Here we go again and as I’m sure you all know South Gloucestershire is in Lockdown. There is no definite date on when the current restrictions will be reviewed however Boris has said “The lockdown will last for at least seven weeks, with measures to be reviewed during half-term week. Any relaxation would not come into effect before 22 February.”

Full England Athletics Statement is here…
https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/guidance-update-2021/?utm_source=emailmarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=athletics_and_running_for_everyone_home__7_january_2021&utm_content=2021-01-10

As a result of everyone being required to stay at home, except for specific purposes as outlined by the UK Govt guidance, the impact on our sport includes the following with immediate effect and until further notice:
• The suspension of all face-to-face indoor and outdoor club / group activity.
• The suspension of all outdoor competitions including track and field, cross country, road, trail, fell and multi-terrain running.
• The suspension of all face-to-face coaches’ and officials’ education.
• The suspension of any other face-to-face club / group training sessions, events, athlete camps, running groups or other social events as well as club committee or other meetings.
• Indoor gyms and facilities will remain closed.

What you can do:
Athletes and Runners can train with household bubbles or ONE other person.

Individual training is permitted but note Govt guidance is only to leave the house once per day and to stay local, which means you can travel a short distance within your area for example to access an open space.

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During this Lockdown period your Committee has arranged for various activities to keep you occupied as detailed below. All these activities should also be on the TRC Members Facebook page.

1. TRC Zoom Café – Thursdays
Starting Thursday 14th January we will open the ‘TRC Zoom Café’ from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Drop in anytime with a beverage of your choice for a chat. We will trial this for 3 weeks 14/1, 21/1 & 28/1 to see how much interest there is. Zoom links:

14th January: https://zoom.us/j/94562295798?pwd=alE5Mmg5RWpEeXVWaEw4NlZ2S3Jwdz09
21st January: https://zoom.us/j/99772336869?pwd=c3p5SFlVeVZmSmxpTTJ4L2hDZ2gyZz09
28th January: https://zoom.us/j/97114701632?pwd=VWx3K0xCT3VRM0VpWmt0VEsrdnh0UT09

2. TRC Virtual Le Jog Team Challenge
Use your daily exercise allowance to count for something big by running and walking Lands’ End to John O’Groats as a Virtual Club Team Challenge
• Be part of a team to run or walk the 1083 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats (no cycling!)
• Weekly updates based on the teams total miles covered each week.
• Starting Monday 18th January.
• If we get enough entries I will created more teams.
• Need 20 people minimum.
• To join in please send your name to Kevin Wood captain@thornburyrunningclub.co.uk with your estimated / typical weekly mileage by Friday 15th January.

3. TRC Virtual Fitness Sessions – Wednesdays
Following the success of the Virtual Fitness Sessions with Mel and Taryn last year we are pleased to announce sessions for 2021.
As before the 45 min sessions will be delivered via Zoom. The only differences are:
• All sessions will be on Wednesday, not Thursday, starting at 7:00 pm.
• To make it easier you do not need to register your interest to get the Zoom link. The links will be published in the weekly club e-mail to all members.
A BIG THANK YOU to Mel and Taryn for giving up their time to run these sessions for us all.
The current schedule for the next 6 weeks, which may be altered if situations change, is:

Date Session Leader Time Zoom link
13-Jan Body Conditioning Taryn 7:00 – 7:45pm https://zoom.us/j/94687650812?pwd=Z2U4dWh0aHp3dktaZkdFcDJFZG5VQT09

20-Jan Pilates for Runners Mel 7:00 – 7:45pm https://zoom.us/j/98003229742?pwd=L1ZMY0pDWVJTMEdkcjNJZnI4aXBCZz09

27-Jan Body Conditioning Taryn 7:00 – 7:45pm https://zoom.us/j/99192314343?pwd=aFRsQjUrWXJFdklzNkg5ZmxvYVRwdz09

03-Feb Pilates for Runners Mel 7:00 – 7:45pm https://zoom.us/j/91843495248?pwd=VCszWUNxYkFWcWdrTTJvSmwwVDBuQT09

10-Feb Body Conditioning Taryn 7:00 – 7:45pm https://zoom.us/j/95746369595?pwd=T1dCQ0JyMGFhZnluR3cyMWQxRW84UT09

17-Feb Pilates for Runners Mel 7:00 – 7:45pm https://zoom.us/j/91830086901?pwd=NW9wM1RWR3NqRW1wRVp1Q08wMmZpZz09

4. TRC Virtual coached 5k/10k Improver sessions
Watch this space for weekly virtual coached 5/10k improver sessions open to everyone who would like to work on their 5/10k runs. Details of the program will be announced in next week’s e-mail.

