THE HARRIERS HERALD

No. 143, January 2005

Editorial

Happy New Year and welcome to the first Harriers Herald of 2005! Following the January and February Thursday night schedules, Susanne gives a report and the final result of her Bike Challenge. There are short reports on recent fundraising efforts, and on our Christmas Party. Details of the Club Committee for 2005, are followed by an update of correspondence received by the Secretary. Dick has written an article The Way We Were to remind us all of the Thursday night run-back system. This month, Mo’s selected Websites cover marathon training schedules and the use of drugs in sport. His recommended race Fixtures list takes us up to the beginning of March. There are results and short reports for the second and third Oxford Mail League X-country races, and for the third Handicap Race of the Winter Series. Finally, we finish with A tribute to Compton Harriers. Thanks to this month’s HH contributors, Dick, Mo and Susanne.

Sue

Thursday night schedule for January

Thurs 6^th Susanne to lead

Thurs 13^th Lucy to lead

Thurs 20^th Handicap Race

Thurs 27^th Pete to lead

Thursday night schedule for February

Thurs 3^rd Tom to lead

Thurs 10^th Mo to lead

Thurs 17^th Handicap Race

Thurs 24^th Marie to lead

Bike challenge 2004 – final result

Susanne

This year’s bike challenge was a combination of fitness level, timing and guts and it was not without excitement. First we had Martin who did a double flip flop only to impress an old lady who was sitting in the middle of the path. Then we had Sue who started to take up masochism when she discovered she had taken a wrong turn. Mo, covered in mud at the first attempt who was about to give it all up. Pete, who thought it would be easier just to continue into the lake to wash his bike. Elo, gentleman as always, stopping his attempt in order to let a pack of deer pass in front of him and finally Dick, who went all the way to the start only to discover that he had forgotten his watch!

The final result:

1. Dick 19:47 (36 sec. faster than no. 2!)

2. Sue 20:23

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3. Martin 20:25

4. Mo 20:30 (only 7sec between 2nd and 4th place!)

5. Susanne 21:20

6. Pete 22:03

At our Christmas party Sue and Dick’s names were placed in the hat and Maggy pulled Sue’s name out to be the lucky winner of a new sports watch and a running shirt. Thank you for all who took part in this year’s challenge and well done to Dick who seems to be back to where he belongs; at the top of the result list.

P.S. If there is any support for a Sunday "New Year Attempt" at the challenge then count me in!

Susanne

More fund-raising by Compton Harriers

On the Saturday afternoon before our Christmas party, four Compton Harriers (Susanne, Dick, Mo and me) accompanied Santa on his Christmas fundraising trip around Compton. When we were first approached about this (the organizers needed people who were fit enough to keep up with the sleigh!) we were a little apprehensive, and volunteered out of a feeling of duty. However, it proved to be great fun – as Santa’s sleigh made it’s way all round the village, we ran ahead to knock on doors and ask for donations, and were warmly greeted by children and adults alike.

Mo has received the following letter from Patricia Crockford of the Village Hall Fundraising Committee.

“Please accept our thanks for taking the time to help with our collection in the Village. You certainly made the difference. Michael wasn’t constantly in front of the collectors, Santa certainly didn’t get as wet as he could have, and us ‘olduns’ didn’t ache so much. Between us we managed to raise £324.95, which will be split 50/50 between the Village Hall and Cancer Research. We hope you all had a great time at your Christmas meal and look forward to maybe joining forces again in the future.

Kind Regards,

Patricia Crockford”

Christmas Meal

Sue F

Thirteen people enjoyed this year’s Harrier’s Christmas meal at ‘The John Barleycorn’ pub in Goring. As well as the regulars and their partners, it was nice to catch up with Octavia, who arrived in good time this year. As we were a large group, our table was laid in an upstairs room, away from the bar. However, despite our initial reservations, this worked very well, as we were able to do all our usual silly games and tricks without disturbing the other patrons. The pub staff did us proud with an excellent five-course meal (the first three courses were followed by cheese & biscuits and mince pies) and bringing our drinks upstairs as well.

