March 2012 by Swinton Running Club

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Dan ‘amazed’ to be chosen AN AVID sportsman and dedicated volunteer from Prestwich has been chosen as an Olympic torchbearer. Dan Bird, of Butterstile Lane, will carry the torch for 300 metres on Sunday, June 24 in Marsh, near Huddersfield, en route from Salford to Leeds.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Dan ‘amazed’

Cheadle 5

Haweswater Half

Trimpell 20

Trotters 5

Blackpool Half

Spen 20

Worsley Woods

St Annes 10

East Hull 20

Barcelona Marathon

Wilmslow Half

Spectating………

Manchester Marathon

Beginners Group

Up and Coming Races

CLGP 2012

35 Radcliffe 10K

Club Championships

36 37

Ladies Championship

Men’s Championship

Committee Minutes

Social Events

Race Results

Contacts

The 20-year-old said: “I was shocked and really excited when I found out I was going to be a torch bearer. “I was at college and my mum sent me a text message. I announced it in class and I broke into tears. I’m so happy and amazed.” A former pupil at Unsworth Primary School, Dan was diagnosed with autism at the age of four and has a speech and language disorder. He is currently studying BTEC level three in sport at Queen Alexandra College in Birmingham. He was chosen as a student ambassador for the college and leads tours for visitors. Outside college, Dan has a passion for sport and has volunteered with Bury Sport And Physical Activity Service for five years, acting as an assistant coach for multi-sport activities. Dan has been a member of Swinton Running Club for three years and currently runs more than 50 miles per week in training for next month’s Greater Manchester Marathon. He hopes to raise £500 for the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, which has helped his 19year-old brother, Aiden, who has severe learning difficulties. Dan is also a member of Bourneville Harriers, in Birmingham, where he coaches new runners, and a member of Prestwich Tennis Club. Dan said: “Despite my disability I always give 100 per cent in everything I do, working hard to achieve my goals and challenges in life. I like having a busy schedule and I’m really committed to making every minute of the day count, “I want to get through the barrier and have equal opportunities to have a career, just like any other person would dream of.” He added: “I want to become a good role model in sports, whether it’s coaching in athletics or a range of sports for young people or children with disabilities. My other goal is to become a personal trainer and help people with their fitness and well-being,” To sponsor Dan in the Greater Manchester Marathon: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SportDan91.

Gaynor, with thanks to the Prestwich & Whitefield Guide

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Race Reviews

Cheadle 5 - Sunday 4th March 2012 I found the flyer for this race on my windscreen after Alsager5. Thinking that the ST10 postcode for entries was a Stockport address, I assumed this was Cheadle South Manchester – definitely flat, ideal for my recovery program...Ha!! Two days before the race I decided to check the route and timing to work out when I had to set the alarm for on Sunday morning. I got a bit of a shock, this was not South Manchester but a small town called Cheadle south of Stoke on Trent, definitely not flat countryside. With trepidation I looked at the times for last year – OMG the winning time for my age group was 44 minutes – either this race was a fell run or seriously uncompetitive. Things got worse on the morning of the race as I woke to heavy rain, the rain turned to sleet as I made my way south, watching the fuel gauge sink into the red and wondering where I was going to find diesel in all these country lanes. The race info said limited parking, but I had no trouble finding a spot. Possibly because the total race entry was only 162. The race HQ is a youth club, spacious and warm with beverages, mars bars and sausage sandwiches laid on. There seemed to be more people entering on the day than had pre-entered, I admired their dedication, if I hadn’t entered in advance and told my PT I was going I would have rolled over and gone back to sleep that morning. I stood behind a queue of green Trentham shirts waiting to pick up my number - Trentham must like this race, they had a good turn out and took away a lot of the prizes. I tried to go for a warm-up run, but after one lap of the block came back colder than I had started, so I resorted to studying the opposition and trying to work out which of the girls were in my age group. As we lined up I spotted a very lean fit lady from Staffs Moorlands who looked like she might be my opposition. I hope she never reads this because at the end of the race I found out she’s V35 not 45! We started sandwiched between two 4x4s and I found myself completely boxed in for most of the first half mile, but this probably did me a favour because I couldn’t shoot off and burn out in the first mile. I spotted the yellow Moorlands shirt ahead of me and decided that I wanted to be ahead of that shirt, so when the field spread out I worked my way up and got in front. The next three miles were undulating – not Steve Doxey’s idea of undulating – small enough rises so that I was at the top of them and recovering on the way down before I had time to worry about the fact that I am no good at running hills. Short enough for me to actually pass people on the way up hill – unheard of! The Lady from Moorlands and I passed each other more times than I remember over those first few miles and I thought maybe I had the better of her, but somewhere toward the end of the fourth mile there was a hill that was long enough for my legs to register that I was climbing and for my lungs to start to complain. As I slowed my friend from Moorlands didn’t, she told me later that she realised that was her chance to make a break. I could see her ahead for the rest of the race but couldn’t pick up pace to catch her. The best I could do was hang in now and make sure I wasn’t passed by anyone else, which I just about did – the guy pounding up behind me toward the finish line was almost treading on my heels as we passed the clock.

