In this week’s Newsletter we have:

• Weekly Diary
• Pete Mainstone Challenge – Club 10k Update
• Ultra Impressive – Race Reports
• Cotswold Way Latest
• Thornbury 10k
• Coming Up Next Week ….

We still need to complete track & trace app on Thursday & Tuesday Thursday T&T & Tuesday T&T Link can also be found on the club home page. If you forget you can do it after the run.

During the summer groups will be going off road for all or part of the Thursday night runs. Please wear appropriate footwear e.g. trail shoes. If you have questions about the route, please contact the leader.

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1. Weekly Diary

Tuesday Lunchtime: 12.30 from Leisure Centre Car park. Usually about 5k. Contact Ros on 07743 257838

Tuesday Coaching Night: 7:00 TLC – to join the WhatsApp group contact Kevin Wood 0796 6634237 / 7:30 Aztec – to join the WhatsApp group contact Nick Williams 07745 133524

Thursday Lunchtime: 12.30 from Leisure Centre Car park. Usually about 5k. Contact Ros on 07743 257838

Thursday Club Night: Please send your name and which WhatsApp group you would like to be added to by contacting Kevin Wood 07966 634237:

• 7 min – Paul Harrod
• 8 min – Kevin Wood ** Depending on conditions we may meet in Tockington for an off road. I will send a WhatsApp to the ‘8 min group’ on Thursday morning latest. Please register with the group if you want to be updated. **
• 9 min – Chris Pritchard
• 10 min – Arthur Renshaw
• 12 min (5k) – Hugh McPherson
• Walking – Val James

Sunday Long Runs: 8:30 Scout hut (car park) near Manorbrook School. Contact Mike Bennewitz 07790 491304 to join the WhatsApp group.

2. Pete Mainstone Challenge – Club 10k Update

Thursday 27th May saw the 2021-22 Pete Mainstone Challenge get off and running with the Club 10k.
Thank you to Steve Dimond for the route (Thornbury ‘2 Peaks’); to Ashleigh, Jerry & Pete for capturing all the times and to Nick Langridge who is doing the results service. 30 people ran on a warm and still night, and a few more plan to run by the close date of 6th June (Please submitting your results, time & distance, to captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk). Once the event is closed we can publish all the results. Thank you to everyone who took, or is taking, part. At the time of writing the newsletter we had raised £145.93 in support of the Rotary Walkathon in aid of Jigsaw Thornbury. Thank you to the 18 people who have donated so far, please can we ask everyone else who participated to consider a donation please. We suggest each participant makes a minimum £5 payment voluntary contribution, to make this easy please use the Virgin Giving page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ThornburyRunningClub

3. Ultra Impressive – Race Report ~ Paul Harrod
Whenever a race profile contains three ‘aid stations’ with prominent red crosses, and an elevation map with more ups and downs then the FTSE 100, you know you are in for a tough race.
However this did not dampen the enthusiasm of Ashleigh Ferris to take on her first ever 50km run: the daunting sounding UltraX Spring Trail Series. Despite the ferocious wind and frequent downpours, she finished in a highly impressive 15th place in her age category, in a time of 6hrs and 14 mins, and just outside the first 100 finishers in the entire race. The joyful series of pictures posted on Strava suggest she still had plenty of energy to celebrate her magnificent achievement afterwards!
Ultra regulars Ros Rowland and Jo Emerson also both did the UltraX Spring Trail both coming top of their age categories.– Ros was 1st FV50 in the 50km event in 6.26.50 just 12 minutes behind Ashleigh and Jo was 1st Fv40 in the hilly Half Marathon in 2.31.29

Slightly closer to home, Laura Orna took on the Bristol Epic Three Peaks race, starting in Pensford, and stormed round the 16.5 mile course in 2 hours and 44 mins. She finished in an incredible third place overall ,and second senior female. It is tough enough walking up those three peaks, (Knowle Hill, Maes Knowle and Blackberry Hill), let alone running them, and the challenging weather conditions on Saturday make Laura’s achievement all the more significant.
Finally, Laura Newell ran the Westonbirt Arboretum 10k, in what must have been very tough underfoot conditions, in a time just outside 1 hour. A very good result for a tough trail run in these unusually wet conditions!

