CaptainSlog November 2015
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Hi everyone,
How many of us have claimed our Club Standards so far this year? Well, now is the time to check what you need, get your events logged on fetcheveryone and get your claim into Graham and Colin. Details are all on the website at Club Standards 2015. For those new to the club, these are annual awards based on completing a certain number of events over varying distances and meeting the age-related (WAVA) standards (in the last year, but you don't have to have been a member when you did them). The deadline is 31st December, so you still have time to boost your qualifying scores and enter races. The Club Standards will be presented at the Arrows Annual Party on 30th January.
Which leads on to... the Annual Arrows Party - as you may have noticed, we are not holding a Christmas party this year, but are going to give ourselves something to look forward to in January. The event will be on Saturday 30th January at OAs, and we will be combining it with a (streamlined) AGM and the celebration of Arrows' achievements. More details will be sent out in due course, but put the date in your diaries now. We can't let the festive season pass completely unmarked though, so do join us for the Christmas lights run and cakes/drinkies on 22nd December.
Last, but not least, you may have seen the posts on facebook about John Rowland's scare in the St Neots' half marathon. John collapsed at mile 9 and, thanks to the rapid and knowledgeable intervention by two other runners, he is on the way to making full recovery. We wish him all the best and hope to see him back at club before too long. This has been a wake-up call for a lot of us who frequently run without ID or would not know how to react if faced with a similar emergency, so do consider getting an ICE band (see training tips below) and watch the video link. The committee is also going to look at options to improve safety and awareness at the club.
Happy (and safe) running!
Lou and Speirsy
PS apologies in advance for 'bombarding' you with emails, but we'll be sending out a note on the cross country in the next few days.
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Club 5k:
We've managed to get back on track with our publishing dates (just), which means you haven't missed November's yet - it's tonight!! So...... come along to the last Club 5k of 2015 and make it a bumper one.... details below.
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Parkruns:
Congratulations to Tom (17:46), and Andy D (24:53) who both did PBs in St Albans this month. Great to see first timer Rowland too.
Parkrun is such a popular thing to do. All you have to do is register in advance at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/stalbans. They email you a barcode, which you bring with you when you turn up at any of the events anywhere. Don't forget, it is FREE, there is no pressure and you can go every week if you want! Check out fb events for future 'away' parkruns.
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XC#2 Trent Park
The numbers were quite a bit down this time, so big thanks to everyone who turned out and particularly to the ladies who came along at the last minute and ensured we just had enough for the A and B teams. Official team results aren't out yet, but our 8 ladies all scored and valiantly held the fort. Although we think we slid down the table a bit from 1st in all categories to A - 4th, B - 4th and Vets - 2nd, the good news is that we're only 1 point behind in the B and Vets categories...and we are still in the picture.
The guys did well, with a lower turnout too, and managed to hold their positions around 3rd/4th for the A/B and held onto equal 1st in the Vets.
We would love to see a high turnout at the next event on 6th Dec (see below).pleeease....
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Congratulations to Ammon and Jim (Charlton) who did great times in the NY Marathon with 3:05 and 3:08 respectively.
Congratulations to Viddy who took 1st MV50 on a challenging course.for the Dirt Half on the Saturday and then did it again with 1st MV50 the next day in the Watford Autumn Challenge. .Great times also for Roger, Darren, Tom, Helen, and maybe others (the system didn't record club).
St Neots Half saw over 30 Arrows battling against 45 mph winds, but there were some great times nonetheless and Georgie took the 1st FV65 and Hannah was 2nd lady.
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Race Reports
Please see those below and send your race reports to captains@harpendenarrows.co.uk (if you don’t send them, we are likely to have missed someone! ).
We'll also try and make sure we get press coverage when we can - send to the captains or post on facebook and we'll see what we can do. Needs to be by Sunday evening in order to to write the copy and get to the various Sports Desks.
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Lots of potential races and events on the Arrows website. Some are listed below (Club League races are highlighted in red). http://www.harpendenarrows.co.uk/web/index.php/race-list
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The Sunday Cross Country League
We need at least 8 ladies and 13 men to get both A and B teams, but the more the better to push other clubs down the rankings.
There are 3 events remaining: they are around 5 miles, usually virtually all off-road, they can be muddy and hilly so no PBs, but the reward is having a fun time, contributing to the teams and the cake afterwards!!
All events are on Sundays and they start at 10:30am EXCEPT for Willian which starts at 10:00am. We usually meet up at the Amble Inn on Station Road at around 9:00 - 9:15am to organise lift sharing. You must have an Arrows top, but we have one or two spares if you don't yet own one.