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Cheadle 5 - Sunday 4th March 2012 I was seriously chuffed with my time, especially since the course is far from flat and fast, I was even more chuffed when I realised Ms Day from Moorlands is ten years younger than me. I picked up a voucher for Bourne Sports so the morning left me feeling quite good about the world.

Sarah Full results available here

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Haweswater Half Marathon - Sunday 4th March 2012 Sunday 4th March provided a host of race options – the Trotters 5 at Burnden, the somewhat longer Trimpell 20 or, for a small but intrepid band of Swinton runners, the option furthest north, the Haweswater half marathon. The week before the race had been lovely. Mild, sunny and dry – perfect spring weather. Sat in the office on the Friday I remember thinking how nice it would be to race in the Lake District that weekend. Then someone, who shall remain nameless, jokingly commented that the forecast for Sunday was for snow. This “joke” seemed less and less funny Sunday morning as myself and my chauffeur for the day, Dave Williamson, made our way up the M6. The temperature dropped from a balmy 3 degrees to an ominous zero and the rain became more and more sleet like. A quick toilet stop at the last services before we turned off the motorway confirmed our worst suspicions. It was indeed snowing. Arriving at the race start in the village of Bampton things got even worse. Having literally just had a good laugh at the ability of Swinton runners to get stuck in muddy fields and require towing out (in some cases twice in the same day!) we were not impressed when the marshals directed us into a nice muddy field to park. Deciding that we’d worry about getting back off the field later (once the small matter of the race was out of the way) we made our way to registration where we met up with the rest of team Swinton: Lauren, Adam, Steve Hart and Viv. Talk was generally about how cold it was, how many layers we should wear and whether the snow would stop. Helpfully, the snow did in fact stop by the time 11.30am came around and we made our way to the race start (stopping on the way in my case for a friendly passing lady to do up my sports bra!) The course begins in the village along a fairly narrow road making getting a quick start difficult. The use of ipods/ other generic MP3 devices was also clearly not banned (or very badly policed) and I had a close call with a lady who obviously didn’t hear my shouts of excuse me, coming through and reacted strangely badly to me barging past! We were soon out of the village however and onto the first hill at which point the field began to spread out and I was able to find some space to run in and settle down into a comfortable pace. I didn’t realise it at the time, but the first 3 miles are more or less up hill all the way. I did notice that it felt oddly difficult for the start of a race and I certainly noticed that my mile splits were getting slower and slower. At that stage I decided not to worry about running a PB and just to try to run comfortably and enjoy the race. I then didn’t look at my watch again until I crossed the finish line. At about mile 3 we finally caught sight of Haweswater. Sadly, this didn’t spell the end of the hills as the road continued to undulate along the side of the lake. For those of us who like hills (basically Lauren and me) this simply makes for a more exciting running experience. It also meant we got some pretty stunning views along the way especially as many of the peaks were covered in snow. The course is an out and back so I knew that sooner or later I’d start to see the lead runners coming back the other way. I made it to nearly 6 miles before the winner appeared over the horizon. We crossed just as he reached the top of a particularly long climb (more of which later) and I was pleased to see that even he looked a little tired at that stage. He had a good lead on the runners behind though including a familiar Horwich vest in third place. Suspecting that Lauren was probably going to have a good race I decided to count female runners so. SWINTON

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Haweswater Half Marathon - Sunday 4th March 2012 I could impart useful information to her as to her position. I must have missed one as I made her 7th and she actually finished in an exceptionally impressive 8 th place. My apologies to the lady I thought was a man! The last mile into the turn around is downhill all the way which is lovely at the time but also pretty daunting as you’re well aware that once you get the end you’re going to have to turn round and run all the way back up. To give you an idea I took 7.32 minutes to get from mile 6 to mile 7 at the turn around and then 9.00 minutes to get from the turn around to mile 8! Once the long slog was done, however, the second half of the race was largely downhill. In fact it was only running back the way we’d come that I realised how much climbing I must have done in the first few miles. At some point on the way back I passed two guys having a chat about what sort of finish time we were on for. Neither of them had a properly functioning Garmin so purely on guesswork they decided we were on for a 1.47/ 1.48 finish. Why I didn’t check my own watch at this stage to see how accurate they were I don’t know but instead, knowing that that would be a marginal PB, I attempted to pick up the pace. By now my legs were feeling pretty tired and even the down hills felt hard. I actually thought they were about to go from under me they felt so wobbly on a particularly steep bit of descent. It was with great relief that I finally saw the finish line although I was a little confused as to how we were going to get there (having come in the other side of the village somehow) and it did seem to be a heck of a way off that it came into sight. Crossing the line (and finally looking at my watch!) I was delighted with a new PB of 1.45.41 (later improved to 1.45.39 in the official results – I’ll take every second!) I caught up with Lauren who’d had a storming race for another PB of 1.32.58 and we decided that putting warm clothes on should be our first priority even though this did mean that we ended up missing seeing Adam finish just making it back out in time to catch Steve and Dave and finally Viv coming home strong in an impressively difficult race to have decided to take on as part of her come back from injury. General consensus was that although it wasn’t an easy race it was definitely one to do again and well worth the trip up the M6. And best of all, we were even able to retrieve Dave’s car from the field without the assistance of any local farmers

