Category Archives: Members

Members, Thornbury Running Club

TRC Weekly Bulletin w/c 24/10/22

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 12 min – Carol/ 10 min – Jim W/ 9 min – Kevin W / 8 min – Hannah / 7 min – Ben

All runs now require Hi-viz and head torches.

Tea Rota                                                      

27/10 – Leighton Prescott / 3/11 – Carol Mosses / 10/11 – Hugh McPherson / 17/11- Sam Prescott / 24/11 – Paul Saville / 01/12- James Marshall

What’s On …

  1. TRC Race Series 2023

Entries for the Club’s 2023 Race Series have been open 4 weeks now. We typically need about 170 runners to break even from an event. For the last event, Oldbury 10 miles, we did not reach this number.   Personal  recommendation and word of mouth is very powerful. Please help promote our race series by telling everyone you know.  All  info at https://thornburyrc.fullonsport.com/event/search Any question please contact events@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

2.     Gloucestershire Cross Country

https://www.entrycentral.com/glosxcleague1The dates and venues for the Gloucestershire Cross Country League 2022/23 season are: First round Cirencester Park Sat 5th Nov 

Click here to go to the entrycentral.com entry page for the first round.

12.30 U17 Men and Women/U20 Women/Senior Women/Masters/ Men over 65 (6.5k)

13.30 U20 Men/ Senior Men/Masters (9.5k)

 

  1. Riverbank Rollick Sun 15th January 2023

We are looking for volunteers to be part off the TRC Group that organises the Rollick in January. Anybody interested in helping organise please contact Jo Emerson or Arthur Renshaw (07810 300025) in the next week or so.

Next week we will be starting to look for volunteers to help on the day – we need about 80 volunteers in order to run the event on the day so if you can, please put your name down to help.

24/10/22

Members, Thornbury Running Club

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 17/10/22

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 12 min – Amel/ 10 min – Suzy/ 9 min – Jim W / 8 min – Lizzie / 7 min – Rob

All runs now require Hi-viz and head torches.

Tea Rota                                                      

20/10 – Ellen Perrett / 27/10 – Leighton Prescott / 3/11 – tba

We need more volunteers to help with Tea and biscuits on a Thursday night – please see Arthur Renshaw

What’s On …

  1. TRC Tuesdays – Something for everyone!

A reminder that in addition to the Tuesday Coaching Group that meet at the track or Aztec West there are three other small Groups on a Tuesday:

  • TRC Mid-day 5k Group. Usually led by Ros this group does about 5k on road. Meet TLC top car park 12.00. Let Ros know if you intending going 07743 257838
  • TRC Afternoon off road Group.  Led by Arthur Renshaw & Mel Lloyd. One hour plus off road. Meeting location and time changes depending on run route. Will set-up a WhatsApp Group if required. Contact Arthur Renshaw 07810 300025
  • TRC Evening Steady 5k Group. Meet top car park at 19.00. Informal run with limited routes now it is dark by 19.00 Typically a steady 5k all on road (Hi viz and head torches required). Please check on the ‘TRC 5k Group’ (WhatsApp) to see who else plans to attend. You can decide a route and speed depending on who is there.
  1. TRC Race Series 2023

Entries for the Club’s 2023 Race Series have been open 3 weeks now. We typically need about 170 runners to break even from an event. For the last event, Oldbury 10 miles, we did not reach this number.   Personal  recommendation and word of mouth is very powerful. Please help promote our race series by telling everyone you know.  All  info at https://thornburyrc.fullonsport.com/event/search Any question please contact events@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

 

Captain Kevin Wood is away in Japan until the end of the month.

16/10/22

Members, Thornbury Running Club

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 10/10 – Important Updates

Thursday Club Night Leaders (new)

Walking – Val / 12 min – Nigel / 10 min – Arthur / 9 min – Chris / 8 min – Mel / 7 min – Nick

All runs now require hi-viz and head torches.

