Blog Archives - Hedge End Running Club

Club Championship - Southampton Half Marathon

28/2/2015

Southampton Half Marathon

Hedge End Running Club members have really caught Half Marathon fever and we would like to recognise this by using the Southampton Half Marathon to hold a special Club Championship. Prize details will be announced soon.

This could evolve into a series of events throughout the year as the club develops... for example a longer race in the Spring (maybe Half Marathon or 10 mile race), another race in the Autumn (maybe a 10K or a 5-mile). and then maybe an off-road or cross-country race in the Winter.

Clearly, for any race that's selected for a club championship, there will be some members that won't able to participate, however we hope that by having a number of races throughout the year at different distances and disciplines, we hope we can at least satisfy the majority of members.

There are only a limited number of places left for the Southampton Half Marathon, however we are working with the race organisers to ensure that Hedge End Running Club members can enter the race right up to the cut off date of the 15th of March - regardless of the race selling out before then. Please don't leave it till the last minute though - if any member still hasn't entered and would like to run in the race, enter as soon as possible using the discount code "hedgeend" to get 15% off the current entry price of £33.99, reducing the entry cost to £28.89.

For anyone that can't make the Southampton Half, there will definitely be another Club Championship race later in 2015.

Southern Cross Country Race 7 - Staunton Country Park - 1st March

23/2/2015

Southern Cross Country League 2014-15 Season

Sponsored by Alton Sports Race #7

hosted by DENMEAD STRIDERS

Sunday 1st March 2015, Staunton Country Park, Leigh Park, Havant, starting at 11.00 am

Denmead Striders welcome you to the final Southern Cross Country League race of 2014/15.

LOCATION / DETAILS OF COURSE AND CAR PARK

The course will be at Staunton Country Park as per previous years, using the same course as last year. The postal address is:

Staunton County Park, Middle Park Way, Havant PO9 5HB

Parking at Staunton Country Park has become increasingly more difficult due to the significant rise in number of attendees over the past couple of years. Walking/ cycling to the Start if possible or car sharing is therefore strongly recommended. Runners should park in the public car park (see map) unless directed to an alternative venue by the car park marshals. Competitors and supporters must follow the instructions of the marshals to the correct area as failure to do so could lose the co-operation of the Country Park and future use of this course. A car park ticket must be obtained from the machine at a cost of £2/car. Please ensure that you have the correct change with you. Additional parking is available at Havant Thicket which is located 15-20 minutes’ walk from the Start.

The course is very muddy (although, currently, not the extreme conditions as last year!) and trail shoes are recommended. However, several of the paths have been made up into un- metalized, hardcore gravel tracks which make the course UNSUITABLE FOR SPIKES. There will be no changing facilities at the start, so please come ready to take part. Following on from their popularity last year, two portable toilets will be provided at the start and toilet facilities are also available at Staunton Park Centre or at Front Lawn Primary Academy where the post-race refreshments will be available.

Please be aware that the Country Park is open to the public on the day of the race and there will be walkers and dogs etc on the course. Please ask all runners to be courteous to any other persons that they may come across using the paths during the race. Where possible any obstacles or hazards will be clearly marked or marshalled, but great personal care must be taken.

FIRSTAID
First Aiders will be positioned around the course, marshals will have contact details. Runners must be aware that they take part at their own risk and should be fit enough to enjoy this demanding course.

REFRESHMENTS
Refreshments will be served for the usual price of £1.50 at:
Front Lawn Primary Academy, Broadmere Avenue, Havant, PO9 5HX (off Middle Park Way)
Toilet facilities are available at the school but, unfortunately, no showers or washing facilities.

Please ensure that muddy shoes are not worn in the school hall after the race.

RESULTS
Result Sheets will be handed out on the day at the Race Director’s desk close to the start line of the race. Please complete and return these in promptly after the race to the same location, before leaving the park for the refreshments. Race results will be read out at the school as soon as collated.

PLEASE NOTE:
All runners must wear a club vest. Please observe the time limits:

No men who have run faster than 5.30 min/mile over a measured race of 5 miles or longer in the 12 months prior to the start of the season. This converts to a 10K time of 34:15.
No ladies who have run faster than 6.00 min/mile over a measured race of 5 miles or longer in the 12 months prior to the start of the season. This converts to a 10K time of 37:26.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our sincere thanks go to the staff of Staunton Country Park and the Forestry Commission for their help and co-operation in arranging this event and to the staff of Front Lawn Primary Academy for the use of their hall for provision of refreshments after the race.