4. Cotswold Way Latest
Still spaces available for this club classic, 3 more runners, 3 reserves and 1 volunteer please. If you would like to apply to join a team, be a reserve or volunteer, please contact Judy Mills judy.mills@live.co.uk. The Cotswold Way Relay is a 103 miles, 10 stages race off road race through beautiful Cotswold landscape from Chipping Campden to Bath on 3rd July https://cotswoldwayrelay.co.uk/

The Club is paying the full entry fee for both EA & non-EA members, as this is a Club event. However you do have to be a fully paid member of TRC, otherwise this could invalidate our entry leading to disqualification.

5. Thornbury 10k
We have agreement from Thornbury Rugby Club to use their facilities for our 10k annual club event on Thursday 15th July. We are currently looking at the start logistics, and hence number of runners we can accommodate, before announcing more details. Mark your calendar, more details to follow.

Coming Up Next Week
• Pete Mainstone Challenge 2021-22 New Events Added

In this week’s Newsletter we have:

• Weekly Diary
• Pete Mainstone Challenge – Final Countdown
• Cotswold Way Latest – Your Club Needs You!
• Thornbury 10k – It’s Happening
• It’s All Uphill
• All the Gear
• MH Week – Thank You
• Cow Management
• Coming Up Next Week ….

We still need everyone please to continue to use our ‘track & trace’ app on a Tuesday T&T Tuesday & Thursday T&T Thursday please. Whilst we have moved to stage 3, EA makes it clear that to be a ‘formally organised activity’ we must be ‘COVID-secure’, and to be COVID-secure “All clubs and coaches and event providers must capture pre-activity health questionnaires, including participant contact details which can be shared upon request with the government’s Track and Trace initiative. This could be through existing club membership forms, the RunTogether platform, updates to booking forms or sign in processes which we would advise all members complete on a regular basis anyway.” Hence our T&T app. Thank you.

Through the summer months all groups will be going off road for all or part of the Thursday night runs. Please wear appropriate footwear e.g. trail shoes. If you have questions about the route, contact the leader.

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1. Weekly Diary

Tuesday Lunchtime session with Ros Rowland (NOTE Ros has moved her meeting time back to 12.30)
12.30 from Leisure Centre Car park. Usually about 5k. Contact Ros on 07743 257838

Tuesday Coaching Night
• 7:00 TLC – to join the WhatsApp group contact Kevin Wood 0796 6634237.
• 7:30 Aztec – to join the WhatsApp group contact Nick Williams 07745 133524

Thursday Lunchtime session with Ros Rowland
12.30 from Leisure Centre Car park. Usually about 5k. Contact Ros on 07743 257838

Thursday Club Night
This Thursday 27th May is the Pete Mainstone Challenge 10k. It will be a Wave start by Pace Group – see full details below.

Sunday Long Runs:
8:30 Scout hut (car park) near Manorbrook School – to join the WhatsApp group contact Mike Bennewitz 07790 491304

2. Pete Mainstone Challenge 10k – Final Countdown
• Meeting Place – TLC car park (as normal) and move to the top end of Coopers Rd, to start, just before your start time (see below).
• Start Time – We are starting in waves, to avoid too many runners together in the local area. As you are self-timing the exact start time is not critical. Walking group @ 6:45; 11 min & 5k @ 6:55; 10 min @ 7:00; 9 min @ 7:05; 8 min @ 7:10 and 7 min @ 7:15.
• Route – The route, ready to recce, https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7581782 For those who prefer written instructions TRC 10k Club Challenge route Please remember there will be no marshals.
• Timing – You are responsible for your own timing.
• Finish – At the finish you will be asked for your name, time and distance run (just to check everyone went the right way! We appreciate there will be minor differences in distance.)
• Donation – Please can you make a minimum £5 voluntary contribution to the Thornbury Rotary Club charity Walkathon event. We have set up a Virgin Money Giving page to make this easy: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ThornburyRunningClub. Thank you. So far we have raised £25.
• Questions – Any questions please contact captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk Thank you.
• If you cannot run on Thursday 27th May you can complete the same course anytime during the 2 week period 24 May – 6th June and submitting your results (time & distance) to captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

3. Cotswold Way Latest – Your Club Needs You!
It was agreed at Monday’s Club committee meeting that that Club would pay the full entry fee for both EA & non-EA members, as this is a Club event. However you do have to be a fully paid member of TRC, otherwise this could invalidate our entry leading to disqualification.

