*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 276 25 February 2008 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Farewell to Alan Craig * Peter Haarer and Marie Synnott-Wells win Roffey Salver and Aotearoa Trophy at the National Champs * Narrow loss to Ealing in Hec Petersen Trophy * Rachel Rowan first woman home in Bookham 10km, Charlie Pedlar third man * Inter-club race in the Park this Saturday, MABAC League on Sunday * Tickets on sale for the Baker Cup Supper at the Roebuck on April 5th * Last chance for discounts on the Barbados Marathon trip SEE HERE ******** ALAN CRAIG Alan Craig died in Charing Cross Hospital on Saturday the 16th February at the age of 55. He had never regained consciousness after suffering a stroke two weeks earlier. Alan joined Ranelagh in 1996, having been an enthusiastic and skilled climber in his younger days. He never aspired to be a great runner, but became a regular supporter of club events on the road and country. He completed the London Marathon in 1999 and was a member of our Green Belt Relay teams in 2000 and 2003, as well as driving one of the minibuses. He won the Baker Cup 3 miles road handicap in 1999, and won bronze medals in the 1998 Coad Cup and in the Over 50s category in our Road Grand Prix in 2006. According to Ken Powley's age-related stats his best-ever run was when he recorded 31.29 in the Wedding Day race in Bushy Park in 2002. He acted as the club's Trophy Steward from 1999 to 2001 and was for six years a very efficient Clubhouse Manager. Alan was an exceptionally outgoing and friendly man, rarely seen without a smile on his face. He was an experienced sailor, and when Angus Cater let it be known that he was looking for crew to join him first on a trip to Alderney and then on an epic voyage to Antarctica, Alan jumped at the opportunity. He joined the Harrac crew for leg three of the journey from Grenada in the Caribbean to Callao in Peru, which they reached just after last Christmas. Angus's tribute might speak for us all: "I first met Alan at a Ranelagh Harriers party after he had volunteered to sail to Alderney to run in the half marathon. I immediately took to his warm, open nature and as we have spent a lot of time sailing and working on Harrac I came to know a man who was funny, endlessly cheerful, hardworking and just a real pleasure to be with". Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences go to his wife Sue and family on their sudden tragic bereavement. The funeral will take place at Mortlake Crematorium (Kew Meadow Path, near Chiswick Bridge) on Friday 29th February at 1pm. All are welcome. Any donations would be welcome, in support of "Integrated Neurological Services", a charity which deals with stroke victims. Donations should be made out to INS and sent to the funeral directors, Holmes and Daughters, 461 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14 7PU. There will be light refreshments after the funeral at the Kew Gardens Hotel in Sandycombe Road, Kew. INVITATION You are invited to the Ranelagh Harriers Baker Cup Supper - our Club Annual Awards Ceremony Date:- Saturday 5th April 2008 @ 7.00pm. Location:- The Roebuck, 130 Richmond Hill, TW10 6RN - Tel 0208 948 2329 Dress:- Smart Casual Price:- £20.00 per person Places are limited to 60 people, so please reserve your place early!!! Your glass of Champagne awaits you!! R.S.V.P. to Michele Gibson:- Email:- micheleagibson@hotmail.com Mobile:- 07703 518 956 Cheques payable to Ranelagh Harriers and posted to Ms Michele Gibson, c/o Baker Cup Supper, 16 Copenhagen Gardens, Chiswick, London W4 5NN". RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF-MARATHON - Sunday 11th May 2008 at 8.30am Juliette Chan writes: "This is a high profile race for the club and we had about 800 runners last year. To ensure its success we are looking for volunteers to help out on the day. It's an early start but that means that it's all over by lunchtime. We really need your help for the following duties: * Car park attendants (x 3) * At the finish (x 5) * Tail enders (x 2) - one must cycle & other can run or cycle * Water helper (delivering/collecting with Andy W) x 1 If you can help, please e-mail Juliette (juliettechan@yahoo.com). We will also need 40+ marshals along the route to direct and support the runners. So if you, your family & friends would like to marshal, please e-mail Niall O'Connor (niall_o_c@hotmail.com)". EMERGENCY CONTACT Karen Weir writes: "We don't like to think about these things but when out running it is a very good idea to carry your Emergency Contact information so that if you have an accident or get into trouble the Emergency Services can identify who you are and know whom to contact should it be necessary. I have found a company that produces shoe tags that thread onto your trainer's laces, are completely unobtrusive and won't impact your running in any way. They hold several lines of information including your name, address and