October 2024
Howdy Ranelights.
How the days are flying by - and with the temperatures dropping and the nights drawing closer, what better way to cheer yourself up by throwing yourself whole heartedly into the cross-country season? Which (for us) will officially start at the first Surrey League fixture on 12 October.
For those of you who haven't yet taken the plunge into the muddiness & fun that is XC, it might help to know that our earliest members were from Ranelagh Cricket Club, who formed a cross country running club to keep fit during the winter months. Back then our club was based out of the Green Man on Putney Heath and the earliest recorded runs were out to the Windmill on Wimbledon Common and back.
So we have a heritage of partaking in muddy runs, and in line with this tradition, we want to encourage as many of you as possible to join in this season's Surrey League. It's not about speed per se; rather it's about being part of a team working together, putting their all out there and doing the best that they can. We can assure you that you won't regret joining in, it's bags of fun, there's so much camaraderie and there's LOTs of cake after.
Sign up will be via Teamer for both the Men's & Women's team - GO ON, you know you want to!
For those not able to run, that's ok - please do come along to cheer & support your fellow club members as it'll be greatly appreciated by everyone.
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🏃♀️ October's Fixtures 🏃♀️➡️
Surrey XC Relays | 5 Oct Nonsuch Park @ 1pm: Teams of 3 with each person running a 5k loop in beautiful Nonsuch Park. Ladies, there's still time to sign up either by contacting Suzy Whatmough or via Teamer @ https://teamer.net/teams/111728848-ranelagh-women/events/40748502/notifications 👈
Surrey XC League #1 | 12 Oct Wimbledon Common (Women) & Reigate Priory (Men): Two different venues, two different distances - 6km for women & 8km for men. Mud guaranteed at Wimbledon Common, less so at Reigate Priory; however both equally undulating and utterly glorious places to run in. Please contact your captains (or coaches if you can't find the captains) or sign up on Teamer. RAH RAH RAH Ranelagh!
SEAA XC Relays | 19 Oct Wormwood Scrubs: There's mud and then there's Wormwood Scrubs, which is a whole 'nother level of mud. Teams of 3 with each running 3km for women & 4km for men. Registrations yet to open but if interested, please contact your captains or sign up on Teamer when the invites come out.
Surrey Masters | 26 Oct Nonsuch Park from 1.30pm: We start the month at Nonsuch Park so it's kind of fitting that we end it back at Nonsuch Park, this time at a XC race for 'masters' athletes M35/W35 (I know, right?) and older. The course is approx. 3.1km per lap, with women running 2 laps and men 3 laps. As before, please contact your captains or respond via Teamer when the invites come out, if you'd like to run.
You can find the full list of our 2024/2025 fixtures @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/fixtures-2024-2025/ 👈
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💧 Cabbage Patch 10 Water Station | Sunday 20 October 8am: Entries are SOLD OUT for the Cabbage Patch 10 but there's plenty of scope to volunteer as we flex our water station muscles, while cheering & supporting fellow members at the riverside exit from the Petersham Sea Scouts (https://maps.app.goo.gl/oqr97yrjL4J66NEY6). It's our turn to repay the favour after the Stragglers helped man a water station at our last half marathon. No experience required; just rock up, fill up cups with water and hand them out to runners from 8am to about 10am.
If you can volunteer - for however long - please email coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk or message Narissa Vox or Maia Rushby via the Ranelagh WhatsApp Community.
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💙 Weekend Highlights 💛
💪 2024 Europe Triathlon Champs 21 - 22 Sept: Shout out to Ruth Gledhill as she continues to go from strength to strength in her age category domination of pretty much every triathlon going. In Vichy, she ticked off a 1500m swim, a 42.6km cycle and a 10km run; finishing 7th in her age category with this to say, 'absolutely zonked, loved every minute of it!'. Additionally, here are her comments from Strava:
1️⃣ SWIM: 'I guess the decision to play the soundtrack from ‘Jaws’ very loudly as we prepared to jump in was someone’s idea of a joke? Swim turned out better than most if not all past efforts. Still need to conquer visceral terror at being out there in the fathomless and treacherous deeps. Among the sharks …'
2️⃣ CYCLE: 'Definitely the hardest I’ve ever raced on the bike. Paid for it on the run still paying for it now - totally crashed - but really enjoyed.'
3️⃣ RUN: 'Possibly my best race ever. Think I finally got confidence back. Initial results suggest I might have come seventh in age group which is totally amazing for me.'
🎖️ Thomas Cup 21 Sept: Kudos to long standing member John Scally, who fended off a late attack from club president Maia Rushby and hanging on to claim the Thomas Cup! Full race report available @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/thomas-2024/ 👈 John ran well, making the most of his handicapped time, and had this to say 'really hard, but (I) kept going!' Yes you did John, yes you did! Additionally, here's his comments from Instagram:
'The Thomas Cup Handicap: where slowest runners go out first and the fastest (scratch) runner goes last. The start times are based on recent performances so in theory everyone should end up at the 3.85 mile finish line at the same time. If you go out waaay to fast, find yourself in first place with about a mile to go and then don't die and hang on managing to keep ahead of the faster runners coming up behind you... Well you might just get some amazing silverware. Thanks Narissa and Andy for putting on an amazing race and all the marshalls and fellow Ranelagh Harriers for a great day. It's been a torrid year for me with health issues stopping me running for months, so to be on a pain free running recovery and to be able to get this is really special! To quote the lovely Wyn Williams; "Run often, run long but never outrun your joy of running."
