April 2025
Howdy Ranelights.
April, the fourth month of the year, is often associated with the beginning of spring, growth, and renewal of nature, which does seem pretty apt of late, particularly with the longer days, the blossoming of flowers and trees, and this glorious sunshine we’re having.
It also heralds the weekly training countdown ahead of the many spring marathons taking place worldwide. In fact, a quick search on ‘tinterweb’, lists approximately 159 marathons this month alone!
To those currently training or tapering (should you be lucky enough to taper), the biggest of kudos to each and every one of you - we wish you all the best in these final weeks of preparation. You’ve got this!
However there’s more than just marathon fever taking hold in Ranelagh-land, so please read on for further notices…
1. we need you ⬇️
▪️ Volunteer for the Ranelagh Half & the Ranelagh 10K: We really need everyone’s help for two of our biggest road events, the Ranelagh Half Marathon (11 May @ 8.30am) and Ranelagh 10k (22 June @ 9am).
Your commitment and support in volunteering was instrumental in making previous years' events successful, so we really hope you’ll be able to help this year.
No specific experience necessary, all we're asking for is your help on the day to fill a variety of marshalling & course duties, for one or both of these events. It’s really rewarding, plus you get to meet other people, learn new skills and be part of a great club event.
Whatever time you can give will be immensely helpful and deeply appreciated. If you can help out, even for a little bit, please fill in this Google Form @ https://bit.ly/RanelaghVolunteer ⬅️
2. fixtures⬇️
▪️Baker Cup | Saturday 5 April @ 2.30pm | Richmond Park: Entries are closed but we desperately need volunteers to marshal, from 2pm to 4pm tops. If you can spare a bit of time, please email coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk or contact Narissa Vox or Oli Hickson via WhatsApp Community ASAP.
▪️Sutton 10k | Sunday 13 April @ 9.30am | Nonsuch Park: After the drama of cross country, comes the thrill of the Surrey Road League, kicking off with the Sutton 10k in beautiful Nonsuch Park.
As they say, you got to be in it to win it; but in this case, you got to be in at least 4 of it (races) to be considered for a trophy. Entries @ https://www.stuweb.co.uk/events/2025/04/13/4521/ ⬅️
Ps: Both the Ranelagh Half and the Ranelagh 10k are part of the Surrey Road League too.
▪️London Marathon | Saturday 27 April | London: Ballot places are rarer than hens’ teeth (just ask Ed Smith), so congratulations if you’re lucky enough to be running this iconic event.
For the rest of us mere mortals, watch it on telly, support in person (join the Ranelagh support station at Mile 25!) or catch up with our runners at the post-event social (details further below) - just don’t miss it!
All 2024/2025 fixtures @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/fixtures-2024-2025/ ⬅️
3. Club Subs are due ⬇️
April certainly is the month of renewal and by this we mean the renewal of your subs for 2025/2026. if you haven’t already, kindly make your payments as soon as possible using the account details below:
Beneficiary Bank: HSBC
Sort code: 40-23-29
Account Number: 81109847
Account Name: Ranelagh Harriers
For any other methods of payment, please go to www.ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/join-info.
Where applicable, your payment includes registration with England Athletics, which will allow you to represent our club in official races. You will also receive a £2 discount on most other race entries, plus other benefits and discounts as offered by England Athletics.
Once you have paid your subs, we will register you with them. Should you have any queries regarding renewing your membership, please email the Membership Secretary.
NOTE: By paying your subs, you agree go to the England Athletics site, to accept and abide by the relevant codes of conduct relating to your role(s) within the club.
4. RACE REPORTS ⬇️
🏔️ National XC Championships | Saturday 22 Feb | Parliament Hill: Better late than never, thanks to our Men’s Captain, James Riley, who managed to get over his PTSD to pen this race report. Ready all? Time to re-live THE MUD…
There’s mud. And then there’s Parliament Hill Nationals mud - the kind that grabs your ankles, swallows your spikes, and forces you to question every life choice that led you to this moment.