emergency contact details. They cost £2.50 each and the company has been supplied with the Ranelagh logo so make sure you mention that you are a member of Ranelagh if you order (see me on a Tuesday night if you want to see one 'in the flesh'.) If you would like one (or several), contact the company direct to place your order and provide your details, but I really would recommend for everyone's safety you consider getting these for yourself and your loved ones: www.clubtags.co.uk/shoe-tags-8-c.asp. You can select any colour you like, but on the order page where it asks for your 'second side text' enter 'Ranelagh Harriers logo'. The tags also come with a key ring and bag clip so are multi-purpose if you decide you don't want it on your shoe". INTER-CLUB Saturday 1st March in Richmond Park This is a low-key race over one lap of our mob match course (6km). All are welcome - just turn up on the day. Start time is 3pm. SPENDLOVE CUP This is the club 20 miles road championship. It will be held in conjunction with the Finchley 20 at Ruislip on Sunday 9th March at 9.30am. Those looking for a long competitive run before the London Marathon might want to consider taking part. Details on the Hillingdon AC website. THAMES TOWPATH 10 MILES West 4's Towpath 10 will take place on Sunday 6th April starting at Chiswick at 9.30am. MABAC LEAGUE Sunday 2nd March in Richmond Park Ann Murray writes: "We are hosting our MABAC League race in Richmond Park on Sunday morning 2nd March. It's 5 miles starting at 11am near the Broomfield Hill car park (the one at the top of the hill between Kingston and Robin Hood gates). The race is one or two laps (you choose on the day) of an approximately 2.5 mile course that is different to any of our other cross country routes. All Ranelagh members are welcome to take part, just turn up and collect a number on the day - no entry fees. Last year we had a well organised, friendly event that saw 128 runners finish two laps, 25 joggers/walkers finish one lap and a hardy 9 juniors finish one lap! We are very keen to have more Ranelagh runners, if you can come and run we would really appreciate it! Any queries contact Deborah Blakemore deboraheblakemore@yahoo.co.uk or Ann Murray annmurray@f2s.com or Bev Ali bev.ali@blueyonder.co.uk". BARBADOS MARATHON - LAST CHANCE Michele Gibson writes: "Fellow Runners, Barbados Marathon Sunday 7th December 2008 Last chance for those interested in joining the Barbados Marathon in December '08. If you have read the details in the Ranelagh e-news #273 sent on 31st January, and are interested in joining the trip for the marathon, half-marathon or 10km, please can you contact the two e-mail addresses below with your contact details and package requirements. I am away on holiday myself but I don't want you to miss out on the £100 discount for reserving your place before the end of February. If you are thinking of going, e-mail Don and Sara (addresses below) directly and they will talk you through the detail. Or e-mail them your phone number if you want them to call you to discuss. The contacts are Don Gooding (Don.Gooding@BestAtTravel.co.uk) and Sara Malin at Barbados Journeys (Sara.Malin@BestAtTravel.co.uk) ". GREEN BELT RELAY The GBR takes place this year on the weekend of 17th and 18th May. It's eleven runners per team, and we will probably be entering at least two teams, one men's and one women's. The route is a complete circle around London's Green Belt, much of it off-road, totalling about 220 miles. It's divided into 22 stages, and each runner has to run one stage on Saturday and one on Sunday. For lots of info about the race, see the website www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk/index.htm. Entries have to be in soon, so If you're interested in taking part please contact Marie or Andy - contact details in What's Coming below. CAROLA'S DISSERTATION - EXPERIENCED MARATHON RUNNERS AND TRIATHLETES NEEDED FOR RESEARCH PROJECT Carola Richter writes: "Some of you may know that I'm studying sport science at St. Mary's College, which explains why I'm absent from most of the Tuesday and Thursday sessions. It's my final year and I'm preparing for my dissertation in sports psychology. I know that most of you would rather be interested in getting your VO2 max tested, but unfortunately the laboratory times are too busy. However, sports psychology is a very interesting topic too and some of you may benefit from the outcome. The following is a brief explanation of what is involved and how it works. An investigation of the motives and intrinsic motivation of marathon runners and triathletes. One of the most obvious reasons for participating in aerobic exercise is to obtain health and fitness benefits. However, marathon runners and triathletes endure the pain, financial cost and a level of training that is clearly beyond what is necessary to acquire the basic health benefits of regular exercise. This raises the question "Why do they make so much