Rebecca Full results available here

The Haweswater Hotel - part way along the course SWINTON

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HAWESWATER HALF MARA THON - SUNDAY 4

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HAWESWATER HALF MARA THON - SUNDAY 4

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Race Reviews

Trimpell 20 Mile Road Race - Sunday 4th March 2012 The morning before Trimpell I attended the first Worsley Woods Parkrun and after that my first ever Biotic Fit session. For anyone who hasn’t heard me rant about Biotic Fit it is a brilliant exercise ‘community’ which uses parks to train. By the Saturday afternoon my body was starting to hurt because that’s what Biotic Fit does – HURT. Despite this everyone should still give it a go! The next day, on the drive up to Lancaster my legs were feeling very heavy and tight but I thought it would ease off. I started to feel less confident as I wobbled to collect my race number. After another sit down in the car I went to the start area which is at the track next to the sports centre. Here I met Mike and the ace support team of Emma and Jess. Mike and I made our way into the crowd and then we were off. I was very grateful to Mike for ‘carrying’ me round the first 6 miles. Without his conversation and motivation I would have taken much longer and been more miserable much earlier. The first water station was just over 6 miles and before the first bridge across the Lune. I was parched by this point so stopped to have a good drink and see Mike trot off into the distance! It was here that I remembered I had my bottle last year and I missed not having it. Cups of water are useless to me as I have to stop each time I want a drink. Unfortunately this is what you find at each water station. I love this run as it follows the river and especially the view that opens up the other side of the motorway. The valley with the surrounding hills capped in white was just glorious and lifted my spirits. This is what running is all about. At 13 miles, as we were heading back, I started on the jelly beans to keep me going. It was a mental game at this point to keep running. As my watch turned 2 hours 50 mins and I was still a long way from home I reflected on how easy this race felt last year when I was fit and I was finished. Now I still had miles to go. The miles did pass, though, and when I saw the 18 mile marker I felt a renewed effort to pick up the pace. At the end I was just pleased to have finished and was looking forward to the goodies. Unfortunately I was disappointed to find there were only large t-shirts left (a present for Jim) and no medal or refreshments! For the entry fee I was expecting a bit more and I did wonder where the fee went. The least the organisers could do is spend it on bottled water! I will still do this race again as it is a lovely flat 20 miles but I will lower my expectations and arrive better prepared (and fitter!).

Cara Full results available here

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TRIMPELL 20 MILE ROA D RACE - SUNDAY 4

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TRIMPELL 20 MILE ROA D RACE - SUNDAY 4

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Trotters 5 - Sunday 4th March 2012 Having never done this race before but hearing lots of bad reports of how awful it is I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d give it a go anyway. Turning up at registration with Julie H. and Julie W. we got our numbers, abandoned our bags and headed out for the warm up run to the start. Heading up the main road Paul Shier arrived too late to collect his number and get to the start so he decided to watch and hurl abuse and encouragement at the Swinton runners. On the start line there was quite a lot of Swinton runners which was great to see and we all waited impatiently for the off. The start soon came and we all headed along the paths at Smithills Farm. Within seconds there was a sudden halt as a puddle was across the path which made some of the runners try and mince round it. Being a puddle and mud lover I was hurling abuse at these softy types. What did they expect on a trail race????? The race is a two lap course which seems to go either uphill or downhill. Most of the race is on farm paths interspersed with a section through a housing estate and a fast downhill stretch on the main road. Finishing the first lap we had encouragement from our latecomer Paul before heading back out along the trails and into the puddle again. The second lap was going well for me until I was over halfway up the hill when my legs decided to stop working. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure I could have crawled quicker but i was soon at the top and heading down the main road back to the finish. Cruelly the finish line is up a steep little incline but on finishing we were rewarded with a technical t-shirt and a sports water bottle. Dan Appleby came in first male for Swinton in a fantastic time of 31:15 and Carly Appleby came in first Swinton lady in 40:14. Even with all the negative thoughts of the race I really enjoyed it. It may be just that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so pleased to be running and not at all bothered about place or course but I will definitely be back next year for another go at it.

