As another year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on how it's been another successful one for St Albans Striders!
We’ve welcomed new members, hosted races with rave reviews and even beat Nike to a World Record!
Here are some of the highlights, with thanks to chairman Graham Smith for pulling the information together for his AGM speech...
Friday, 22 December 2017
Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Marathon man Jack Brooks reports on his latest feats of endurance
AUGUST TO OCTOBER 2017
Chislehurst Commons Trail Marathon: 6th August 2017
This was a new marathon near Bromley comprised of six laps of just under 7k followed by a shorter final loop. Each lap contained a very long descent of around 2k followed by a long ascent of about the same distance. There was enough variation in the surroundings to ensure that repeating the route each time wasn't boring. My time was 4:45:37.
Chislehurst Commons Trail Marathon: 6th August 2017
This was a new marathon near Bromley comprised of six laps of just under 7k followed by a shorter final loop. Each lap contained a very long descent of around 2k followed by a long ascent of about the same distance. There was enough variation in the surroundings to ensure that repeating the route each time wasn't boring. My time was 4:45:37.
Monday, 18 September 2017
Bring on the mud! Striders Cross Country Guide 17-18
To help you get organised, we've put together this guide with all the dates for your diaries.
If haven't taken part in cross country racing with the club before, scroll down for more information on all the leagues and championships we take part in and how you can get involved.
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| Get your trail shoes and spikes ready for the return of cross country season! |
Cross country running can be great fun with hills, mud and even water obstacles to contend with, making it much more interesting than your average road race. The undulating and uneven terrain will make you a stronger and fitter runner, while taking part will allow you to meet more of your fellow Striders and replicate the team spirit of the summer's MWL.
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| Club vests must be worn at all cross country races |
Cross country captains Cathal Gallagher and Wendy Walsh will email and post on Facebook with the full details on each race the week before they take place but here's details we have so far...
OCTOBER
Saturday, 14 October: Chiltern League, OxfordSaturday, 21 October: Southern Cross Country Relay, Wormwood Scrubs
Sunday, 29 October: Sunday League, Cheshunt
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| The Sunday League returns to Cheshunt in October |
NOVEMBER
Saturday, 4 November: National Cross Country Relays, MansfieldSaturday, 11 November: Chiltern League, Milton Keynes (Teardrop Lakes)
Sunday, 12 November: Sunday League, Trent Park
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| Don't expect the Chiltern League courses in Milton Keynes to be flat! This hill awaits at Teardrop Lakes |
DECEMBER
Saturday, 2 December: Chiltern League, LutonSaturday, 9 December: Southern XC Masters Championships, Oxford (over 40s only)
Sunday, 17 December: Sunday League, Willian
JANUARY
Sunday, 7 January: Herts County Champs, WatfordSaturday, 13 January: Chiltern League, Keysoe
Sunday, 14 January: Sunday League, Watford
Saturday, 27 January: Southern XC Champs, venue TBC
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| The infamous water obstacle at Keysoe |
FEBRUARY
Saturday, 10 February: Chiltern League, Milton Keynes (Campbell Park)Sunday, 18 February: Sunday League, Royston
Saturday, 24 February: National XC Champs, Parliament Hill, London
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| The National XC will be held at Parliament Hill again, go and watch if you can't race |
MARCH
Saturday, 10 March: Inter-counties XC Champs, Loughborough (participation by invitation only if selected to run for the county)Sunday, 25 March: Herts Vets Champs, Royston (over 35s only)
CROSS COUNTY LEAGUES WE COMPETE IN
THE CHILTERN LEAGUE
Comprises clubs from Herts, Beds and Bucks. 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 scores from all races are all combined to reach our league position so it's a big team effort from young to old(er)!There's a misconception that this league is only for speedier members but all abilities can, and do, take part! We welcome runners of all paces and your contribution could make all the difference to the team score.