effort?" Little research has been undertaken regarding the motivations for participating in triathlon events and no comprehensive theory has been accepted since the sport started in 1978 with the introduction of the first Hawaiian Ironman. To understand the respective motivations for marathon runners and triathletes it is necessary to understand the relevant sources of motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic motivation). I'm particularly interested in the reasons underlying peoples' decisions to engage or not engage in physical exercise. The survey for this study will be a compilation of different measures that complement each other in understanding motivational factors such as a demographic section used to understand general information about you as the participant, a Motivation of Marathoners Scale and the Exercise Self-determination Scale. Before participating you will need to sign a consent form and will be given an information sheet of the research project. The study is approved by the Ethical Board of the College and all information will be treated confidentially. I am looking for people who have completed at least two marathon / triathlon events. I will be handing out questionnaires whenever I'm at the club and I will leave some surveys in a box at the club house for anybody who is interested or knows a friend who competes in these events. It only takes 15 minutes to fill out the survey! The questionnaire can also be completed online. If you are interested get in touch with me via e-mail carola@pampellone.com or ring me on my mobile 07810877286. I really appreciate your help and the more participants I get the better the outcome. Good luck for all the marathon runners training very hard for London, Paris or Boston. Watch out for me in Greenwich as I will be at the start line too!" ...AND MORE RESEARCH Jess Hill writes: "I am currently completing a Masters degree in Applied Sports Science and I am writing to ask for your help with my final year research project. I am looking to recruit runners taking part in the London Marathon and was hoping some of your runners would be interested in volunteering to take part. I am based at St Mary's and I have managed to gain a lot of external support in running this project, which we will be hoping to publish. I will be investigating the effects of an antioxidant fruit juice on oxidative stress in marathon runners. The anti-oxidant juice could potentially reduce the level of oxidative stress that occurs during exercise, thus reducing the symptoms of muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness following the marathon. The juice is a natural product made from only whole tart cherries, water and apple juice concentrate. Volunteers will be asked to drink the juice for four days before the marathon and four days after. I will then assess whether the symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness differ between those who have taken the supplement to those who have not. Would anyone running the London marathon who would be interested in taking part in the study please contact me at jessica.hill@richmond.gov.uk or on 07817 588179". *************** WHAT'S COMING... *************** More details of the following from Andy Bickerstaff ( 07772 111491 / mailto: andy@norris-hobs.co.uk ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto: nandmwells@aol.com ). Saturday 1st March Inter-club 6km in Richmond Park. 3pm start Sunday 2nd March MABAC League 5 miles in Richmond Park. See above. Sunday 2nd March Bushy Park Trail Run. Sunday 9th March Finchley 20 miles at Ruislip. See above. Saturday 15th March Clutton Cup 10 miles handicap in Richmond Park. 2.30pm start. Time Trials, every Saturday at 9am Bushy Park Diana Fountain car park Richmond Park Pembroke Lodge car park Wimbledon Common Windmill car park Banstead Woods Car park off B2219 Park Lane, Chipstead More details and registration at www.parkrun.com WHAT'S HAPPENED *************** NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 23rd February at Alton Towers Niall O'Connor reports: "The National Cross-Country Championship 2008 that was held at Alton Towers promised fun on a roller-coaster course. Each of the three laps of this undulating parkland course contained a reverse big dipper (i.e. you hung on for grim life, but while running upwards). This picturesque course was great for spectators, especially at the finish where the final straight was so heavily ploughed up that finishing sprints to the line were reduced to slow-motion running. The battle for the Roffey Salver for the first Ranelagh finisher was between Peter and Justin. Justin has been coming up on the rails over the last few races, but Peter was very focused and maintained his lead established from the charge at the start to finish 24 seconds clear of Justin. Peter said that he ran 'like a donkey' in coming an excellent 185th - but he measures himself against the best. This was Peter's