Tea Rota                                                      

13/10 – Steve Dimond / 20/10 – Ellen Perrett /  27/10 – Leighton Prescott

What’s On …

  1. TRC Tuesdays – Something for everyone

In addition to the Tuesday Coaching Group that meet at the track or Aztec West there are three other small Groups on a Tuesday:

  • TRC Mid-day 5k Group. Usually led by Ros this group does about 5k on road. Meet TLC top car park 12.00. Let Ros know if you intending going 07743 257838
  • TRC Afternoon off road Group.  Led by Arthur Renshaw & Mel Lloyd. One hour plus off road. Meeting location and time changes depending on run route. This week 14.30 Morton Way Underpass. Will set-up a WhatsApp Group if required. Contact Arthur Renshaw 07810 300025
  • TRC Evening Steady 5k Group. An alternative to the Coaching Group. Meet top car park at 19.00. Informal run with limited routes now it is dark by 19.00 Typically a steady 5k all on road (Hi viz and head torches required). Please check on the ‘TRC 5k Group’ (WhatsApp) to see who else plans to attend. You can decide a route and speed depending on who is there.
  1. Track Time

If you are on the TRC Tues Coaching WhatsApp group you will have already seen this message – Thank you for your votes on track night. The clear preference was Tuesday at 19:00. Due to yet more delays in WISE building program our restart date has been put back to Tues 8th November. We will meet at WISE on 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7:00 and all other Tuesdays at 7:30 (most likely Aztec in the winter). We will confirm each Tuesday morning, via the TRC Tuesday Coaching WhatsApp group, the time & place. We will continue to look at other options.

  1. Buff, Bottles & Bags

We have buff, bottles and shoe bags available for purchase at £1.50 per item. How can you resist such a tempting offer? This fine array of wares is from our 2022 race series collection and will make you the envy of the running community. Contact Carol kit@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

  1. TRC Race Series 2023

Entries for the Club’s 3 event race series for 2023 are now open. Please help by telling everyone you know, as word of mouth is super helpful in getting more entries. More entries means more income, which means more for club activities and being able to keep the membership fee unchanged. All info at https://thornburyrc.fullonsport.com/event/search Any question please contact events@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

  1. Beginners

A new cohort of 16 beginners started their 9 weeks of sessions on Wednesday 5/10. Thank you to Carol and Natalie for organising the sessions and to all the supports Paul H, Hugh, Amel, Arthur, Carol, Mark, Natalie. Emma P and Chris P  for helping during the 9 weeks. Nice feedback after weeks 1 “I found yesterday a great experience – having never run in a group before”.

09/10/22

 

 

Members, Thornbury Running Club

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 03/10 – More Dates

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 5k – Caron / 10 min – Hugh / 9 min – Kev C / 8 min – Kevin W / 7 min – Ben

All runs now require hi-viz and head torches.

Tea Rota                                                      

6/10 – Arthur Renshaw / 13/10 – Steve Dimond / 20/10 – Ellen Perrett

We need more volunteers to help with Tea and biscuits on a Thursday night – please see Arthur Renshaw

What’s On …

  1. Race Series 2023
    The Club’s 3 races for 2023 are now open for entries:
  • Race #1 – The iconic off road and muddy Riverbank Rollick on Sunday 15th January 2023. Registration from: 9:00 race starts at 10:30
  • Race #2 – The new Thornbury 10k along rolling country lanes on Thursday 29th June 2023. Registration from: 18:30, race starts at 19:30
  • Race #3 – The classic flat and fast Oldbury 10 mile on Sunday 17th September 2023. Registration from: 9:00 race starts at 10:30

We have also linked the three events into a series and are offering a discount for entering the series, along with an overall series prize. Please can you help in two ways to make these events successful and safe:

  1. Help get entries by telling everyone you know, would like to know and used to know. More entries = more £. Which means more for club activities.
  2. Volunteering when asked to marshal a the events to make them safe and enjoyable for participants. Which means they come back next year and tell other people about us.

Any question please contact events@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

2. Xmas Lights Run & Food
You may notice in the ‘What’s On Section above that the date for the Xmas Lights Run & Food is now Thursday 15th December. Please put the date in your diary and we will ask about numbers and dietary needs in November.

