BA Athletics Club News Digest 28th August 2017
Events:
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Tuesday 5th September, Run-of-the-Month, Round-the-Park at Harmondsworth
Moor at 12:30*
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Thursday 7th September, Dream Mile, Bath Road from 12:45*.
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Monday 11th September, Track & Field Grand Prix, Sprints & Javelin, Uxbridge
Track 18:00*
New members and potential members of all fitness levels and abilities are welcome
at all of these events. The full diary of club featured
events is on the club website at:
http://www.barunner.org.uk/Event Diary.shtml.
*Club Event Map:
[Clickable link to Google Maps]
Not for you, no longer interested?
remove me please.
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Wednesday 23rd August, Club-In-house-Event, BBQ on Harmondsworth Moor from 18:00
A pre-event warm-up was led by Trish and Roderick, comprising a one lap jog
round the 400m trail relay course followed by dynamic exercises that included
knees up/heel flicks and some sidestepping.
For the event itself we had 12 competitors, listed below in their relay
pairing, and we were very kindly supported by Harry Wild and John Banks who
‘policed’ the throwing zone.
Each runner ran a lap of the marked 400m course alternatively, completing 3
laps each. The first 30m of each running leg included an uphill ‘hazard zone’
with hurdles – the person who negotiated the zone most effectively in the
judgment of the referee would have a bonus of 20secs deducted from their pair
overall relay time. The hurdles demanded some of the fundamentals of
running such as balance, coordination and agility and we were looking for nice
smooth ‘fluidic’ running and good forward observation through this section.
During the session the heights of some of the hurdles, and spacing between them
was adjusted without informing competitors !
While
one of the pair was on their running leg, the other member was doing a ‘throwing
zone’ field event - throwing a selection from golf balls/tennis balls/beach
balls/apples/skittles/rugby balls etc. from the top of a bank targeting 3
buckets at about 10m distance away and below. A bonus of 5secs would be deducted
from their pair overall time for every ball ‘strike’ (remaining in bucket). Only
5 items were allowed to be thrown in a batch, and the competitors had to go down
and back up steep steps to gather another batch ….hill work training !
A warm down was then led by Neil Frediani comprising a one lap jog of the
relay course and static stretches to complete whilst the results were being
processed.
No competitor met the required standard through the running hazard zone to
claim the bonus points as it was re-stated that the brief was to negotiate the
zone most effectively …this was demonstrated by running straight through and
avoiding all the hurdles …maybe a ‘sting in the tail’ but a lesson ‘not to go
looking for hazards when you can just avoid them’ and listen carefully to the
words in the briefing !!!! However, it was entertaining watching everyone gallop
over the hurdles though using a variety of styles !
Pair |
Total Running Time (pair) m:s |
Number of ‘ball strikes’ (bonus time deducted) |
Total Time |
Finish Placing |
Chris K / Steve H |
16:00 |
5 (-25s) |
15:35 |
1 |
Simon T / Trish McC |
17:06 |
2 (-10s) |
16:56 |
2 |
Alice B / Denis F |
17:42 |
3 (-15s) |
17:27 |
3 |
Neil F / Roderick H |
18:06 |
3 (-15s) |
17:51 |
4 |
Mark T / Tony B |
18:21 |
3 (-15s) |
18:06 |
5 |
Barry W / Marion T |
18:48 |
2 (-10s) |
18:38 |
6 |
So, the overall winners were Chris Kelly and Steve Hillier (fastest AND most
ball strikes), who were presented with the customary box of chocs each.
Many thanks again to Harry and John for their great help.
And then ….we were treated to an amazing BBQ spread by Clara …together with
beer/wine etc. and had a lovely summers evening chinwag. Steve Taylor had been
working late but was able to join us for the chat and food.
Joe Nolan
September Venues for club evenings (repeat - because no one has mailed me re
27th Sept.)
"Times they are a changing" and we do expect to finally lose access to the
Heston Venue changing rooms from the end of September. These are our plans
for Wednesday evenings in September as we continue to look around for
alternatives:
- 6th September - Wraysbury Lake, Sailing Base Club House - ad hoc run from 18:00, Neil will point
out some run options, followed by our monthly Committee Meeting - NOTE no
catering provided so bring your own food & drink (unless you are happy
to drink the Carling Lager we've overstocked on!).
- 13th September - ad hoc runs from Heston Venue, optional visit to the
Queen's Head afterwards - 15% discount for those with BA Club's card (so not as
generous as it was before).
- 20th September - Equinox 5k from Heston Venue, then the Queen's Head
from 19:30. This could be our last use of Heston Venue.