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| Men and women race separately in the Chiltern League |
Saturday, 14 October: Oxford
Saturday, 11 November: Milton Keynes (Teardrop Lakes) including the UKA Cross Challenge
Saturday, 2 December: Luton (Stopsley Common)
Saturday, 13 January: Keysoe Equestrian Centre (home of that water obstacle)
Saturday, 10 February: Milton Keynes (Campbell Park)
Women’s race starts approx 1.15pm, men’s approx 2pm, with exception of the final fixture when the women's race is last
What to do: You must be EA registered to take part. 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 messageboard the week before each race so please let us know then if you intend to run. On the day, collect a number from the captains (Cathal Gallagher for the men and Wendy Walsh for the women). As with the MWL, you must keep this number for the whole league.
More info: www.chilternccl.co.uk
THE SUNDAY LEAGUE
This is a slightly lower key league than the Chiltern so it's a good introduction if you have never done cross country before. Once again it is open to all abilities. 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. |
| You don't need a number for the Sunday League, just turn up and run (whatever the weather!) |
Sunday, 29 October: Cheshunt
Sunday, 12 November: Trent Park
Sunday, 17 December: Willian
Sunday, 14 January: Watford
Sunday, 18 February: Royston
All races start at 10.30am
What to do: We’ll advertise further details for each race in advance. You don’t need to wear a number so just turn up and run. 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 results and pictures will be posted on www.runherts.com
CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
Herts County XC
Individual and team 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.When and where: Sunday, 7 January, Cassiobury Park, Watford
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| We're the reigning men's county champs, can we retain the trophy this year? |
More info: 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.When and where: Saturday, 27 January, venue TBC (Unlikely to be at Parliament Hill, London, as that's where the National XC will be held this year)
What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered and 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
A prestigious and historic event made up of clubs across England. It's suitable for all abilities with elite athletes at the front and those who might have to walk sections at the back. Approx 8k for women and 12k for men. If you can't take part then go along and watch, seeing all the runners charge up Parliament Hill at the start is quite a spectacle!When and where: Saturday, 24 February, Parliament Hill, London
What to do: You must be EA registered and 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
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| The women's team at Parliament Hill |
RACES JUST FOR VETS
Southern Masters XC Champs
A chance for veteran athletes to compete for glory without any youngsters getting in the way!When and where: Saturday, 9 December, Oxford (same course as the first Chiltern League)
What do do: Women must be aged 40 plus to take part and will race 6k. Men must also be aged 40 plus and will race 10k, with the exception of men over 70 who will run at the same time as the women. You must be EA registered. The captains will submit entries in advance so look out for details nearer the time.
More info: www.seaa.org.uk
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| There are plenty of opportunities to run for Striders this cross country season |
Herts Veteran XC County Champs
Another chance to gain an individual or team county medal, this time without having to compete with the younger generations!When and where: Sunday, 25 March, Royston
What to do: Open to anyone aged 35 plus who was born in Herts, or has been a resident in the county for at least nine months prior to the race. Captains have to enter teams in advance so look out for details on the messageboard or via email in order to sign up in December. On the day, collect your number from captains.
More info: www.hertscaaa.org.uk
RELAYS
Southern XC Relay
Team event (women, 3 x 3k, Men, 4 x 5k) involving clubs from the South which is a low key, fun start to the cross country season.When and where: Saturday, 21 October, Wormwood Scrubs
What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered and pre-entered by captains. Look out for emails/posts from the captains in the near future.
More info: www.seaa.org.uk
National XC Relay
Well-supported national event where clubs from around England compete in teams around a course that’s not challenging and is great for spectating. Women, 3 x 3k, men, 4 x 5kWhen and where: Saturday, 4 November, Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
What to do: Open to all club members of all abilities but you must be EA registered and pre-entered by captains. Look out for emails/Facebook posts in the near future.
More info: www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk
Further questions?
If you need to know anything else, email the XC captains - Cathal Gallagher and Wendy Walsh: crosscountrycaptains at stalbansstriders.comFriday, 25 August 2017
Jack Brooks endures border checks in Belarus, dodges grizzly bears in Alaska - and fits in some scenic trail races with Striders - in his latest races around the world
Jack Brooks reports on his races at home and abroad in June and July 2017...
Maritime Marathon, Manitowoc, Wisconsin: 11th June 2017
On 11 June I eventually (thanks to a puncture on my hire car) arrived in Manitowoc in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures around 80 degrees and around 82 percent humidity - and those were the prevailing conditions at the start of the marathon.
