Because running isn’t a spectator sport.
Due to the rather unexpected (but wholly welcomed) demand for places on the Yorkshire Dales trip, I am pleased to announce that we will be increasing the numbers from 24 to 36 places with the addition of a further mini-bus. So if you fancy indulging in some of the finest hill training and real ale re-hydration to be found anywhere in the UK, pack your flat cap, stick your whippet on a lead and add your name to Clare’s list.
Posted by Simon at 04:34 PM
If anyone (from the club or not) plans to have a self-catering training holiday, Sandy Johnston’s Villa in Majorca is available for rent. (The site says “opera singer Helen Field” but she's Sandy’s wife.)
Contact details and rates are on their site.
Posted by Dave at 03:39 PM
Unfortunately I need to call time prematurely on the spin class. Due to a number of logistical factors (not least of which is a major project in work), it has become increasingly difficult to attend and organise the Monday evening session. The classes have proved to be reasonably successful and regular attendees will have gained the benefit of a winter of indoor cycle training ahead of the triathlon season. With light nights rapidly approaching, the spin class would have stopped soon anyway in favour of training on the roads. Those now left with oodles of energy to expend can always join hills on a Tuesday or succumb to the lure of our weekend away in April (see post below).
Posted by Simon at 11:10 AM
While Simon plans another weekend away, I’m stuck with an unexplained death. So far, the details and the logic are on CodeBlueBlog — part 1; part 2; part 3; part 4; part 5.
This a story I missed, and you probably did too. The Ethiopian Reporter on The mystery shrouding Alem Techale’s death:
It has been more than 10 days since the world 1500m youth champion and Kenenisa Bekele’s fiancé Alem Techale passed away. There is still no clue to what had caused the death of the young athlete who was only 18 years old.
Dr Victor Emanuel, who examined the athlete’s body, said ten days ago that he had filed his reports to the police as is always the procedure. But the police have not conformed the cause of the death. For the time being, her death remains a mystery.
It was learned later that Alem told some close friends about a month ago that she was suffering from some health problems. But she never saw a doctor.
It may all be a little cloak-and-dagger, but …
In the United States, every detective worth his badge will tell you that if a girlfriend goes away alone with her boyfriend and he brings her back dead, the first ten people on the suspect list are the boyfriend. Yet Bekele goes unquestioned and his sketchy and sometimes contradictory recounting of the event (did he carry her to his car or go get his car...and what car are we talking about?) goes unchallenged.
The 10,000m world record holder deserves more than a life under suspicion.
Found throughJim Henley to whom I gave advice on training once, long ago.
Posted by Dave at 03:46 PM
Following the success of our trips to both the Lake District and Pembrokeshire, I am pleased to announce that we are planning to do it all over again, this time in the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Leaving at 1pm on Friday 22nd April, we head off for Stainforth YHA, approximately 3 miles outside the picturesque town of Settle. We’ll enjoy an evening meal at the hostel and a few cheeky ales at the local hostelry (I can personally recommend the Black Sheep ale). Saturday will offer the opportunity to tackle the terrain in the area of the famous 3 peaks; Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent, either as a 3 peaks run (a mighty 24 miler) or possibly a mini event over a set Karrimor type course. Saturday night will offer further food and beer opportunities and Sunday will be an easy run ahead of a pub lunch and the long trudge back. I must emphasise that a lot depends on the weather, the hills are notoriously fickle in April and running plans will need to remain fluid. The one thing we will be able to guarantee however, is some fantastic off road opportunities and a full weekend of socialising Les Croups style.
Costs will be in the region of the last trip, approximately 60 quid per person (B&B, packed lunch, travel) and will be confirmed shortly. Places are strictly limited to 24, so if you are keen, get your name down quickly! The last two trips became oversubscribed in a jiffy. Post your names here, or see either Clare Johnson or myself at the club.
Posted by Simon at 02:16 PM
Photos from today’s Cross Country race in Bute Park. I’m not too happy that none of Hayley Yelling (who won the women’s 6K) came out well. I spoke to her before the race, and told her she would win.
Update: Mick sent me the results last night. I haven’t got round to doing anything with them yet. (Now I have. Results.) They’re all in .xls format (MS Excel) and zipped.
Paul McNamara (Ireland).
Richard Williams (Wales).
Will George (Wales U23). Oliver Shilston (UWI Cardiff).
Clive Bromhall (Bristol).
Gareth Davies (Bridgend).
Richie Bullen.
Mick McGeoch and Rob Jones.
Peter Kellam and Gareth Thomas.
Elio Lepore.
Kelvin Sullivan.
Haggai Chepkwony breaks from a chasing pack which includes Dominic Bannister and Mike Skinner.
Andrew Hunt.
Dan Wilhare (Ireland U23).
Tim Watson (Belgrave).
Gareth Thomas.
Sandy Johnston.
Robert Russell (Scotland).
Andrew Hennessy (Wells City).
Andrew Hunt.
Tom Naylor.
Mark Jennings (Cardiff) and Andrew Thomas (Medway & Maidstone).
Julian Baker.
Gareth Davies and Ian Smith (Army).
Daniel Moore (Bristol & West).
Richie Bullen.
David Humphreys (Lliswerry).
Andrew Eynon (Bridgend).
Mick McGeoch and Rob Jones (again).
Simon Osborne (Bridgend) and Michael Evans (TROTS).
Sandy Johnston (again).
Haggai Chepkwony (Army).
Mike Skinner (again).
Spencer Barden (England).
James Padfield (UW Swansea).
Phil Nicholls (Tipton).
Rob Jones.
Hayley Yelling on the first lap.
Lorna Vyse (Woking).
Ursula Counsell and Caroline Kloiber (both Bristol & West).
Louise Reilly (Ireland U23).
Julie Scholey.
