VEGAN RUNNERS UK NEWSLETTER

TO END OF JULY 2006

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Date: 14TH MAY 2006
Event: HAIRY LEGS CHALLENGE DUATHLON
Location: GORING, NEAR READING
Report by: DAF DAVIES

I had intended to be more sociable after the event but I was in too much pain and eating chocolate to think straight...and swearing off beer and pies for ever. Anyways, it was a cool event, quite a few local vegans there and the first time I got to wear me vest for a bit of advertising … mind you, lying in a sweaty heap prob'ly isn't the best advert for veganism. No matter. [IMHO, this race was in fact a great advertisement for veganism, with three members present amongst a small field of 195 - Sharon]

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Report on the East Midlands Grand Prix Series
By Peter Simpson

An annual series of midweek evening events with the best 5 performances of 8 in terms of position counting towards your final position. Runners can enter individual events without intending to complete the series. There are prizes for juniors, seniors and for each veteran 5-year age category. The same running number is used for each race and there is no memento for any of the races. The entry price in advance is £4.50. A traditional athlete’s series with the majority of runners attached to a club and wearing a vest. Distances range from 5 miles to 10K and locations include: Silverstone (the most popular), Rugby, Bedford, Corby, Weedon (Northants), Banbury, Market Harborough and Milton Keynes. The first is early May at Silverstone and last early July in Milton Keynes.

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Date: 10 May 2006
Event: Rugby 6 miles
Location: St. Andrew's Rugby Ground

Only three days earlier I was making a comeback in the Hythe 6K after the familiar calf strain that resurfaced in the Folkestone 10 miles in mid-April. Without any adverse reaction in Hythe (Kent) I was feeling confident although aware I was still rebuilding my fitness. As normal with events in this series, there was a competitive field of over 300 running. The event has a number of hills but also long relaxing stretches. Started more leisurely but the hills made me more competitive and continued to push harder in the remainder of the distance. Although I maintained a good pace to the finish for a time of 41m 44s, my absence of training made me feel rather exhausted soon afterwards. A noticeable cough that was developing leading up to the event also worsened, developing into a cold and flu and prevented me from participating in the Bedford event on 17 May.

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Date: 6 June 2006
Event: Weedon 10K
Location: Village 8 miles west of Northampton

With only a minimum of training after illness, it was a matter of getting round and using it to build fitness for subsequent events in the series. Known as one of the more challenging events of the series, I also had to cycle the usual 8 miles from Northampton station but set off to allow plenty of time for recovery. It was rather a warm day so plenty of water was necessary. The first four kilometres are mostly flat and can misguide the runners unfamiliar with this course. I took it leisurely for this section and started to work harder up the main hill and overtake many runners. This hill helped to increase my pace for the rest of the race, which is very undulating. From about 8 to 9.5K the course is downhill and mostly steep. The time of 44m 56s was rather academic, more important was the feeling that I had not over stretched myself and left enough in the tank for the ride back to Northampton. The ride turned out to be rather fast to catch the train with only seconds to spare.

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Date: 13 June 2006
Event: Banbury 5 miles
Location: Banbury School, Ruskin Road

An undulating course that starts in a quiet residential street which is suddenly taken over by runners leading up to the start at 7.45pm. Using public transport, I was feeling fresh at the start but started steadily and gradually increased the pace and overtook many runners. Apart from the first mile and the last half a mile, the course is on quiet country lanes. I was pleased to break the 34 minutes to achieve 33m 53s about my current average for 5 miles.

