Planning in progress for Thursday evening running sessions; Running Slightly Faster Than Normal (RSFTN)/Race Training
DRC Grand Prix 2018 Update – FOD Spring Half Marathon
The latest DRC Grand Prix series tables are now available to view.
Click here for the latest league tables >>
This update includes the first two marathon results submitted for this series. Well done to Steve Barnes and Matt Read who finished at Gran Canaria and Manchester respectively and currently take the top points in this category. Remember, this can all change as more results are submitted up until the end of September!
Also, well done to Tony Woolridge who was the only DRC runner brave enough to take on the Tour of Torpantau fell race picking up maximum points by default!
The re-arranged FOD Spring Half Marathon took place last Saturday. Following the cancellation earlier in the year entrants were offered a place in on the rearranged date or a place in the Autumn Half Marathon on 30th September. Therefore the Autumn Half Marathon will be now be added to this years series which provides another opportunity for runners to complete the 8 races needed to qualify for the series prize giving.
Pete Chaffer and Tony Wooldridge still lead the way in the men’s league, with Matt Read now replacing Mike Crompton in 3rd just one point ahead of Andy Probert.
In the women’s league Alice Lewis remains on top, however Annette Heylings has closed the gap to just 10 points following maximum points at the FOD Spring Half overtaking Eileen Hieron who now sits in 3rd place.
The next event in series is the Frenchay 10k this weekend, followed by the Marlborough Downs Challenge Ultra and the Stroud Trails Half/Marathon. Details and links to entries for each can be found on the main Grand Prix page.
With quite a few of the big city marathons happening over the coming weeks, don’t forget to enter your time using the short form also found on the Grand Prix Details page to make sure its included.
As always, please feel free to get in touch with Mike Crompton or Tony Freer if you have any questions on the Grand Prix.
DRC Juniors Weekly Round Up
Some great photos of the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, we waited for some better weather and it paid off. The Juniors were able to test their map reading skills and were rewarded with mini eggs.
We have started planning for the summer now and should be putting our Summer Athletics dates out soon so watch this space; they will be Thursday 6.30-7.30pm sessions at the Rugby Club. We have also agreed to put on our first ever Mini Athletics for 4-7 year olds, so if you know some younger budding athletes then watch this space for that.
And finally a reminder of our Orienteering event 12th May 12 noon at Rednock. We are opening this event up to all 7-18 year olds in the area as a chance for others to find out about us. The plan is to have a bit of a display and have cakes available after the orienteering. So if anyone is able to come along and support us or make cakes for us that would be great.
DRC “Spring Special” Challenge
The “Spring Special” challenge is something muddy and hilly and long-distance as an antidote to Everchops. Apparently not everybody is a middle-distance speed demon! So I give you the “Spring Special”, with a bit of navigation thrown in. It is simply this – whoever accumulates the most mileage on the OFFICIAL ROUTE of the Cotswold Way during April and May will win.
photo credit: sczscz
To make it worthwhile I’m going down into my cellar for this one and dusting off some decent stuff and will provide a case of 6 bottles of red, white or mixed as preferred by the winner*. Walk it or run it. Winner takes all.
photo credit: winegod
*non-alcoholic alternative available
You will need to keep a log of your runs (dates and miles) and send it to me every Friday through April and May so that I can validate on Strava. As ever, no ifs, no buts, no excuses, if it ain’t on Strava then it didn’t happen.
This is a great opportunity to get some training in for the Cotswold Way Relay in June. You can run N to S or S to N and if you do an out-and-back then mileage will count in both directions. It does NOT have to be on different parts of CW, you can repeat sections…but to be safe and to prevent someone doing reps along Parsonage Street, I’m going to put a minimum stipulation of 3 miles per run to qualify!
This won’t appeal to everyone, but don’t worry there will still be “normal” monthly challenges suitable for all. It starts on Sunday 1st April and finishes on Thursday 31st May.
