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ByAndy Armstrong

Junior Training; We need your help!!

Because of the recent growth in numbers and the change in training format we need some help on Thursday evenings.
We need at least one, preferably two, senior runners to come along on a regular basis and help with the two groups that head out on the roads from Spirit of Sport at 6pm. You won’t be asked to coach or lead the session, just be an extra pair of hands to keep the session safe.
It’s a good paced run and you’ll need to have a decent turn of speed to keep up with them; it would make for a good training session for the right ability runner. I can give you any more information you need before you commit to anything.
If you can commit to at least one hour a month then please let me know a.s.a.p. We desperately need a couple of runners for next Thursday (November 14th) and you can contact me via the Junior Email.

thanks, Andy.

ByAndy Armstrong
,

Junior XC Series 2013-2014


UPDATED; RESULTS AFTER TOWNELEY


This is a new series for this season, based around six of the more
local Red Rose and Mid Lancs cross country fixtures. The format will be
similar to the summer series and all the details are HERE

Prizes will be awarded to all completing at least four races, and
also to age category winners, calculated from their best four events.

Cross country uses the ‘school year’ age category system; Age on
31st August with races for u9, u11, u13, u15 and u17. Minimum age 8 on
race day.

The first race is Saturday 28th September and is the Red Rose
fixture at Leigh Sports Village, near Wigan.

ALL RACES ARE FREE TO ENTER!

ByAndy Armstrong
,

Red Rose XC No 2; Chorley, Sat 19th October

 

EDIT; Huge apologies to anyone who followed the typo in my postcode advice and found themselves deep in the centre of Preston, especially a couple of juniors who missed their race as a result. Please accept my apologies and I’ll be more careful for the next XC fixture.

Provisional results are HERE and I’ll update the Junior XC series table as soon as possible

Andy.


The next race in both the Red Rose league and our Junior XC series is this coming Sat 19th October.
The venue is Astley Park in Chorley, many of you will be familiar with it from the race series earlier in the year. Use postcode PR1 1XA to get to The Baron’s Rest pub which is next to the carpark.
Racing starts at 12.30 but please make sure you arrive at least 45 minutes before, to give plenty of time for parking, changing, pinning numbers on, etc. Allow time to warm up properly, ideally by jogging round some of the course so that you can see what the conditions are like. If you’re not sure what shoes to wear, just bring what you’ve got and decide on the day.

Also bring;

  • Club vest, running top, waterproof / windproof jacket, tracksuit bottoms, hat/buff, gloves.
  • Drink (not fizzy), a banana or cereal bar with you. It’s really important that you are fully prepared before you race which means warming up properly and having a small snack at least 30 minutes before you start.


I’ll try and get hold of the tent so that we’ll have somewhere undercover to dump bags.

See you there!

n.b; I’ll update and publish the results for the Junior XC series after this Saturday.

ByAndy Armstrong

Helwith Bridge Duathlon, Sunday 13th October

Helwith Bridge is a low key road event run by Vince Ashton of VLA events. It’s a classic run-bike-run format in the Yorkshire dales, with some moderately tough hills.

This year’s weather was challenging; 9 degrees combined with a stiff breeze makes kit choice difficult and I opted to put an extra layer on for the bike instead of trying to stick to one outfit for the whole race. The first run is always hard to pace; it’s only 4 miles and in previous years I’ve gone out too fast then regretted it on the bike leg. This year I went far too slow and took an extra two minutes!

The bike leg was tough; a strong head wind made the stretch from Helwith Bridge up to the viaduct at Ribblehead seem endless then a fast and furious return in the direction of Ingleton precedes another winding stretch through Clapham and Austwick. The second run is identical to the first and I desperately attempted to make up for lost time, with quads right on the edge of seizing up all the way round. For those who’ve never done duathlon; the second run is extremely uncomfortable as your thighs scream out at you, especially after a hilly bike route.

The race was won in 1:57 by Mark Flannery of Tri Kudu, finishing 3 minutes clear of the second place runner. First lady was Molly Ralphson of Trawden AC in 2:16

First Clayton home was Paul Brannon (2nd V50) and congratulations also to Alan Life on his first duathlon.

Next year; I need to get out on the bike more as I really struggled with maintaining momentum in the headwind. I also need to push harder in the first run (my second run was two minutes faster which shows how far off the pace I was!)

I’d recommend duathlon to all; it’s easier/cheaper to get into than triathlon and the bike training is invaluable for runners wanting to tackle hilly courses, on or off-road.

Andy Armstrong

ByAndy Armstrong

No Indoor Junior Training; Thursday 17th October


Spirit of Sport is closed to the public on Thursday 17th October so there’ll be no training on this day if you’re in Marion’s group.
We’re intending to run the outdoor session as normal for those that run out with Jason, Laura or Andy. I’ll send out an email to everyone with a list of names on. If you’re not on the list and you think you should be then please let me know.
Parking may be a problem too so we’ll decide on an alternative meet; as close to SoS as possible.

ByAndy Armstrong

English Schools Fell Running Championship 29th September

This year’s English Schools event will be held in Kendal on the 29th September.

If you’re interested in taking part then all the details you need are on their website

ByAndy Armstrong

JUNIOR TRAINING; AUG/SEPT

EDIT; No Tuesday Training on 27th August, moving to Sabden in September.

Tuesday Training moves to Sabden in September at the earlier time of 6:30pm. 

Meet at the pay and display car park for about twenty past. It’s only small and may be full but there’s plenty of on street parking in Sabden (please don’t block anyone’s driveway).

Thursday Training will continue as usual throughout August with the exception of the 29th when we will be at Seedhill track for the AGM Track race

Saturday Training resumes on Sat 24th August; Towneley Park for 9:00am. Meet at the lower car park next to the new toilet block/coffee kiosk.

 

ByAndy Armstrong

Junior Summer Series; Awards Presentation

…..will be at Spirit of Sport on Thursday 12th September at 6pm.

There’ll be prizes for all who completed five races plus medals for age category winners.

I’d like to invite any and all interested senior members to come along to the presentation to support our juniors. There’ll be a training session afterwards, please come along ‘kitted up’ and join in if you dare!

ByAndy Armstrong

Junior Races; AGM, 29th Aug

UPDATED 17th AUGUST

The club’s annual meeting is traditionally preceded by a 5000m race at Seedhill track. This year, for the first time, it will also be open to any junior members that have achieved a qualifying time at Parkrun of 25mins or better. There will also be a 2 lap fun race for younger members.

The track race is scheduled for 7pm and the 2 lap ‘dash’ will take place around 6:45.

This is an excellent opportunity to test yourself in a proper track environment and I hope that you can come along (Don’t worry, you don’t have to go to the AGM!)

There’ll be no training from Spirit of Sport on this date

 

ByAndy Armstrong

Chorley Park Series, Race 4, Wednesday 7th August.

A huge congratulations to George and Alice Pier who finished 1st boy and 1st girl in the final race of the Chorley Park Junior Series. This was a series of four races over the same course in Astley Park.
George came home in a time of 5:16 and Alice finished in a personal best of 5:50.
Wednesday’s result means that George and Alice are overall series winners (with Alice needing to win her last race outright to clinch the result).
Well done to both, a great example to our younger runners (and our seniors as well!)