seventh successive Roffey Salver victory. In his first National Justin came home a great 215th, before the packing of myself, a limping Cap'n Bicks and Chris Brook. Chris Owens followed shortly afterwards and described his race as being 'comfortable for the first 50m', which means that he had a final 10.05km to enjoy the Staffordshire countryside. Neil was glad that he managed to survive the race while Mike picked a tough beginning for his London marathon training. While Liz Yelling led the women's race from the start, Marie opted for the opposite tactic with a conservative start before pushing strongly up the field. Coming towards the line she was still picking off those ahead of her, looking more comfortable than many ahead. While she eventually ran out of 'course' it was a strong solid run showing her beginning to return to form - just in time for marathon season! We had only two starters, and Marie took the Aotearoa Trophy for the first Ranelagh finisher, ahead of Yvonne Hill". Niall's "reverse big dipper" is described thus on Belgrave's website: "Then came the climb! We can't remember a tougher ascent in any 'National'. Three hundred metres of ever-steepening terrain was topped by a final thirty metres that had mortals scrambling on hands and knees to get over the top. A huge crowd had assembled at the summit where gasping runners in severe oxygen debt were urged to keep going..." BANK OF ENGLAND INTER-CLUB Saturday 16th February at Roehampton Ace reporter Niall O'Connor again: "On a bright cold day 23 Harriers toed the line of the Roehampton course. Whether it was the opportunity to run much of our usual course in reverse or the best post-race free feed that enticed the mob is open to conjecture. While we outnumbered the other clubs considerably Ealing's low number of entrants nullified our advantage, which meant the Hec Petersen trophy was scored on 6-a-side. This low-key race attracts a small field so by the second lap, heading down Queens Ride, large gaps appeared between runners. Despite the spread of the field there were some exciting Ranelagh sub-plot races: Kevin Jacques unleashing his track finish of old to pull 3 seconds clear of Roger Wilson, and Peter Wright ignoring chivalry to beat Sandra Prosser at the tape. Cap'n Bicks was 4 secs faster than his winning appearance of 2005, despite an unscheduled stop to tie his laces on lap 1. As we fed and watered in Bank of England's salubrious HQ and the four-to-score results drifted in (we drew with Ealing) Chris Read was heard to declare "I'm glad it was just four to score, otherwise I would have been the person that just lost out in the scoring to Ealing". Chris hadn't realised that the Hec Petersen trophy was 6-to-score and that we lost by 2 points with their final scorer finishing just ahead of him. However nobody paid too much attention to the results as Bank of England had supplied diversionary scones with jam and cream!" JUNIOR POINTS PRIZE FINAL RACE Saturday 16th February in Richmond Park There was a small turnout again for the final Points Prize race, but most of the category winners were present to celebrate their victories. Overall winner on the day was Josh Keisler, with a time only two seconds outside his own course best time for the Under 13 age group. This was Josh's first appearance in this season's competition, so the overall title went to Phillip Bearman, who himself ran a PB of 8.46. Sandwiched between Josh and Phillip was Under 15 winner George Inman whose 8.25 was another PB. George completed a clean sweep of wins in his age group - albeit with little opposition! Tilly Hearty also won all four races in the Under 13 Girls section, with four very consistent runs - her times varying by no more than 15 seconds. Danielle Croucher was runner-up on each occasion. Rhian Lewis and Jay Cash recorded comfortable overall wins in the two Under 17 sections. There were no Under 15 girls present, but clearly ahead on points was Stephanie Croucher. BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 16th February 1 J Trapmore (Shaft B) 15.47 11 Sean Paynter 17.50 19 Darren Wood 18.14 22 David Rowe 18.31 29 Nick Wright 19.07 56 Luke Wilson 20.19 79 Roger Wilson 21.01 142 Adam Wright 22.52 229 Gill Wilson 25.10 252 Wally Garrod 26.01 285 John Hanscomb 26.49 317 Sharon Rowe 27.54 328 Daniel Hobbs 28.31 333 Michael White 28.47 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 16th February 1 C Strzadala (Unatt) 16.55 3 Jonathon Stacey 17.06 5 Patrick Wallis 18.36 9 Burkhard Fehsenfeld 19.22 15 Stephen Instone 20.12 21 Sam Perkins 20.53 31 Bonnie Webster 21.50 56 Heather Martingell 25.03 BANSTEAD WOODS TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 16th February 1 S Ford (Stragglers) 17.33 18 Steve Rowland 21.09 BOOKHAM 10km Sunday 17th February Rachel Rowan reports: "Jonny and I raced the Bookham 10k on Sunday which passes through some of the North Downs' most fabulous scenery, with great views. This is a tough