- 27th September - We have been invited to join Hayes and Harlington
Runners for their regular Wednesday evening run. This is from the
Hayes and Harlington Community Centre (Albert Road, Hayes, UB3 4HR) and be
ready to run AT 19:30 (so much later than
we normally run). We can change there and shower afterwards and join the H&H
Runners in the bar for a chat afterwards. They normally have half a dozen to
a dozen runners on a Wednesday, with mixed speeds, so we could make good
company for them. It would be good if there were at least half a dozen of
us, and if we could tell them in advance how many to expect, so please
consider it and
let me know you'll be expected.
Roderick Hoffman
{roderick@rhoff.org.uk}
Club parkrun results for Saturday 26th August
26th August |
family & friends |
time |
parkrun |
commentary |
grade |
Dave |
Dixon |
17:45 |
Hackney Marshes |
M-5, run #8, 5th at Hackney |
85% |
Caroline |
Yarnell |
22:31 |
Curl Curl |
run #26, 23rd at Curl Curl |
82% |
Sharon |
Kassemzadeh |
25:59 |
South Oxhey |
F-1, course pb, age cat rec |
77% |
Alice |
Banks |
25:46 |
Maidenhead |
run #94 |
75% |
Chris |
Kelly |
19:58 |
Reading |
run #348 |
75% |
John |
Coffey |
25:58 |
Bushy Park |
run #250 |
73% |
Barry |
Walters |
22:17 |
South Oxhey |
M-6, 1st run at South Oxhey |
73% |
Anne |
Bannister |
27:36 |
Bedfont Lakes |
run #146 |
69% |
Alan |
Anderson |
32:07 |
Gunnersbury |
run #472 |
69% |
Jeremy |
Short |
22:40 |
Osterley |
run #87, 13th at Osterley |
68% |
Ian |
Cunningham |
22:33 |
Bushy Park |
run #298 |
68% |
Oliver |
Mathai |
24:21 |
Gunnersbury |
run #45 |
68% |
Alan |
Friar |
27:53 |
Reading |
run #240 |
65% |
Caroline |
Cockram |
25:37 |
Mile End |
run #280, club rec(F) |
64% |
Benita |
Scaife |
31:02 |
Maidenhead |
run #87 |
63% |
Ian |
Cockram |
23:27 |
Mile End |
run #400, 1st at Mile End |
63% |
Kimberley |
Turner |
26:01 |
Clover Point |
course pb, club record |
62% |
Ben |
Chaytow |
22:05 |
Swansea Bay |
club course record |
62% |
Chris |
Evans |
24:18 |
Bedfont Lakes |
run #175 |
62% |
Eddie |
Giles |
28:18 |
Salisbury |
11th run at Salisbury |
61% |
Piers |
Keenleyside |
26:45 |
Gunnersbury |
run #175 |
60% |
Roderick |
Hoffman |
26:44 |
Cannock Chase |
park #204 |
58% |
Petra |
Otto |
35:46 |
March |
run #23, 20th at March |
58% |
Tony |
Barnwell |
32:56 |
Rickmansworth |
8th run at Rickmansworth |
58% |
David |
Duggan |
27:51 |
Bedfont Lakes |
run #214 |
56% |
Trish |
McCabe |
27:27 |
Richmond Park |
course pb, club rec(F) |
56% |
Joan |
Foxley |
38:44 |
Harrow |
Hot ! |
56% |
Joe |
Nolan |
29:24 |
Black Park |
run #288 |
56% |
John |
Scaife |
31:02 |
Maidenhead |
run #100 |
53% |
Colin |
Russell |
26:42 |
Oak Hill |
6th run of 2017 |
52% |
Janet |
Smith |
33:33 |
Harrow |
1st run at Harrow, park #23 |
51% |
Steve |
Newell |
36:40 |
South Norwood |
lon-done status re-instated |
50% |
James |
Shoulder |
30:55 |
St Albans |
1st run at St Albans |
42% |
Denis |
Foxley |
volunteer |
Harrow |
run director |
Bob |
Bannister |
volunteer |
Bedfont Lakes |
timekeeper |
Neil |
Frediani |
volunteer |
Bedfont Lakes |
lead bike |
Kerstin |
Luksch |
volunteer |
Gunnersbury |
lead bike |
It is time to pay to tribute to the man who was arguably our original
parkrunner – John Coffey – who first recorded a finish at the Bushy Park
Time Trial as long ago as Christmas Eve 2005 when he was just a young lad (well,
below state pension age anyway). Four weeks later he achieved his solitary Bushy pb of
20:17 (81.18%, still his highest %). He was 43rd out of a field of a mere 153
that day. He has a total of 13 runs at Bushy with an age graded score of
80% or better. This week John Coffey (25:54, 73.17%) finally made it
across the line for the 250th time and qualifies for a free green Tribe Sports
running vest. John is our 12th member to make the 250 club with Alan
Friar, currently on 240, likely to be the next.
