The Cricket Club Trail Marathon, Stratford on Avon: 7 December 2013: The Race Director, Chris Seeney, is an old friend of mine. He organises quite a number of route description trail marathons around the Stratford on Avon area and they are always well supported. There were 85 participants in this event and I reckon I knew half of them. The race started in central Stratford and followed the canal to Wilmcote. After passing the Mary Arden Centre we turned into fields and ran a couple of interesting long circuits around the Oversley Woods area before heading back to Stratford. The weather was perfect for running, the company was good and the scenery was great. I finished in 4:56:38 having thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Pisa Marathon, Italy: 15 December 2013: Last time I tried to get to Italy for Pisa Marathon I spent nearly 2 days sitting on planes at Gatwick Airport in heavy snow at which stage I gave up and returned home, so I was relieved when our plane touched down in Pisa Airport in sunshine. About 30 of us made the trip, which was mainly to celebrate a friend, Danny Kay’s, 72nd birthday and 500th marathon. Our hotel was only a few hundred yards from the leaning tower, plenty of good restaurants and the race start and the weather was perfect from Friday to Monday. The only part of the marathon course, which presented any problems was the first section through the city as it was difficult to spot some ruts in the road when in the middle of a large crowd. Once we got onto open roads and headed towards the sea the going was much easier and then the stretch beside the sea was very pleasant. My original plan was to run just behind the 3:45 pace group, but at about 13k another British runner, Gareth Hare, joined me and we gradually moved ahead of the pace group. At 39k Gary slowed down, but urged me to go on and I was amazed when I crossed the finish line in 3:39:38, my best time for over 3.5 years. I’m very tempted to go back to Pisa next year. Danny finished just behind me comfortably ahead of all other competitors in the 70/74 age group. The celebrations on the Sunday evening were not to be missed!
Portsmouth Coastal Trail Marathon: 22 December 2013: It rained constantly throughout both the Saturday and the night before this marathon so everybody knew at the start that all of the footpaths would be muddy and waterlogged. The race starts at The Pyramid Centre on Portsmouth Esplanade and then follows footpaths around Langstone Harbour until the turnaround point at 13.1 miles. In good conditions this could be a very fast course, but both times I’ve run it have been after heavy rainstorms. This year we had the added pleasure of having to wade through knee-deep freezing cold sea-water where the tide had come in and then run nearly 2 miles along the Esplanade into a strong headwind to reach the finish. This meant that Mark Travers (the only other Strider there) and I both missed out on getting an under 4 hour time with him finishing in 4:02:27 and me in 4:03:19. Given the weather and tide conditions I was happy with my run.
Winter Tanners (30.5 miles), Leatherhead, Surrey: 12 January 2013: This event follows a circular route from Leatherhead along Surrey footpaths and bridleways. The route description is pretty complicated and the organisers emphasize in the instructions that minimal support is provided. On the 30.5 mile route there are only 3 checkpoints so it is essential to carry your own water and anything else you might require. After several weeks of torrential rain I guessed that the route would be muddy and it was. The mud made progress slow and we also went wrong in quite a few places and had to retrace our steps. We completed the last 4 miles in the dark with one torch between 7 of us. The organisers said it was a tough event and it certainly was. My time was 8:51:00.
The Viking Coastal Trail Marathon, Kent: 18 January 2014: This race starts by the end of ‘The Parade’ in Birchington and heads out on the Viking Coastal Trail for just under 3.28 miles to the turnaround point just short of Reculver Castle (which was built by the Romans 2,000 years ago to guard the channel separating the Isle of Thanet from Kent). This loop is repeated 4 times and because the tarmac and concrete path is fairly narrow and is shared with dog-walkers and cyclists the number of competitors was limited to 50 (half of which I knew). The route was totally flat, but the wind made the return part of the loop quite tough and seemed to get stronger as the morning went on. I didn’t feel particularly strong throughout and finished in 4:11:59. However, it was nice to spend the morning running beside the sea.
 |
| Watford, 2014 |
Watford Half Marathon: 2 February 2014: This was a little confidence booster before I turn 62 in March. My time of 1:46:39 was the fastest I’ve achieved on this course since 2005 and was good enough to get me the 2nd vet 60 Herts County Championship medal. It was great to see so many other Striders there, many of whom achieved PBs even though parts of the course were flooded.