Sharen Full results available here

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TROTTERS 5 - SUNDAY 4

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Photographs courtesy of Just Love Running

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TROTTERS 5 - SUNDAY 4

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Photographs courtesy of Just Love Running

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TROTTERS 5 - SUNDAY 4

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TROTTERS 5 - SUNDAY 4

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Photographs courtesy of Just Love Running

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Blackpool Half Marathon - Sunday 11th March 2012 We (Kath and Dawn) were looking for a Half Marathon to do in-between training for the Manchester marathon and decided to go for the Blackpool Half. The Marathon and wheelchair race was also taking place at the same time. I was a little worried about the weather as it had been quite windy towards the end of the week and I knew from experience how windy it could be along the sea front. My fears were unfounded though as it turned out to be ideal conditions. We arrived in Blackpool with relative ease and parked at the Hilton Hotel. Unfortunately I parked in the hotel car park, which wasn’t allowed, so moved to the Gynn pay and display as the field on the other side of the hotel was full, the cost wasn’t too bad though at £2.50 all day and still close enough to the starting point not to panic. The event was well attended and although it was very busy everything was organised very well and we collected our numbers and chips from the hotel with no delays. The races started at 9.30 am outside the Hilton Hotel. The course headed south along the sea front towards Lytham, passing all the well known sights. It was at this point I thought I would have preferred to have been on the big one, but it was only a very brief passing thought. At about 5 miles the course turned back towards Cleveleys, before turning south again to finish at the Hilton; the Marathoners did a further loop. There were plenty of water stations along the way and the handy Portaloos halfway. The atmosphere along the route was really brilliant with everyone giving great support. The course was mostly flat, except towards the end (I must do some hill training), although most would probably think they were more like speed bumps! Overall it was a fast course and very enjoyable. We met up with Dave at the finish who completed the course in under two hours, well done Dave. Dawn got a great time; a PB if I’m not mistaken and I managed to better my time from last year so was also very pleased. We met two guys in the car park, who had also taken part; they kindly took this glamorous photo!

Kath Full results available here

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Spen 20 - Sunday 11th March 2012 The Spen 20 is organised by Spenborough and District Athletics Club and is reputed for being particularly gruelling (I only found this out afterwards). It is one of the closer 20 milers and it seemed like perfect preparation for London. I wasn’t prepared however for just how tough this course is, and for the fact the temperature rose into double figures despite it only being early March! The course starts at the race track at the Princess Mary Athletics Stadium in Cleckheaton, and after a couple of laps we headed out along the road. Emma had observed before the race that there appeared to be an awful lot of very fast looking runners, and by the time I exited the stadium I was already pretty much at the back! The next three miles were unrelenting through Scholes , with over 300ft gained, and nothing notable to take my mind off the grind. From 3½ miles the course picks up the ‘loop’ that is covered twice, though it is not as simple as it sounds. The next couple of miles were on a pleasant mainly downhill section (albeit on a main road) from Hartshead Moor, which afforded spectacular views on such a clear day. The route then undulated through some pleasant enough countryside before picking up a circuit of small towns. At some point between 6 and 7 miles I passed the front runners, running in the opposite direction (they had already passed 11miles!), given I thought the race was a simple 2 lap course this caused great confusion in my mind. I questioned whether I was going in the right direction but in the absence of any other information I kept going. At 7 miles was the 1 st (2nd and 3rd) water station, a station the runners would get to know well during the completion of the race! The course continued through Hartshead town and Roberttown, before dropping down to Liversedge at mile 9, which is where the course would branch off for the last mile second time round. Unfortunately I then had to start the climb back up again to start the second ‘lap’. Between 9 and 13½ miles there was then a gruelling climb back up again to reach the highest point, and the course took an unexpected figure of eight direction that involved running past the 1st water station, now acting as the 2 nd water station, in the opposite direction. Somewhere between 11½ and 12 miles I once again passed some of the front runners, again running in the opposite direction between miles 16 and 17! By this point I was too tired to try and work out exactly what the course was doing, and I was pretty much beyond caring! At 13½ miles the course picked up the downhill section from Hartshead Moor again, something I had been looking forward to from mile 9! From there the course followed the same undulating route through countryside and towns, once again passing the (now 3 rd) water station. The course undulated some more before once again dropping down to mile 19. This time there was a welcome right turn to complete the last mile back to the stadium. By the time I finished there were very few people still around, however I was pleased firstly to have finished under 4 hours and secondly not to have finished last! And the prize for finishing.......a bottle of beer! I cannot comment on its quality as it was given to my sister the following weekend, but I gather Mike was none too impressed! So in short, hilly (over 1300ft on my Garmin), very tough and a mind boggling course! I’ve never completed a 2 lap course, which actually doesn’t involve 2 complete laps and yet covers one section 3 times, each time from the opposite direction! The marshals were excellent, very encouraging and friendly and the race is undoubtedly good preparation for a serious spring marathon attempt. Would I do it again? Probably, however I would be keen to try some of the other 20 milers on offer first. Finally thanks to Emma Flynn for letting me take her place, and sorry that my slow time was against her name! SWINTON

