We have two British Airways cross country events coming up.

The first is the men's cross country at Wimbledon on the 9th February at 3.00pm. Start is at the usual place about 100 yards from the war memorial on Wimbledon common. At the moment we are in 3rd place with small chance of getting 2nd. You never know. So a good turn-out would be nice.

Also we have the British Airways cross country championships being held on the 17th of February in Cranford park at 10.30am. We also need some volunteers to help with some marshalling & to record times at the finish line. The course is 3 laps for the men, and 2 laps the ladies. If you could help please contact me at gary.rushmer@btinternet.com 

Don't forget new members & non-members of all fitness levels are all welcome at this event.

Many thanks Gary Rushmer.

"Hello everybody, today I want to write a few lines because I am absolutely delighted of having the opportunity to run the Marathon in London. As a runner it was and is my dream to run in London. Thanks for that! I am a new club member since December 2012 and I have heard about the BA club through Alan Anderson. during my weekly parkruns on Saturday. On the 13th of January I had a lovely 8 miles run at Windsor park with pleasant weather conditions. I enjoyed it and I am thankful that Helen informed me about that event. Otherwise I have every week my 1 hour runs on two evenings with pace varieties. Every Saturday I enjoy the parkrun (5K) at Gunnersbury park and on Sunday morning I have my long runs (Gunnersbury park or along the Thames) or some official races. For the upcoming weeks I have entered a couple of 10K races, Half marathon in Richmond and Silverstone, 16 miles run and I really want to run a 20 miles race but I couldn't find any races. Does somebody know anything about a 20 miles race? That would be great... I am looking forward to the great day in April. Good luck to everybody with the training and the runs!

All the best, Kerstin Luksch"
 

Joe Nolan's 2013 London Marathon preparations

"Firstly, a big thank-you again to the club for awarding me a London marathon place – it will be my 5th marathon now after my first pounding of the London streets in 2011.

Well, I think I finally started my training last Saturday morning with a 1mile canter in the snow taking about 10 minutes ! A terribly late start compared to others in the BA team who have already reported being well up on their mileages in their inspiring reports ! Some explanation is necessary of my ‘here it goes again/injuries’ (later) but to start with to clear my conscience of not giving a final report on my 2012 campaign I’d better start with a quick summary of last years’ event and what followed.

Last years’ marathon was going steady up to about half way point at Tower Bridge where I began running out of steam. Up to that stage I was being uplifted by friends spectating on route and also knowing that I was being monitored on-line by a dozen others by the result tracking system every time I crossed a 5k mat (who all saw that I started to drop off…). I had learnt a lot by my first London the year before and slogged on more carefully towards the end until I suffered terrible hamstring cramping at the top of Birdcage Walk and had to stop for a few minutes. I’ll never forget Kat, who was marshalling, so kindly offering twice to help carry me the last kilometre but after some stretching advice I limped on despite suffering 2 more bad attacks on the final run in. Got there again but still not managing my ultimate sub-4 target.

My summer was troubled by repeated calf muscle injuries and I had to take a few months off from running. I had long before booked to do the Loch Ness marathon in September but with no preparation went up just for the holiday….but on the day boldly decided to make a ‘comeback run’ with a gentle ‘walk up the hills’ and ‘slow jogging down’ strategy which miraculously got me there in 4h45m (not too bad considering) although another massive hamstring cramp just 400m from the end muddled things. A very scenic marathon course but alas no sign of the monster !

I plodded some more races to the end of the year but on a Boxing day parkrun the calf gave up big time again so I had to take a rest and sign back up with a (new) physio. This is where we came in above here, as after a few torture sessions I was advised to do the 10 minute test run last Saturday which went well, and after another treatment session this evening have been advised to try a 20 minute jog tomorrow – all looking promising now so let’s hope it’s full speed ahead ….

I seem to have put on quite a few pounds since Christmas so another objective before marathon day is to lose a stone – I seem to be carrying a couple of rucksacks of potatoes compared to the club ‘built-for-speed machines’ such as Gary R, Barry W, Eddie G et al, so it’s got to help.

I’m hoping to step up my training carefully now, which will include the following events, as well as my own separate plodding, which I can recommend to others:

Gade Valley Harriers marathon trainers :
24 Feb – 17miles; 24 Mar – 20miles) £5 registrations on day, marshalled/water + lots of delicious free cakes at end !)

10 Feb – Wokingham half marathon (entries full now)

3 Mar – Thames Riverside 20miler (entries open, marshalled/water/pacers + free cakes at end !)

17 Mar – Reading half marathon

24 Mar – Datchet Dashers 20mile marathon trainer in Windsor Park (clashes with Gade Valley 20miler but am more likely to do this one – just turn up on day, no fee, marshalled/water)

29 Mar – Maidenhead Easter 10miler

…until next time !

Joe Nolan (21 January 2013)"

Joe also mentions a few other long distance runs that may appeal to those training for London - "there are also the Bramley 20 (17 Feb I think) and also the Cranleigh and also I think the Finchley (actually in Ruislip !) 20ish - Google to find. Also, the Datchet Dashers one from their clubhouse in Windsor and through the park is free and great (just turn up on day), and the Thames Riverside 20 (3 March, need to enter quickly) is extremely useful as there are pacers. Either Google the above or I am happy to advise direct." Joe Nolan