We look forward to seeing you on the day and hope that you enjoy the race and that the weather is kind to us.

Best Regards
Graham Clarke
Denmead Striders
Cross Country Representative
email: graham_e_clarke@tiscali.co.uk

website: www.denmeadstriders.co.uk

Upcoming Races in Chichester

23/2/2015

Race Report - Thames Trot - 7th February 2015 - Matt Gardner

14/2/2015

On the 7th Feb I set out from home at 5:45 to head to Oxford to start the Thames Trot. The journey started a few months earlier in August, when a good friend decided to get married on the same day as Endure24 and with a little encouragement from Tiernan I was soon entered into another Ultra.

The race is described as:
“A tranquil run along the Thames from Oxford to Henley. Ever changing scenery on the river and Red Kites frequently seen soaring overhead. One of the best way marked routes we have come across.”

What is not to like?

A few months passed and I decided that I am not really cut out for long distance running and so turned my focus towards getting quicker at the shorter stuff. So with 3 weeks to go and having just completed Stubbington 10K my ultra training started. I start to run home with a group of marathon runners, all very nice and easy, until about 14 miles, when the wheels fell off I hit the wall big time and walked and shuffled my way home for the remaining 4 miles. Thanks to Rich for sticking with me, as I would have called home for a lift otherwise.

I convinced myself it was good training and then did another 17 mile run the following week and with an 11 miler the week after I am all set.

You could say I was slightly undercooked, but I tried not to think about this, it is only 50 miles, what is the worst that can happen?

Anyway we got to the train at 6:00am, via a lift from my lovely wife and made are way to Oxford. We arrived in Oxford and got the shuttle bus to the start.

I decided to fill my drinks bottles at home, just to save some time, but found these had leaked and soaked the jacket I was planning to run in. After a bit of debating, I decided to leave this behind and just hoped it wasn’t as cold a day as we have been experiencing recently. I had also taken both my road and trail shoes, so I could make a final call based on the conditions, I went with road. I decided comfort was more important than any grip gained when running cross country.

It is a strange feeling head off from the start of a race in the knowledge that you will be running for the best part of the day. So I forgot about what lay ahead, chatted to anybody who looked interesting, tried to not get carried away and just stuck to my plan. Which was: Run 22.5 mins, walk 7.5 mins, I didn’t worry about pace but just went at a pace that was comfortable.

I would see Tiernan every 15 minutes or so, as he was running for longer than I was, but I was running a bit quicker. We would have a quick chat and then get back to our own plan.

At each of the aid stations I would get my bottles filled up and pick up some fruit cake and a gel and get moving as quickly as possible. Walking while eating and then once the cake had been consumed, I would get running again.

At 22 miles I made another newbie mistake, when half dozen runners came back down the road towards me while crossing a bridge. They had gone the wrong way, I queried them but one of them showed me a garmin with a map, ah he must know what he is talking about. So we headed back and along the river again. Luckily Tiernan spotted us heading off in the right direction but on the wrong side of the river and managed to call out before we went too far. I probably lost 5 minutes, which is nothing, but mentally it took me a couple of miles to get over it.

The temperature now rose just enough to thaw the frozen ground and the course turned from a solid footpath into mile after mile of thick gloopy mud. It was not only hard work to walk or run in, it was mentally tough not knowing how long this was going to carry on for, especially as we had not even got half way.

I continued quaffing cake at every opportunity and felt pretty good even after passing the 5 hour mark, which was longest time I have been out running for previously.

I got to 37 miles and the penultimate aid station and had some good fun with the spectators ‘flying’ my way down the road. I left the aid station with another runner called Nick and we stuck together for the remaining 13 miles. He was an experienced ultra runner, but he was having a tough day, so we worked together to get around the remainder of the course. He bought one excellent skill to the team, the ability to map read! So I would generally push the running, while he made sure we headed in the right direction.

Going through the last aid station I don my head torch as the light is fading and we head out for the final 6 miles. Plenty more mud, for the next 3 miles, with one of those miles resulting in an 18 minute mile. It is pitch black, with plenty of opportunities to go in the wrong direction, but Nick did us proud and we made it back without putting a foot wrong, unlike a number of other runners who headed in the wrong direction.

At 6:11PM we arrived in Henley, Sarah, Mia and my parents in-law were waiting to cheer me across the line, which was fantastic. My forearms ached, probably from keeping my fists clenched to keep my hand warms, my shoulders ached and my legs no longer felt like they belonged to me.