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Spen 20 - Sunday 11th March 2012

Viv Full results available here

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Worsley Woods parkrun No 3 - Saturday 17th March 2012 After marshalling the first two of this new park run, I decided to have a go myself. Lauren was again marshalling along with Patrick. I lined up with 64 other park runners waiting for the start. Darren was also giving it a go for the first time so I told him if he felt a tap on his shoulder about half way round, could he please move over and let me pass. For some reason Darren thought I was joking. It was good to see Carl Simpson as well. He said he was using it to kick start running again. At last we set off down the loop line at the Monton end, fairly flat with just a hint of an incline. The faster runners already pulling away in front of me, I got into my stride - not too fast as I knew the middle section was the hardest part. Soon I was approaching the 1st marshalling point where we took a sharp left and up the 1 st set of steps. Then into Worsley Woods we went and the 2 nd marshal point where Lauren was directing. Patrick was nowhere to be seen; he had found a play area nearby. A few kind words of encouragement from Lauren (the word TRAMP was aimed at me due to my 5 day old stubble) and right at the Three Bears Cottage. Mike Lilley along with two others were just in front and I could hear the sound of panting from someone just behind me. Marshal point 3 was just under the motorway bridge directing us up the 2 nd and hardest set of steps. I just managed to keep my rhythm going up this before turning right down a nice decline. I could still see big Mike in front and panting bloke was still right behind me as we hit the 4 th marshal point bearing left then and up the 3rd and last set of steps through a bit more wooded area and down to the last marshal point where we turned right back onto the loop line. It was the home run, straight down the line with a small decline Loz and Patrick had moved back to the 1st marshal point so they could cheer the runners through. “Come on Mike; don’t let Adam catch you” & “Come on Adam; what are you doing letting Mike beat you” were Lauren’s words of encouragement as I flew past (well maybe not flew – more like staggered.) Mike was too far ahead to catch but panting bloke was right next to me so no chance of letting up. The only problem with the finish is you can see it from quite far out but it’s actually further than it looks. Finished at last and token scanned in; I will definitely be back for more. A great turnout from SRC again. Well done to Darren (4th) Mike Lilley unknown runner – bar code would not scan. Olivia and Mark Birchall, Lisa, Julie, Elizabeth, Viv, Carl, Vicky and Susan. Also it was good to see Karen Hulse (Ricks better half) who has done all 3 Worsley Woods runs so far and appears to have been bitten by the running bug. Membership forms at the ready I think. Quote. At the end of the first Worsley Woods Park run which I had marshaled, I overheard two of the organizers talking about the two lead runners who went the wrong way! Apparently they were offered a full refund.

Adam

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St Annes 10 - Sunday 18th March 2012 The St Annes 10 mile road race took place on Sunday 18 March. It was a lovely sunny day as myself and Paul made our way to Lytham with Sharen kindly offering to drive. We arrived at race HQ, St Annes Fire Station, picked up our numbers and goodie bags, and made our way to the start just off the promenade, which is not as near from race HQ as described, but made for a good warm up anyway. The race has an unusual start with one and a half loops round the small car park, and then out onto the front for a flat 5 miles past the dunes out to the windmill. The race deviates slightly from the front at certain points. You turn at five miles and follow mostly the same route back, now into the breeze, which was welcoming on what was becoming an unseasonably warm day. The weather had another effect in that it had enticed out lots of people with their dogs and motorized chairs, etc, which meant some dodging and weaving for all 3 of us! We all safely negotiated our way back to the finish in the car park without knocking over any day trippers or pensioners, and picked up a welcome drink and other goodies. Paul was reasonably content with his time of 1.10.06, although he was complaining that the course distance showed as 10.08 miles on his Garmin, exactly the same distance as when he last ran this race 2 years ago. He is convinced that running round the car park adds this bit on! This race was also being used by the Northern Veterans AC as their 10 mile championship and Paul has recently joined the Northern Vets as a second claim, so he was keen to see how he performed here. Sharen ran 1.36.55, not enjoying her run as much as the previous year, but she still did great considering the time she has had out following the operation on her knee. I was pleased with 1.36.55, beating my time of 2 years ago in this race. This was a great confidence booster as I build up to my first attempt at a marathon, Edinburgh at the end of May. We went for a nice cuppa in the fire station afterwards, and watched the presentations for the main race, the Northern Vets, and the Fire Service Championship. Paul didn始t manage to win anything in the Northern Vets, but performed ok in a strong category. We marvelled at the number of veterans running, particularly those in the over 70始s category, and how they continue to run such amazing times. There is hope for us all! I can recommend the race if you are looking for a flat course with not a hill in sight and you want to attempt a PB at this distance. It gives you a chance to find your race pace in a longer distance race, but at something reasonably less than a half marathon, also a good stepping stone to the longer distances. St Annes 10 might not be the most interesting of courses, but still a challenge and is a change of scenery with a good blast of sea air. To sum up, the race was well organized by Wesham Road Runners, with friendly marshalls and a good atmosphere at the race HQ. It was an enjoyable race with lovely weather and good company. I hope to do this race again.

