Newsletter No 100 (aka 2017-26) – 27 Jun 2017

Last week(end):

I’d like to say that it’s boring, congratulating this man on yet another marathon but in all honesty, it isn’t. I’m simply in awe of my favourite ‘nutter’ Marc Bennett – the Boddington Marathon (his 69th) completed in 3:42.13. I’d just love to know how he manages to lay his hands on the medal before he starts – because after 26.2 miles simply no one can possibly look that fresh!!

Well done to all of you who took part in the Chippenham Longest Day 10k last Wednesday on what was probably the hottest day of the year. It goes without saying that the Hounds did rather well, picking up men’s team winners, ladies third place team, 1st female 50+, 2nd female 40+ as well as men’s 2nd 40+ and ladies 2nd 55+. Awesome effort all round!

Fran Machin took part in the Nationwide Jurassic Challenge last week – read her report below.

This week(end)…

There’s a Club Champs race on this Sunday – the Buscot 5k. Good luck everyone!

Future Club Events

If it doesn’t say ‘CC’, the event is NOT part of the Club Championship!

02 Jul – CC: Buscot 5k 17 Sep – CC: Marlborough Tiny Temple 5 Mile 06 Aug – CC: Stur Half (Jolly Hounds outing – X-Country Run contact Social Sec Julia if you want a seat on 15 Oct – CC: Grittleton 10k the bus)

NB: For some of these runs you will be asked to provide your England Athletics Registration number – if you don’t have it to hand, please contact the Membership Secretary.

Broad Town 5

Jo Rudland was one of the many who took the time to prepare some delicious eats for the post- event festivities, in her case it was a huge batch of yummy chocolate brownies. Jo runs her own business - Honey Street Bakery – and club members are recommended to visit her website and feast their eyes on some of the cakes she has made. If you have a special event coming up and you’re looking for a truly unique cake, please have a chat with Jo.

We would also like to thank Richard James Estate Agents for their continued generous support of the BT5. They may be second here, but first in our eyes – thank you to everyone involved. Jurassic Charity Challenge - by Fran Machin

Fran Machin has written about a little event that she took part in recently. Thanks to her for taking the time to document what was, by the sound of it, an amazing experience…

On the 21-23rd June I went down to Swanage with 30 others from Nationwide to complete our 'Jurassic Charity Challenge'. It was to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Oak & Furrow Wildlife Centre. The challenge included a 24 mile hilly coastal walk and then a 92 mile cycle back from Swanage to Swindon. We stayed in the Swanage Youth Hostel so also had the fun of (or challenge!) of sharing rooms in bunk beds with colleagues! I am not a keen walker so my plan this year was to mainly do cycling training and hope that my running would get me through the walk. I wasn't sure if I would do the whole walk and thought I would see how I got on.

I really enjoyed my cycling training this year - it was great to go out with the Hounds ladies on weekends to get the miles in and with the Thursday gang for a speed session! I could feel my legs getting stronger. I have also realised as I see Mark Cavendish has said recently that even getting short cycles in if you can't do more is really beneficial. So I fitted in some of those too. I also tried to fit in some core work (I need to do more though!) and massages from Kara really helped too.

The day of the walk came - we were up at 5am after very little sleep with the warm weather. The weather was pretty deceiving that day as it was cloudy but you could tell the sun was lurking so I made sure I put suncream and a hat on! The first 6 miles of the coastal walk were really hilly - loads of steps. We had great banter and laughs though which definitely helped.

18 miles in and I decided I would just do the whole walk. I had been lucky with not getting blisters, but the time on our feet just made us ache all over. The last 6 miles was on a beach near Sandbanks and it was really tough.... The naturists beach amused us though and we had a Hercules plane practising low flying and also dropped off a boat in a parachute so that kept us distracted! We finally finished 10 hours after starting... I can definitely say it was harder walking that distance than running it! I enjoyed the pint we had at a nearby pub and Jam roll poly back at the Youth Hostel.

The next day it was tough getting up at 5am again to get on the bike. I realised I hadn't put sun cream on my ears the day before so they were glowing and my hips were really stiff! We started cycling at 7am feeling pretty dehydrated, but once we got going we realised it wasn't so bad and we were using different muscles. We had a short ferry ride at Sandbanks and then we were off to complete the 92 miles.

We went via Ringwood, Salisbury and Marlborough. Again we had great banter in our group of 11 and that really kept us going, along with lots of sweets! We were also lucky to have a supporters van to keep us going with water and cheering us on too. It was such a great feeling to finally see Nationwide when we arrived back in Swindon. Howard Palin even spotted us cycling in by chance!

I am really pleased to complete the whole event. I have been cycling on and off (with my road bike having big lapses just sitting comfortably in my house) for 6 years but the more I do, the more I enjoy it. I would definitely recommend it to others who are thinking of cycling as it is also has great benefits to get your legs strong for running. In total we have raised over £10,000 for the two charities and many thanks to all the Hounds that donated too.

Cheers Fran

Tri Series

Some diary dates for you… Beginners Group

Another week, another change in the weather. Week 4 saw us step up to six minutes, superbly smashed by the 30 beginners and Hounds who joined me this week for another trot along Lime Kiln and Fairfield – even throwing in a quick loop around Spratts Barn Cres.

It’s another chatty group but thankfully controllable by means of my whistle. It was particularly pleasing to be able to demonstrate cool-down stretches to the ‘speed kings and queens’ at the club after the session – you’re all welcome to join us next time we meet.

Thanks, as ever, to the Hounds who came along to help out and keep the session moving forwards, backwards and even at one point, sideways. It continues to be fun!

Finally…

Well, I didn’t expect the Newsletter to last this long. It continues to be great fun putting the whole thing together, but I can’t do without your support. You’ll have seen what gets published – forthcoming events, race reports and yes, even bad poetry. So long as it has a common theme - of interest to your fellow Hounds – it’ll get included.

Thanks to all contributors so far, I look forward to hearing from more of you from here on.

Den RWBHRC Webmaster http://www.royalwoottonbassetthounds.co.uk/