During the first course, the draw for the London Marathon Club Entry took place. The two names in the ‘hat’ were Lucy and Martin, and Pete’s wife, Jan H, drew out the lucky winner……Lucy. Martin kept us entertained by supplying us with indoor sparklers, while Jan K’s meal also provided some entertainment – she had a very dubiously shaped bacon-wrapped sausage.

There was no shortage of party games this year, thanks to some clever quizzes. During dessert, Lucy produced her ‘Spot the bottom’ quiz, which proved to be a good crack (excuse the pun). The bottoms were actually geographical features in the Compton area. While the rest of us struggled, Mo scored full marks, having been up most of these bottoms in his off-road motor-biking days.

Mo’s quiz, which involved identifying members from photographs of their legs, was interesting. Some were instantly recognizable – Kirsty’s pigeon toes and Mo’s sticking out feet – while shorts or socks gave others away. People were good at identifying their partner’s legs, but not all were familiar with their own (Tom, ‘I haven’t got any green socks’). Martin emerged as winner, with Lucy a close second.

For Dick’s competition we had to identify the famous characters depicted in 40-pixel pictures. These included The Queen Mother, The Star Trek Crew, Fawlty Towers… Some were obvious, while others were very difficult. Top score came from Pete, with Jan H close behind.

Susanne then gave the result of her cycle challenge (see above article) for which I received a very generous prize. Thanks very much for organizing that Susanne. It was good fun (on the second attempt anyway!).

My contribution to the entertainment was a poem, ‘A Tribute to Compton Harriers’, written to encompass all the fun we have on a Thursday night, and also to have a laugh about people’s funny habits. Apologies to Tom, whose habits got the most laughs! At Dick’s suggestion, I have included the poem at the end of this HH.

The evening was ended with a ‘film show’ from Tom who had digitalised two videos for us to view. First, we were treated to footage of a young Dick’s first attempt at the South Downs 80-mile race, over ten years ago, which also included Dick’s running buddies Hopey and Fiona. Then we watched the video of Tom running in the first Compton 40-mile Downland Challenge, in 1995 when the race started in a blizzard.

The evening drew to a close and we reluctantly went out into the pouring rain, making plans for the next run to burn of the excesses of the evening. Thanks to all who came along and contributed to a successful party.

Club Committee for 2005

Following the recent AGM, our club’s Committee for 2005 is:

Martin Fray (Chairman), Sue Francis (Secretary), Peter Humphreys (Treasurer), Lucy Gettins (Membership Secretary and Fixtures Secretary), Malcolm Francis (Webmaster).

Correspondence received by Secretary, December 2004

Sue F

At our AGM I mentioned that, as Secretary, I tend to filter out the less relevant mail and only tell members about things that they're likely to be interested in. Some members asked what sort of mail I receive so, I though I would include in the HH a summary of correspondence received each month so that members can ask for more detail if they wish.

Abbreviations: BCAA = Berkshire County Athletic Association; SEAA = South of England Athletic Association; AAA = Amateur Athletic Association of England; UKA = UK Athletics

Correspondence received
Sender	Subject matter	Action
AAA	Review of athletics - update	File
BCAA	County x-country entry forms	Notice-board
AAA	AAA AGM – preliminary notice	File
SEAA	Certificate confirming our affiliation, information update #83, x-country handbook, x-country leaflet	File
UKA	Nominations for ‘club of the year’ awards International Indoor champs	Notice-board
Ronnie Lansley	Cape Wrath Challenge event	Notice-board & passed to Lucy
AAA	Update on ‘New England Athletics’ project team	File
Chris Benning	South Region Athletics Development Program	File
BCAA	Copy of BCAA constitution	File
Dumfries/Gall. Council	Stranraer Marathon entry forms	Passed to Lucy & notice-board
White Horse H.	White Horse half marathon entry forms	Passed to Lucy & notice-board

The Way We Were

Dick

It has concerned me for some time that those newer members, although familiar with the Thursday night ritual, may not understand why Compton Harriers adopted the policy of Running Back. I don’t intend to lecture or harangue members into sticking to hard and fast rules, but I would like to remind everyone of how we used to do it, and the reasons for doing it that way.