Hayley Yelling on the second lap.
Jolene Byrne (Ireland).
Louise Damen (England).
Finnuala Britton (Ireland U23) and Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford).
Freya Murray (Scotland U23).
Eleanor Sherrard-Smith (Wales U23).
Hayley Yelling on final lap.
Louise Damen, again.
Ursula Counsell, again.
Posted by Dave at 04:25 PM
Next Sunday (30th January) sees the annual 10 mile handicap as a prelude to the AGM. It’s an important day in any year, but as this is our 25th anniversary, it seems too good an opportunity to pass up and celebrate being part of the great club on the planet!
And I stress the words “being part of”. That applies to the Handicap as well. It’s a great event in theory in that it gives us all an equal chance of crossing the line first. However, it was noticeable on the last couple of Thursdays that several members were investigating what time they were given, and were declining to enter. This is not an event to be self-conscious! It’s an event to simply be part of. If you’re not that fit currently, then have a run round and use it as a means to an end. If you’re injured, then please marshall, support and encourage! The club’s strength is the commitment and unity of its members, regardless of ability. Come and be a part of it!
Posted by Mick at 07:05 PM
Paula Radcliffe has confirmed that she will run London (and not Boston) this year. (Guardian, Telegraph.)
The rumour is that she's being paid a record appearance fee just for turning up. Very canny on her part. We know she can start races. It's crossing the line at the end that matters. Not so much if you get a cheque anyway though.
Radcliffe has also said that she intends to put off starting a family until after the 2008 Olympics. She and Gary should do it like they do it on the Discovery Channel where six-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is being coy about 2005.
Posted by Dave at 11:49 AM
This event always attracts plenty of excitement, with those marathon aspirants having suffered the anguish of rejection through the ballot being subject to the “last chance salloon” that is the Croupiers Draw for club places.
As usual, we were allocated three club places by the Marathon organisers, with 17 marathon hopefuls praying that their name would come out of the hat!
Congratulations to Gary John, Ralph Davey and Shaun Connor. May you all achieve your personal ambitions on April 17.
Posted by Mick at 08:09 PM
Since I mentioned that I went to circuits last night (actually boxercise, but that sounds a bit girly, even though Ian Derrick also goes), I’ll tell you all now that next Friday Kevin Fulthorpe’s class in Sophia Gardens is in aid of the Tsunami appeal and the cost (£3:15) including the WIS’s take, all goes to charity. If you’re thinking of doing something like strength work this year, why not come along next Friday the 15th, at 6pm in the Welsh Insitute of Sport in Sophia Gardens. The average donation from the UK has been a paltry £1:68 (source BBC weekly quiz reults), so at a stroke you could give nearly twice that and train too.
Posted by Dave at 10:48 AM
What is the world coming to, eh? I ask you. Dear, oh dear, oh dear, as the late Tony Hancock would lament. Last month (you probably had to read the Sun to know this), BBC staff in Birmingham were given intructions on how to use a revolving door.
A couple of days ago, I bought a new pair of trainers. They came with a manual. I repeat, a manual! They’re shoes. Step 1. If you are wearing shoes, remove them. Step 2 Take the vaguely feet shaped things out of the box …
Seriously, I ignored what it said on the manual — not very much, it turned out, as it was in eight languages like IKEA instructions, though without the ‘attach the flange panel with the 28 shearing screws (pneumatic drill not provided)’ — it mostly says wear them about the house or work for a couple of days. Nah, I wore them to circuits last night. Ian Derrick saw them. He called them “a bit bright.” They were great. A wooden floor has more give than pavement, so I don’t know what they’d be like for road running or on the very hard outside track at UWIC, but indoors they’re the best thing ever. (Shoewise that is, obviously there are better things in the broader sense, iPods for example, or a nice tart after an early morning run.)
Barefoot is cool. I used to trot over to Bute Park and run several short sprints barefoot. But I am, I suppose, a bit bonkers. And I do know that Adidas had a similar line nearly a decade ago, and I never tried those. Really, these are totally cool.
And I feel fine.
Posted by Dave at 10:12 AM
If one of your new year resolutions was to train hard over the hills then you'll be pleased to know that hill sessions return to the training calendar this evening (4th January). Meeting outside Cardiff High school at 6.15pm (6.30pm ready to roll) for the warm up, we'll complete 5 repetitions of the Llandennis course.
The schedule for January is as follows;
4th January, Llandennis Avenue - meet at Cardiff High. 6.15pm for warm-up, 6.30pm for session
11th January, Waterloo Road - meet at Lady Mary Road. 6.15pm for jog over. 6.30pm for session.
18th January, Lady Mary Road. 6.15pm for warm-up, 6.30pm for session
25th January, Llandennis Avenue - meet at Cardiff High. 6.15pm for warm-up, 6.30pm for session
While we're on the subject of organised sessions....
The spin classes will resume at 7.30pm on Monday 10th January at Leckwith stadium. Places are limited but can be increased if we know numbers in advance (its a good mixed group at the moment). This is a great session in a safe environment that will improve both your cycling and your general fitness for running. See Phil or myself for details.
Posted by Simon at 11:21 AM
Pictures from today’s veterans’ race and Welsh Championship.
Posted by Dave at 03:20 PM
I would just like to wish everyone involved with Croups a Happy New Year and all the best for 2005.
Posted by Phil at 01:30 PM
As the Triathlon Section of the Club now enters its 2nd year, we are holding our first AGM. This will take place on Thursday 13th January 2005 and will be held upstairs in the club after the announcements. We would like to invite all current and potential members and also anyone else interested to help us review 2004 and progress into the New Year.
Just to remind you all the renewal date for membership of the Triathlon section is 1st January.
Posted by Phil at 01:25 PM
Last updated 22 September 2006
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