5. TRC Run & Talk
Fed up with Lockdown and running on your own or stopped running?
Fancy a run and a chat but lost your motivation?
Why not contact TRCMentalHealthChampions@gmail.com to find a buddy to run with?

Looking after one’s physical and mental health is even more important during the pandemic, luckily running does both.

There are many Club members who are missing being able to run with others during this time so why not drop us an email and we can put you in touch with another Club member local to you who would be keen to have someone to run with. Members who have been run buddies have found it both rewarding and mutually beneficial
Also, don’t forget to try the Zoom Cafe – another way of keeping in touch and staying motivated”

6. Virtual Riverbank Rollick – January 2021 (All TRC Members are encouraged to enter)
Entries for the Virtual Rollick is live on Race Nation with full details via the Facebook Page. We have 60 entries so far.
https://race-nation.co.uk/register/thornbury-running-club/virtual-rollick-2021
To make sure that the spirit of the infamous ‘Rollick’ is not lost, we expect at least half of your run to be off-road and to involve an acceptable level of mud wind and water.
• Run your own socially distanced 9.6 mile route
• Run any time between 1st and 31st January 2021 – go on you know you want to do it on New Years Day!
• Follow the instructions and the link emailed to you to in order to submit your elapsed time (not moving time) accompanied by a screenshot of your run from your running application of choice
• Medals will be posted during February as we collate the results and assess the photos
• Places can be transferred using the Race Nation web portal
• Entries are limited to 400 and will close when this limit is reached or at 13:00 on January 31st, whichever comes soonest
• Runs must be completed and evidence submitted before 23:59 on January 31st

7. TRC Beginners Course
The Beginners Course from Last spring has been rescheduled to start Wed 17th March. We shall make a firm decision on whether this can go ahead before the end of February.

8. Virtual Races including Virtual Park Run
Some more Virtual Races have been added to the Race Diary attached here.
TRC Diary 2020-21
Nick Langridge recommends the Stonehouse Virtual Park Run – details as below
Anyone can join in. Basically, run a 5K wherever you want on Saturday or Sunday, record a time, an ascent in metres if you can, preferably with screen shot of your route but not essential and email the time and any evidence to Alan price at asw2818e@btinternet.com by 6 pm on the Sunday. Just to mix it up one minute will be deducted from your time for each 25 metres of ascent and the results are out each Monday morning.
Full instructions are at Join us for a virtual parkrun | Stonehouse parkrun There is also a special Facebook page where photos, comments etc can be posted if you are so inclined. Stonehouse Virtual parkrun #33 results… – Stonehouse parkrun | Facebook

9. TRC CoVid Running Code
As you will be running on your own or with one other whilst we remain in Lockdown our CoVid Officer has developed a code to remind all TRC Members of best practise when out running.

Purpose:
As the CoVID pandemic continues unabated there is increased nervousness from other footpath users vying for the same space as ourselves. This code applies to running on your own as well as groups. It’s designed to hopefully help mitigate any possible negative reaction towards runners from other users of the limited footpaths we share around Thornbury.

Guidelines:
1. Always run – and be seen to be running – with physical distance between runners.
2. Try to avoid areas which we know will be busy with people walking.
3. Where possible avoid single track passing places and if you find that you cannot pass with sufficient physical distance, stop and turn around, going back to a ‘safe passing place’
4. When running towards people approaching from the front
• Revert to single file running (and stop talking):
• Be the first to move, creating as much physical distance as you can (i.e. not just 2m)
• Move early & move in an exaggerated way
• Smile at people/wave as you pass (no need to talk) and thank them loudly afterwards if they have moved over too, or stopped
5. If you are approaching people from behind:
• Announce your presence and announce it in good time – don’t want until the last minute to give other footpath users the time to move if they wish.
• Again, move early and create sufficient physical distance
• Find a way which you are comfortable with to let them know you are coming (runners generally don’t carry bells!) so that we don’t startle them.
• Acknowledge them with a wave of the hand.
6. If you stop for a break, don’t clog up the pavement to allow other users to get past.

Conclusion:
Although these guidelines are pretty obviously good practice they are sometimes easy to forget. But hopefully if followed the running club will avoid any negative press aimed at runners.

That’s all for this week and we will keep you advised if anything changes.

If you have any events to add to the Diary or if you have anything to add or any suggestions or announcements please send by e-mail to trc@rensh.idps.co.uk

AR 10/01/21