The Netley 10K race results and Club Championship positions are shown below:

With just 1,000 places available, the Fleet 10k is now open for entries. Organised by Fleet and Crookham AC this well established race is fully licensed by UKA and the course is accurately measured and certified. For 2014 BARR have upgraded the race from Bronze to Silver. Chip timing and medals to all finishers combined with individual and team prizes makes this fantastic value for money at £10 affiliated and £12 non affiliated for advance entries. 

We have a further 100 places available in our 5k fun run which also offers chip timing and medals. 
Local shops, parking, restaurants and pubs are all within 2 minutes walk. We have pre and post race massage, fresh coffee and pastries on site and free photographs.  

Whether old, young, competitor or spectator there's something for everyone. 
Regular updates on Twitter  Facebook and our event website

Training tonight (Tuesday 27th May) and Thursday (29th May) will start at Hedge End train station at 19.00. The road is closed outside of Wildern School for resurfacing, hence the change of venue.
There is ample parking at the train station which is free after 4pm.


Map Showing Hedge End Station:
http://www.hedgeendrunningclub.com/hedge-end-train-station.html

Race Report – Netley 10k

As a few of you might know I have spent a lot of time at Netley just lately – no not at Parkruns but making a BBC film about the history of Hospital. So it was nice to come back without a film crew and kit and take on another challenge using just my legs – the Netley 10k.  My leg troubles started at Wyvern 10k last year which I naively blamed on the hot weather (nothing to do with the two week holiday before!). So was a little nervous to wake up and hear that it was going to be the hottest day of the year. That dissipated on arrival with the sight of red, white and blue that seemed to dominate the field. It never ceases to amaze me what a friendly bunch we are.

Anyway I soon picked up my number and wasn’t long before we were all packed like sardines with Garmins at the ready – wishing each other well with a bit of banter.

Due to a leg problem I had to defer my place at the London Marathon so had recently taken up a Triathlon challenge. I did my first one last Sunday so I wasn’t too sure how I was going to get on.

Back to the start line - We were quickly on our way after the briefing and it wasn’t long before there was room to stretch the legs.  In my opinion doing three laps is always a bit of a mental challenge, especially when you see the 7/9k signs on your first lap. So I was determined to think of the positives and dream of a PB!  The course was hillier then I thought and going up and down three times in the heat was quite exhausting. The race seemed go quite fast though.  I never look at my Garmin during a race as I just run as hard as I can run and hope for the best so was pleased to get the finish and find that I had a PB.

After cheering all the other Hedgies running (and falling Jo) over the finish line I made my way to the BBQ area for a lovely afternoon in the glorious sunshine. Martin kindly cooked my sausages (thanks mate). And I was chuffed to get a trophy. This time last year I wouldn’t have even been close. So to conclude a great day and would enter again next year.

I just want to say a big thanks though to HERC. It’s not just the running that’s made my life better/more fulfilling but all the friends I have made. Bernie – you’re a legend and your training sessions have led to achievements I never thought possible.

Race review of North Dorset Village Marathon Relay 2014 - Kate Maslin

"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon."

(Katherine Switzer)

I have to say I was very confused when I saw two women in the race changing rooms wearing full length head-to toe white outfits, until I realised they were in fancy dress as Princess Leia and it was May the fourth. Not being a Star Wars fan, it took a while for the penny to drop that it was Star Wars day. There were two relay teams in full Star Wars costumes, which looked like it could prove a struggle on a relatively hot day on an undulating course in the Dorset countryside (no sign of Chewbacca, I guess that costume would have been a step too far).

When I ran the full marathon in 2011, I had seen the relay teams at the changeover points, so thought it would be a good race to enter with potential for a ladies team to do well. HERC had 3 relay teams in the race: Team Cake (a ladies team), Team Gump (a mens’ team) and Team Cougar (a mixed team, including our “ladies man” Rocket Robson). Team Cougar had ran the race in 2013 and given positive reports. We also had several Hedgies running the full marathon and I have to admit as we were standing around in the school before the race start I was quite relieved to only be running 4.8miles, rather than the full 26.2.