I generally don’t run well in the heat and like many others I was wilting before we reached the 5 mile mark. However, I persevered and with the distraction of pelican spotting along the shoreline of Lake Michigan I made it to half way in 2:10 and finally staggered across the finish line in 4:37:29.
Given the conditions, survival (rather than time) had been the objective in this race so I was not too disappointed.
Manitoba Marathon, Winnipeg, Canada: 18th June 2017
I hung around in Wisconsin for a few days after the marathon visiting the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (in Green Bay, of course) and making several trips to the ice cream parlour in Two Rivers, which not only housed a fascinating museum, but also served some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted.
After driving back to Chicago we flew to Winnipeg, picked up our numbers for the marathon, explored The Forks area of the city and then drove up to Selkirk (to visit Lower Fort Garry) and Lake Winnipeg (to look around the Icelandic settlement of Gimli).
Fortunately, there was light drizzle on the morning of the marathon, which suited me down to the ground, as did the relatively flat course. I set off with the 4:15 pace group, but parted company with them just after 19 miles, finishing in 4:21:33.
The finish was in the city’s Canadian Football League’s stadium and, with only the marathon runners being allowed to finish in there, there was more than enough free food and drink for everybody. I also took advantage of a free massage at the finish, where I was advised that I should do something about the tightness in my upper left leg. I had been thinking the same thing myself from around the 20 mile mark!
Herts Hobble Trail Marathon, Bramfield Village, Herts: 25th June 2017
This is one of my favourite annual events. Adam Mellor and I ran round together taking the time to admire the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside and chat to other runners, finishing in 5:40.00
Ashridge Trail Half Marathon, Herts: 2nd July 2017
This is another local event, which passes through some spectacular hilly countryside. Adam Mellor, Carol Ransom, Mandy Attree, Lucy Stern and I went round together. We didn’t treat this as a race, but merely a chance to have a morning out appreciating our surroundings and having a good chat.
The weather was kind and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, especially when Adam bought us all an ice cream at the finish. An extra bonus is that all the proceeds from the race go to charity.
Grodno To Druskininkai Marathon, Belarus/Lithuania: 9th July 2017
This trip came good more by luck than by judgement after my initial travel plans had to be rearranged. I discovered after booking a flight to Minsk I would need a visa to cross the border into Lithuania so I had to pay for another to Vilnius instead.
Once there I met Rich Holmes, a friend from North Carolina, and we were taken to our hotel by a charming lady called Virginija, who we subsequently discovered is a member of the Lithuanian parliament.
We also discovered that Brent Weigner (another friend from the USA) and Jim Manford (from the UK North East marathon club) were both staying in our hotel as well as a number of Finnish and Danish runners. Amazingly, on the Saturday we all obtained our visas without a hitch and boarded the bus to Grodno, Belarus.
It took around two hours to get through the border checks and into Belarus after which the bus deposited us at the sports stadium in Grodno for race registration.
When we went for dinner that evening we quickly discovered how few people in Belarus speak or understand English. I attempted to order a vegetarian mushroom pizza at a restaurant but the first two pizzas they brought me both had meat on them - and then they claimed that they had no mushrooms.
After an hour of this I finally demonstrated to them that I’d be happy if they just gave me a pizza base with some cheese on it and after a further wait this did materialise.
The following morning we had to arrive early to have our visas and passports checked and then surrender them to the border officials so that they and our baggage could be transported to the finish area in Druskininkai, Lithuania.
The race commenced at 8am. I was impressed that the road surfaces were excellent and that the road (the main road across the border) was closed to traffic for just 141 runners. It was humid from the start and got progressively warmer throughout the race, but I was interested in seeing the countryside and the many officials lining the route (and running through the 2k long border control area was a real experience).
After around 30k in Belarus we entered Lithuania and I finally crossed the line in 4:32:55.
The main observation that I had after the race was that very few people in Belarus smile, whereas as soon as we crossed into Lithuania people seemed much more cheerful.
After a shower and a free meal (all provided within an entry fee of 20 Euros) Virginija drove Rich and I back to Vilnius. Considering how little information we had prior to embarking on this trip I am stunned that everything fell into place so well and I would certainly recommend Druskininkai as a place to visit for a few days for anyone touring around Lithuania.