To complete the teams your club needs 5 more runners, 3 reserves and 1 volunteer please for this much loved club event. If you would like to apply to join a team, be a reserve or volunteer, please contact Judy Mills judy.mills@live.co.uk.

For those who recently joined the club the Cotswold Way Relay is a 103 miles, 10 stages race off road race through beautiful Cotswold landscape from Chipping Campden to Bath on 3rd July https://cotswoldwayrelay.co.uk/

4. Thornbury 10k – Its Happening
We got agreement on Tuesday from Thornbury Rugby Club to use their facility for our 10k annual club event. They are delighted to let us use their facilities for the Thornbury 10k on Thursday 15th July. Mark your diary, more details to follow.

5. It’s All Uphill
A big thank you to Paul Harrod who delivered a great hill drill session for the TLC Coaching group on Tuesday. 20 people took part and now know how to fall up-hill! Expect a few PBs at Thornbury parkrun. For those who were not able to attend, Kevin W has create some notes and diagrams to explain the drills (reviewed by Paul). Contact captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk if you would like a copy.

6. All the Gear
With events starting to take place and our planned mob meet at parkrun on 5th June now is a good time to upgrade your club kit. Kev C has a stock of T-shirts and vests for sale at very reasonable prices. Please let Kev know what you would like and when you are available to collect.

7. MH Week – Thank You
It was mental health awareness week last week and we have seen some lovely pictures taken by members to mark this year’s theme ‘connect with nature’. Many of the pictures are on the Clubs’ Facebook page. Thanks to everyone who got involved with this and helped us to raise awareness!

8. Cow Management
In the summer we come increasingly in contact with cows. Following a recent Sunday morning run ‘cow management incident’ I thought you might find the following article of interest, ‘How common is it for walkers to be killed by cows?’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-54268160

Coming Up Next Week..
• Pete Mainstone Challenge 10k Report
• Thornbury 10k 15th July

21/05/21

In this week’s Newsletter we have:

• Weekly Diary
• Club 10k Challenge Route
• Club Coaching Tuesday
• We Are Growing
• Race Reports – Wonderful Wilson Smashes Marathon PB
• You’ve Got Sole
• London Virtual Marathon
• Coming up next week ….

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1. Weekly Diary

Tuesday Lunchtime session with Ros Rowland.
• 12.00 from Leisure Centre Car park. Usually about 5k. Contac Ros on 07743 257838

Tuesday Coaching Night:
• 7:00 TLC – to join the WhatsApp group contact Kevin Wood 0796 6634237.
• 7:30 Aztec – to join the WhatsApp group contact Nick Williams 07745 133524

Thursday Lunchtime session with Ros Rowland.
• 12.00 from Leisure Centre Car park. Usually about 5k. Contac Ros on 07743 257838

Thursday Club Night
With the light nights and recent good weather most routes will include an amount of off road for the next few months. If you have a question about the route, please contact the Leader below:
• 7 min Paul Harrod
• 8 min Kevin Cundy
• 9 min Hugh McPherson
• 10 min Mike Bennewitz
• 12 (5k/11) Rachel Murphy
• Walking Val James

Sunday Morning Runs:
• 8:30 Scout hut car park near Manorbrook School. Mainly off-road, 2 hours plus. To join the WhatsApp group contact Mike Bennewitz 07790 491304

2. Club 10k Challenge Route – Kevin W
Last week I announced the Club 10k, the first event in the 2021-22 Pete Mainstone Challenge, being held on Thursday 27th May. Now, thanks to the great work of Steve Dimond, here is the route: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7581782 (Next week I will publish Steve’s route instructions for those who prefer written instructions)

As there are no marshals, we have made the route easy to follow. The route has been fully tested by the new 10 min group. Please meet in the car park, where there is more space, before moving to the top of Coopers Road for your start time. It is on the Routes page now too:

Club Running Routes

Staggered start time in pace groups to avoid overcrowding (just start in groups, not run in groups) was published last week and will be republished closer to the event.