Claire Full results available here

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ST ANNES 10 - SUNDAY 18

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Photographs courtesy of Just Love Running

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East Hull 20 - Sunday 18th March 2012 East Hull 20 was the 3rd and final ‘training race’ in my schedule although according to Lauren no race is a training race! Having done Trimpell 20 and Spen 20 the previous Sunday’s I was looking forward to East Hull as I’d been told it was a flat and fast race unlike the hills of Cleckheaton. The morning started at 5.30 and we were on the road for 6.30 crawling over the M62 at 50mph past all the average speed cameras. About an hour in to the journey it was time to stop for the toilets and Jessica’s 3rd breakfast of the morning. We arrived in Hull at 8.30 after missing out on crossing the Humber Bridge. The race was very much like a Swinton race, parking in the local school car park then a walk down the road to the local sports club where our numbers were collected before walking back to the car for a pre-race banana and a trip to the portaloo before the start. The race started on the road outside the school with the organisers stopping the traffic to allow the runners to run down to the main road onto the dual carriageway before peeling off into the countryside. The first 4 miles seemed a struggle with a pain up my shin and pins & needles in my foot which I soon managed to run off whilst talking to a runner from East Hull Harriers who was sporting a Trimpell t-shirt from 2 weeks ago. Having never been to Hull before I had no idea what to expect although everyone I spoke to said how flat it was. This was true for the most of the race although my newly acquired friend who had run the route many times before in training advised me to save some energy for the big hill that was at 9 miles. Having crossed under a dual carriageway we were soon back in the country where the sounds of shotguns could be heard as locals shot pheasants. We soon approached the big hill that I had been warned about. For those that know me I have a severe allergic reaction to any slight incline, mud or surface other than road. In the case of this ‘big hill’ I managed to overtake a couple of runners so would really like to know what the locals would think of the likes of Agecroft!!! We soon reached the 10 mile point where a marshal was stood with a stopwatch shouting out the times as we ran past. 1.26 he shouted as I went past. Normally my maths is complete broken biscuits whilst running however I managed to work out that if I kept up at this pace I should finish in about 2.52 maybe even quicker seeing as I struggled with niggling aches at the start. A mile later my worst fears came true…. The cloudy skies started to clear and the temperatures stated to rise as the morning sun became stronger. Having finished our loop round the local village we soon went back under the dual carriageway and traced the route we had taken previously. By 15 miles I was starting to struggle and my pace dropped off from 8.30 pace to over 9 minutes and I was having to stop to take my last gel and wash it down with a bottle of water. I soon made another running friend who was training for the Hull Marathon that takes place on Easter Sunday. We agreed to help pace each other the last 4 miles and try and get to the finish in under 3 hours. The last 3 miles of the run didn’t loop back along the main roads but along a narrow footpath that used to be an old railway line. Yes this was flat but very dull with not much scenery to distract you. By this point my new socks were starting to hurt me and my little toe going numb for some strange reason. We soon came off the old railway line into a housing estate SWINTON