Claire Powell got our team off to a great start and the HERC convoy, led by Giuseppe, managed to get to the first changeover point in the middle of rural Dorset without getting lost. There was a great feeling of excitement and anticipation as we watched the first runners coming through, cheering them on loudly in true Hedgie style, whilst keeping an eye out for the relay runners.

Claire handed over to me to run the second leg, described on the website as the shortest, but most undulating leg. It was tough going running in the rolling countryside and I found myself wondering how on earth I had managed to run the full race a few years before. I was very glad to see Kelly jumping and waving enthusiastically as the next changeover point approached. Kelly’s leg was the longest at nearly 8 miles, so it gave us a bit of time to wait at the changeover point, chat to other Hedgies and have a bit of banter, before getting in the car to drive to the last changeover point.

Kelly ran a superb leg and as she passed the baton over to Anna (our secret cake-eating weapon), we were the 2nd placed ladies team. We got in the car for the final drive to the finish (passing Jo Labram, looking strong at 20 miles). We took the Team Cake name literally and managed to feed Jo some chocolate crispie cake out the window of the car (it was her birthday after all!). Unfortunately my navigational skills were not up to scratch and we got slightly lost amongst the country lanes, but managed to get back to Sturminster Newton, park the car and run to the finish line, just as Anna crossed the line. Strong running by Anna meant we finished 2nd ladies team and won a nice “flying pig” award and bottle of Dorset cider each.

Overall it was a really friendly, well-organised and excellent value event. When not running and driving about, it was inspiring to watch and cheer on the full marathoners. The last 1-2 miles of the race is on a disused railway line. I found a nice vantage point by standing on a bridge about 400m from the finish line and it was wonderful to see relay runners pacing and encouraging the full marathoners as they pushed on to the end. A good Hedgie turn out and hopefully we will have more teams entered in 2015. There was free cider at the finish line if that helps to persuade anyone to get involved!

The second RR10 of the season approached following a rather rainy few weeks. Janesmoor Pond is known amongst RR10 runners for the long inviting downhill stretch at the start of the race and of course for the mud. I had told myself that I wouldn’t bother with RR10’s this year but having discussed this at home and ‘negotiated’  the childcare I set off. Last year I attended most of the races but Janesmoor Pond was one I missed. I think I now know why.

It was incredibly chilly stood on the edge of the moor in the New Forest and conditions looked iffy.  The weather could have turned at any moment. Ladies Captain Kelly had a police escort during her team talk as well which made a change, she must have been very excitable at Netley!

One thing I love about RR10’s is the organisers make it very clear that runners must listen to every word of the talk prior to setting off but no one can ever hear them. I actually think that if someone could hear the talk it may be disconcerting, the silence amongst the runners is deathly but you still have no idea what the Race Director is saying.

I had been warned of mud by fellow Hedge End runners, not least Cliff whose first words to me were ‘what are you doing here, you don’t do cross country?’ Cliff is right, I struggle with Parkrun so what lay ahead of me at Janesmoor ran fear through my veins. Richard Allen who was recovering from the NDVM had kindly said he would run with me and as we set off down the misleading compacted gravel hill I felt a little more confident. I am notoriously dreadful at pacing myself. I always go off at the speed of light and fail by 800m but thanks to Rich I started sensibly. We chatted our way down the hill and continued around the course, catching up with other team mates on the way, even overtaking some.

The muddy parts of the course were like nothing I have ever had to negotiate before. There are a few comparisons but the one that I feel is most accurate is dancing in four inch heels after a shed load of drink, it is like Bambi on ice. People were losing their shoes in the mud, pulling them out putting them back on and continuing. Thankfully my shoes stayed on. Rich negotiated the mud perfectly, he was wearing trail shoes and just took the bull by the horns. I think if I had been running alone I would have had a real sense of humour failure but because Rich stayed with me and expertly negotiated the mud I continued, giggling and squelching away. I don’t own trail shoes for the obvious reason that I rarely run trail so my road shoes took a hammering.

