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Newsdesk 2020
*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 574 25th August 2020 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: sandsrowland@btinternet.com *************************************************** RESUMPTION OF TUESDAY GROUP TRAINING We hope to get Tuesday night training under way again from September 8th. Further details to follow. In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact our COVID-19 Co-ordinator Gordon Whitson: ranelagh.hon.secretary@gmail.com VIRTUAL CLUB RACES IN SEPTEMBER This comes from Suzy Whatmough and James Ritchie: We have a couple of upcoming virtual races open to all members. Virtual "Thomas Cup" Opening Run, Handicap and Club Photo Race/ Run: 4th-6th September 2020 Entry Deadline: 30th August 2020 Let's kick off the 2020/21 season with a big virtual turnout for our annual Thomas Cup run. Details and entries can be found here:. Everyone can join in, no matter where you are or which watch you run with (or don't run with). We'd also like to do our first ever virtual club photo. Please send in a photo of yourself to ranelagh.strava@gmail.com by 7th September. We want to see photos of all our members - runners and non-runners alike! Virtual "Page Cup" Run and Handicap Race/ Run: 25th-27th September 2020 Entry Deadline: 20th September 2020 Traditionally our second club fixture of the season, this follows the same course as our virtual "Coad Cup" last month. Again, we'd like to welcome all members to join in, no matter where you run or which device you run with. Details and entries are here:. For any queries, please contact Suzy Whatmough and James Ritchie at ranelagh.strava@gmail.com KEEP IN TOUCH 1. Join the Strava group: 2. Log your run and give it a catchy title. 3. Give our segments a shot! 4. Check back every week for highlights 5. Note that Activity and Profile Privacy settings will need to be set to Everyone if you want the rundown team to be able to see your individual runs Follow us elsewhere on social: Twitter: @ranelaghharrier Facebook Insta: @ranelaghharriers ST ALBANS 10k Sunday 23rd August Mick Lane reports: I had the pleasure of running a real race for the first time in six months today at the St Albans 10K and, apart from a few tweaks at the start to accommodate social distancing, it was just like normal. Runners were held in pens and brought to the start line in small groups to be set off every few seconds, which was obviously a little unusual, but apart from the staggered start the race itself was no different from a pre lockdown road race. Admittedly, there was no baggage drop, an online race briefing and no prize giving ceremonies but apart from that everything else was the same. With around 600 runners ( divided into two races ) taking part it obviously took some good organisation, but the system they used was very simple. The race had a full UKA licence ( indeed there was a guy there from UKA monitoring the whole thing ) and everyone I spoke to agreed that, in the current circumstances, this was the way forward for races in the foreseeable future if restrictions aren’t loosened. From where I was, everything today worked fine and the only possible downside I can envisage is a phone call in the next few days from NHS track and trace. Lastly, I know people who have committed to raising money for charity on the basis of running London on the 4th October have been talking of running a virtual marathon on the same day. If they’re anything like me they might prefer the real thing and be interested to know the same race organisers ( Activetrainingworld.co.uk ) are holding a “proper” marathon at Dorney Lake on the 4th October. 1 O Garrod (SLH) 32.02 139 Mick Lane 41.50 (3rd M60) KEW GARDENS 10k This event was originally part of the Richmond Runfest, but the other races have all been cancelled. The Kew race is being held entirely within Kew Gardens, which will otherwise be closed to the public. Two 10ks are taking place, on Saturday 12th September and Sunday 13th September The Saturday event has already sold out, but entries (at £38!) are still open for Sunday. A similar technique to that used at St Albans (see above) is planned, with staggered starts. For more info go to www.richmondrunfest.co.uk/. AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH… …Monday’s edition of The Times includes a photo of the start of the Trail des Moulins race at La Pommeraye in France. All the competitors are wearing face masks, though some are not covering their noses. LONDON MARATHON It was finally confirmed that the Virgin Money London Marathon will take place on October 4th as an elite race only on a multi-lap course in St James’s Park. For more details of referrals and a virtual marathon see:. PEDALO WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT On August 26th Ranelagh’s Alun Thomas and three colleagues will be attempting to set a new record for travelling the length of the Thames on a pedalo. They are hoping to raise £10,000 for the MND charity. Details here: DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! From the Essex Chronicle, 1830. Reprinted in the Amateur Athletics Association Jubilee Souvenir book “Fifty Years of Progress” published in 1930. Several hundred persons congregated on Waterloo Bridge to witness R Coates, the celebrated runner, undertake the following difficult task: to draw a one-horse chaise one mile, walk one mile, run backwards half a mile, row a boat one mile, trundle a hoop one mile and run forwards one mile – the whole to be accomplished within the hour. The match was for £10, and owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, the betting was against him. At half-past two the parties appeared on the ground and at a quarter to three the runner commenced his difficult performance from twenty-seven yards of the Middlesex Gate at Waterloo Bridge, which made it exactly a quarter of a mile to the gate on the opposite side. The pedestrian went through the whole of his task in grand style, amidst the greatest disadvantages, a small rain falling nearly the whole of the time, with a strong wind from the westward. At the conclusion of the great undertaking, a dispute arose as to whether it was accomplished within an hour; a variety of opinions was expressed, but the umpires declared the match was lost by one minute and a half. Even in those days, it is interesting to note that “a variety of opinions was expressed” upon an athletic feat and although “umpires” were apparently appointed, there was no Amateur Athletic Association to adjudicate upon any disputed point, or to see that batting was “strictly prohibited”. TO STOP RECEIVING the Ranelagh Harriers e-news, please reply with the word UNSUBSCRIBE