little cross country race that is mostly off-road and claims to have 285m of ascents and descents. The men's course record for this race is just under 40 minutes so it is obviously a hilly race. I can attest to this having raced it - I don't think there was one flat section, there was a particular gruelling section about 3k into the race with about 2k of climbing and some of the steepest downhills I have ever seen towards the end of the race. Despite this I was first lady home in a time of 45.50 (the winner ran 40.25). Besides us there were a few other Ranelagh Harriers racing and I notice that there was more Ranelagh success as Charlie Pedlar was 3rd man home. I would definitely recommend this race with its friendly atmosphere and breathtaking scenery if you like a challenge". 1 A Hawkins (Epsom & E) 40.25 3 Charlie Pedlar 42.10 17 Rachel Rowan 45.50 24 Jonny Rowan 46.46 39 Gideon Cook 49.20 170 Tom Reay 59.22 298 Elizabeth Milford-Cottam 73.47 SUSSEX BEACON HALF MARATHON Sunday 17th February at Brighton 1 D Carter (Phoenix) 1.11.17 (chip time 1.11.17) 634 John Pratt 1.39.33 (1.39.15) 906 Michael Doust 1.43.55 (1.37.51) 2288 Nick Paisley 2.01.52 (1.56.50) 2289 Rachel Turtle 2.01.52 (1.56.51) 2842 John Hanscomb 2.11.06 (2.08.34) 3607 Deborah Blakemore 2.40.57 (2.34.28) SSAFA (Helping Heroes) 10km Sunday 17th February at Aldershot Alan Davidson reports: "The gently undulating course was described as slightly short. The event was organised by the army - the gun didn't go off!" 1 J Foreshew (Army) 30.26 126 Alan Davidson 42.45 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 23rd February Sandra Prosser was third woman home. 1 G Brook (Stragglers) 17.10 8 Burkhard Fehsenfeld 19.24 12 Stephen Instone 20.14 19 Sandra Prosser 21.53 21 Andy Woodhouse 22.01 28 Martin Clark 22.42 37 Anna Mallett 23.50 84 Pat Hewlett 35.01 85 Marina Quayle 35.02 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 23rd February 1 R Ward (Belgrave) 15.49 11 Sean Paynter 17.42 26 Darren Wood 18.50 64 David Rowe 20.20 105 Roger Wilson 21.24 107 Chris Camacho 21.28 175 Jonathan Billington 22.58 242 Heather Martingell 24.47 279 Wally Garrod 26.13 298 Sharon Rowe 27.16 302 John Hanscomb 27.30 WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 23rd February 1 M Gaunt (Serpentine) 16.45 48 Pete Warren 22.27 90 Catherine Carthy 28.08 TRINIDAD MARATHON Sunday 24th February Andy Hayward reports: "They had me marked down as an elite athlete for some reason, and provided a taxi to the start, 20 odd miles away. Taxi picked me up at 3:30am. Start was 5:30am. Last time I saw the real elites was 5:31. I was definitely feeling a little tired from all the recent travelling and the Tampa Marathon two weeks ago, so again I started very easily. At 10 miles I was only just inside 8 min/mile pace, and feeling that I may struggle to maintain it. I really thought I would finish outside 3:30, so from then on I didn't look at the watch again, and just went at what felt comfortable. I went through the half in 1:43 and high change. I deliberately didn't push, especially as it started to get uncomfortably hot in the second half. The last six were still tough with the heat and the legs still feeling the last one, but I did keep plugging away. The race ended with a 3/4 lap of a stadium but I didn't even look at the finish line clock until after I finished as I didn't want the pressure. I did manage a strong finish again though, overtaking two people on the track. I was really quite happy when I saw the time was 3:28:27. As I crossed the line, the announcer mentioned that I was from Ranelagh Harriers, and that that Hugh Jones of Ranelagh had run and placed in this race in the past. I came 42nd overall (out of an estimated 350) and 4th in age group (M50 was won in an amazing 2:49 this year - 3:15 last year). Anyway, again, not a brilliant marathon time, but good enough as a 26.2 mile training run. Michele was also here, but decided not to participate as she doesn't do races that involve getting up at 2:45am!" 1 S Sawe (USA) 2.22.18 42 Andy Hayward 3.28.27 WINCHESTER 10km Sunday 24th February Jonathan Robinson was 3rd Over 50. 1 C Bolt (AFD) 31.14 29 Jonathan Robinson 38.00
TUNBRIDGE WELLS HALF MARATHON Sunday 24th February 1 B Noad (Highgate) 1.09.48 (chip time 1.09.48) 92 David Rowe 1.29.45 (1.29.35) 675 Michael White 1.51.28 (1.49.43) BRIDGES 2.3 miles handicap Wednesday 13th February at Westminster 1 R Chapman (Black & B) 17.52 (actual time 14.52) 23 John Hanscomb 20.54 (21.24) 26 Alan Davidson 21.00 (16.20) FINALLY... Those who looked at the video featured in the last e-news's "Finally" - Kayoko Fukushi's painful last lap in the Osaka Marathon - might already have followed links and viewed this one, which features the desperate finish of Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham in the 1997 Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Watch and wince... www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w