 PB’s can’t be set at the RR10’s because of the points system but I am not one for running without a watch so I always have to check my times. I run to the KM rather than Mile and my maths is worse than my four year old daughters so I really had no idea how far we had run at any stage in the race. That said, we knew we were approaching the end of the race when the marshals kindly informed us there was no more mud. We could see the beautiful downward slope from the start which we now had to climb for the finish. Ahead of us were a small group of Hedge End runners, Sheryl James and Michael Head were there. Richard decided he had to catch Michael and stormed up the hill. He achieved his target of beating Mike because unlucky Mike took a wrong turn at the finish funnel much to everyone’s amusement. I shut down but seeing Sheryl inspired me to run to the line with her, she kindly shouted at me to go ahead so I sprinted for the line just ahead finishing in 84th place.

I’m not a cake fan (controversial I know), I will always fear cross country but I hold a huge amount of affection for the RR10’s, the amount I laugh on the way round contributes more to my core training than any other exercise I do!

Next one is Wilverley, bring mosquito spray, they ate me alive there last year!

Marathon number 6 is over, I have already entered number 7 in the calendar although for the last 7 miles of this run and the rest of the day I was giving that opportunity to somebody else.

So I entered the North Dorset Villages marathon last November and I have been training with that in mind since.

I love training for a marathon, I like the training routine and particularly on this occasion having the opportunity to train with lots of like-minded people. 

My training has been nearly perfect, 686 miles so far this year, across 85 sessions.  I had two days off after Reading half and other than that I hadn’t missed two consecutives days of running since November through until the middle of April.  A 22 mile run along with another of 21 miles, 2 x20 miles and 4 others over 17 miles.  New PB’s at 5K, 10k and Half Marathon.  I have been thoroughly enjoying my running, feeling great.  Two week before the marathon I had a fast finish long run, which went really well, I felt ready.

Then I had a slight dip, picking up a virus which knocked me for 6.  I didn’t run for a week and stayed away from the office, as I wasn’t up to that either.   

Three days before the marathon still not in any state for running a marathon, I took myself to the doctors and I was told they couldn’t do anything other than give me asthma inhalers.

Over the next couple of days I felt considerably better and there wasn’t any doubt that I was going to run.

Rich drove down to Sturminister Newton and we arrived at the school where there was bacon already being cooked by the scouts and a really well organized event in full swing at 7am in the morning.  You could even give the organizer two drinks, which they then handed to you on course.  This is better than Mo had to deal with at London Marathon, no grabbing a bottle off a table, your drinks were handed to you!  

The marshalls were great all the way round which is no mean feet, with open roads on a 26 mile course.

We made our way down to the start and it was a very relaxed atmosphere.  I think this was helped no end by the 4 person marathon relay event taking place at the same time, as the relay runners were obviously not nervous with what lay ahead.

My plan was to run at 8:35 minutes miles, which would produce a time of 3:45 in theory.  I knew I should ease into this pace, with a few very easy 9 minute miles. 

We got under way and the normal charge commenced and  I let people go, but over the next half mile I caught up with a couple of people and settled in alongside Kev Rowe.  The first mile was a nice and easy 8:48, I then put in an 8:19 and 8:09, we continued along chatting over the next few miles.  I was running on effort and slowing a little on the ascents and catching up again on the descents.  Kevin dropped me around 8 miles on another hill and I continued along at 8:35 pace, pretty much through until 16 miles.    Each of the relay points gave a big lift with the support from the relay teams and other supporters.

I then started to feel it, over the next couple of miles and when I here this bellow behind me of “Hello mate”, as Rich drew alongside me.  He tried to keep me going with a “stick with me”, which I did for about a quarter of a mile, but my effort was now through the roof with a heart rate to match.  I wished Rich all the best and just settled into keeping an even effort, even if I slowed. 