3. Olveston Fun Run
This is a great local community event and an opportunity to publicise the club. Entry available here. Olveston Fun Run is on Sunday 9th October in support of Olveston School. There is a 5k off road run and a 1k run for younger children. It would be terrific to see a good turnout from the club in club kit.

4. Track Time
Those on the ‘TRC Tues Coaching’ WhatsApp group will be aware that, on the nights we go to the track, we will meet at 7:00 and not 7:30. When not at the track we will continue to meet at 7:30. Dates, times and locations are shown in the ‘What’s On’ section above and will be sent out Tuesday morning to the WhatsApp group. We are looking to find another solution and will let you know the options via the WhatsApp group soon.

5. Parkrun of the Month 
The date for the November parkrun of the month at Berkeley Green has been moved to November 12th, so as not to clash with XC.

02/10/22

Members, Thornbury Running Club

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 25/09 – Back on Track

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 5k – Nigel / 10 min – Ellen / 9 min – TBA / 8 min – Kevin / 7 min – Nick

All runs now require hi-viz and the wearing and use of head torches. Leaders have the right to ask you not to run with the group if you are not prepared to run in the dark safely. This is for your own safety, the groups safety and the reputation of the Club. Thank you

Tea Rota                                                      

29/9 – Jerry Clothier / 6/10 – Arthur Renshaw / 13/10 – Steve Dimond

We need more volunteers to help with Tea and biscuits on a Thursday night – please see Arthur Renshaw

What’s On …

  1. Olveston Fun Run
    This is a great local community event and an opportunity to publicise the club. Olveston Fun Run is on Sunday 9th October in support of Olveston School. There is a 5k off road run and a 1k run for younger children. It would be terrific to see a good turnout from the club in club kit. Entry available

 2. Back on Track 11/10

Great news! From 11th October we will be back at WISE track. We will be at the track on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. Details are always sent out on the ‘TRC Tues Coaching’ WhatsApp group. If you would like to be added to this WhatsApp group please contact Hannah, Nick W or Kevin W.

 

  1. Pete Mainstone Challenge
    The Severn Bridge Night Run 25/11, which is #6 in the PMC run series, is full and we have only one TRC entrant. However the Severn Bridge Night Run on 9/12 is still open for entries. We have therefore decided to allow entries to both events to count. However as the person who entered the 25/11 event got there first they will automatically gain the 25 points.

 

  1. Parkrun of the Month
    The next parkrun of the month will be on October 1st at Somerdale Pavilion. The date for the November parkrun of the month at Berkeley Green has been moved to November 12th, so as not to clash with XC.

 

5. Fun Palaces – Message from Nick W

We have agreed to host a running session at the Thornbury Fun Palace event on Saturday 1st October at 10:00 am on Mundy Playing Fields . The session will adopt the format of a standard Tuesday interval session, albeit the efforts will be replaced with some more basic fun running shuttles aimed at being all-inclusive, rather than ‘hard’ efforts. This is an opportunity to showcase what our club provides to the local community, whilst also demonstrating that running can be ‘fun’ rather than simply slogging your guts out, which to many may seems like just too much hard work! Nick will be coordinating the event, but could do with a couple of additional volunteers if anybody would like to help out. The running session will only last between 45-60 minutes and ideally will be held soon after 10am to make the most of the parkrun crowd. If you are interested in helping out, then please contact Nick on 07745133524.

  1. London Marathon
    Good luck to any Club member running the London Marathon on 2/10. As you may remember Hannah was awarded the club place and will be running in London.
  2. Leaders
    We have already had two person step up, we need more leaders please. We have some long term injuries and leaders changing groups which means we have 3 leaders for the 7 min group, 4 for 8 min, 4 for 9 min, 7 for 10 min and 4 for 12 min. So every group, except 10 min, needs 1 or 2 more leaders to cover for injury, illness, family, work etc. If we don’t get more leaders coming forward we will have to combine groups if and when we have a leader shortage. If you would like more info, no commitment or obligation, please speak to Kevin W captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

24/09/22

Events, Members, Thornbury Running Club

Oldbury 10 Mile race – a big thank you to all our helpers

On behalf of Race Director Ros Rowland and myself we would like to thank all the Club Members who helped out today on the Oldbury 10 Mile race.  Despite it being a perfect day for running we had 29 ‘no-shows’ out of a total of 163 who had entered leaving 134 who started. For those at the start we had an excellently well observed 2 minutes silence in common with other sporting events over this weekend.