Fairlands Valley Challenge Trail Marathon, Stevenage: 16th July 2017
I ran to the first checkpoint with Carol, Mandy and Lucy from Striders before their 18 mile route took them in a different direction. After that I continued with Gina Little, a friend from the 100 marathon club.
We didn’t fare too well following the written instructions and took several wrong turns (one of which took us out of our way by over one mile). We eventually finished in 6:44:13.
Big Sky Marathon, Ennis, Montana: 23rd July 2017
I flew into Montana with Roger Biggs from Fairlands Valley Spartans. Roger had entered races on both the Saturday and Sunday and whereas I had opted just to run the Sunday race.
We spent the first couple of days exploring the area and I particularly enjoyed visiting the old “ghost towns” of Virginia City and Nevada City. Their population has shrunk from well over 10,000 people at the height of their gold rush to around 150 today.
Things didn’t go well for Roger on the Saturday. He fell and was rushed to hospital, where he had two lots of stitches/staples administered to his scalp and was also advised that he had a broken finger. At least the hospital was directly opposite our motel and the treatment he got was first class.
On the Sunday I was taken by bus to the Big Sky Marathon race start, which was at an altitude of 8,641 ft. The race started at around 7.30am by which time the sun was already rising and the views were spectacular.
The first 15 miles was on a stony dirt track (which the organisers described as a gravel road).
Knowing what had happened to Roger the previous day I ran extremely cautiously. At around mile 8, just after the main descent commenced, the girl in front of me took a tumble. She was fairly blood spattered, but she told me to go on when I stopped to see if she was OK.
There were some very steep descents as well as a few uphill stretches before we joined a tarmac road at around mile 15. By this stage it had become much hotter and I was starting to suffer. It didn’t help that I missed a couple of water points (bottles left by the side of the road) between miles 13 and 19.
From mile 24 we ran along the very narrow edge of the main highway until we were diverted off onto a series of mainly gravel roads leading to the finish. The total net overall elevation loss for the race was 3,651 ft, but much of this was on surfaces that were not easy to run on and, given the conditions I was reasonably satisfied with my finish time of 5:23:57.
Juneau Marathon, Douglas Island, Alaska: 29th July 2017
It was raining when we arrived in Juneau and our sombre mood persisted as the shuttle driver who collected us from the airport regaled us with a tale of a tourist who’d recently had his head bitten off by a grizzly bear.
Jeanne and Richard Holmes from North Carolina joined us on the Friday morning and we spent the day visiting the Mendenhall Glacier and the Glacier Gardens. We had to take the early start for the marathon on the Saturday as our flight to Wrangell was scheduled to depart at 1.41pm.
The course was an undulating out and back one along the coastal road on Douglas Island. It rained more or less continuously, but there were some glorious views. We had been warned that there had been a lot of recent bear activity in the area, but the only wildlife I saw was fish jumping and a sea eagle, which flew in about 10 feet above my head.
I finished in 4:29:12 (first in the over 60 age group) and as soon as Rich finished we made a hectic dash for the airport.
Bearfest Marathon, Wrangell, Alaska: 30th July 2017
We arrived in Wrangell on the Saturday afternoon just in time to pick up our numbers for the marathon.
As Roger had badly injured himself on the first of the four marathons he’d entered he was determined to complete the Bearfest race. I was concerned enough to insist on going round with him, just in case there might be any after effects from his accident in Montana.
There was persistent rain throughout the race, but it was only cold when we were heading into the wind. This was another undulating out and back course along the coast and, once again, the Alaskan scenery was breathtaking.
I allowed Roger to dictate the pace and we eventually crossed the line without mishap in 6:40:47.
The highlight of the Alaska trip was visiting Anan the following day to see numerous bears and bald eagles feasting on the salmon. The four of us paid a guide to take us by boat on the one hour journey and then escort us to the viewing area.
At times we were only a few feet away from bears as they concentrated on extricating fish after fish from the fast-flowing river. It was truly an experience to remember and a fine way to end our trip.