 |
| Genk, 2014 |
Genk Marathon, Belgium: 16 February 2014: Incredibly for my 6th running of this 7 lap hilly marathon the weather was so much better than in previous years that I was able to run comfortably in shorts and a T-Shirt. 11 of us made the trip this year (apparently with a total of over 5,400 marathons between us). I had a good run finishing in 3:46:16 coming 70th out of 188 and 2nd vet 60/69. After the race we just had time for a few post-race celebratory beers at the race HQ before catching the train back to Brussels.
Jack Brooks
It is a fact universally acknowledged that mud is preferably enjoyed in the relative comfort of a luxury spa for skin cleansing purposes, as opposed to the down-trodden, slushy – frankly, plain miserable – experience that the Southern Cross Country Championships on Hampstead Heath’s Parliament Hill offered on Saturday 25 January.
While I had previously – as it turns out erroneously – assumed that Parliament Hill was just a bit of a ‘fun run’ in a bit of mud, it turns out that actually it’s a bit like Marmite: do it and love it forever, or, do it and vow to never ever put your lethal 15mm spikes on again!
Two years ago I loved it. I can’t think why now. This year I can shamelessly admit that I hated it!
And here’s why….
I was never one to lead from the front, which might have made the experience a notable success by collecting points for the Club or even winning (yeah, right!). I plod, propping up the persistent league of ‘back runners’ – as results and iPhone videos on Facebook will prove – I discovered a new hatred for all things ‘dirty’.
The German in me is a bit of stickler for cleanliness and orderliness, so the disorder of runners charging up the hill from the Lido, resembling a scene from the Grand National, did not sit well with my nature. And the inevitable mud bath, aided by the predictably unpredictable British weather, was diluted into an even murkier substance, eager to squelch through socks and in between one’s toes.
Not to mention the innate worry about cleansing the better-left-unmentioned toenail crevices and the extra detergent polluting the environment required to clean failed performance socks, once known by their distinct shade of once-to-often-washed-with-darks-grey.
While fellow Striders embraced the mud and thought it was such fun, I lied and nodded while secretly thinking: ‘…so not doing that again!!!’
Suffice to say, that once the woman’s 5 mile race was over, the men had to struggle through near enough 9 miles enduring an impenetrable mud-fest that must have surely beaten the manliest man at his moderately toned core! (….and bring tears to their eyes, perhaps?)
And as if that wasn’t enough! The journey home added to the soggy misery by sending thunder, lightning, more rain, and train delays. We eventually rolled into St Albans: dirty, wet and cold.
So, did I enjoy it?
No!
Will I do it again?
Certainly not!
Am I going for a long run this weekend in the wet, cold and muddy conditions known as the British weather?
Probably…..:)
Petra Grosse
Welcome to the first of a series of regular updates to let you know anything that is going on that you might be interested in and also to keep you up to speed with anything the committee is working on behind the scenes.
1. Races
2014 has been a busy year for the club so far. Lucy and Ed are doing a magnificent job at keeping us all organised and updating results, so I won't repeat what they have already said, other than to say thank you and well done to all who have turned out and contributed to some great results so far!
Target Races - With an ever growing club and a busy race fixture list, we have decided to flag up our key races that we as a club, have decided to target in the coming months. We're very proud of the wonderful turnout of Striders at key events and it is hoped that by signposting the key races in this way, it will make it easier for members to prioritise which races to enter and turn up to. As well as the various Cross Countries and the Fred Hughes, the next target races for members is Berkhamsted Half Marathon (2 March 2014) (Enter online at runnersworld.co.uk)
2. New Kit
One of the committee’s objectives for 2014, is to review the design of our racing vests. Anecdotal evidence suggests there is a lot of support amongst members for something that looks a little less dated, is better fitting and made from lighter material. We have plenty of ideas, but before we go ahead and explore options, I would love to hear your views on the current vests: what you like and what you don’t like. The colour, the shape, the material, the fit, the design…. good or bad, we all have to wear it, so all opinions are welcome. Please get in touch with any views.