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East Hull 20 - Sunday 18th March 2012 where at just over 19 miles there was another hill to contend with. On reflection this wasn’t a major hill however it felt 10 times worse than Agecroft, Hospital Rd and Priestley combined! The last half mile was back along the pavements towards the start line with the finishing clock being outside the club house we collected our numbers from. The finish line wasn’t the easiest to find being a blue spray painted line on the pavement about 10 meters behind where the clock was. I crossed the line in 3.03 which was just over 4 minutes slower than Trimpell but 20 minutes quicker than Spen the previous Sunday. Emma and Jessica were soon on hand to pour water down my neck and encourage me to go and collect my memento. After the disappointment of the bottle of beer at Spen the week before I had no idea what to expect this time. Under the gazebo was a big pile of red and black sports bags with the East Hull Harriers logo on. Much more useful than the bottle of beer but not quite as good as the Freckleton bag’s we expected after Sharen convinced us all to enter last year on the promise of a rucksack to all finishers. In addition the club had also put on a full buffet for all runners to help themselves to afterwards. For £20 entry fee what more could you ask for? Friendly runners and marshals with jelly babies, bottled water, useful memento and a plate full of buffet at the finish. Being in a different part of the country did feel strange particularly where you didn’t recognise any of the usual faces or club colours as you do with most races in the North West. If I’m still daft enough to be marathon training in 2013 I’ll make sure this race is worked into my training schedule. Mike H Full results available here

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Race Reviews

Barcelona Marathon - Sunday 25th March 2012 I have always wanted to go to Barcelona and signing up for the marathon sounded like a good plan to get there. Flights and hotel were booked months in advance and despite not being well I was determined to go, if only to do the short Breakfast Run on Saturday morning and watch the marathon on the Sunday. A slight hiccup in the plan occurred when the flight from Manchester to Amsterdam was delayed and I missed the flight to Barcelona. I did get to see the plane leave, just without me on it. KLM put me up in a very nice hotel and I was treated to a delicious 3 course meal and a comfy bed and then I was on the first flight out to Barcelona. The views as we came into Barcelona at 10am the next morning really whet my appetite for a run, especially as the sun was shining bright. I made my way to the hotel and met my support team aka Mum who had already done a good deal of exploration around the town. I told her straight away that whatever my health I was doing to marathon the next day (well the Doctor didn’t expressly say don’t run!) I was going to run in Barcelona and the short one had been missed so that only left 26.2 miles. The expo at the Fira de Barcelona was fantastic and I picked up number, chip, t-shirt and bag with no problem. The T-shirt was fab (really put Trimpell to shame!) and after experiencing the heat I bought a running skirt to keep me cool during the run. Barcelona was brilliant and although not strictly the correct diet the night before a race we just had to go for tapas (and my first tasting of snails…Yum!). The next morning we were up nice and early for a carb rich breakfast and with the sun rising we made our way to the start. The race started at 8.30 am and I was so glad it did. Even at that early hour it was warm. The start was on the street going up through Fira de Barcelona and heading up towards the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) and Palau Nacional de Montjuic i.e. just off Placa d’ Espanya with the magic fountains and with the amazing architecture of the gallery up on Montjuic. There was a warm up area and the ‘serious’ folk were busy running round in circles while I waited in the usual toilet queue. When it was time to enter the starting pen the fountains were on display and as the countdown to the start began ‘Barcelona’ by Freddie Mercury was blaring. It was a magical moment and brought a tear to my eye. The atmosphere was buzzing and even though it took 13 minutes to get to the start line it was like a giant street party the whole way. The route took us up to the Nou Camp and the streets were lined with supporters all the way. This was the first of a few long slogs to climb up but at this stage the adrenaline was pumping through my body and I felt like I could run, even feeling smug as I ran past some fool bouncing a basketball while running. I was later to regret that thought. We descended back to Placa d’ Espanya and the old bullring where I spotted my Mum in the crowd. The city was so scenic all the way round that there was always something to look at. I’ve always been enthralled by Guadi and was happy to look around as we went past two of his famous Gaudi houses. Casa Battlo looked fantastic with the sun bouncing off all the colourful tiles. The only problem was dodging the sun. Anyone who knows me knows how much of a sun worshipper I am so this was a rare experience for me. Luckily, as well as there being many SWINTON