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| Jack at the finish of the Manitoba Marathon in Winnipeg, Canada |
On 11 June I eventually (thanks to a puncture on my hire car) arrived in Manitowoc in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures around 80 degrees and around 82 percent humidity - and those were the prevailing conditions at the start of the marathon.
I generally don’t run well in the heat and like many others I was wilting before we reached the 5 mile mark. However, I persevered and with the distraction of pelican spotting along the shoreline of Lake Michigan I made it to half way in 2:10 and finally staggered across the finish line in 4:37:29.
Given the conditions, survival (rather than time) had been the objective in this race so I was not too disappointed.
Manitoba Marathon, Winnipeg, Canada: 18th June 2017
I hung around in Wisconsin for a few days after the marathon visiting the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (in Green Bay, of course) and making several trips to the ice cream parlour in Two Rivers, which not only housed a fascinating museum, but also served some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted.
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| Visiting the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame while in Wisconsin |
Fortunately, there was light drizzle on the morning of the marathon, which suited me down to the ground, as did the relatively flat course. I set off with the 4:15 pace group, but parted company with them just after 19 miles, finishing in 4:21:33.
The finish was in the city’s Canadian Football League’s stadium and, with only the marathon runners being allowed to finish in there, there was more than enough free food and drink for everybody. I also took advantage of a free massage at the finish, where I was advised that I should do something about the tightness in my upper left leg. I had been thinking the same thing myself from around the 20 mile mark!
Herts Hobble Trail Marathon, Bramfield Village, Herts: 25th June 2017
This is one of my favourite annual events. Adam Mellor and I ran round together taking the time to admire the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside and chat to other runners, finishing in 5:40.00
Ashridge Trail Half Marathon, Herts: 2nd July 2017
This is another local event, which passes through some spectacular hilly countryside. Adam Mellor, Carol Ransom, Mandy Attree, Lucy Stern and I went round together. We didn’t treat this as a race, but merely a chance to have a morning out appreciating our surroundings and having a good chat.
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| A great day out with Adam Mellor, Carol Ransom, Mandy Attree and Lucy Stern at the Ashridge Trial Half |
Grodno To Druskininkai Marathon, Belarus/Lithuania: 9th July 2017
This trip came good more by luck than by judgement after my initial travel plans had to be rearranged. I discovered after booking a flight to Minsk I would need a visa to cross the border into Lithuania so I had to pay for another to Vilnius instead.
Once there I met Rich Holmes, a friend from North Carolina, and we were taken to our hotel by a charming lady called Virginija, who we subsequently discovered is a member of the Lithuanian parliament.
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| With Lithuanian MP Virginija at the Grodno to Druskininkai Marathon |
It took around two hours to get through the border checks and into Belarus after which the bus deposited us at the sports stadium in Grodno for race registration.
When we went for dinner that evening we quickly discovered how few people in Belarus speak or understand English. I attempted to order a vegetarian mushroom pizza at a restaurant but the first two pizzas they brought me both had meat on them - and then they claimed that they had no mushrooms.
After an hour of this I finally demonstrated to them that I’d be happy if they just gave me a pizza base with some cheese on it and after a further wait this did materialise.
The following morning we had to arrive early to have our visas and passports checked and then surrender them to the border officials so that they and our baggage could be transported to the finish area in Druskininkai, Lithuania.
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| Feeling victorious with friends in Belarus |
After around 30k in Belarus we entered Lithuania and I finally crossed the line in 4:32:55.
The main observation that I had after the race was that very few people in Belarus smile, whereas as soon as we crossed into Lithuania people seemed much more cheerful.
After a shower and a free meal (all provided within an entry fee of 20 Euros) Virginija drove Rich and I back to Vilnius. Considering how little information we had prior to embarking on this trip I am stunned that everything fell into place so well and I would certainly recommend Druskininkai as a place to visit for a few days for anyone touring around Lithuania.
Fairlands Valley Challenge Trail Marathon, Stevenage: 16th July 2017
I ran to the first checkpoint with Carol, Mandy and Lucy from Striders before their 18 mile route took them in a different direction. After that I continued with Gina Little, a friend from the 100 marathon club.
We didn’t fare too well following the written instructions and took several wrong turns (one of which took us out of our way by over one mile). We eventually finished in 6:44:13.
