the last lap Matt had finally caught up with me, told me to ‘keep at it’, which I may have done for all of five yards before remembering how tired I was. Matt stormed off catching up loads of people in front of me. So I waited to be overtaken again by the next Harrier, only no one did and thankfully the finish loomed. Do a sort of sprint even though no one is there and try to not have a heart attack. I didn’t get to see Steve finish but he ran really well holding his position all the way - good pacing session for the marathon! Then Mark came in I think struggling with his knee, with a nice sprint finish, good man for not quitting, thanks Lou for getting him to keep going. John was next up with a great sprint at the end (I also think he might have done one at the beginning, but that’s neither her or there!). Then barefoot Dick running well, possibly with cold feet? Chris, who you couldn’t possibly miss with the colours he was wearing, finished with a cracking sprint overtaking three guys. And finally last but not least was Andy, who maybe even enjoyed himself a bit?! Cracking run guys. Not quite as good as the girls, but getting there… 
I know I found it tough today, so everyone who ran did fantastically well. Hopefully we can get a really strong team for Blaise next month
And from Dick:
Good running from our girls including two top twenties: Mar 8, Lou 19, Sam just behind, Sue, Vanessa and Berta (who scored at Ponty and helped give us 1st team).
Top 50 for Matt (48), then James 61, Steve 72, Skippy 114, John 143, Zola 159, Chris 172, Mr Bray 191.
And another good run from Kayley (10th ) our only junior today . She got her invitation to run in the nationals at Birmingham as have Issie and Will Leney - great honour for them and the Club. I hear that some of the seniors who ran today will also be selected.
Thanks Eric for team registration, and Syd for finish duties - a first for the Club I believe and kudos for us.
Fairwater’s LCL cross country (AS) 7th Feb.
10/02/2010 by Lou.
Thanks to Fairwater for a great cross country course and a friendly welcome – just the cure we needed.
Being the morning after our dinner dance it was to be expected - early Sunday morning I found out that many of our fab female runners were done in by the evil booze and other ailments and would NOT be running. By the time we reached the leisure centre team was down to three – two hardy stalwarts – Berta, Sue and me.
Arrived at Pontypool park and we were thrilled to see a suffering but none the less there – Niki – thanks for coming Niki despite a few hours sleep, head cold and sore throat. So things were looking up
.
Then we recced the course – no way – it was like a mini fell race. As Gerry put it:‘’It seems the instructions were that we could use all of the park except for anything that could be mowed. What this meant was nothing on the course that wasn’t steep, rough, muddy or all three.’’
Andy and Dick were obviously thrilled the rest of under a cloud of doom awaiting our slog round the vertical climbs, stream crossings and already hard to stand up on seriously slippery very muddy descents. Ho hum .
Then the race. Dick passed me telling me to’ get a move on gal’ so I did ( thanks Dick ). I’m still amazed by runners like Dick who can race their own race while coaching others – I was shouted encouragement and instruction from Dick for the whole course There was also plenty of support from Fairwater organiser Mark – thanks for that.
Laurie flew past in pursuit of Andy Creber where I gather there was an uphill downhill struggle with our latest man of speed taking the lead on the ascents and gnarly fearless AC winning the descents.
I struggled to keep close to Neil and tried not to hear the female breathing advancing from behind. But Julie Davies of Griff was very kind when she overtook and even encouraged me by saying I would get her back on the down – I tried and failed.
Shame it was over really but not enough to do another lap of the course with Julie. Anyway I wanted to see our teams finish.
Sue (4th) just lost 3rd place and was followed by Niki (5th). Then Berta came in to complete the team. And we scraped a win.
So now what a fantastic xc course – so interesting and fun. A huge thanks to Sue, Niki and Berta for your brave running. I must have looked pretty done in myself as race organiser Mark bought me coat, some sweets and tea – which was nice.
The men did good too. Even on the day after the night before our men’s team have provisionally come first.
Our fast bad lads regained some credibility by running so well even after excessive amounts of alcohol and ladish behaviour, as Gerry said:
‘’Mark, with eyes like the proverbial pxxx holes in the snow proved that he still has amazing powers of recovery from a skinful at the club dinner’’
James (2nd)
Matt Stott (5th)
Mark Harvey (14th)
Laurie (22nd)
Hot on the heels of these four came the mysteriously converted ( and rebuilt? ) xc runner Andy C ( She has the power, she had the technology? ).