A fast race saw 13 runners going sub 60 mins including a Bristol & West Woman for the first time in quite a few years. All the runners appeared very pleased with the course, the marshals, and the general organisation.  An example of a typical comment below….

“Thanks for todays race at Oldbury.  I wanted to send a huge thank you for a really well ran race and the wonderful marshals. Please pass on a big thank you to all of them … was lovely to have so many on the course and the smiley encouraging shout outs

 :))”

Thanks everybody, we now move on to the Riverbank Rollick scheduled for Sun 15th January 2023.

Ros & Arthur

Members, Thornbury Running Club, Uncategorized

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 18/09 – Big Diary update

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 5k – Amel / 10 min – Steve / 9 min – Hugh / 8 min – Hannah / 7 min – Paul

All runs now require hi-viz and head torches please.

Tea Rota                                                      

22/9 – Jonathan Hall / 29/9 – Jerry Clothier / 6/10 – Arthur Renshaw / 13/10 – Steve Dimond

What’s On …

  1. Gloucester League Cross Country
    Hannah & Jim G have kindly agreed to be XC Captains again this season. All communications about XC will be in the ‘TRC Cross Country’ WhatsApp group. Not sure if you are in the group? If you didn’t see the message sent Tues 13/9, then you are not in the group. Like to be added to the group? Contact Hannah, Jim G or Kevin W. A full list of XC races and a picture of Lorna is here: https://www.athletics4u.co.uk/cross-country/

2. Leaders
We need more leaders please. We have some long term injuries and leaders changing groups which means we have 3 leaders for the 7 min group, 4 for 8 min, 4 for 9 min, 7 for 10 min and 4 for 12 min. So every group, except 10 min, needs 1 or 2 more leaders to cover for injury, illness, family, work etc. If we don’t get more leaders coming forward we will have to combine groups if we have a leader shortage. If you would like more info, no commitment or obligation, please speak to Kevin W captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

  1. Olveston Fun Run
    This is a great local community event on Sunday 9th October in support of Olveston School with a 5k off road run and a 1k run for younger children. It would be terrific to see a good turnout from the club in club kit. Entry available

18/09/22

Members, Thornbury Running Club, Uncategorized

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 11/09 – No Emmanuel

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 5k – Carol Mosses / 10 min – Jim Williams / 9 min – combined with 8’s/ 8 min – Lizzie / 7 min – Rob

Tea Rota                                                      

15/9 – Run & Rehydrate / 22/9 – Jonathan Hall / 29/9 – Jerry Clothier / 6/10 – Arthur Renshaw / 13/10 – Steve Dimond

What’s On …

  1. Oldbury 10 Mile – Sunday 18/9

We are so nearly there, we need a couple of people to act as reserves please sign up here, thank you.  A list of volunteers is shown here if you are not sure if you have volunteered! All volunteers will by now received two e-mails from Arthur with instructions. Arthur would like to have a marshals briefing on Thurs 15/9 at about 8:30 after the Club run at the Run & Rehydrate in Rockhampton please.

We do have a LOT of capacity for more runners so please help increase entries by telling anyone and everyone you know, word of mouth is very powerful. Thank you.

Any Oldbury 10 Mile last minute issues please contact Ros Rowland (07743 257 838) or Arthur Renshaw (07810 300 025)

  1. Run & Pizza

The next Run & rehydrate (run, drink & eat pizza) is on Thursday 15th September at Rockhampton OLD cricket pavilion. (The Common, Rockhamptopn OLD Cricket Pavillion, Lower Stone Road, Rockhampton, GL13 9DX). Please put the date in your diary.

  1. Introduction to Running Course

We have enough interest and people registered to run the next Introduction to Running Course. If you know anyone interested please ask them to contact Carol Mosses beginners@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk The course is 9  weeks from Wednesdays from Oct 5th to Nov 30th at 6:45pm from TLC car park.

