The British Airways Athletics Club has fewer members than it used to have and this is impacting the range and depth of the activities available to you. Our best recruitment agents should be our existing members.

What can YOU do to attract additional members?  Here are some suggestions:

• Propose potential members - email their details to the membership secretary at a.friar1@ntlworld.com.
• AND/OR Suggest additions to the distribution list - email news@barunner.org.uk (as a courtesy please copy in your proposed additions so that they can decline if they so wish).
• Promote the club at events you take part in.
• Join the club yourself (this digest is sent to non-members as well as members).
• Promote the club's events to other runners you know. Consider the following:

• Men's and Ladies' Cross Country races this Saturday 12th January,
  Round-the-Block race on Tuesday lunchtime on 22nd January,
  5 mile handicap run on Wednesday 30th January,
  Next club parkrun at Woodley near Reading on Saturday 2nd February.

Details of how to join the club and club benefits are held on the website: http://www.barunner.org.uk/Club_Membership.shtml

Roderick Hoffman

Happy New Year to you all.

What better way to get improve your fitness and kick start 2013 with this years Round-The-Block event. Its now less than 3 weeks away and will be taking place on Tuesday 22nd January 2013 at 12:30 . As in past years the race is a single lap course of around 5k, around the Heston area. The start is a short 10 minute walk from the Concorde Centre, so please leave enough time to get to the start.  Anybody is welcome to take part. This is a fun event and ALL levels of runners/joggers are welcomed.

On arrival to the Concorde Centre you are reminded to swipe in at the reception. Those people who are NOT BA Clubs members, will need to sign the team declaration sheet instead.

The entry fee is £1 per person and all proceeds go to the White Lodge Charity.

You can either enter the race as an individual or as part of a team. Teams are to be made up of 4 runners, including at least one male and one female. Please enter your teams on the day at the start at the Concorde Club. Don't forget your entry fee.

To make life a little easier, if your entering as a team can you please complete the attached form and have it ready with your money on arrival.

There is ample parking at the Concorde Club for your cars and the Concorde Club changing facilities will be available for your use. Please don't leave any valuables in the changing rooms OR car keys.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Regards,

Paul Knechtl

PS Please feel free to pass this on to anybody else who may be interested.

"I had a couple of warnings that the course was hilly rather than undulating and they weren't wrong. Fortunately I was running it as a training run rather than full on race so my 1 hour 20 mins finish was pretty much what I was hoping for. Unfortunately the fog on the Downs spoilt the views and took the edge off the temperature, but it's certainly a good testing race to start the year off.

Cheers

Ian"

There is an old Chinese proverb that says "Before you comment on another runner's running style it is important that first you should run a mile in their shoes.  That way, when you comment on their style, you will be a mile away...and you have their shoes!"

I taught my mother-in-law the importance of fitness.  At age 60 I got her to run five miles every day.  That was eight years ago so I've no idea where she is now.

Q: What's the best advice for someone who wants to take up cross country running?
A: Emigrate to Luxemburg.

Peter, "I used to enjoy Marathons but I had to give them up."
Paul, "Why was that?"
Peter, "They changed their name to Snickers."

And continuing a theme from previously...

Q: What do you get when you try to keep pace with an old racehorse?
A: Knackered.

Anon     (bad? then send me better!)