Well done Andy (27th) ahead of 10 times club champion Luke(33rd)
Next was Neil, Dick, Gerry, John Thomas, My Rob, Kev, Nick Davies, Andy George and Phil Scrivins.
Well done to all those who ran and thanks again to Fairwater for putting on a fab course being great hosts.
D.Dance Slave Auction for Haiti by Niki
07/02/2010 by Lou.
An enormous thank you for everyone who contributed to the auction last night. It was a huge success and raised £1300 - and that’s without Rob Brown’s party bus to and from the venue. How much did this raise Gill/Rob? People were extremely generous with offering their services as ’slaves’ and people were even more generous with their bidding. I’m sure alcohol helped! A very big thank you to Andy Creber – our auctioneer for encouraging people to bid as highly as possible – and generally for doing such a sterling job. The highest bid was £180 – for Berta’s painting services. Clearly the credit crunch has ended in Chepstow. I’m sure certain ladies in the audience appreciated the oiled up, loin cloth clad slave – certainly Esther and Jane participated eagerly. Good girls!
Below are the services offered, and the amount they went for at the auction. One very important detail, that wasn’t mentioned, is that everyone who successfully bid for a service and didn’t pay last night (and that’s everyone except for James, Mark, Tom Gibbs, Neil and Gill), needs to send me a cheque for the relevant amount, made payable to the British Red Cross, or give me the cash – cheques are preferable. Please either hand these to me at a training night, or post to:
Niki Morgan
Flat 7, St Maur House
St Maur Gardens
Chepstow NP16 5NZ
SERVICES BID FOR:
Mathew Lawson - Half day’s gardening – to Steve Caldwell for £12
Geoff Cram - Computer assistance – to Syd for £10
Jo – Sports massage – to Luke for £30
Suzie – babysitting – to Andy Ost for £12
Astrid - Reflexology – to James for £20
Gerry – Digital photography. On-line gallery – to Esther for £15
Esther – Taxi service – To Andy Stott for £30 (I think it was £30?)
Ian and Gareth – Off-road extravaganza with Sunday lunch – to James for £20 (paid)
Lou and Niki – Off-road extravaganza with lunch – to Andy Stott for £20 (paid)
James – Car Valeting – to Niki for £21
Niki – Meal at flat to one hunky (oh well, I tried) bloke – to Mark for £30 (paid)
Lou – Painting/decorating or cooking – to some random person for £20 – who won this bid?
Syd – Trailer full of logs – to Neil for £60 (paid)
Rick – Day’s climbing for beginner – to Jenni for £35
Vanessa – Fairy cake masterclass for kids – to Steve Caldwell for £18
Charlotte Blore – Swimming tuition plus training plan – to Andy Green for £45
Kath – Sports massage – to James for £40 (paid)
Vanessa – cake making - to Rick for £40
Becky Lane’s company – Free life insurance review – to Nicola for £15
Jane Green – Piano lessons (5 x 30 mins) – to Jane Rymer for £50
Jane Rymer - Dog walking/ironing – to Steve Caldwell for £13
Laura – Month’s free membership of Curves Fitness Centre – to Esther for £15
Jane – Babysitting – to James for £20 (paid)
Andy M-W – Scale and polish or dental filling – to Rick for £40
Jem Cohen – Personalised nav day – to Steve Caldwell for £48
Geoff Cram – Cat fed for weekend – to Tom Gibbs for £21 (paid)
Andy C – Adventure activity day for 8 people – to Andy M-W for £65
Berta – Portrait painted - person/animal (can you distinguish in Chepstow Harriers?) – to Mrs Carter for £180 (paid)
Neil – B&B weekend in Poole – to Gill Stott (with her husband?) for £140 (paid)
Laurie – Ride on his throbbing machine – to James for £20 (paid)
Jan – Horse-riding – to Jane Rymer for £70
Natasha – Gourmet meal – to Steve Caldwell for £60
Steve Caldwell – curry night at youth club – to Gerry for £20
Disco bloke at Dewstone Golf Club – Free Karaoke Night – to a random person for £50 – who won this bid?