6th Dec WILLIAN, LETCHWORTH (WAS STEVENAGE)
17th Jan WATFORD
14th Feb ROYSTON
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26th Nov: Club 5k
The last Club 5k before Christmas - we are on the winter course starting and finishing at St George's. Runners and marshalls all get 5 points for the Arrows League, and we need lots of marshals for this route please. We meet a bit earlier to sign in and give food orders for the social afterwards at the Engineer (or you can just come for a drink - all welcome!). This is is a handicap race, so everyone can win, and if you haven't done it before, we can usually find someone to run it with you.
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29th Nov: Hatfield 5 Mile
Another PB potential course - it is 1 lap of five miles and is flat and is on predominately quiet lanes and pavements including part of the Alban Way. See here for details.
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Tues 22nd Dec: Arrows Christmas Lights Run and drinkies/cakes
Take in the stunning Christmas lights on routes that are contrived to pass as many adorned houses as possible. Then meet back at St George's for celebratory drinks and cakes/mince pies. Fancy dress is optional but we're sure you can manage a bit of tinsel or antlers!
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28th Dec: Buntingford 10 miles
The last Club League race of the year and a great opportunity to run off some of those Xmas excesses. It is a slightly undulating course in places, but well-organised event. See Buntingford 10 for details.
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24th Jan 2016: Fred Hughes 10 miles
A local race and probably in the Club League again, it is undulating in places, but nothing too hilly. There are category and team prizes. Enter FH10 here
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7th Feb: Watford Half Marathon
One of the first half marathons of the year, this event often fills up early. It is hilly in places, but will be following the new course from this year again to avoid potential flooding. This is the Herts County Masters Half Marathon Championship, so remember to tick the box if you are eligible. There are also category and team prizes. Entries are open here.
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6th Mar: Berkhamsted Half Marathon
A lovely popular event through the Chilterns. Enter here
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The 2015 Club League
Roger is hanging on to his lead with 393 points, but Hannah isn't far behind. Can David or Richard catch them? Lots to play for with XC#3, Nov Club 5k and Buntingford 10 and parkruns still to come... it could be very close....
A full list of the 2015 League races and current results is on the website Club League 2015 and League races are highlighted in red above. Most will be set up as Arrows Facebook events, if they haven't already. We will soon be announcing the list of events for 2016 so have your diaries ready (XC will definitely be included!!).
Please enter races as "Harpenden Arrows" and, if you do unofficial race swaps, you must inform the captains no later than a week after the event or they cannot count for either party.
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Arrow of the Month for November is James Izzard. He joined the club about a year ago and is one of our speedier runners. His profile will be posted on the website soon and you can also read those of past Arrows of the Month here.
If you think of someone you would like to nominate - please do let the Captains know.
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Training tip of the Month
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Not a training tip as such, but something we all should think about - if something happens to you on a run, whether in a race or on your own, will anyone nearby know who you are and who to call?
We are recommending that everyone wears an ICE (In Case of Emergency) ID band every time you run please. You can get parkrun ones that also have your barcode on parkrun wristband. but there are lots of other sources and styles, or you could make your own.
Also please take a few moments to watch this video produced by the British Heart Foundation Hands-only CPR
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Where are Arrows out running???
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Do you have a rave route and would you like to make sure everyone knows about it..? Please let Lou or Speirsy know!
in the meanwhile - go to http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/ and search on ARO (the old Arrows spelling.... you'll get 66 routes!)
We'll be back with a new 'rave run' next month.
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Specials and circuits
- Please watch out on the event ticker on the Arrows website for special events. Email the captains if you're looking for something special - whether speed or headtorch sessions!
Socials
- Tues 22nd Dec - Christmas lights run followed by cakes/drinkies
- Sat 30th Jan - Arrows Annual Party and Awards incorporating the AGM. It's at OA's - details to follow, but get the date in the diary now!
Arrows Kit
Louise will be ordering some more white iron-on letters for race kit soon. If you want some then please contact Ladies Captain. They cost 13p each and full instructions are provided.
If you want Arrows kit please download an order form from here and hand it in to Colin with your payment. We have vests, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and caps, but if you have some suggestions on other kit you'd like, contact the captains or Colin.
Supporters' flags
We have 2 large red Arrows flags - great for spectators. Contact Ladies Captain if you wish to take them to an event.
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Happy running,
Louise and Simon captains@harpendenarrows.co.uk
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RACE REPORTS
Please do send us any of any races or adventures!
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