This year’s edition? Possibly the best / worst yet (* delete as appropriate). The mud started outside Gospel Oak tube station (because apparently, the filth from the race extended into the entire borough), and only got deeper. Post-race, Lido staff were hosing runners down, and frankly, it still wasn’t enough. Watching the elite women finish was like watching marathoners in the 41st mile—form completely gone, running reduced to a desperate, full-body effort to reach the line.
It began as all great Nationals do—with a stampede of 2,000 hopefuls charging up the hill, jostling for position before funnelling into the first real test of survival: knee-deep sludge. Somewhere in that chaos, I went down. Clipped from behind, hitting the deck, HR through the roof, and suddenly at the back of a bottleneck. If I wasn’t fully awake before, the immediate panic of being trampled into the bog sorted that out.
Every lap, the course churned up further, turning from “this is a joke, right?” to "actually this just isn't funny". Running became a game of trial and error—push harder and risk face-planting, or tiptoe cautiously and lose all momentum. The best technique? No idea. If anyone’s cracked the secret to running in a swamp, they’re keeping it to themselves.
Leading the Ranelagh charge was Joe Killip (208th), somehow staying upright while others around him disappeared into the mire. Jonathan Smith (294th), David Lawley (385th), and Joel Peirson-Hagger (433rd) battled through, while I (493rd) and Graham Brook (531st) rounded out the scoring—all emerging from the carnage with heads high and spikes heavier than ever. A team finish of 32nd in one of the toughest Nationals in memory was no small feat—proof of fitness, resilience, and possibly just sheer bloody-mindedness.
The National Cross Country Championships are never about perfection. They’re about chaos, problem-solving, and accepting that at some point, you will question your choices. You just keep moving forward, however gracelessly, and figure it out on the fly.
Same again next year? Absolutely. Hopefully with less falling over. But, realistically… probably not.
Plus this from Carol Aikin, Women’s Vice Captain:
This race comes to Parliament Hill once every 3 years and is generally a very muddy affair, but this year after a previous day and night of pouring rain, conditions were reminiscent of the Somme.
How anyone managed to stay upright on the hilly, slippery 8km course I can’t imagine. Massive congratulations to our 6 intrepid ladies who survived the mud fest.
Leading the team in was Cecily Day 36:40, followed by Natalie Haarer 39:37, Rebecca Bissell 44:33, Claire Warner 46:42, Ann Kearey 49:15, Clare Day 50:21, with our team finishing in 40th place.
💪 104th Annual Mob Match vs Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC | Saturday 22 March @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/news/mob-blackheath-2025 ⬅️ 1 season down… 2 more to go!
5. TRAINING ⬇️
3 minutes of extra daylight per day!
Last week, our training groups were treated to the most astonishing sunset as their sessions came to a close. With the days increasingly getting longer, it won’t be long before we’ll be ending our sessions in wonderful daylight, accompanied by al-fresco drinks at the pub.
Until then though, do continue staying safe & visible, ideally with lights or a head torch and reflective/hi-vis clothing especially if you’re heading home after sunset.
A reminder that for Tuesday's session, please meet at our clubhouse for 7pm; and for Thursday's track, please meet at Osterley Park track for 7.30pm.
For our new joiners or those on a taster session, a BIG HELLO, and to all our existing members, please continue to introduce yourselves to make them feel welcome.
6. NOTICES:
💛 Post London Marathon Social | Sunday 27 April @ 8pm | Fox & Duck: All welcome to the Fox & Duck for a chat, a pint (or two, or three) and maybe a bite, as we celebrate the achievements of our London Marathon class of 2025. A wonderful post London Ranelagh tradition - everyone can attend, whether you’ve run or not. PS: runners will be glad to know that the Fox & Duck is stair free.
💙 Ladies Couch to 5k Course: A reminder that our Ladies Couch to 5k Course aimed at complete beginners will start on 20 May. Don’t forget to let your friends, mums, sisters etc know. Full details @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/news/beginners-2025 ⬅️
💛 Kit Store Closed: Thank you to everyone who ordered; we will be in touch once your items are ready for collection. The kit shop will reopen in June/July 2025 for the next order window.
💙 Share: Your running or running related celebrations & achievements in our ‘General Club Chat’ group. Please contact Ed or Narissa via WhatsAppCommunity to be added. We love seeing what you get up to!