John Scaife (31:02) also reached a landmark this week with his 100th run and
will be eligible for a black vest with delivery in due course. With John
and Benita having just returned from a month in Australia, former member
Caroline Yarnell (now with Sydney Striders) decided it was time for a springtime
outing at Curl Curl (22:31, 81.5%) and achieved her lifetime best age grade
score at a parkrun - she reported on Facebook that this was despite her having a
cold that wouldn't go away. Ian Cockram (23:27) reached a barely recognised
milestone of 400 runs on a first visit to Mile End. He set a new club
course record.
Ben Chaytow (22:05) set a new club record at Swansea Bay while at Hackney
Marshes Dave Dixon (17:45, 85.16%) recorded the best age group score anywhere by a member so far this year. Trish McCabe (27:27) established a female
club course record at Richmond Park. Barry Walters (22:17) grabbed a sixth
place finish on his first run at South Oxhey but couldn’t snatch the club course
record which is still held by Richard Ruffell (22:02). Former member
Sharon Kassemzadeh (25:59, pb) was the leading female and is top there in her
age category.
Steve Newell (36:40) travelled by tube, rail and tram to reach South Norwood
Country Park to run the only current parkrun in London he hadn’t been too
before. While not entirely flat it is far and away the least hilly of the
parkruns in Croydon borough. There is car parking and a promise of post
run coffee at some stage in the future.
Steve Newell
Updated club parkrun stats
International parkrun growth
Norway held its first parkrun last Saturday with 132 runners at Tøyen parkrun,
Oslo. The 132 contained some familiar English names, with high run counts, but
there were 83 runners doing their first ever parkrun, many with names including
the "ø" character. Across the border in Sweden a total of 160 parkrunners
ran across the four venues - two getting record numbers.
And I'll present the following facts and allow you to decide for yourself if
there is any link between them:
- Late last year I introduced Ralph Behrens (Lufthansa / WARR
photographer) to Paul Sinton-Hewett and Tom Williams of parkrun head office,
- On Saturday Ralph ran his third parkrun, this one in Gdansk in Poland,
finishing in 39:45,
- One second behind Ralph was Jakub FEDOROWICZ, Poland's parkrun country
manager, who normally finishes much faster,
- The German Facebook page became active again this week - see
https://www.facebook.com/parkrunDE/ - though with no news of specific
venues,
- Paul Sinton-Hewett and Tom Williams are touring Germany next week.
Roderick Hoffman
Pacer day at Black Park parkrun 2nd September
Gosh, has a month gone by already since the BAAC run of the month at
Black Park....just a reminder that next Saturday 2nd September (first
Saturday of month, always) is pacer day again so come along and get
helped towards a new PB - and if you would like to be a pacer just
ask.
Joe Nolan {thejoenolan@gmail.com}
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Ride London write-up
Tim Bellars took up the offer of a guaranteed entry for this summers Ride
London event. This is what he had to say about the experience...
I got the confirmation from Steve Hillier on May 4th that I had been
given a place, this gave me precisely twelve weeks to prepare! I dusted
of the old treader that hadn't seen the light of day since the Etape du
Tour last summer and did a 33 mile ride. All was well as I chose a
relatively flat profile but I had forgotten that, as in the Etape, I
only had 8 gears that actually worked out of 24! Still I had 12 weeks
and I'd get round to fixing that. I also cycle all year round to work so
I was ahead of the game so to speak. After a couple of weeks I realised
that I was not getting enough miles in the saddle and took to getting up
at 4am on a work day to do an extra 15 miles each way to work. This
seemed to do the trick and get me back on target. My last training ride
was a week before the event and totalled nearly 70 miles but included
Ditchling Beacon and considering it was just before a night shift, I
deemed myself ready!
So the big day arrived. My son (Jack) gave me a lift to West Croydon
station at 04:30 on that Sunday morning to catch the specially chartered
train to Dalston Junction. The train departed spot on 5am and arrived at
Dalston at 05:40. This gave me 20 minutes to get to my Wave start before
it closed. Didn't know where I was going so I just followed the pack.
After a couple of U-turns arrived at my wave start with 3 minutes to
spare. At this point the most alarming thing was the amount of punctures
I had seen, at least 20 and we hadn't started yet! My wave start got off
spot on time at 06:40 and we were the wave behind ex-England rugby
captain Martin Johnson. The skies over London were a bit grey but the
forecast was good so I just kept my head down. The ride through London
at that time of the morning was lovely. It wasn't long before we were
passing the Fullers brewery and heading to Richmond Park. The witnessing
of punctures was ever increasing and the thought that I might not get
away with it played on my mind forever more. After a brief 'comfort
break' and feed I was heading out of the Park and onto Kingston and
Hampton Court. It was at this point I saw the first crash, always a bit
sad to see. Pressing on and feeling very happy the halfway point was
looming. A glance at the clock just before Newlands corner displayed
2hrs 42mins with the hills to come, my target of 5 hours was slipping
away. I knew what was ahead of me as this is where I train all the time.