The method was adopted after reading an article in either Runners’ World or Today’s Runner, which suggested different training regimes for different sized clubs. The Run-Back system is this:-

Everyone in the group runs at their own pace (this is not to say that runners may not slow down and have a natter - it is supposed to be a social occasion too).

At a pre-determined point or one mutually agreed by the leaders (or one deemed suitable by the person at the front) the front runner turns back. All the other runners turn back at this point when they individually reach it. Each runs back to the person at the rear and then heads towards the turning point again. They continue running to and fro between turning point and back marker (still running at their individual pace) until the back marker reaches the turning point. The back marker does not stop and the whole group heads off for the next turning point on the route. It is as simple as that.

I would like to give the reasons for using this method and (if I may) the reasons for not doing some of the things that have become practice.

The main advantage of the system is that with a small group running a relatively long distance (that is relative to a hill or track type session) no one is left alone for long enough to come to harm or go off course.

Another advantage is that, in a group of very varied abilities running for a given amount of time, fastest runners get as good a work out as those of more modest ability. For example, if out for an hour the faster ones may do 8 or more miles on the same route that the slowest might cover 6.

The reason for keeping running at the tuning point is that it is not good policy to stand around getting cold (even if you have just put in a burst at maximum pace you should jog before making another effort). Perhaps more importantly it is very disheartening for, if not discourteous to, the person at the back to stand around with that ‘Come on, we’re waiting for you’ air about you. Even if this is not intended it is often felt. Likewise, it is possibly just as discourteous if the tail-ender stops at the turning point and thus keeps everyone waiting. Surely the best ethos is one of mutual respect for each other’s effort.

In practice the system served the Club well, but it was found that a few simple rules were required.

Everyone should turn right at every occasion so that they don’t run into each other. They pass right shoulder to right shoulder. On road at night this ensures that the runner facing the traffic is on the outside (nearest oncoming vehicles) and can warn the runner with his back to the traffic if necessary.

If running on a track or footpath where there is only one suitable line, the runner running back should stop and let the outward runner have right of way. The person on the Run-Back should also let the outward runner have choice of line when heading toward the turning point again.

The to and fro running back activity can take place other than on the route if to do so would cause congestion or impede runners or confuse road traffic.

And finally, one little nicety that was not a rule but soon became the norm, was that at the final Run-Back point (these days this would be Churn Road gateway) runners would make their last Run-Back to the tail-ender and stay with or behind them so that the whole group finished together.

Website update… http://comptonharriers.cjb.net/

Mo

My first link of interest for this year is for those of you who are into your marathon training … not many of us then!! Even so, should you be looking for suitable training schedules for marathon-type distances (Grizzly perhaps?) then a visit to the runners world website for the training schedules could be a good idea … with reference especially to the “get you round” schedule. The link is http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=142

Whilst on the subject of getting you round, maybe it’s a good idea to be aware of the various nutritional supplements and the effects they could have on your performance. So that you do not fall foul of the rules on permitted supplements and substances to enhance your performance, I suggest a visit to the Drug Information Database website at http://www.didglobal.com where you can download a document in “pdf” format with guidance on nutritional supplements (amongst other things).

There is also a link from the above website to the World Anti-Doping Agency website which is also well worth a visit. The actual site address is http://www.wada-ama.org . The site provides details of prohibited substances such as anabolic steroids, hormones, diuretics, stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, alcohol etc … very interesting reading indeed, especially if you are on prescription medicines! Information can be downloaded again in the form of “pdf” documents. The Athletes Guide can also be downloaded in the same format and this provides an overview for all the doping control processes including rights and responsibilities of all persons involved. Should members require a copy of the above documents, then let me know if you are unable to download them and I will provide you with a hard copy.