The official race report summarised the race:

With 68 runners (over 21% of the entire field) failing to finish the course within the 11 hour cut off, it is easy to see just how tough this race was; this truly was survival of the fittest. Miles upon miles of leg sapping slippery mud certainly took its toll. It doesn’t get any tougher or muddier than this. In this light the performances of those 259 ultra runners who made it to the finish line are all the more impressive

Will I do another ultra?

I do feel like I cheated a bit with not doing any training and I am pretty sure I won’t go down that route again. But, I could be convinced to train and race with some Hedgies in the future. The Thames Trot has plenty more to offer and I could be convinced to head back again one day.

It was a brilliant experience and I wish to thank Tiernan for convincing me it was a good idea and Sarah and the girls for putting up with my daft ideas and being my biggest supporters.

As Nelson Mandela said "It always feels impossible until it is done. "

Photos from:
http://www.danmiltonphotography.co.uk

http://www.adrianhowesphotography.co.uk

Hedge End Running Club member / performance of the month for January 2015

12/2/2015

Roberta Buhagiar was the HERC member of the month for January.

Although she wasn't able to get much running in throughout 2014, Roberta has worked hard and has had a great start to 2015. She competed for the club in the December Cross Country races, and also ran the Stubbington 10K and the Romsey 5 Mile races. She was also one of the crazy Hedgie ladies that so brilliantly supported each other to complete the Brutal 10K at the end of month.

Not only did she complete four parkruns in January, she managed to get a PB in the New Year's Day run. In addition, she won the first HERC handicap race by a considerable margin. Roberta has also been a great charity fundraiser, raising a significant amount for the Rainbow Centre by running the cake stall at the Wyvern 10K last year. Well done Roberta, we all hope you can build on this positive start to the year.

Hedge End Running Club member / performance of the month for December 2014

12/2/2015

Michael Head was the HERC member of the month for December.

If anyone wants to see the benefits of joining a running club, then they just need to look at the improvements in performance that Mike has made over the year. One of only a handful of members to complete all the Pentathlon distances, he has got faster and longer and turned in some great results in the latter part of 2014.

A superb run in the Gosport Half Marathon, followed on from the Great South Run and the Bournemouth Marathon. Parkrun times have tumbled and we're looking forward to Mike's enthusiasm for running continuing into 2015.

HERC February 2015 Newsletter

12/2/2015

This is the twelfth of a regular ‘monthly’ newsletter published to club members providing summary key updates.

HERC February 2015 Newsletter.

SXCL Race 6 Info - Chawton Park Woods - 22nd Feb 2015

9/2/2015

ALTON RUNNERS

Alton Runners would like to welcome you all to the 6th round of the Southern Cross
Country League, which will take place in Chawton Park Woods. This will be the first
time this race has taken place for over 15 years.

The headquarters for the race is situated at Medstead Village Hall, which is approx 4
1/2 miles south west of Alton off the A31at Four Marks. The address is Roedowns
Road, Medstead, GU34 5LG.

To enable everyone to enjoy the day, please ensure that all competitors have noted
the following:

Click Here for Full Race Info

RR10 2015

9/2/2015

2015 DATES VENUE (click for map) TIME ORGANISERS
1 April 22 Royal Victoria Country Park 7.00pm Southampton AC
2 May 6 Stoney Cross 7.15pm Totton RC
3 May 20 Wilverley, Sway 7.30pm New Forest Runners
4 June 3 Recreation Ground, Blackfield 7.30pm Hardley Runners
5 June 10 Fairthorne Manor, Botley 7.30pm Stubbington
6 June 24 Manor Farm Country Park 7.30pm Running Sisters/Hedge End
7 July 8 Marwell 7.30pm Eastleigh RC
8 July 22 Janesmoor Pond, Stoney Cross 7.30pm Wessex RR/Romsey RR
9 August 5 Itchen Valley Country Park 7.15pm Lordshill RR
10 August 19 IBM Hursley Park 7.15pm Winchester AC

What is RR10?

The RR10 league is a series of races organised by running clubs in south-west Hampshire for their members. The races are held on Wednesday evenings during the spring and summer. Entry is free. All of the races are 4-5 miles off-road. The standard of runners varies from 5-minute milers to 12+ minute milers so, however fast you are, there will always be someone to run with. If you aren't a member of one of the organising clubs, go to one of their websites (links below) and join up so that you can be part of the fun!

http://www.rr10.hampshire.org.uk