If you cannot run on Thursday 27th May you can complete the same course anytime during the 2 week period 24 May – 6th June and submitting your results (time & distance) to captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk
We suggest each participant makes a minimum £5 payment voluntary contribution. We have set up a Virgin Money Giving page to make this easy: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ThornburyRunningClub

PS Please could we have a volunteer to help Pete at the finish capture everyone’s time and distance (participants are self-timing)? Please contact captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk
Thank you.

3. Coaching Tuesday – Kevin W & Nick W
For those who want to try this week’s coached efforts at home:

* TLC – 6 x 800m / R 3 min. Efforts run to an individual target time based on 5k time.
* Aztec – 3 x 1 mile at just under 5k pace, with 3 minute recovery (or the time it takes to get back to holding an easy conversation)

Rather than reporting details in the weekly newsletter and posting on Facebook each week in future all coaching updates will only appear in the relevant coaching WhatsApp group. To join a coaching WhatsApp group please contact: Aztec / Nick Williams 07745 133524 or TLC / Kevin Wood 0796 6634237.

4. We Are Growing – Emma & Chris Pritchard
Since we restarted the club a few week ago we already have 7 new members and 8 people trying the club out before deciding if they would like to join. If you know somebody who would like to come along and try the club out, please ask them to e-mail membership@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk before they attend. It really helps us if they get in contact first, so we can get the paperwork out of the way.

5. Race Reports – Wonderful Wilson Smashes Marathon PB – Paul Harrod
Lockdown has been easier on runners than for participants in other sports. The daily permitted exercise allowance had a novelty value in the spring of 2020. Yet a year on, many of us are itching to get back to the challenge and camaraderie of an actual race. There is only so much joy to derive from a Strava crown, or becoming the “Local Legend of the bin store to A38 traffic lights”.

Thankfully, even with social distancing restrictions in place, the likes of Rogue Runs and DB Max have organised time-trial races where runners go off in groups of six, and chip-timed results ensure that there is a full roster of finishers at the end.

Garry Slater ran the recent Severn Bridge 5 mile race, and as anyone who has ever run the parkrun there knows, you are pretty much guaranteed a headwind in one direction or another. Despite this, Garry stormed to an 11th place finish in a time of 32 mins and 29 secs. Not only that, he was second MV50.

On Sunday 25th April, a few intrepid TRC members set off for the banks of the Severn, for the Shepperdine half and full marathon races. The sun shone, there was not a cloud in the sky, and a rare east wind provided both a cooling breeze and a stiff headwind to contend with on large sections of the course.
The half-marathon race attracted some of the best club runners from across the region. Therefore, recent TRC recruit, Sean Leadbetter, should be very proud of his 44th place finish, in a shade over 1 hour and 20 minutes. To put that in perspective that is an average per-mile pace of about 6 mins and 9 seconds. A very impressive performance indeed.
146 runners also lined up for the full marathon. Thornbury’s Ashleigh Ferris ran a clear PB to cross the line in 3 hours, 50 minutes and 6 seconds. That placed her as the sixth senior woman. Ashleigh has recently been honing her speed at Phil Lucker and Nick William’s Tuesday night training sessions, so look out for her when she goes PB-hunting in the shorter races! Jonathan Hall was 41st senior man in a very creditable 4 hrs and 13 mins.