3. Committee Update
It is with regret that Mark and Jean have had to step down form their respective positions due to various new commitments (a new baby and a promotion at work, respectively – congratulations to you both!). However, I’m really pleased to be able to tell you that Joe Dunn has agreed to take over as Men’s Road Captain and Jenny Maddocks has agreed to take over as Club Secretary. Both were nominated and sworn in at the committee meeting last week and I’m sure will do a fantastic job on our behalf.
4. Annual Charity
Finally I am delighted to inform you that the committee selected the British Triathlon Trust as our annual charity for 2014. The Trust works to get kids active and engaged through the sport of triathlon. Some of you will be aware that our very own Mike Jubb and Claire Kremer are directly involved in this and not only will our donation help to put on a ‘Large Schools Event’ in St Albans, but we will all be able to get involved with helping out. Mike will let us know more details nearer the time, but I think you will agree that this is the perfect charity for Striders to team up with for so many reasons and a great opportunity to get further involved with our local community.
Stuart Middleton
Purbeck Trail Marathon: 15 September 2013: I should know by now that any race in Dorset is going to encompass some horrendous hills. Purbeck Marathon certainly didn’t disappoint in this respect. The start was on the Downs overlooking Swanage Pier and most of the first half was along narrow and rutted clifftop paths with a howling wind making it challenging to avoid being blown sideways. The wind was unrelenting even when runners turned inland towards Corfe Castle and then on to the finish. On the plus side the views were fantastic, the marshalling was excellent and there were plenty of drinks stations. I had quite a bad fall at about 24.5 miles, but still managed to make the finish line in 4:47:11 just before the heavy rain started. As soon as the first aid guys had wiped away the blood I headed straight for my car and a testing 4.5 hour drive back to St Albans in heavy traffic.
Carlow/Kilkenny Trail Marathon: 22 September 2013: As the course hadn’t been officially measured this race was classified as a trail marathon even though it was on roads. Getting to Kilkenny involved a flight, a bus trip through Dublin and then a train journey. It is a pretty city with an impressive castle overlooking the River Nore and plenty of pubs (most of which have live music). On arrival our first surprise was that our Landlord had gone on holiday to Spain and we were more or less left to let other guests into the B&B as and when they arrived. On the Sunday morning a coach picked up most of the 48 entrants by Kilkenny Castle and took us to the race start in Carlow. The race director provided useful commentary on the course. His best one was ‘You turn left at this junction. This is the first left turn. There are others before it, but ignore them!’ Having said that the course was relatively straightforward and the only thing that caught everybody out was finding that once we passed the 26 mile sign instead of having just 0.2 miles to run there was still 0.8 miles to the finish. I wasn’t feeling as strong as I should have felt at 18 miles and finished in a disappointing time of 4:22:10.
 |
| Jack in Ostend |
Ostend Marathon: 29 September 2013: For 20 Euros runners receive 1 technical t-shirt, 1 cotton t-shirt, a medal, well stocked drink stations and plenty of fruit at the finish as well as race photos that you can download for free off the race website. As I discovered earlier in the year in the Ardennes, not all races in Belgium are flat, but this course was probably one of the flattest I’ve ever raced on. The start was by the sea front in the exact location where the old De Kust Marathon used to finish and the vast majority of the race was beside sea, canals and rivers. The only problem I find with flat courses can be headwinds, but at least the first 21km of headwind was balanced out by 21km of tailwind once we turned to head back to Ostend. This was a great little marathon and easy to get to by Eurostar (as Eurostar tickets allow one to travel free to any station in Belgium). I was pleased to get back under 4 hours for the first time since my Australian injury and finished in 3:54:31.
Bournemouth Marathon: 6 October 2013: A twin room for 3 nights for £74 and a return train ticket for around £22 and I was all set for Bournemouth. This was a new marathon forming part of a running weekend with a half marathon 2 hours earlier on the Sunday and a 10k, a 5k and children’s runs on the Saturday. Nobody expected the temperature to top 20 degrees on the Sunday and there were 2 tough, long hills at around 12.5 and 17 miles, but with much of the marathon route beside the sea and the novelty of running up and down both Boscombe Pier and Bournemouth Pier the route was actually quite pleasant. There was plenty of support and the event was generally well organised. I was 9th vet 60 finishing in 3:52:46.