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Date: 20 June 2006
Event: Harborough 5 miles
Location: Near Gartree Prison, a few miles from Market Harborough

Arriving in Market Harborough without a bike, I had time to walk to the venue in the countryside, useful as a warm-up, the only problem being the absence of footpaths. It was a windy and cool day with many runners mentioning how uncomfortable they were feeling after their drive as they waited around. The venue was rather strange with parking in three feet of grass and erected tents for registering, etc. The description was the Gartree Prison Sports & Social Club but there was only a derelict building. The first mile and a half were fairly easy going followed by a long uphill section that became increasingly steep towards the top. As usual I seemed to revel in the hill challenge and gradually overtook and continued to run well over the remainder mainly flat course to the end, finishing in 33m 34s, an improvement over the previous week's run. The wind did not seem to affect us but soon after finishing it began to rain steadily. Luckily I had a lift arranged with VC&AC member Bob Simpson (no relation) who achieved 40m 9s.

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Date: 4 July 2006
Event: Milton Keynes 10K
Location: Open University

A period of hot weather was breaking down when this event was scheduled to take place. A thunderstorm broke out late in the afternoon and the lightning was nearby. It continued for over an hour with torrential rain. Fortunately it cleared up to allow the race to go ahead although there was not time for everything to be in place by the start at 7.45pm. I took risk of running the Princes Risborough 10K in South Bucks only two and a half days earlier in hot conditions but still achieved a good personal time of 42m 30s. The start of the Milton Keynes 10K was rather sluggish but the performance improved on the mainly flat course and in close contention with VC&AC member Andy Harper. I hung in there as I caught up with Andy then he pulled away and it repeated itself until inside the last kilometre Andy slowed slightly. I increased the pace and pulled away with 5 seconds between us at the end. Feeling the aches from two days earlier, I was surprised to achieve 41m 48s. In the series results, running in the M45-49 category I was placed 13 / 27. Unfortunately the short period of good form came to an abrupt end in the High Wycombe half marathon four and half days later with a recurrence of a calf strain after less than 4 miles. I blame it on the rapid bike ride earlier in the morning to catch a train from Aylesbury. A temporary blip in the summer diary of races. Hopefully I will be back before the end of July with a 5K.

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Date: 19TH JUNE 2006
Event: EDINBURGH MARATHON
Location: EDINBURGH
Report by: HAZEL ROBERTSON

This was my second marathon, the first being Edinburgh in 2005. I managed an improvement of over 10 minutes on last year, even though I was unsure I would run due to a series of injuries in the 4 weeks before. It was very hot on the day, but I kept cool by keeping my hat wet. I think the route was an improvement compared to 2005, with the start on Princess Street right in the middle of Edinburgh. This meant Waverley Railway Station Superloo was a very civilised option (for 20p) for last minute comfort break without a queue, compared to queuing for the Portaloos which were too few as usual in Edinburgh. I really enjoyed most of the race because I was so relieved to be injury-free and able to go at my intended pace. I admit to nearly losing the will to live at 23 miles knowing that the last 3 miles are uphill. Thankfully I picked up because a friend spotted me and ran alongside waving a big glad-hand and shouting at me. There was a 4-stage relay running at the same time and I found this pretty annoying – either being held up by slow people just starting their leg, or having fast people sprinting by. Other than that, the race is well organised and well supported through most of the city. About 10 miles of the course runs along the seafront, so pleasant to look at with a welcome sea-breeze. The arrival of my Vegan Runners vest just a few weeks before the race boosted my motivation and attracted some attention on the way round – none of it derogatory! All-in-all I would definitely do it again, but may try a different marathon next year.

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Date: 25TH JUNE 2006
Event: ARDEN 9-MILE RACE
Location: West Midlands
REPORT BY: HELEN EASTON AND DEMETRIOS KEHAYIOGLOU

Our results from the Arden 9-Mile Race on the 25th of June were 1hour 23 minutes. We wore our Vegan Runner vests, which prompted another vegan runner to come and chat to us about the Vegan Runners, who is not a member, but plans to join.

