Southville RC Newsletter September 2024
Hi Everyone,
Quarterly General Meeting agenda
The agenda for the Quarterly General Meeting on Tuesday 3rd September is as follows:
Financial update - Andy Ventham, Treasurer
Kit update (inc. hi viz pre-order) - Sam Lewis, Quartermaster
Report on payment options - Drew McLellan
Report on the recent survey - Drew McLellan
The meeting will start promptly at 7.45pm after running.
Fancy leading a group?
We've recently had a great range of groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with up to 13 groups going out on Tuesday nights, all thanks to the efforts of our volunteer group leaders.
But we always need more group leaders to ensure we continue to represent all running abilities and keep groups to a safe and manageable size. All paid-up and registered SRC members are welcome to lead groups, if they are confident they can stick consistently to the advertised pace and lead everyone out and safely back to the Southbank. If you're not sure how to get started, just ask any of our existing group leaders; we encourage all group leaders to offer "mentoring", which could include letting a new group leader take their group for a week while the usual group leader offers backmarking and support.
We also regularly pay for new group leaders to complete England Athletics' Leadership in Running Fitness course.
Race roundup
There were some great results in August, with Jane Faram winning the eponymous cake at the Crook Peak Cake Race. The Towpath series came to an end, with Katie Egan winning 2nd lady at the race itself, but also becoming the overall series winner. Meanwhile, Dave Thorpe ran a PB to win fastest male veteran prize.
Jim Sheeran also competed in the World Masters Athletics Champs in Sweden in the 70-74 age category and came 9th in his heat, running a time only 45 seconds off his all time PB!
Like clockwork, the end of the Towpath series brings in the start of the Weston Prom - the first race is on Thursday September 12th. The Weston Prom series is a great way to motivate yourself through the winter months, with one race a month on a flat, fast (depending on wind factor) course along the promenade. There is always a big SRC turnout. Chippenham Half also takes place this month, offering a good local option for an autumn half now that the Bristol race has been moved to the spring.
See the Dates for your Diary at the end for all the races likely to see an SRC presence (and email us with any we've missed).
On Wednesday September 4th it's the Night of the 5ks at the Family Cycle Centre where we hold our track sessions, organised by Coach Rob. It's an opportunity to see how fast you can really go over 5k on an all-weather track - but it's also an informal and fun event open to all abilities and standards where everyone helps to motivate each other. Sub-20 minute runners start at 6.30pm and the rest of the field goes off at 7pm. The cost is £5, cash only on the night. To enter, email Coach Rob including your full name, DOB, club, M/F and estimated finishing time.
Please note that the TACH Rowberrow Romp has (sadly) been cancelled.
Social news
Huge thanks to Sophie Patten, Laura Pease and Théa Payne for organising August's Jurassic Camping Extravaganza. 30 Southvillers headed to Dorset for a weekend of tents, parkrun and a 23km trail run with 4 pub stops on the way.
This month's SRC social is the race that anyone can win - our annual Match Your Time 5k this Sunday 1st September.
You tell us how long you think it will take you to run 5k on an out-and-back on the Towpath and the closest runner to their 5k guess time wins... The catch is you run with no gadgets or gizmos to know how fast you’re running.
Please arrive at the start of the Towpath at around 10.30 so there is enough time to register ahead of us starting the run before 11.
There is no cost to enter and there'll be prizes for those closest to their estimate.
We'll have a post-run social and prize giving at the Tobacco Factory.
A big thank you to Liam Coleman for organising.
Parkrun news
On the first Saturday of each month we all head to our home parkrun of Ashton Court. This month that's September 7th. Make sure you arrive early to feature in the SRC team photo, and join us for some coffee in the café after.
There is a last minute change to parkrun tourism day on Saturday 31st: Tetbury Goods Shed has been cancelled so we're heading to Cirencester. The Cirencester parkrun features three laps of an all-trail course around the Royal Agricultural University.
This will still give you enough time to make it to the Flying Monk 10k in Malmesbury if you want a double running challenge (or just want to warm up by supporting the parkrun).
We're currently gauging interest for an SRC tourism trip to Bushy Park, London on 16th November - the birthplace of parkrun. Watch this space (and the Facebook group and members' WhatsApp) for more news and transport details.
Dates for your Diary
🥳Sun September 1 - SRC Match Your Time
🎽Wed September 4 - Night of the 5ks
🧡Sat September 7 - SRC @ Ashton Court parkrun
🎽Thu September 12 - Last track session
🏁Thu September 12 - Weston Prom Run
🏁Sun September 15 - Chippenham Half Marathon
🏁Sat October 5 - Bristol to Bath Trail Marathon
🏁Sun October 6 - Mother Tucker 10k (Radstock)
🏁Sun October 20 - Keynsham Dandy...
🏁Sun October 20 - ...and the Mendip Muddle (Blagdon)
🏁Thu October 24 - Weston Prom Run
🏁Sun November 10 - Sodbury Slog
🧡Sat November 16 - Bushy Park parkrun tourism
🏁Thu November 28 - Weston Prom Run
🏁Sun December 15 - Weston Christmas Cracker
🏁Thu December 19 - Weston Prom Run
All the best,
Southville Running Club
info@southvillerunningclub.co.uk