CHRISTMAS HANDICAP WEEK 3 UPDATE (23-29/11)

Kevin Bray

Kevin provides the latest update on the club's 5k handicap challenge which will run right through to Christmas

​Thanks again to everyone who turned out again this week – Mike and I really appreciate your interest and support!
First, I have to mention the amazing effort by Lorna MacDonald who ran her 5k in 19.21 on Monday and then set off at noon on Wednesday to run 100 miles around Morpeth. She did this in just over 20 hours. I know some of you were out running with her at various times and her mum Margaret was out with her during the early hours and at the finish at 8.20am on Thursday morning. So far she has raised £1350.00 for St. Oswalds Hospice and I know she appreciates the support that you have given her. WELL DONE LORNA! Canny mileage this week!

The handicaps
Welcome to this handicap series for one of the undoubted stars of the Spring shambles....Lucy4Paws!  She is somewhat handicapped already, despite having 4 legs and an amazing engine, because she has to wear a harness and drag round excess baggage by the name of Paul Banks!
After missing last week, welcome back Andrew Dippie, Richard Kirby, Sue Smith, Pam Woodcock and Gwenda Cavill who used me as a rolling road block on our trip from Blyth to Seaton Sluice and back before casually pulling onto my shoulder for the last 200m. I don’t actually think she dared go past me...... (Though she could have done so quite easily)!
Peter and Pam ran really well together with a new PB for Peter, and Alex joined us too and improved on his time!
We were very well behaved and ran as 2 x a rule of 2 plus half a rule of 2 but from 03122020 a 6 rule option plus more than rule of 6 if organised or coached is allowed! GOT IT – thought not! See below for clarification!
Guidance update (27 November 2020) - Athletics & Running (englandathletics.org)
Mr & Mrs Vermaas became Double Dippers round Lancaster Park and both achieved new PB’s so congratulation’s. I think I’ve got this next bit right?.........Mr V is generously offering to sponsor a prize for the first finisher who weighs in at over 14 stones! This week, its guess who! Next week it’s guess who etc. all the way to Christmas when Mr V will be able to go on a spree at the boxing day sales with his collection of Amazon vouchers!
Lancaster Park was also the scene of the tragic end of Will Clark's Olympic Dream as his -24 sec target turned into a +5 sec deficit – on such small margins hopes and dreams are shattered. To console Will I did a bit of digging and on the day of the 5000m Olympic Final I discovered Will could run in the soon to be revived Silksworth Slag Heap, Old Pit race’s – it’s not quite Tokyo. I’m sure Gavin and Pam will have memories of this classic event from way back. All the prizes were MEAT as it was sponsored by a local butcher – maybe these days you will get discounted entry if you are veggie?
Mentioning Gavin he had another superb run clocking 19.34 around Stobhill Grange and he took a second off last week’s run and every second counts as Laura pointed out to me last week.
I think Gavin was desperate to get his time recorded because he sent me the same email 3 times – or maybe it was just a senior moment shall we say!
Some nice touches this week in that Laura’s run was down as ‘Run with Dad’ and Stephen Johnstone had been out and cycled 35 miles with his dad before he did his 5k – and he ran quicker than last week by a couple of seconds! It’s nice to be able to share your running with people that matter in your life (but on occasions probably better if you’re not married to them when it comes down to %age stuff.......)?!
34 ran this week and 24 of you quicker than last so well done if that's you. Biggest improvers: Gary Mason, Jamie Johnson, Pam Woodcock, Sue Smith & Arjan Piet!
Biggest slider’s Margaret Macdonald (but did run over 40 miles this week including a nightshift with Lorna so good on you Margaret), Jane Kirby (been fell running the day before her 5k) and someone called Kevin Bray who has no excuse whatsoever!
John Butters another absolutely superb run clocking 16.37!!
Lee Bennett 18.10, Jamie 18.12, Ed H and Lindsey Quinn 18.40 (Lindsey had run her longest ever run 17 miles supporting her sister Lorna through the night so another brilliant effort), Rob Hancox 19.03, Gwenda & Pam, all great run’s and high %age scores
I have to mention Richard Glennie. I haven’t met Richard but he was on a bit of a downer when he sent his time in last week so when I messaged him back I suggested he try and hook up with someone of similar pace to run with. Well, this week I don’t think he did that, but he did run 9 secs quicker than last so things are going in the right direction! He messaged me yesterday with his time and said ‘at least I’ve arrested the decline’ and then ‘it definitely feels cup half full at present’!
Do you know what – I think we all get like that sometimes and often running at the club with a group gives you that little bit of a lift that you need! Hopefully soon?
Everyone taking part in this is out there doing it in very strange times and that’s what this is all about!
Anyway Richard – maybe the results will lift your spirits a bit and let’s all of us stick in!!
It’s a real shame that there are no proper races in the offing at the moment especially as so many of you are running so well.
An alternative might be to focus on something as a personal challenge and you might find some inspiration from this article written by Richard Kirby about the McWilliams Rounds that he, Paul Banks and Lucy4Paws completed in November. Here it is.
It contains suggestions and ideas for those of you who might be tempted but have never tried any sort of ‘off road / trail / multi terrain / hill running’ – it’s a great read!
Finally, to the results. Five of you plus a pooch over 80% plus another 3 of you knocking on the door - that is brilliant! Star Runner this week – has to be Lorna – well deserved!!
Thanks again to Mike for the computer wizardry and to all of you for making the effort.
Have a good run this week and look forward to hearing from you!
Kevin & Mike