Big Sky Marathon, Ennis, Montana: 23rd July 2017
I flew into Montana with Roger Biggs from Fairlands Valley Spartans. Roger had entered races on both the Saturday and Sunday and whereas I had opted just to run the Sunday race.
 |
| Under the big blue sky at the start of Big Sky Marathon |
Things didn’t go well for Roger on the Saturday. He fell and was rushed to hospital, where he had two lots of stitches/staples administered to his scalp and was also advised that he had a broken finger. At least the hospital was directly opposite our motel and the treatment he got was first class.
On the Sunday I was taken by bus to the Big Sky Marathon race start, which was at an altitude of 8,641 ft. The race started at around 7.30am by which time the sun was already rising and the views were spectacular.
The first 15 miles was on a stony dirt track (which the organisers described as a gravel road).
Knowing what had happened to Roger the previous day I ran extremely cautiously. At around mile 8, just after the main descent commenced, the girl in front of me took a tumble. She was fairly blood spattered, but she told me to go on when I stopped to see if she was OK.
There were some very steep descents as well as a few uphill stretches before we joined a tarmac road at around mile 15. By this stage it had become much hotter and I was starting to suffer. It didn’t help that I missed a couple of water points (bottles left by the side of the road) between miles 13 and 19.
From mile 24 we ran along the very narrow edge of the main highway until we were diverted off onto a series of mainly gravel roads leading to the finish. The total net overall elevation loss for the race was 3,651 ft, but much of this was on surfaces that were not easy to run on and, given the conditions I was reasonably satisfied with my finish time of 5:23:57.
Juneau Marathon, Douglas Island, Alaska: 29th July 2017
It was raining when we arrived in Juneau and our sombre mood persisted as the shuttle driver who collected us from the airport regaled us with a tale of a tourist who’d recently had his head bitten off by a grizzly bear.
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| At the finish of the very wet Juneau Marathon |
The course was an undulating out and back one along the coastal road on Douglas Island. It rained more or less continuously, but there were some glorious views. We had been warned that there had been a lot of recent bear activity in the area, but the only wildlife I saw was fish jumping and a sea eagle, which flew in about 10 feet above my head.
I finished in 4:29:12 (first in the over 60 age group) and as soon as Rich finished we made a hectic dash for the airport.
Bearfest Marathon, Wrangell, Alaska: 30th July 2017
We arrived in Wrangell on the Saturday afternoon just in time to pick up our numbers for the marathon.
As Roger had badly injured himself on the first of the four marathons he’d entered he was determined to complete the Bearfest race. I was concerned enough to insist on going round with him, just in case there might be any after effects from his accident in Montana.
 |
| Getting close to grizzly bears in Anan |
I allowed Roger to dictate the pace and we eventually crossed the line without mishap in 6:40:47.
The highlight of the Alaska trip was visiting Anan the following day to see numerous bears and bald eagles feasting on the salmon. The four of us paid a guide to take us by boat on the one hour journey and then escort us to the viewing area.
At times we were only a few feet away from bears as they concentrated on extricating fish after fish from the fast-flowing river. It was truly an experience to remember and a fine way to end our trip.
Tuesday, 18 July 2017
Get ready to pass the baton! All you need to know about the Striders World Champs Relay
Back in 2012 to celebrate the London Olympic Games, Striders organised our own relay from Westminster Lodge to the Olympic Park - or as close as we could get to at the time - and all involved agreed it was a great day out.
So, with the World Athletic Championships being held in the capital this summer, we're going to repeat the run using the same route.
We hope the relay will be a good opportunity to bring the club together for a sociable run. There will be plenty of chatting and the occasional stop.
WHEN?
Following our poll, the date has been set for Saturday, 5th August.
Apologies to those who can't make it. It was very close between then and the 12th so we had to go with the day when more volunteers willing to drive minibuses and lead runs were available.
We are aware the Bearbrook 10K is the following day and it is a Club Champs race. The relay is not a race, it's a fun, sociable run and you can do it at any pace you wish. So if you are racing, you could still get involved by running at an easy pace, or join in/drop out earlier on one of the legs to run less than eight miles if you can get a lift or use public transport.