Fixtures: A selection of local and other well known events for your information:-

· Sunday 9th January 2005 - 10.30am start – WOODCOTE 10K - Village Green Woodcote. http://www.woodcote-online.co.uk/CharityRunEntryForm.html

· Sunday 16^th January 2005 – 11:00am start - THE FIFTH WENDOVER MULTI-TERRAIN 5 – Wendover Woods. http://www.justracinguk.com/mt5/2005/mt5_05.htm

· Sunday 6^th February 2005 - OXFORD MAIL X-COUNTRY LEAGUE – Cirencester

Ladies Start time: 11:00 am; Men’s Start time: 11:45 am http://www.geocities.com/oxmailxc

· Sunday 13^th February 2005 - 10am start - WOKINGHAM HALF MARATHON – Cantley Park www.wokinghamhalfmarathon.co.uk

· Sunday 20^th February 2005 – 10:30am start – THE DURSLEY DOZEN – Dursley, Gloucester http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm

· Sunday 20^th February 2005 – 10:00am start – BEACON HILL 3M RACE – Beacon Hill, Newbury

Organised by Team Kennet (Contact Nick Bull).

· Sunday 20^th February 2005 – 10:30am start – BRAMLEY 10+20 MILE - Bramley Primary School

www.readingroadrunners.org

· Sunday 27^th February 2005 – 11:00am start – THE GORING 10K – Goring-on-Thames http://www.goring10k.com

· Sunday 27^th February 2005 - at 10:30 am - THE TERMINATOR (10-ISH MILE MT) – Pewsey, Wilts

· Sunday 6^th March 2005 - OXFORD MAIL X-COUNTRY LEAGUE – Shotover, Horspath

Ladies Start time: 11:00 am; Men’s Start time: 11:45 am http://www.geocities.com/oxmailxc

· Sunday 13^th March 2005 – THE GRIZZLY – Seaton, Devon http://www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk

· Saturday 19^th March 2005 – COMPTON DOWNLAND CHALLENGE 40 – 0900hrs Downs School Compton http://comptonharriers.cjb.net

· Sunday 20^th March 2005 – COMBE GIBBET TO OVERTON 16 – 1400hrs http://www.overtonharriers.org.uk

· Sunday 3^rd April 2005 – WHITE HORSE HALF MARATHON – 1000hrs Millbrook School, Grove http://www.whitehorseharriers.homestead.com

· Sunday 17^th April 2005 – THE FLORA LONDON MARATHON – 0945hrs Blackheath, London http://www.london-marathon.co.uk

(Mo - Jan 2005)

Oxford Mail Cross-Country Races

Sue F

Enslow Quarry, 5^th December

The second Oxford Mail cross-country took place at the motorbike scramble course at Enslow Quarry. Apart from the start and finish on a flat grassy field, the course featured some man-made steep humps and slippery dips, some stony underfoot sections, a field of cut maize stumps, and a long slog through a marshy area including a knee-deep stream crossing. The ladies ran one-and-a-half laps, and Wendy Jones of Cirencester once again won the race (21:57). Sue F and Helen Preedy made the top ten and, with Vicky and Lucy also having good races, our A team placed 4^th. The team placings were: 8^th (Sue, 24:55), 10^th, 26^th (Vicky, 27:38), 31^st (Lucy, 28:15), 61^st, 71^st (Yvonne, 33:14). The B team was 18^th.

The men ran two-and-a-half laps of the course and the race was won by last month’s winner Chris Sykes of Woodstock (33:01). The team was placed 3rd in Division 2 thanks to good performances from Tom Munt, Martin, Iain and Nick. Dick also placed 40 positions higher this month, inspired by the sighting of a pillbox on the course. The placings were: 30^th (Tom Munt, 37:17), 44^th (Martin, 38:15), 61^st (Iain, 39:51), 77^th (Nick, 41:31), 93^rd, 141^st (Dick, 47:10), 168^th, 169^th, 172^nd, 177^th.

Thanks to Vicky and Iain who organised a get-together at a local pub afterwards, and to Mo for taking a gallery of photos of the team in action.