At 19 miles we headed to the last relay hand over which was fantastic as ever.  We hit the one proper hill soon afterwards and this is where things went ‘down hill fast’ and I walked for the first time in a marathon.   Both Ben and Tiggy soon came alongside on there relay legs and offered to run with me, but I wasn’t great company at this stage so politely thanked them and let them carry on.

At the top of the hill I could see the flag Sarah had with her in the distance, what must have been a mile away, which spurred me on no end, but soon afterwards I was crawling up another hill.  I then plodded the remainder of the route 11:30 miling.

The last couple of hundred yards were fantastic with brilliant support again.  

Would I recommend NDVM?

Yes, it is a fantastic event whether you are running in the relay or marathon.  It is small with only 300 finishers, it is undulating but far from hilly, 170 meters of climbing in total and only 1 ‘proper’ hill.

Will I be doing another marathon?

After this run as I said, no chance, I had resigned myself to the fact that long distance events are just not for me.  The day after I starting to come round to the idea and I fleetingly considered doing another one in a few weeks (but that is just silly talk).

What went wrong?

I went off too fast for my fitness on the day, plane and simple.  I had not really planned how I was going to run the race, particularly considering I hadn’t been very well.  I just looked at my training and based my pace off of that, which in hindsight was absolutely ridiculous.  Even on a good day, I still went off too fast, everybody knows you need to pace yourself, but I didn’t do it. 

What have I learnt?

I can certainly see why people say ‘never again’ after doing a marathon, the wall is not a pleasant experience and I have no intention of hitting it again, if I run another one.  Start slower than you think you can run and be realistic about your fitness on the day. 

Rob Jones was awarded the April Member of the Month for his runs for the club in the HRRL events this year... the Stubbington 10K, the Eastleigh 10K, and the Salisbury 10M and he has already entered for the Alton 10M and the Netley 10K.   For his run in the first RR10 plus he attends more training sessions across Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays than any other member.

Just letting you know that the River Hamble Games are back….

As a past competitor we hope you will save the date of 12th July this year for the second River Hamble Games…our website is now up and running for entrants, so please visit www.riverhamblegames.com to enter and pass this email onto any of your friends or colleagues who might be interested in signing up.

This year we have extended the competition to include Stand Up Paddleboarding for the first time along with Swimming, Rowing, Kayaking, Sailing and Running from the last event.  Every event will be run to a strict timetable on the day and we hope it will be a day of serious sporting competition mixed with a large element of fun for Hamble and the wider community to enjoy.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Distance Medal Race (5/6 miles) in two categories, race and fun boards and a Sprint Race.  Competitors will need their own boards for the Distance Race and it will be handicapped depending on length of board.  Competitors can enter the Sprint Race with hired or borrowed boards on the day. Boards will be available for use on the day.

Sailing
Racing will be just outside the River at Cat Head and the event base will be split between Warsash Sailing Club and Hamble River Sailing Club.  This year there are three classes, Laser Standard, Junior Handicap and Senior Handicap.

Rowing
This will be in the River based and will be run using Bursledon Gigs.Each The rowing will be run in heats culminating in a grand final.

Kayaking
Also on the river and Kayaks will be available for loan on the day.Racing will be organized from Hamble side of the river, launching off the foreshore over a slalom course.  Heats will culminate in a grand final.

Swimming
This will be based along Warsash shore of the River, entry into the water will be from the ‘Pink Ferry’ Hard and competitors will swim upstream to a turning mark.  Distances will be 1500m or 500m and u16’s are eligible for 500m only.

Running
This event will start from Hamble foreshore.  Distances will be 5k and 10k over on and off road terrain with some narrow sections.  The route will take runners to Netley Country Park and back to Hamble.

The day will culminate in a medal ceremony at the end of the event and an After Games Party to be held at The Royal Southern Yacht Club (tickets are £15 per head), for competitors and spectators alike to enjoy. 

The event is also looking for sponsors and volunteers to help out so please contact admin@riverhamblegames.com if you want to get involved.

For any questions or further information please visit our website www.riverhamblegames.com  or contact Laurie at admin@riverhamblegames.com.

We all look forward to welcoming you to the River Hamble Games 2014!