Great Eastern Half Marathon: 13 October 2013: After running the Hatfield 5k race in 23:35 my next challenge was to run this half marathon, which I last ran in 1995 finishing in 1:28. After picking up Howard Bull from his house we set off for Peterborough in teeming rain only to find that the A1 was closed. We made it to the race and to the front of the toilet queue with 10 minutes to spare. Fortunately Howard was not too disconcerted by this and achieved a PB in 1:39:29 in spite of the wet and windy conditions. I finished some way behind him in 1:48:14.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) Marathon, Canada: 20 October 2013: After a couple of days in Halifax, Nova Scotia I headed for race registration at Charlottetown, PEI. The PEI marathon is a point to point race starting at the beautiful Brackley Beach and following the fairly flat Gulf Shore Parkway beside the island’s north shore up to around 21km. Following spectacular views of sand dunes, beaches and the Covehead Lighthouse the route then turns onto the Confederation Trail for 12km. This is a well maintained fine gravel trail along the route of an old railway line and there are one or two long gradual climbs in this section. At 34 km the route rejoins the highway and comprises a series of rolling hills as runners approach the finish in Charlottetown. My original plan was to start with the 4 hour pace group, but when I discovered that they were taking regular walk breaks I moved up to the 3:45 pace group who turned out to be a friendly bunch. I stayed with them until 34 km and as I got ever nearer to the finish I started passing a number of them who had dropped off the pace as the hills started taking their toll. I later discovered that the pace group leader had finished alone in 3:45 exactly. I crossed the line in 3:47:21, which I was more than happy with. Rain had been forecast, but in the end we had sunshine for the duration of the run and the only slight bugbear was that we were running into a headwind for much of the latter part of the race. The rain arrived soon after I’d finished.
Legs for Literacy Moncton Marathon, New Brunswick: 27 October 2013: After a week of sightseeing stopping off at Sydney, New Glasgow and Saint John it was time to register for the Moncton Marathon. To my surprise the girl who had led the 4 hour pace group at PEI recognised me at the Moncton pasta party and introduced her English husband Andrew who, as it turned out, would be Moncton’s designated 3:45 pace group leader. This time I started off with Andrew’s group, but we drifted apart fairly regularly as they were taking walk breaks while I wanted to run without stops. When the group finally passed me at around 34km there were 4 of them, but as I neared the finish line I overtook 2 of them as I was feeling quite strong at that stage. The race route was flatter than for the PEI race, but there was much more gravelled trail to be negotiated and as it had rained overnight and the downpour continued throughout most of the race some areas were quite waterlogged. Also, with a number of out and back sections the path was quite crowded in places especially in the first half when we were sharing the route with half marathoners. An unexpected bonus was discovering that my time of 3:46:56 had been good enough to earn me the first place (out of 11) in the 60/69 age group.
Porto Marathon, Portugal: 3 November 2013: I loved Porto although I would have preferred rain on the race day and sunshine on the other days rather than the other way round. The marathon starts with about 1 km of uphill and finishes with a fairly gentle 1km uphill stretch, but is otherwise flat and mainly follows the course of the river. About 4km of the course was over cobbles and there were one or two falls over these, but mainly the road surfaces were good and the organisation was excellent. For the race entry fee of just under £36 runners received a rucksack, 1 cotton T-shirt and 1 technical T-shirt, a shoe bag and a large bottle of port. I set off too fast and suffered in the sun on the second half finishing in 3:57:6. Nevertheless, I would thoroughly recommend this marathon and might well consider running it again.
Athens Marathon, Greece: 10 November 2013: According to legend the first person who ran this distance dropped dead when he reached his destination. I survived, but it was hot and hilly. The bus pick-up to take us from central Athens to the town of Marathon went very smoothly, but by the time the race started at 9am it was already starting to get warm and within the first hour of the race the temperature was around 25 degrees and still rising. By the time I made it to the finish line in the famous Panathenaikon Stadium I was definitely suffering and was glad to clock a time of 4:14:26.