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Date: 16TH JULY 2006
Event: ANDOVER TRIATHLON (440m swim / 30k bike / 7.5k run)
Location: ANDOVER
Report by: DAVE ARNOLD

A very last minute decision to actually do it (I was still in bed when the first wave started!). An extremely relaxed, laid back, but professionally run event. Clearly for athletes by athletes, that lends itself most favourably to a family, club or group day out. In addition to the junior race in the afternoon the fact that the race is set in the beautiful grounds of Fairley School (private), a setting like a mini Blenheim Triathlon, but for just £14/£18 meant it was a most pleasant place to simply chill out afterwards, or simply enjoy the sounds of ball on willow. A total picnic place! The only downside was actually finding it! The organisers couldn’t have been more accommodating, even allowing me to rack and set up before paying and registering. The downside of being such a very late entry was going in the last wave meaning I didn’t see another competitor until 8 minutes into the bike. Extremely well signed and marshalled, except just one cross roads, the bike course undulated around the ‘Clatfords’ eventually joining the closing miles of the run route back to T2. The run is itself was a loop (as opposed to my preferred out and back routes), again undulating around quiet lovely lanes. It wasn’t until the mid way drinks station that I actually caught another athlete. There after the motivation to push on harder rose with each new athlete that came into view until the welcome return to the ‘mini Blenheim’ finish. Certainly a race to highly recommended to both novice (as it’s low-key and affordable) and more experienced athletes as it is tough for a sprint race. It’d be ideally suited to a ‘club hit’ due to the ‘picnic in the park’ – like setting and post race entertainment courtesy of juniors racing and cricket. Hey we could even take our own sports kit… anyone for rounders next year?

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Date: 23RD JULY 2006
Event: WINCHESTER TRIATHLON (400m swim / 20m bike / 10k run)
Location: WINCHESTER
Report by: DAVE ARNOLD

Couldn’t really odds the stairs down from the pool, or the very long (and gritty) run to T1 due to one of the mini waterways around River Park Leisure Centre. (Several years ago, in the red mist of quadrathon racing, I actually carried my bike through said waterway but that’s another story!) For future reference this run certainly warranted a second pair of ‘quick on’ shoes. A similarly long and gritty run from T1 to mount line. Those who have read the transition tips will recall the use of rubber-bands which were most appropriate for such a long bike out. The bike course was on pretty straight forward undulating out and back route along the A33 turning round (under police supervision) on the dual carriage way sections. Think I prefer this type of route to a circular course. A few congestion problems on the small roads back into the centre and only 3 right turns. Unusually well signposted for a concept sport event! Another long run from dismount to T2 on a very sandy Astroturf court. Again … if you’ve read the merits of carpet in transition you were fine … if not then itchy scratchy feet all the way! Wiggling its way out of the leisure centre the run took you, without marshals, across the road several times before getting out into the country lanes and eventually rejoining the last miles of the bike course. River Park is another family/supporter friendly venue … pleasant country surrounds tough as is standard not much in the way of spectating. (Unless you are cruising the A33). Would have been better to have had the presentations outside (not that I waited) I think, but then by the time they do them most people, other than recipients, or collectors, have gone. Again, can’t really odds that either. I explained the club championships to Colin Dixon who politely apologised for his winning margins at both Goodwood and today which stuffed me on both occasions. All in all pretty good, with the usual gripe about the £22/£26 entry fee. Certainly it wasn’t 44% (or £8) better than Andover last week.

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NEW MEMBERS

Vegan Runners would like to welcome the following new members: Hazel Robertson, from near Glasgow. Hazel’s report on the Edinburgh Marathon appears above. Rebecca Sommerville from Madresfield, near Great Malvern, is our first junior member who is already an experienced track & cross country runner with her local club, Worcester AC. Favoured distances on the track include the 800 and 1500 metres. Rebecca is also keen to run other long distances in the future and has proved that she has the stamina by completing the Malvern Acorns Half Marathon on 21/5/06 in a time of 1 hour 40 mins. Karen Morgan from Bristol has run some of the large events such as the Great Western Run 10K in May 2006 and the Bath Half Marathon in March 2006. Sarah Whitson from Gloucester has so far run distances up to about 7K including league cross country events and has short term aims to run a half marathon.

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