  1. Emmanuel Kipruto Bundotich

Full Message from Paul –  Sadly Emmanuel’s visa application has been rejected. Despite the fact that we offered proof of paid airline tickets – out, and return – plus the letter of invitation from TRC; the elite entry to the Bristol Half; proof of where he would stay in the UK, and a letter of recommendation from Athletics Kenya, his application was rejected. We tried hard to understand why this was.    The British Embassy ignored all emails.   There is a hotline to call, but they will only speak to the applicant, i.e. Emmanuel, and in order to speak to someone on the phone you have to type in a credit card and pay 70p per minute.   He does not have a credit card of course.   99% of Kenyans do not. We found a UK guy in Iten willing to dial in and pass the phone over to Emmanuel, only we were told there was no right of appeal, and a new visa application, costing another £180, and another speculative 12 hour round-trip to Nairobi, would be needed.   Others advised that unless Emmanuel had a UK bank account, or family in the country, or a professional contract, there was essentially zero chance of success. So with great reluctance, we have had to cancel his trip.   I find it so dis-spiriting that he could not take up the single chance in his lifetime to do something we, far, far, far, lesser athletes take for granted.  What must his two little boys think when all they hear is that the UK government won’t allow their dad to visit a place they were told was their friend?  So-called ‘global Britain’ is only open to those who are rich it would appear.    Plus ca change. Thank you to all TRC members who expressed an interest in meeting with Emmanuel, training with him, even hosting him in their home.   Thank you to the club committee, and especially Kevin, who made such great efforts themselves to promote and coordinate the trip. I am just sorry that it has all come to nothing.

  1. Gloucester League Cross Country

Summer is over and thoughts are turning to Cross Country! Here are the Glos League fixtures for 2022/3 to put in your Diary.

  1. Sat 5th Nov Cirencester Park
  2. Sat or Sun 10/11 December
  3. Sun 19th Feb
  4. Sun 5th March Cotswold Farm Park

11/09/22

Members, Thornbury Running Club

Club Weekly Bulletin w/c 04/09 – Oldbury 10 Mile

Thursday Club Night Leaders

Walking – Val / 5k – Carol / 10 min – Arthur / 9 min – Hugh / 8 min – Hannah / 7 min – Nick W

Tea Rota                                                      

08/09 – Mark Rogers / 15/09 – No Tea, Away Day / 22/09 – Arthur Renshaw / 29/09 Jerry Clothier / 06/10 Jon Hall

What’s On …

  1. Oldbury 10 Mile – Sunday 18/9

Thank you very much, the number of marshals has rocketed up to 35 in the past week. We just need 6 more helpers – 2 people for Entries Desk; 1 Bike Marshall; 1 Water Station & someone to do the Sweep Vehicle, please sign up here, thank you.  

I know a few people are not sure if they have volunteered or not. A list of volunteers is shown here. When you volunteer you will have received a thank you e-mail to remind you to put it in your diary.  More info will be sent out later this week if we can fill the final few places.

Arthur would like to have a short Marshals & Helpers briefing meeting (length of the meeting is short, not for short people!) on Thurs 15/9 at about 8:30 after the Club run at the Run & Rehydrate in Rockhampton.

We do have capacity for more runners so please remember to help increase entries by telling anyone and everyone you know, word of mouth is very powerful. Thank you.

  1. Run & Pizza

The next Run & rehydrate (run, drink & eat pizza) is on Thursday 15th September at Rockhampton OLD cricket pavilion. Please put the date in your diary. Ready to run at 19.00 and remember to wear hi-viz tops as it may be getting quite dark when we get back after our runs

  1. Emmanuel Kipruto Bundotich

There has been a snafu with Emmanuel’s visa so there is a strong likelihood that he will now not be able to join us in September. We will update you asap. For the full planned details please read more …

  1. Thanks Mike

As a thank you for all Mike Bennewitz’s work as both Club Treasurer and Health & Safety Officer he was presented with a bottle of bubbly last week. Being Treasurer can be almost a daily job at certain times a year and requires close attention to detail. Mike was able to get a £500 grant from EA when we suspended Club fees for a year. H&S is part of every club activity and was an important part of keeping us running during the various COVID lockdowns.Thanks Mike.