Drayton School, Banbury, 2^nd January 2005

The third race in the series was held on a challenging course, beginning on a school playing field before heading out along a tree-lined disused railway line. This was gently downhill for a mile, but any advantage gained from gravity was balanced by the fact that we were running into a biting wind, with patches of sticky mud underfoot. A short meander through a wooded section took us to the bottom of a ploughed field – a steep uphill with the sun in our eyes. The return journey was along field margins and footpaths, uneven underfoot, and in the general direction of uphill, before leveling out to finish on the school field. The ladies raced one lap, while the men ran two.

 The men’s winner was Tom Penfold (White Horse Harriers) who, with a time of 30:59 was over two minutes clear

of his nearest rivals.  Our team positions were: 20^th, 24^th (Tom Munt, 35:37), 78^th (Iain, 39:59), 92^nd, 97^th

(Nick, 41:44), 159^th, 167^th, 171^st (Pete H, 49:14), 181^st, 189^th, 191^st.  The team finished a creditable 4th in

Division.

The usual winner of the ladies race was this time beaten by Frances Briscoe (White Horse Harriers) in 19:10.

Our team positions were: 10^th (Sue F, 21:44), 12^th, 23^rd (Vicky, 23:58), 61^st, 68^th, 75^th, 83rd (Yvonne, 31:09), 85^th.

The scoring team took third place.

Handicap Race (Village Lap)

Sue F

Eight competitors started December’s handicap race on a bitterly cold, but dry, evening. Despite the cold, three people shattered their records. Pete, in his second handicap race, took over half a minute off his previous time to take the trophy – he has to run fast because he never wears long sleeves or leggings. However, it was a close fought race as Dick lost out only in the sprint finish, and recorded his best time of the year. Marie, close behind in third, also recorded a personal best. There was a 30-second rest for Jan, before Lucy, Mo, Sue and Tom finished in close succession. Susanne had run over 15 miles the previous day, so just did a steady lap on this occasion. Well done to Pete and thanks to Jan for timing. January’s handicap race is scheduled for Thursday 20^th.

After three races in the championship series, Dick has an 8-point lead, while Pete, Marie and I are vying for second spot.

Pos	Name	Start time	Finish time	Actual time	Handicap Beaten?
1	Peter	2:57	16:24	13:27	-0:36
2	Dick	3:16	16:27	13:11	-0:33
3	Marie	3:07	16:34	13:27	-0:26
4	Lucy	3:16	17:04	13:48	+0:04
5	Mo	0:25	17:10	16:45	+0:10
6	Sue	5:22	17:11	11:49	+0:11
7	Tom	1:47	17:25	15:38	+0:25
8	Susanne	4:07	19:30	15:23	-

Position	Name	Race points
Position	Name	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Total
1	Dick	7	7	6	-	-	-	20
2	Sue F	5	5	2	-	-	-	12
3	Marie	-	6	5	-	-	-	11
4	Pete	-	3	7	-	-	-	10
5	Lucy	4	-	4	-	-	-	8
6=	Vicky	6	-	-	-	-	-	6
6=	Mo	1	2	3	-	-	-	6
8=	Tom	3	1	1	-	-	-	5
8=	Susanne	-	4	1	-	-	-	5
10	Martin	2	-	-	-	-	-	2
11	Yvonne	1	-	-	-	-	-	1

A Tribute to Compton Harriers

Sue F

Thursday night schedule for January

Thursday night schedule for February

Susanne

More fund-raising by Compton Harriers

Sue F

Club Committee for 2005

Sender

Dick

Mo

Oxford Mail Cross-Country Races

Sue F

Enslow Quarry, 5^th December

Thursday nights, come sun or rain

Mo says he’s knackered and stops for a walk

Thursday night schedule for January

Thursday night schedule for February

Susanne

More fund-raising by Compton Harriers

Sue F

Club Committee for 2005

Sender

Dick

Mo

Oxford Mail Cross-Country Races

Sue F

Enslow Quarry, 5th December

Thursday nights, come sun or rain

Mo says he’s knackered and stops for a walk

Enslow Quarry, 5^th December