So Leith Hill came and went as did Box Hill. 30 miles to go now!
Everything started speeding up as we headed for Leatherhead. I could now
see light at the end of the tunnel. It was at Oxshot when my second wind
kicked in. A quick intake of an energy gel and I was away. In fact so
much so I was now keeping the speedo indicating between 25 and 30 mph.
This was now quite oddly the most enjoyable part of the ride. The only
'fly in the ointment' was Wimbledon Hill which had been pointed out to
me. Again not too bad just a brief change in pace and soon I was back on
the flat. Central London and the Houses of Parliament were soon in sight
meaning the finish was too. As I passed the Cenotaph I got a shout from
Luke my son who was marshalling for BA (some of you might remember Luke
from past WARR events). A quick sprint up to Trafalgar Square under
Admiralty Arch and the finish was in sight. Crossing the line in 5hrs 52
minutes I was very happy with that! The whole event was so well
organised from start to finish. So much so that I was soon on the train
and heading home and in my local pub for 1.30pm! It was a great day and
I would recommend it to everyone at least once in their life! One last
thing those gears I intended to get fixed? Never happened, did the whole
ride on 8!!!!!!
Tim Bellars
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Other results & reports - New Forest Triathlon
It has been over a year now since leaving BA, but I have not been too
ideal with plenty of training to keep me busy, especially on the bike.
Too much running always ends in tears and injury, hence the move to
three disciplines to maintain some level of fitness, but with less
pounding of the legs. So on Sunday 20th August I completed the New
Forest Middle Distance Triathlon. This is a tough event, a 2k swim, then
as an added bonus a 1.1mile run from swim to bike, a 60 mile bike round
the hills and moors of the New Forest. The locals, mainly ponies, cows
and the odd donkey, have right of way on the roads so you always have to
be careful and slow or stop when they are wondering across the road.
Finally a tough 13.2 mile run, all off road on bumpy tracks, with more
hills than the Berkhamsted Half. Very pleased to see the end in 6 hours,
64th out of 175, and 3rd in my age group. Further ahead of me was
Natalie, 5th lady and 1st in her age group, and her other half even
further ahead, finishing 2nd.
Richard Ruffell
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Greetings
Greetings from one of your BA Marshalls at The London Marathon, etc.
I noticed the digest mention of the Vancouver Island Parkrun. Vancouver
itself has a nice run itself down on the Park and by the water. It is
like a promontory itself and you can keep the Inuit statues 'company'
and get an ice cream at the end. You can do as many circuits as you like
and it is always on the water's edge. Did it quite a few times back in
the nineties.
As Mr. Hillier and Mr. Barnwell know I do a run at Maidenhead,
sometimes by the Rugby pitches used for the parkrun but generally I run
a cross country route BUT I always 'pay for it.' Recovery from two
ops has left my physical state less than it should be so lots to catch
up on.
Best regards,
Andy Rayner
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Rules - use of watches during races
This topic came up during the week. UK Athletics provide the rules of
competition that most UK races are run under - including track, cross country
and road races. They have tried to combine their rules with those of the IAAF.
The "Assistance to Athletes" rules have recently been updated to outlaw the use
of some real time aids. This includes "the use of any technology or appliance
that provides the user with an advantage which he would not have obtained using
the equipment specified in, or permitted by, the Rules." However, a subsequent
rule states "For the purpose of this Rule, the following shall not be considered
assistance, and are therefore allowed: (144.4.d) ...speed distance monitors or
stride sensors or similar devices carried or worn personally by athletes during
an event, provided that such device cannot be used to communicate with any other
person. " My interpretation therefore is that sports watches can be used
during events but you may be challenged on this in "serious" events.
The rules are more specific when it comes to phones - "For the purpose of
this Rule, the following examples shall be considered assistance, and are
therefore not allowed: (b) Possession or use of ... mobile phone or similar
devices in the competition area." It'll be interesting to see if half the
field in long distance road races get disqualified for having a phone strapped
to their arms. I suspect this won't happen.
There are clarifications for these rules for Road Running but only two - one
to ban the use of headphones if roads are not closed and the other is to ban the
use of dogs. I don't think that that implies that you CAN use a dog to
pull you round the 10,000m in the Olympics!
parkruns are not covered by these rules.
UKA and IAAF Rule Book 2016-2018 pdf 1.66MB
Roderick Hoffman
Next Digest?
Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes, stories - send it to the editor,
Roderick Hoffman, at
news@barunner.org.uk.
Club website:
www.barunner.org.uk.
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