  1. Pete Mainstone Challenge

Following a very successful Severn Bridge 10k for the Club the updated standings in the Pete Mainstone Challenge are shown here. We had 4th place overall – Phil Blackburn, 1st MV45 – Paul Harrod, 1st MV65 – Kevin Wood, 3rd MV, 3rd place MV70+ – Chris Foley and 3rd place men’s team. See Paul’s race report. Next PMC event Stroud half on 23/10.

02/09/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members, Results, Thornbury Running Club

NICK WILLIAMS AT THE OCC – AND PETE MAINSTONE CHALLENGE RACE 4

What’s the most competitive race in the world that an amateur runner has a chance to compete in?

You could make a case for one of the big city marathons – London, New York, Tokyo etc. But while they will feature the very best marathon runners on the globe, the vast majority of competitors are ‘the masses,’ as Brendan Foster insisted on calling them.

So how about the Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc, and its sister event the OCC, which is a shorter version of the main event, although that just means the athletes run at a higher intensity. It is 55km of incredibly demanding trail running, at altitude, featuring many sections that are tricky to ski down let alone run. To even have a chance to take part you have to qualify by doing several other long-distance races, and perform at a high level, and then every single athlete that does make it, drawn from nations across the world, is a serious and dedicated ultra-runner.

Huge congratulations to Nick Williams therefore for a monumental effort to come a fraction outside the top 100 in the men’s event. He was the 5th British runner to finish, and many of the runners ahead of him would be professional or semi-professional athletes. Nick looked to be in good form judging by his wins at the TRC club 10k championship, and at the mob match, and it was fantastic to see him put it all together on his favourite trails.

Round 4 of the Pete Mainstone challenge took place at the Severn Bridge 10k. This was an excellent event, organised by the company that still operates the Severn Bridges, and must be the only race in the UK where you get to run on a closed motorway. I was very impressed with the quality of the tarmac. Cut above what you get on the A38.

Compared to what Nick put himself through in the Chamonix Valley, this event was a doddle. However the old Severn Bridge is still deceptively steep, especially as the route took us up and down the slip roads which made the total elevation much more than we’re used to for the shorter 5k parkrun. In fact, there was barely any flat section at all; it was all up or down hill, plus you’re very exposed to even the lightest wind on that bridge, which had a cumulative impact when having to run the first three miles into a headwind. So not a PB course. Yet the race organisers made it a very special event, even if they snuck in a horrible lung-busting 200m climb up a footpath just yards before the finish.

I could tell we were getting close to the finish as you could hear the music from the loudspeakers getting ever louder. Katy Perry was insisting I was a firework – and to be fair my arms do resemble a malfunctioning Catherine Wheel when I get tired. Freddie Mercury was adamant that no one should stop me – oh, but please do!- as I was having such a good time. But that was no longer the case by the 10th kilometre!

TRC recorded some excellent overall results. There were more than 500 runners in the race, and yet we had two runners in the overall top 10, and two age-category winners. Phil Blackburn was the star performer once again, and his time of 37:27 was close to his overall 10k PB which suggests this was an exceptional run even by Phil’s meteoric standards. Hopefully he’ll find a flat 10k on a cool autumn day and go well under 36 minutes. Phil was fourth overall, and only narrowly missed out on a podium place.

Paul Harrod was 9th overall, and first VM45 in 39:57 which was some way off his best. Kevin Wood had an excellent run, cheered on by picnicking family members on the grass verge – a less salubrious al fresco location when the articulated lorries are thundering past, but a lovely spot on Sunday. Kevin was 66th in 47:01 and the clear winner in his age category, and he also took the honours in the age-adjusted rankings for this event. Chris Foley was 113th in 51:34 which is a really fantastic time on that course.

Hugh McPherson was inside the top 200 in a time just outside 56 minutes. Karen Carr just missed out on breaking the one hour mark, but did duck into the top 100 in the women’s race which is an excellent achievement. Liz Baird finished in 63 minutes, and beat 150 runners on the day.