The impressive aspects of the marathon were (1) running the original historic marathon route (2) great organisation with fireworks at the start (3) the crowd support from every town and village we passed through (4) well manned and supplied drink and food stations (5) I won the sweepstake for the closest guess to the actual times that all of our group ran. The only negatives were (1) the hills and the heat - which are both out of the organisers’ control - and (2) congestion in the baggage collection area, which could probably have been solved by introducing a one-way system. I’m not sure that I’d run it again, but as a one-off experience I really enjoyed the event (once I’d found some shade at the finish).
Ashwell Half Marathon: 24 November 2013: Having originally planned to have 3 weeks with no racing this local (near Baldock) multi-terrain 2 lap half marathon proved just too tempting. Each lap comprised about 1 mile of slippery mud and 2 respectable hills. Runners are taken by bus from Baldock to the race start at Newnham and with only 169 competitors the whole event had a very informal and friendly atmosphere to it. I started off fairly steadily, but as I was feeling strong in the second half I was able to overtake quite a few runners without anybody coming back at me. I finished 82nd and first vet 60 in 1:50:45.
The Captains' guide to 2013-2014 XC
It’s nearly time to dust off your spikes with the cross country season starting up again this weekend. Striders take part in a number of league and championship events from October till March so to help you understand how and when to take part, your cross country captains have put together this handy guide…
Why do cross country?
- To improve your fitness: Running off-road enhances your stamina and endurance. Tackling uneven surfaces and hills improves your muscle strength and core stability making you fitter and faster.
- Less stress on your joints: Running on a softer surface gives your body a break from the impact of pounding hard surfaces like the road and track.
- It’s scenic: As no course is the same, you could be running round farmland, through forests or pretty parks.
- It’s suitable for all abilities and ages: You don’t have to be super speedy and you don’t need to be able to run a marathon. Distances are usually 4k-8k for women and 8k-12k for men.
- Contribute to the team effort: Just like the Midweek Road Race League, the cross country competitions we compete in are team events. The first to the last scorer all make a difference to where the team finishes.
- Earn club champs points.
- It’s free! Fully-paid up members of the club get free entry into all the league and championship races.
- It’s friendly and fun! The races provide an opportunity to meet your clubmates, get into the team spirit and enjoy racing in the great outdoors.
LEAGUES
The Chiltern League: Comprises clubs from Herts, Beds and Bucks, open to all abilities. Men and women race separately -approx 6k for women and 8k for men. There’s also junior races earlier in the day where St Albans AC athletes compete for Striders. The juniors, men and women’s scores are all combined to reach our league position. Last year we won division two to gain promotion to division one so we would love to do well again this year (division one and two compete in the same race and results are calculated afterwards).
- Where & when: Women’s race starts approx 1.15pm, men’s approx 2pm
- Saturday 19 October, Watford
- Saturday 9 November, Oxford
- Saturday 7 December, Milton Keynes
- Saturday 11 January, Venue TBC
- Saturday 8 February, Wing
- What to do: We need to declare with the organisers who will be running the night before each race. We’ll send an email and post on the message board the week before each race so please let us know then if you intend to run. On the day, collect a number from captains (Ed Blake for the men and Lucy Waterlow for the women). As with the MWRRL, you must keep this number for the whole league. After racing, you won’t be given a finishing position ticket as results will be recorded by the organisers.
- More info: www.chilternccl.co.uk
The Sunday XC League: Slightly lower key league so a good introduction if you have never done cross country before. It’s suitable for all abilities and just like the MWRRL but on off-road courses. Clubs from the local area take part with men and women competing in the same race which is approx 5-6 miles. If you take part in four or more races you will be in with a chance of winning an individual age group prize at the end of the league. Individual trophies are awarded as follows: Senior Men, M40, and M50 - first five places. M60 - first three, M70 - winner. Senior Women, W35, and W45 - first five places. W55 – first three, W65 – winner.
- Where & when: All races start at 10.30am
- Sunday 27 October, Cheshunt
- Sunday 24 November, Grovelands Park, Southgate
- Sunday 8 December, Trent Park, North London
- Sunday 12 January, Royston
Sunday 16 February, Cassiobury Park, Watford
- What to do: We’ll advertise further details on each race in advance. You don’t need to wear a number so just turn up and race. At the finish, you’ll be given a ticket with your finishing position on which should be handed to the captains so they can record the results.
