Our continuing mission: to boldly drivel where no running publication has drivelled before.
Mel is already taking bookings for London Marathon Weekend, the race being on Sunday 18 April. We will again be staying in the Four Star Thistle Hotel (Lancaster Gate), which has proved very popular for the past couple of years.
Usual itinery, up Saturday morning, return late Monday afternoon. Total cost £124, deposit of £30 to secure a place. Book now to avoid disappointment.
See: Mel James (01656) 720579.
Posted by Mick at 11:37 AM
Yes, Zippy has done it again! Richie took his second Welsh Masters title in a fortnight with a gun to tape victory in the Old Father Time 5 miles. His winning time in cold windy conditions was 27:08. However, it was by no means one way traffic, as John Foster from Lliswerry, who finished 55 seconds behind Richie in the Welsh Masters Cross Country on December 14, made a strong second half challenge to finish just nine seconds in arrears. The ladies race was won by Angela Whitehouse from Neath Harriers.
A total of 88 runners completed the distance, and thanks go to everyone who helped out in the bitter weather. Finishing the year on a high note, Les Croupiers were winners of both men’s and ladies team titles.
Posted by Mick at 11:29 AM
Do you have your New Year resolutions lined up yet? I do. I’ve decided that I need to do more hills, line up more off road runs and generally get more exercise (apparently it’s good for you). If you are similarly inclined then the good news is that I have some diary dates for you.
The hill sessions are taking a brief hiatus for the festive period but will start again on Monday 5th January. So the diary looks like this;
Saturday 3rd January - Merthyr Mawr sand dune session. 9.15am at the club or 10am Merthyr Mawr carpark.
Monday 5th January - Hill session at Cefn Coed Road. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm at base of Cefn Coed Road (expect some traffic!).
Monday 12th January - Hill session at Llandenis Avenue. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm outside Cardiff High School.
Sunday 18th January - Group social run. 10 - 12 miles offroad. Venue TBA, will be announced in club and posted on website. Suffice to say it will be muddy but fun!
Monday 19th January - Hill session at Lady Mary Road, bottom of Roath Park Lake. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm outside shops on Lady Mary Road.
In early Feb, the hill sessions will switch to longer steady road repetitions in the Heath Park area. This should help us take advantage of the hill work and start turning it into some speed.
So there you have it. If you’re still struggling to conjure up those resolutions let me be so bold as to suggest some (or all) of the above. Here’s to a fit and healthy 2004 for all our members.
Posted by Simon at 08:37 AM
Yes Zippy is flying! After a quiet start to the cross-country season, where he modestly insisted on being selected for the "B" team in the Gwent League at Newbridge Fields, Bridgend, Zippy has just got better and better. After a superb run three weeks ago in the Home Countries International in Cardiff, Richie captured his first ever National title on the country when he trounced a high class fields to win the Welsh Masters Cross Country title at Llandaff Fields earlier today. So just what is the secret behind this success. Several theories have been expounded:
a) He didn’t race at all between the Castles Relay and the first Gwent League, four months in all, so the rest recharged his batteries.
b) It’s all down to Yvonne’s wonderful home cooking.
c) He has deliberately ignored Mick’s pleas to run another marathon (it’s five years since he did his last one) and this self-preservation policy is paying off.
d) He read Bill Fear’s theories on Castles Relay selection, and therefore wanted to prove that at the ripe old age of 43, you can still be a superstar.
So what do the punters think?
Posted by Mick at 11:24 PM
Dave Coles writes:
The highly successful Santa Run took place on Sunday 7th December in Newtown, Powys. A group of red all-sorts dressed in Santa outfits took part in the event and the running drinking went really well. Details of numbers are sketchy at the moment, but the organisers said there were 3000 Santas, 2200 of whom ran, presumably a world record. It was supposed to be 4.5 miles, but unless my reindeer had turbo boosters, I reckon it was around 3.8 miles. I managed to come in either 4th or 5th, not sure how we did in the team event, but we were in a rush to get some drinking in at Llandod and Builth, so couldn’t hang around!
Santas and minibus (photo from Lynne Toogood).
Graham Davey and Keith Velda (photo from Dave Coles).
Santas in bar (photo from Lynne Toogood).
Lynne Toogood also took some photos, and it made ITV National News, so it got loads of coverage. Superb fun event, as good as New York in its own little way!
Posted by Dave at 02:12 PM
First of all some background. Cai Britton contacted me about a month ago and asked two things. First of all would I participate in the Vale of Glamorgan Lifestyle fitness challenge, and secondly could we use the name Les Croupiers XT. As the competition fell outside of the auspices of any ruling body, I agreed on both counts. The challenge involved an 8 part circuit including rowing, circuits and weights, a 5k race and one of four individual tests. A strength test, bleep test, 3.5k row and a swim. Cai needed a swimmer, hence my involvement. The other team members including Elite adventure racer and runner Aled Rees, and former British Ultrafit competitor Mark Preece (a 2.37 marathoner).
After a long tiring and tough day, Les Croupiers XT won a very tight competition. At the end of the challenge, 3 teams were tied for first place, so the rules state that the team with the most 1st places wins. It was still square. So, onto the team with the most 1st and 2nd places. It was still square. Sooo, onto the team with the most 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, and finally, we won it. In the 5k race, the Les Croups team came in 1st (Aled Rees), 2nd (Mark Preece), 3rd (Simon Nurse), 4th (Cai Britton). Aled also won the bleep test. Clearly Aled’s pedigree as an adventure racer and several times winner of the tough guy race shone through.
Admittedly I struggled with the weights section of the circuit, but the competition highlighted the capacity of running to give such a good all round base that it can be used as a launchpad for other disciplines and allow diversification of sporting interest. It also proved that overall endurance is essential to success.
Congratulations to Cai for his initiative of adopting the Les Croups name and once again getting our name over to a new audience.
Posted by Simon at 08:57 AM
The London Marathon is in the process of sending out its Acceptance and Rejection letters to Marathon aspirants for 2004.
As usual, Les Croupiers has 3 Club places which will available to any club member producing an official rejection letter. However, we would anticipate many more than three members being in this position, hence the usual lottery for these three guaranteed places will take place on Club night of THURSDAY 8TH JANUARY 2004. The completed forms must be received by the London Marathon Office by 16th January.
As per tradition, Hon. Club Secretary Derek Williams will be co-ordinating the draw, so send your rejection slips to him (unless you are able to see him in person).
His address: 1 Powys Gardens, Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan CG64 4LP
Good Luck!
Posted by Mick at 04:15 PM
Beer and Curry night, of course! Matter of fact, it’s a pretty good excuse any night of the week! Anyway, just to say that, in keeping with the best Les Croupiers tradition, this Friday (5th December) is open house to anyone who wants to join us in the Cayo in Cathedral Road, from 8.00 PM onwards.
It’s not just for elite athletes, Geran has been invited as well!! In fact, it’s open to anyone, not just Les Croupiers, who fancies a drink! You may of course be asked to part with £20 and fill in a Les Croupiers membership form. But this is a mere drop in the ocean in return for being a member of the greatest club on the planet.
Reward for still being vertical at kick-out time. The option of a curry. Strictly negotiable. Anything could happen and probably will. Just be there.
Posted by Mick at 11:43 PM
Last updated 22 September 2006
^Top | Sitemap | About this site | Contact us | Les Croupiers Running Club Home