If a road marathon is a daunting prospect, how about 50 miles on the vertiginous trails of the South Down Way? On the 17th April, 400 of the UK’s leading ultra-runners competed in the arduous race from Worthing to Eastbourne, featuring 5700 feet of elevation along the way. It took over half of the field more than 10 hours to complete the race; some taking over twelve. However, TRC’s Nick Williams clinched a 10th place finish in a total time of 7 hours and 16 minutes. That is an average speed, over the entire, undulating, 50 miles, including fuel-station stops, of 8 mins, 44 secs per mile. An astonishing performance from Thornbury’s premier male runner.

However even Nick will agree that the stand-out performance of recent weeks has to go to new TRC member Lucie Wilson. Lucie was due to run in the Richmond marathon, but when it got postponed, decided to make it a timed run around the roads of Rockhampton and Hill. Lucie’s time is therefore not an official record, but, as Strava will attest, she finished the 26.2 miles in a time of 3 hours, 7mins and 50 seconds.
Had Lucie run that in 2019 (pre-pandemic, and with a full programme of marathon races) it would have easily put her inside the top 50 women across the whole of the UK, including professional athletes. Let’s hope Lucie will be spearheading TRC’s women’s team in the upcoming road and cross-country races, as they have the potential to achieve something special.

If you have run results you would like to see reported please contact Paul via reports@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

6. You’ve Got Sole – Kevin Wood
I noticed an article in this week’s EA ‘Athletics and Running for everyone’ and thought I would bring it to your attention.
Over 300 million pairs of shoes and insoles end up in landfill every year. In the first initiative of its kind, Enertor® has started a scheme to recycle insoles. Your old insoles will be used for making anything from athletics tracks to playgrounds, recycled into recovery slippers or donated to Forgotten Feet, a charity providing foot care services to the homeless. Get involved today, reduce your carbon footprint, and help support our planet. Insole recycling.

7. London Virtual Marathon

The Brightwell, a charity based in Bradley Stoke that supports people living with neurological conditions, have 3 places available to take part in the London Virtual Marathon. Do you know anyone who may be interested? The fundraising target is £150/person. We would love to fill these places and if you could share this with members of the Thornbury Running Club that would be fab. If interested e-mail: Claire Wingate. claire.wingate@thebrightwell.org.uk

Coming up next week ….
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Club 10k Challenge Route – Route Instructions

2/05/21

I have been leaving sending this to the last possible minute just in case Boris wanted to change his ‘Release from Lockdown RoadMap’ but it is now definite we can re-start Club activities and meet to run in groups of 6 as from tomorrow (29th) British Summer Time has also started today so we get an extra hour’s daylight in the evening for a better choice of routes for our runs.

The top car park at the Leisure Centre is freshly marked out with Groups – 7 min, 8 min, 9 min , 10/11 min, 5k & Walkers. The Leisure Centre building doesn’t reopen until Monday 12 April so no toilets are available. Also be aware that the top car park is also a part time Covid Testing Centre but it will usually be clear when our groups meet.

The new Track & Trace system will be in operation for all who turn up to a TRC organised session – see separate e-mail specifically on the T&T system. You will need to complete an on-line confirmation before you turn up. Registration using your phone and the QR code will also be available.

Leaders have been organised for all organised sessions over the next few weeks.

Thursday 1st April will be the first main night back for everybody including for walkers. Meet top car park at 19.00 in your respective Groups. Have your Group photo taken then off you go in groups of up to 6 – remember to adhere to social distancing and to our Covid Running Code.
https://www.thornburyrunningclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/TRC-CoVID-Running-Code_V1.0.pdf

Group Leaders:
o 7 min Nick Williams
o 8 min Mark West
o 9 min Hugh McPherson
o 10/11 Rachel Murphy
o 5k Carol Mosses
o Walk Val James

Tuesday 6th April will be the first week back with Coached session. Tuesday’s sessions will be split between the Leisure Centre top car park and Aztec West. If you want to join either group please make sure you complete the Track & Trace on-line form beforehand. (see separate e-mail)

o Aztec West at 19.30 for anyone with a typical 5k time under 25 mins. Coached by Phil Lucker & Nick Williams. Park and meet at the main Business Centre in the centre of the business park (BS32 4TD). People will need to park in ‘blue’ spaces and, as you face the Business Centre from the A38, meet around the back by the main entrance: (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.542401,-2.5725497,3a,90y,49.01h,92.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL-kVb4-_ipUCG4KHGIpF9g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en-GB).

o Thornbury Leisure Centre (top car park) at 19.00 for anyone with a typical 5k time over 25 mins or anyone who cannot get to or doesn’t want to go to Aztec. Efforts or an alternative steady 5k run. Coached by Kevin Wood.