To be included in our Weekend Highlights, join the ‘General Club Chat’ group to share your celebrations & achievements with a pic, a result and perhaps a short 5-word review. Join via WhatsApp Community or this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EOXovU5nMK00H9faojuPOm 👈
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🏆 Women's Achievement Trophy 🏆
The Women’s Achievement Trophy is our newest club trophy, awarded for meritorious achievement or improvement during the year. Nominations were received and a clear candidate stood out for the 2023/2024 year (April to March). At the recent Thomas Cup BBQ, on behalf of Women's Captain Suzy Whatmough, Club President Maia Rushby presented the trophy to Aoife Kilpatrick. Congratulations Aoife for being the well-deserved inaugural winner of the trophy. Here she is in her own words:
'Thank you everyone. I joined Ranelagh around 10yrs ago & honestly I’d like to say it was because I wanted to be healthy, but it was more because I wanted to meet people after moving to London alone! Gym had proved costly & unsuccessful! I had never run a km. I started with Deborah’s beginners group & I remember being terrified to actually join inters 3. From there, I’ve improved over the years but more importantly I’ve made the best friendships thanks to this club! 💙💛 thank you so much for the women’s achievement award. It really is such an honour as I know how many of you would also be worthy winners!'
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📢 Notices:
🍺🍕 ‘Last Tuesday of the Month’ social | Tuesday 1 Oct @ 8.15pm: ALL ARE WELCOME to our ‘Last Tuesday of the Month’ social at our clubhouse straight after training. We're doing this a week later than planned to allow our fab social team time to recover from organising the Thomas Cup BBQ. We'll be stocking up our brand new fridge with drinks and ordering food (earlier!) as required. Join us at the clubhouse as we chill, chat and to get to know friends old and new. SEE YOU THERE!
💙 Women Speed & Technique session | Thursday 3 Oct: Thank you everyone who joined in Tuesday's session led by Coach James Riley and supported by Suzy Whatmough. Don't miss next Thursday's Speed & Technique session @ 7.15pm at Osterley track. Open to all abilities, everyone is welcome and no one will be left behind. James will take us through skills and techniques, followed by a session to practice these. He can give personal feedback i requested, with opportunities to ask questions. Please sign up @ https://teamer.net/teams/111728848-ranelagh-women/events/40662338/notifications 👈
🚸 Team Richmond London Youth Games XC Squad: The London Youth Games Cross Country event is confirmed for Saturday 16 November. Parents, if you'd like your children to be considered for the squad, please sign up @ https://bit.ly/3MZTcQZ (www.richmond.gov.uk site) and complete a parkun (anywhere, not just in the borough) between September 7th and November 4th. The form will explain the different distances required - 12 of the quickest times for boys & girls will be selected in the U11, U13, U15 & U17 categories.
🏃♀️ Dulwich Park Runners 5 mile race | 6 Oct: Hosted by Dulwich Park Runners as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations. Any surplus from their very reasonable £5 entry feee will be donated to their chosen charity, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers (SDCAS). The minimum age for entry is 18. Medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, male and female. Sign up @ https://dulwichparkrunners.eventrac.co.uk/e/dulwich-park-runners-40th-anniversary-5-mile-race-11690 👈
💪 Volunteer needed: Message from Claire Slater-Gallon (Inter 2): Hi, I'm Claire, a physio and an osteopath @ www.getstrongphysio.com. I have a keen interest in building strength as a fundamental for any sport, especially running, and am completing a strength & conditioning course. I’m looking for a long distance runner to do an 8 week programme, which will involve a movement, strength and speed analysis and completing a programme to improve all of these aspects. If you’re interested, please email me at info@getstrongphysio.com👈🏻
🚹 Men wanted: University student Ted Grace is completing their dissertation (BSc Sports Science at St Mary's) under the supervision of Dr Mark Glaister, and is looking for 10 male volunteers (aged 18 - 40 years) with experience in any sport involving running, to test the comparative effects of creatinine vs beetroot juice on sprint performance.
Participants will be asked to attend 3 different data collection sessions on the St. Mary’s campus over the course of approximately 13 days, under conditions involving the real substances mixed with placebo substances. In each session, you will do a repeated sprint test of 7 × 30 m sprints, with a 30 s break between each sprint. A small sized 20µL capillary blood sample will be collected in your earlobe immediately before and after each sprint session.
You will also be requested to take no alcohol, do no strenuous exercise 48 hr before, and to consume no food or caffeine 3hr before each repeated sprint test. To volunteer, or to find out more, please email Ted Grace @ 11tjgrace@gmail.com 👈
🎄SAVE THE DATE: Ranelagh Christmas Party | 7 Dec @ One Kew Road, Richmond: We know, it's only October but much planning is afoot, and we promise you won't want to miss the BEST Xmas party ever. For now please save the date in your diaries and we will send through further details, including how to book, menu etc.
💚 Ranelagh WhatsApp Community: We have now completed our migration into the Ranelagh WhatsApp Community, with one place for all things Ranelagh, to stay connected, and to share news, event information and updates across our club. If you'd like to be added, please email coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk or contact your coaches. Find a brief intro, FAQ & code of conduct @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/whatsapp-community/ 👈
💷 Race discounts: Still time to enjoy 15% off both the Kingston Half & 10k (6 October) and River Thames Half (27 October) with the code RANELAGH15 (all caps). Valid EA members can also enjoy an additional £2 on top of that. To book, simply use the code at:
Kingston Half & 10k: https://riverthamesrunning.co.uk/kingston-half/about-kingston-half-marathon/ 👈🏻
River Thames Half: https://riverthamesrunning.co.uk/events/river-thames-half-marathon/ 👈🏻