- More info: There’s no official website for the league but rsults and pictures will be posted on www.runherts.com. The Watford Joggers website www.watfordjoggers.org.uk/sundayleague.php also has some good information on the courses.
CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
Herts County XC: Individual and county medals up for grabs here and the chance to qualify to represent Herts in future races. Approx 8k for women and 12k for men.
- Where &when: Sunday 5 January 2014, Watford
- What to do: You must have been born in Herts or have been a resident in the county for at least nine months prior to the race to compete. Captains have to enter teams in advance so look out for details on the message board or via email in order to sign up. On the day, collect your number from captains.
- More details: www.hertscaaa.org.uk
Southern XC Champs: Regional event made up of clubs from the south of England. Approx 8k for women and 15k for men.
- Where &when: Saturday 25 January 2014, Parliament Hill Fields, London
- What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered pre-entered by captains. Look out for posts/emails to sign up nearer the time. The event is chip-timed so you must collect your chip and number from captains on the day.
- More info: www.seaa.org.uk
The National XC Champs: Prestigious and historic event which clubs across England take part in. Approx 8k for women and 12k for men.
- Where & when: Saturday 22rd February 2014, Wollaton Park, Nottingham
- What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered pre-entered by captains. The event is chip-timed so you must collect your chip and number from captains on the day.
- More info: www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk
Other races: There will also be some Vets only championship races (age 35/40 and over for women depending on the event and age 40 and over for men) across the season including the Southern Masters Champs on Saturday 14th December at Biggleswade and Herts County Vet Champs in March (date and venue TBC). You must be pre-entered so look out for email/posts nearer the time.
RELAYS
The St Albans Cross Country relays in Verulamium Park will not be staged this year as the only available date clashed with the Southern Road Relays.
Southern XC Relay: Team event involving clubs from the South. In the past it hasn’t been that well supported by clubs so offers a low key, fun start to the cross country season (and the chance for Striders to try and grab some prizes).
- Teams: Women, 3 x 3k, Men, 4 x 5k
- Where & when: Saturday, 5th October, Wormwood Scrubs. Women start at 2.10pm and men at 2.40pm.
- What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered pre-entered by captains. Sign up now.
National XC Relay: Well-supported national event where clubs from around England compete in teams around a course that’s not challenging and great for spectating.
- Teams: Women, 3 x 3k, men, 4 x 5k
- Where & When: Saturday 2 November, Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Women start at 2.10pm and men at 2.40pm.
- What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered pre-entered by captains. Sign up now.
And finally here’s a list of essentials you will need for cross country racing…
- Striders vest: You must compete in a club vest for all the above events.
- Layers: Wrap up warm with hats, gloves and a waterproof jacket before and after the race. Some courses can be exposed to the elements and races will go ahead come wind, rain or shine (only very heavy snowfall has cancelled races in the past).
- Shoes: Some courses will be suitable for trainers, but if the weather gets wetter and ground gets muddier, trail shoes or spikes are essential. If you only plan to buy one or the other, trail shoes are more flexible as they give good grip in muddy sections but are more comfortable on courses which include harder surfaces such as gravel. Cross country spikes can be bought for around £40 so are well worth having in addition to trail shoes as they give better grip on courses which are entirely grass/mud. Invest in some different length spike pins to insert in them so you can adapt the spike length according to the course (12-15mm best for very muddy courses like Parliament Hill).
- Pins: For attaching your number.
- Change of socks: The socks you run in might get wet and there’s nothing worse than travelling home with stinky, damp feet!
- Wet wipes: Great for wiping all that mud off your legs (and arms and face!). Don’t worry about getting muddy, it’s all part of the fun and it all comes out in the wash!
- Sense of humour!
If you have any further questions about cross country running or want to find out more, contact xc men’s captain Ed Blake at men@stalbansstriders.com or women’s xc captain Lucy Waterlow at ladies@stalbansstriders.com
We hope to see to you at the races,
Lucy and Ed, XC captains