Keeping Updated – To keep in contact with the groups and so we can update people quickly if the location changes etc. we are going to set up two WhatsApp groups:
o Anybody wishing to on the ‘Aztec Coaching WhatsApp Group’ please contact Nick Williams 07745 133524 to be added to the group chat.
o Anybody wishing to on the ‘TLC Coaching WhatsApp Group’ please contact Kevin Wood 07966 634237 to be added to the group chat.
o If you want to be on both please message both Nick & Kevin.

Wednesday 7th April will be the first night of the new fully booked Beginner’s sessions – top car park Leisure Centre. If you have helped with the Beginners courses in the past then Captain Kevin will have been in touch.

Tuesday & Thursday lunchtime sessions – 12.00 from top car park at the Leisure Centre. A regular session, typically a 5k run supervised by Ros Rowland for those that can’t make the evening sessions but still want a run with others. Particularly if you haven’t run for ages and want to get back to it. If you would like to join this group please contact Ros on 07743 257838. QR Code registration required.

From 12th April the Gym & Swimming Pool at the Leisure Centre will re-open. The groups of 6 meeting outside is still applicable.

From 17th May the size of Groups meeting in the car park at the Leisure Centre can be increased to 30 – although we may decide to continue to split into smaller Groups.

From 21st June all restrictions are removed and we could go back to meeting indoors at the Leisure Centre if we want to. We still have access to our old room on a Thursday night if we want to use it. We will run another check on what Members want to do before we decide to go back indoors.

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1. TRC Membership Renewal 2021/22

Our new Membership year starts 1 April 2021.

On-line TRC Membership Form : https://forms.gle/8YczPPn5biH1Rk929

All Members, including additional family members, need to complete and return their own form – we need to make sure you all accept the Terms & Conditions of Membership. Please read, complete and submit the Membership form and make your payment by Wed 31st March – this is particularly important for Members wanting to continue their EA Membership which commences on 1st April.

Please pay on-line to a/c name: Thornbury Running Club; a/c No. 01190517, Bank sort Code 30-12-04, and please include your full name as a reference.”

If you do not wish to renew your membership please can you e-mail membership@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk and we will remove you from the e-mail list and not chase you further for renewal and payment of fees.

2. WhatsApp Groups
There are WhatsApp message groups set up for each of the pace groups. These are a great way to quickly get a message to everyone in the group. If you are not currently a member of any of the WhatsApp groups and would like to be added please send an e-mail with your name, mobile phone number and which group you wish to be part of to Kevin Wood captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk. The following are the five groups – 7 min, 8 min, 9 min, 10/11 min and Walking – the same as marked out in the top car park.

3. TRC AGM – Monday 29th March 20.00 on Zoom. (TOMORROW!)
All Members welcome, a Zoom link was sent out earlier this week. As we only had the last delayed AGM five months ago in October2020 this AGM should be fairly short. Agenda attached with Zoom link.AGM-2021_Agenda

4. Diary Dates:

• Shepperdine Marathon & Half Marathon – Sunday 25th April. 3 laps of a fast -flat course from Berkeley Power Station using some of the same lanes as our Oldbury 10 mile This event is organised by Rogue Runs and has a UKA Permit. Entry £23

• Thornbury Park Run – Saturday 5th June. All Park Runs are planned to recommence on the same day

• Cotswold Relay – Saturday 3 July. We hope to enter 3 Teams of 10 runners plus we need 1 volunteer helper per Team. Put this date in your Diary and look out for more details over the next few weeks.

AR : 28/03/21