On behalf of both the British Airways Athletics Club and the VMLM race organisation, I'd like to thank you for all your hard work on Sunday at the 34th running of the London Marathon. There were almost 140 volunteers marshalling the 6 crossing points; Marsh Wall in Docklands, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square, Storey's Gate, Queen Anne's Gate and Spur Rd. Initial feedback indicates that the crossings again worked extremely well.

On your behalf I'd like to specifically thank Roderick Hoffman, Stuart Glover, Natalie Lang, Barry Walters, Eddie Ketterick and Paul Brandon for team leading the crossing points and Trevor Plows, Alan Friar and Steve Hillier for over-seeing sectors 6 & 7 but be assured, without everyone's help the day would not have been as successful as it was. For my part I was supporting Steve on Sector 7 and really enjoyed the opportunity to talk to some of you and put a 'face to a name' after months of e-mailing you! We got away around 6pm (after seeing the 7:30hr 'course closed' vehicle come through) and by the time we were dropping the radios and megaphones back at the finish, the baggage trucks were packed up and ready to go, indicting another successful event had reached it's conclusion. I can't claim credit for the weather but I think it was appreciated by the helpers and spectators (but maybe not the competitors!).

Each year we're asked to provide feedback to the organisers, so can I ask the Team Leaders to send their feedback to either Trevor Plows for sector 6 or Steve Hillier for sector 7. I'm sure you're all tired but you should reflect on a job well done and after you've had time to recover, I hope I can look forward to your help again next year as you certainly made my life a lot easier again this year. I'll be starting recruitment for the 2015 VMLM (26 Apr 2015) in January 2015, so if interested in helping again drop me a line then (not now please as your e-mail may get lost!).

If you think you might now like to run the marathon (don't forget they'll be lots of training required!) then the Club gets a certain number of guaranteed entries and the fact that you've helped pushes you up the list. You do however need to apply through the official ballot and have received a 'rejection' before being considered for a place. The official ballot opens on Tues 22 Apr but be quick, as this year's quota of 125000 applications filled up in less than 12 hrs. The VMLM website contains more details on the ballot (http://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/).       

Regards, Simon Turton
BAAC VMLM coordinator 

Dear Members and Friends,

I know that this is coming on the back of a very hectic day at the London Marathon, and I hoped that those of you who ran and marshalled have recovered somewhat. We have another couple of events coming up that require many volunteers to help out. If you are able to help, please can you let me know either via clarapn@aol.com or contact the editor of the this news digest who'll pass on the information to me.

1.    Speedbird 5K - Wednesday, 14 May, Harmondsworth Moor  (10-15 volunteers required including at least one first aider and a lead cyclist)

This event starts at 7pm, however volunteers would need to be there by about 6pm to be briefed and allocated positions. The course will be the same as last year. Tom Rowley is helping to mark the course out on the day, and if anyone is able to accompany him round the course at about 4pm, it will be great. Unfortunately I finish my training at 5.30pm at Cranebank and will only be able to get to the location around 6pm.

2.    London BUPA 10,000 - Sunday, 25 May, Hyde Park  (32-35 volunteers required)

We are again marshalling part of the course at the request of the London Marathon organisers. At this point, I do not have further information although I don't expect much change from last year. Please let me know if you are able to help. We will be organising transport from Concorde Club to the venue and back to Concorde Club. We usually get t-shirts and lunch too and are finished by about 1pm.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.  Clara Halket

Hi Everyone,

The 2014 track season starts on Monday 28th April with our 1st Grand Prix - 1000m & Triple jump, starting from 6pm at Uxbridge track.

Also the 1st Rosenheim track league starts on Wednesday 30th April; this event is at Kingsmeadow , starts at 6.45pm.

Hope to see you there.  Eddie Giles

I hope everyone that went to the London Marathon had a great day , with lots of stories to tell I am sure, I couldn’t be there this year because the date fell on Mother–in–laws birthday and lives 10 minutes from Yeovil Montacute parkrun.

We stayed in Montacute village on Friday, and her birthday at the village pub was duly celebrated that evening. On Saturday morning , surprisingly no hangover, walked 50 metres to the entrance of Montacute house and joined all the other runners to the start.

At the back of this magnificent house is the park, There is the Avenue of grass and trees going upwards, I thought, surely not, going to start uphill, so as the starter said ‘go’ we were off , yes, you guessed it, uphill. Up & up then turn to the right through a coppice of trees up & up& up to the top along the back edge Of the park then, wow, run down the entire avenue with this magnificent house bang in front of you With a light blue sky for background. I was stunned.

At the bottom of the hill at 2K turn left and go up, up, up along the right side of the park till the top edge again  but this time continue on to the left hand side of the park downhill. The course is all grass and muddy still , so keeping footing was important. At 4.5K it climbs uphill at least a 1in 3 grassy muddy slope (how cruel is that). The lady running by the side of me had a dog on a lead, the dog now doing paw spins and moving sideways, I had to laugh. Loads of dogs with their owners here , Mia would have been very much at home here!! A sprint finish on the only flat 50 metres of the course, saw the lady and the dog off by 3 seconds.

A  truly testing course but when people at work say to me, why do you run, you are too old for all that, I now say just look at the Yeovil Montacute parkrun facebook site and click on’ news’ you will see a stunning picture of the start, as we all run up the hill and the view in stunning.

I think this why we all do it.

Eddie Giles.