Thank you all again! If anyone disputes anything above, please post here.
Niki
Next LCL Cross Country Sunday 7th Feb
27/01/2010 by Lou.
Fairwater’s LCL Cross Country Race at Pontypool Park is confirmed for
Sunday7th Feb.
The course is approx. 1.25 miles per lap.
So, the race will be run over 3 laps for women, 4 laps for men.
The race start time is 11:00 am.
It is approx. 10 mins. walk from the Leisure Centre car park to the
race start, which is just past the ski slope reception building.
Changing facilities will be available from 10 am to 1 pm.
Changing facilities are the Pontypool RFC facilities (underneath the
grandstand) and not the Leisure Centre facilities.
We are advised to wear suitable off road shoes.
This is the day after the dinner dance so points for turning up and extra points for being able to run well!
The Week Ahead 25 January 2010
25/01/2010 by Lou.
Tuesday’s choice is 6 or 8 sets of 2mins fast with 30 secs recovery on the Severn Bridge after drills/speed bursts down the Link Road, or 4/5 Danes Loop figure-of-eights.
Important Reminder – we’ve been getting slack and should be arriving in the Leis Ctre bar by 6.55 at the latest for sorting out who’s doing which session and for any announcements. We’re aiming to be out on the road at 7!
Back to the Bridge on Thursday for the monthly 5k Time Trial. Always worth doing for its great training effect and for helping with pace judgement and race technique. Leave the Leis Ctre dead on 7 or be ready and warmed up on the Bridge for 7.30 start.
The Saturday morning Piercefield Park sessions are getting very popular under our Saturday coach, Rich Matthews. Meet at Leis Ctre ready to jog over to the Park at 9.30 for a very sociable and stimulating hour.
Tuesday’s Training
19/01/2010 by Lou.
Elm Road – This c400mtre cul-de-sac in Tutshill starts at either end with a descent, followed by a very short flat bit at the bottom, and of course ends with a climb. Two minutes of recovery between each run. It’s a 10k pace aerobic speed session and because of the climbs quite taxing. You should as always be aiming for consistency right to the very last leg, so choose whether to do four, five or six pairs.
Beech Grove Hills – A fairly gentle slope in this quiet road off High Beech, just round the corner from the top of the Link Road. We’ll be running uphill for 50 secs at the aerobic/anaerobic boundary, then turning and jogging back for 70 secs to the start point. Four of these make up one set. Then we have a 90 secs recovery before starting the next set of four. Here again consistency is vital, so you should be reaching the same point after each 50 seconds. Choose three or four sets.
In either session - Run too hard and you will go ‘anaerobic’ resulting in build up of lactic acid and your pace will drop to that of your Sunday long aerobic endurance run.
During this base endurance phase of our 3 month periodisation we are aiming to keep the majority of training aerobic.
If you find you’re struggling part-way through your session, don’t be afraid to miss one out and recover your breathing and heart-rate. That way you can keep up your pace and finish the session.
The Week Ahead 18 Jan 2010 - from Dick
18/01/2010 by Lou.
On Tuesday two sessions are on offer. The new Beech Grove threshold hill session where we are trying to work at the aerobic /anaerobic boundary and the good old favourite 10k efforts on the 400 m long Elm road which is an aerobic speed session.
The Shirenewton run on Thursday is a good nine-miler as a loop via Crick but can be shortened by retracing your steps when you reach Shirenewton village. The 20mins out/20 mins back down the Link Rd and across the S Bridge is the usual tempo pace alternative.
Off-road addicts are also getting together to continue the trend of torch-lit cross country runs. A head torch and off-road shoes are essential and a mobile phone in case of emergency. It’s very easy to lose the way in the dark and get detached from other runners. Everyone must make themself sure of the route and find at least one other person to run with. The risks of tripping or turning an ankle are also increased in the dark.
By now you should have heard about the Haiti fund-raising night that will be incorporated into our Curry Night after Thursday training in the Weatherspoon’s Bellhanger in St Mary St. The Club has generously offered to make a donation to the Haiti appeal for each Club member who attends, and there will also be a raffle of Club stuff and items donated by members. Please come and bring something raffleable.
Finally our Saturday morning Piercefield Park cross-country training sessions resume. Meet in the top car park at 9.30.