If you have any questions please message me on facebook or email me: neil.truelove@gmail.com
DRC Juniors Weekly Round Up
Some speedy running on Wednesday I understand from our yr7+ Juniors.
Thursday’s Indoor Athletics featured throwing practice; shot put, howler/foam javelin and discus. Just one more indoor athletics session left and back by popular demand another bleep test (can you beat your previous score?).
On Saturday DRC Juniors were able to promote our activities at the Kingshill House clubs and societies event.
And then Sunday, what a great Spring Championship event! 19 Junior Athletes took part and there were some impressive performances all round. Thank you to everyone who supported the event; a great start to the outdoor athletics season.
Next Saturday will be the Stinchcombe Golf Course Easter Egg Hunt; chocolate eggs for grabs!
And last but not least, congratulations to Annette Keevil on qualifying as an Athletics Coach!
Caroline Jones
DRC Juniors Chair
Spring Championship Event 25th March 2018
What a great event, well done Junior Athletes!
It was a beautiful day at Yate Outdoor Sports Centre. We started with a brisk warm up and then moved swiftly on to our distance running; 400m, 600m or 800m; the 800m was a particularly close event with four athletes running the 800m in under 3 minutes.
We followed this with our Javelin/Howler throwing, High Jump and Long Jump. These events give our athletes a chance to improve as they were able to have a couple of attempts at each event. Again some impressive performances; two Howler throws over 22m, Long Jumps over 4m and High Jumps of 135cm.
Then came hurdles and sprints with some really fast performances across all age groups.
See link to the results.
DRC Juniors at Kingshill House Clubs and Societies Event
A chance to promote our activities.
Orienteering Event 12th May
DRC Juniors and BOK are arranging an Orienteering Event in Dursley for Junior Athletes between 7-18 years old. Starting at 12 noon in the Redneck School grounds. This free event is for DRC Junior members and non-members. Run or walk, come along and give it a try. Under 11s to be accompanied by an adult. Cakes available after the race.
Team Sunday – April 15th 2018
Road Option:
Meeting at 7:30am at Tesco
Route: 8 miles via Slimbridge
Link to route: https://www.strava.com/routes/12687430
Pace: 8 to 8:15.
Off-Road Option
Dave Halford leading an off-road run starting at Sainsburys in Stroud and then running back to Dursley via the CW.
The plan is to leave Sainsburys Stroud ~ 8:30am to be home by 10.
For lifts to stroud contact Dave
Distance is ~ 8/9 miles
DRC Grand Prix 2018 Update – Chipping Sodbury parkrun
Chipping Sodbury parkrun was the focus of the Grand Prix series this February with many DRC runners making the effort to go a bit further from home to record a qualifying time on a Saturday morning whilst also having a go at Neil’s February challenge!
Pete Chaffer still holds the lead in the men’s league, but he now has the familiar face of Tony Wooldridge lurking just behind in 2nd place following an impressive 81.86% age grading. Mike Crompton now sits in 3rd after recording a 17:35 5km PB for a 74.6% age grading. It remains very tight at the top with Andy Probert is just 1 point behind Mike, and Matt Read and Dave Durden both a further 2 points behind.
In the women’s league the top 3 remains unchanged after Alice Lewis recorded an excellent 83.17% age grading, however Annette Heylings has now closed to within 2 points of Eileen Hieron. Shona Darley and Margaret Johnson lead the chasing pack.
Click here for the latest league tables >>
Note that I’ve also adjusted some scoring from previous events to account for the most recent entries.
Its still not too late to fill in the entry form, a link for this can be found on the Grand Prix Details page or here >>
The next event in series is theTour of Torpantau Fell Race on 10th March, followed by the Forest of Dean Spring Half the weekend after.
If you’re run a marathon, don’t forget to enter your time using the short form also found on the Grand Prix Details page to make sure its included.
As always, please feel free to get in touch with Mike Crompton or Tony Freer if you have any questions on the Grand Prix.