I’m sure you all know that South Gloucestershire is in Tier 3 and this will be reviewed and any changes announced next Wednesday 16th December. With the falling rates of infection, we are hopeful that South Glos will be moved down to Tier 2. However we can’t count on this and this note covers what we expect to happen for our “Christmas Lights Run” next Thursday 17th December and the “Annual Christmas Run” around Wotton Under Edge next Sunday 20th December.

Sport and physical activity in Tier 2 or 3
In line with guidance from sporting national governing bodies, you can take part in organised sport and physical activity outdoors with any number of people. However, you should avoid contact in training and, for some sports, avoid contact in all activities. Read the guidance on what this means for your sport.

Gyms and sports facilities will be open for individual exercise and exercise in single households or support bubbles only. Indoor group activities and exercise classes should not take place.

You can continue to do unlimited exercise alone, or in an outdoor public place in groups up to 6.
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A few weeks ago, your Committee unanimously agreed that whilst we could legally recommence the Group runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays we should hold off for two weeks whilst we are in Tier3 with high infection rates and look to recommence after 16th December when we would hopefully go down to Tier2 with lower infection rates. The advance arrangements for runs on Thurs 17th Dec & Sun 20th Dec are detailed below.

1. Christmas Lights Run – Thursday 17th December.
The Club Xmas Lights run is a tradition as old as the club and we wanted to maintain the tradition this year if we could. We have created a specific route crammed full of Thornbury’s best lights for you to see. (full route is a bit less than 10k). The best lights have been marked on the route map:

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1367462?units=miles

There are 3 suggested start points on the route map, marked M. Start any time between say 6:30 – 7:30 pm and go in either direction – clockwise or anti-clockwise. That way groups will likely pass each other whilst out on their run. NB. there are various houses with charity collection boxes, so you may want to bring money!

Please use the WhatsApp groups to create a run buddy group of 6 and to agree a start point and start time.

To add to the fun, we are offering a prize to the group of 6 with the best Xmas based fancy dress. All 6 need to take part to be eligible with photo evidence on Facebook please.

• Be Safe: Please observe social distancing; This is an ‘outdoor Non COVID-Secure environment’ run so no track & trace is required
• Be Seen: Wear Hi-Viz and a head torch
• Be Festive: Antlers, Father Xmas hat, tinsel etc.

Note that there will be no arranged runs on Thursday 24th December or on Thursday 31st December. If we are in Tier 2 the next run will be Tuesday 5th Jan and Thursday 7th Jan.

2. Wotton-Under Edge Christmas run – Sunday 20th December.
If we remain in Tier 3 this run will be cancelled as we should not move across Tier boundaries and W-U-E is in Tier 2. If we move down to Tier 2 we can visit W-U-E and run from the usual meeting place – The Chippings Car Park GL12 7BD

Arrange yourselves in run buddy groups of 6 leaving the Car Park anytime between 08.00 for the ‘long’ course and 10.00 for the shorter routes. Unfortunately we are banned from meeting up after the run so please have your mince pies & coffee in your groups of 6 and then leave for home. Try and make sure you have someone in your group that knows their way around Wotton and the usual routes.
• Be Safe: Please observe social distancing; This is an ‘outdoor Non COVID-Secure environment’ run so no track & trace is required
• Be Festive: Antlers, Father Xmas hat, tinsel etc.

3. Club Quiz Night (on Zoom) – Wednesday 16th December 20.00 – 22.00
In the absence of the usual Xmas social events we will be holding a Club Quiz Night on Zoom. Mark West is arranging and it will be open to all Members. Caution: Hyde United & Newport County Questions may be included!

No preparation necessary, and although TRC completely prohibits the use of performance enhancing (inhibiting) substances in its regular running events, please feel free to have a glass of wine / beer / cake to hand as assists if you would like to join.

I would be grateful if people could confirm / hint at likely attendance, just so I have an advanced idea on numbers. Please e-mail markuswest@hotmail.co.uk thanks. There is no limit to capacity, other than the chaos that will follow when managing things through a zoom call!! We will progress through each of the 6 rounds with everybody listening in individually, but there will be a few occasions where we will boldly go where our zoom account has not yet gone! (with us breaking out into groups)

Although majority of questions are possible through just listening in, there will be some visuals as well so best to join via a computer / laptop etc. Please see zoom call details below for link to connect! I will circulate these again the night before just in case anyone needs a reminder, or loses details.

https://zoom.us/j/5288546926?pwd=U2hCa3FkUTB0UnRzYTdaaGZacFYwZz09

4. England Athletics Run & Talk Programme – Champions needed
Emma Pritchard has a message for all Club Members….
Last week the committee approved my proposal to apply for the club to join EA’s #RunandTalk programme. #RunandTalk aims to improve mental health through running. The idea is to remove the sigma around mental health, raise awareness and provide support to anyone who needs it. Full aims can be found here: https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/our-programmes/runandtalk/

As part of the programme the club needs Mental Health Champions. These individuals will promote Mental Health awareness within the club and sign post individuals to where they can find support. Champions should have lived experience of a mental health problem, either personally or from a close relative or friend.

I will be one of the Mental Health Champions, I have found running to be a great way manage my own struggles with depression. BUT I am looking for people to join me.
https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/our-programmes/runandtalk/mental-health-champions/

If you would like to become a champion and develop the application with me or want to know more about the role, either email: e.pritchard91@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook.

5. Virtual Riverbank Rollick – January 2021 ( TRC Members are encouraged to enter)
Entries for the Virtual Rollick is live on Race Nation with full details via the Facebook Page.

https://race-nation.co.uk/register/thornbury-running-club/virtual-rollick-2021

This event is open to all TRC Members. 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.

To this end we would encourage all participants to upload photographic evidence of rivers, dirty trainers, muddy faces or any other inspired pictures from their chosen routes on to our Facebook event page (https://fb.me/e/1Mtu7LIaX) to assure us that you have suffered appropriate and traditional levels of discomfort. All participants will receive a medal for their efforts and whilst we will NOT be providing prizes for the speediest runners, we will judge the photos received via Facebook and reward the muddiest and grubbiest accordingly.
• 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
This year’s event will be held in support of our two current club charities, to which we will be donating at least 50% of the proceeds. If you would like to make an additional donation, please pay their respective websites a visit: –
• ‘Made a Mark’ https://madeamarkcharity.com foundation which exists to ‘make memories for bereaved children’ (This is the main TRC Charity for 2021) and
• ‘CALM’ https://www.thecalmzone.net in memory of Thornbury Running Club member Liam Jones

6. TRC CoVid Running Code
Our CoVid Officer is developing a code to remind all TRC Members of best practise when out running.

As the CoVID pandemic continues unabated there is increased nervousness from other footpath users vying for the same space as ourselves. This code is to hopefully help mitigate any possible negative reaction towards runners from other users of the limited Footpaths we share around Thornbury.

1. Always run – and be seen to be running – with physical distance between runners and other members of the Group.
2. Try to avoid areas which we know will be busy with people walking. 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’
3. When running towards people approaching from the front
• If in a group 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 if they have moved over too, or stopped.
4. 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
5. If running in a Group and you stop for a break, don’t clog up the pavement to allow other users to get past.

That’s all for this week and we will keep you advised later this week if anything changes. Let’s hope we go down to Tier 2 then we can restart running in Groups of 6 from the Leisure Centre Car Park in January. There should be another newsletter out before Xmas with more details.

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 13/12/20