The first leg will leave Westminster Lodge promptly at 8am with the aim to get to the Olympic Park by about 4 - 4:30pm. We'll then spend an hour/90 minutes soaking up the atmosphere in the park and then head for home about 6pm.
There will be options to leave earlier if you wish. For the latter legs, you will not need to catch your minibus until later in the day. The last one will leave Westminster Lodge at about 1pm, to be confirmed.
THE ROUTE
The mostly offroad route consists of five 7-8 mile legs. Starting at Westminster Lodge, the route runs roughly south of St Albans via the Colne Valley Walk and then to Aldenham for the first change over.
From there it heads to Aldenham Country Park and then Mill Hill Golf Course for change over number two. Leg three then continues east following sections of the London Loop and Dollis Valley Green Walk before heading south again to change over three near Hendon.
Leg four carries on south, running parallel with the North Circular for a while and then heads south again via Big Wood, Hampstead Heath with great views of Central London. Then there is the longest road section passing through Belsize Park to Primrose Hill - again great views of London here. Then it drops down to the Regents Canal for change over four.
The final leg follows the Regents Canal via Camden Market to Victoria Park where we then follow the Hertford Union Canal all the way to the Olympic Park.
Last time as we were using a coach, we had to leave as soon as we got there because the driver was running out of driving time. This time we plan to use minibuses, driven by members who have volunteered, so we can be more flexible and spend some time in the Olympic Park.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Please sign up here and let us know your preferred pace and any leg preference.
We will select the groups so that everyone is of a similar pace and it will be down to the Run Leader assigned to each leg to keep everyone together.
If you can't run, please let us know if you could drive one of the minibuses instead.
Please sign up before Monday, 24th July so we have time to coordinate the legs, leaders and drivers.
T-shirts will be provided so don't forget to select the size you want.
We hope to see lots of you on the day!
So, with the World Athletic Championships being held in the capital this summer, we're going to repeat the run using the same route.
We hope the relay will be a good opportunity to bring the club together for a sociable run. There will be plenty of chatting and the occasional stop.
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| Stopping to take in the view during the 2012 Olympic Relay |
Following our poll, the date has been set for Saturday, 5th August.
Apologies to those who can't make it. It was very close between then and the 12th so we had to go with the day when more volunteers willing to drive minibuses and lead runs were available.
We are aware the Bearbrook 10K is the following day and it is a Club Champs race. The relay is not a race, it's a fun, sociable run and you can do it at any pace you wish. So if you are racing, you could still get involved by running at an easy pace, or join in/drop out earlier on one of the legs to run less than eight miles if you can get a lift or use public transport.
The first leg will leave Westminster Lodge promptly at 8am with the aim to get to the Olympic Park by about 4 - 4:30pm. We'll then spend an hour/90 minutes soaking up the atmosphere in the park and then head for home about 6pm.
There will be options to leave earlier if you wish. For the latter legs, you will not need to catch your minibus until later in the day. The last one will leave Westminster Lodge at about 1pm, to be confirmed.
THE ROUTE
The mostly offroad route consists of five 7-8 mile legs. Starting at Westminster Lodge, the route runs roughly south of St Albans via the Colne Valley Walk and then to Aldenham for the first change over.
From there it heads to Aldenham Country Park and then Mill Hill Golf Course for change over number two. Leg three then continues east following sections of the London Loop and Dollis Valley Green Walk before heading south again to change over three near Hendon.
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| The route is mostly offroad (and hopefully won't be as muddy this year!) |
The final leg follows the Regents Canal via Camden Market to Victoria Park where we then follow the Hertford Union Canal all the way to the Olympic Park.
Last time as we were using a coach, we had to leave as soon as we got there because the driver was running out of driving time. This time we plan to use minibuses, driven by members who have volunteered, so we can be more flexible and spend some time in the Olympic Park.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Please sign up here and let us know your preferred pace and any leg preference.
We will select the groups so that everyone is of a similar pace and it will be down to the Run Leader assigned to each leg to keep everyone together.
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| Sign up now! T-shirts will be provided |
Please sign up before Monday, 24th July so we have time to coordinate the legs, leaders and drivers.
T-shirts will be provided so don't forget to select the size you want.
We hope to see lots of you on the day!
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