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Barcelona Marathon - Sunday 25th March 2012 amazing views to see there were also plenty of water stations. The first few had water then water and Powerade and in the second half there was the extra addition of gels and fruit. At the half way point I realised how slow I was going when the ball bouncing fool overtook me. Who was the fool now?! Running past the Sagrada Familia was awesome, especially as it was downhill. There was a slightly boring part around mile 15 where I started to feel like it was too much. I knew there were more sights coming up and I just kept saying to myself ‘run to the next mile, then you can walk.’ In the back of my mind I was remembering I had been ill and I felt a bit worried after the news of a healthy young man like Fabrice Muamba collapsing. All I wanted to do was to get round, not collapse and not be injured. We had to cross a bridge (Font Bac de Roda) that any other day would be a mere blip in the road but today felt like climbing Mount Tibidabo! The route then took us up the Av. Diagonal. This was, as the name suggests, a diagonal road leading up to a building similar to the Gherkin in London (it’s called Glories-Torre Abgar). Also along here we passed the Parc del Centre de Poblenou and the Centre Comercial Glories. This was a horrific slog up the Diagonal then back down the other side. At the top I heard somebody shout my name. It was a stranger but it meant so much and motivated me to keep running. The numbers had names on front and back and the spectators really made use of this. It was amazing to hear my name being called out and strangers cheering you on ‘Go Cara, alli alli.’ When it was tough it kept you going. At about 32 kms the route took us along the coast and seeing the sun glinting off the sea was fabulous. The only problem here was there was no escaping the sun and by now it was hot! Turning off the seafront we ran past the zoo and at 35km I had a little walk (needed to blow my nose and have some orange) but then I was off again. Turning round the corner we went under the Arc del Triomf and then into the Gothic quarter. Here we ran over cobbles and past the Cathedral. Shoppers were out en masse as well as supporters. Running down La Rambla there was no time to stop and look at the many stalls selling souvenirs (much to the other half’s relief, I’m sure.) We came round to the Colom (a big column) with Montjuic in the background and I knew it was the home stretch. At the bottom of the Parallel street (Av. Paral-lel) I saw my Mum again and luckily by this point I was feeling much fresher and ready to push up the hill to the end. It was less than two km to go and that would be easy. As I neared the top and could see Placa d’Espanya again I dug in deep and started to overtake the people who I’d been following all the way round (no sign of the basketball bouncer though!). The final couple of hundred metres was ideal for a ‘sprint’. Music was blaring and running up between the Font Magica de Montjuic was another awe-inspiring experience and there were lots to take in as my chip was taken off, medal, water and Powerade collected and fruit picked up and scoffed. Waiting for my Mum on the steps I was happy just to have completed the race and still be alive. As the legs started to seize up I just soaked in the sun and reflected on how lucky I was to have been able to take part in such an amazing experience. To summarise, the streets were lined with supporters all the way round and the atmosphere was electric. The organisation was incredible and every part of the marathon enabled runners to focus (and worry) on running and nothing else. SWINTON

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Barcelona Marathon - Sunday 25th March 2012 This is definitely one to recommend. Back at work a colleague commented that I had been through a really dark time and I seemed to be back. And what a way to get through a dark time in your life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; running Barcelona! p.s. Please forgive my bad spelling of Spanish/Spanish place names. I also have a tendency to make up names. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember the proper name for the Gherkin, Spanish or English variety.

Cara Full results available here

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Wilmslow Half Marathon - Sunday 25th March 2012 Before I start, let it be known that Sunday 25th March was a warm day…. a very warm day. I‘ll try my best to provide a report that covers all the things that you, the discerning reader, may like to know. Unfortunately, due to my own personal experiences during the race, please excuse my inevitable self indulgent story telling. So, officially the first day of British Summertime saw hoards of runners descending upon Wilmslow for what was its 28th staging of the half marathon. Knowing the anticipated amount of entrants for this race, myself and Andy allowed plenty of time to arrive, a thought obviously shared by Jean, as she and Jonathan were in the car in front of us as we were arriving at Wilmslow Rugby Club. Having parked up, the first order of the day was to find the toilet. This being my first half marathon, it was evident what a well organised race this is, and I was looking forward to it. Due to the single access along Kings Rd into the Rugby Club, the marshals were having a ‘fun’ time trying to coordinate the cars coming in, and the runners who wanted to get out for a warm up. The speakers that had been set up on the road were playing inspirational music such as Vangelis – Chariots of Fire and the Rocky Theme - Gonna Fly Now, (you know the one – da da daaaa, da da daaaa). What more do you need to put you in the mood for a 13 mile run in the sun. (Did I mention it was warm ?). After jogging up and down a side street, and doing a few stretches, and generally just soaking up the atmosphere, it wasn’t long before the masses were accumulating around the start line. Not knowing how many other Swinton athletes were taking part, Andy and myself, were joined briefly by Dave, Mike, Anthony and Lisa before settling in somewhere around the 1hr 50m designated start point. (My niggling ankle injury, and lack of Kenyan geneology stopped me from going to the front with the elite runners.) A few words from the starter, and a blast of the air horn, and we were off, thousands of runners surging forward under a mid morning sun like a herd of migrating Wilmslow wildebeest. This race is billed as being a fast, flat course with good PB potential. But I had also read (or heard) that the first half was fairly easy, so make sure you have some reserves for the second half. I can see where there was some truth in both these statements. As the congestion of the start began to dissipate, it was time to settle in to a steady pace and see what the next couple of hours would bring. As I have limited geographical race experience, I can’t compare the Cheshire countryside to that of somewhere like Haweswater, so all I can say is that it was certainly pleasant enough making your way through the country lanes on a glorious March morning. The supportive crowds were out in force, and you never ran for very long without encountering a group of people or marshals offering the usual words of encouragement (well done, keep going, etc.) There were young kids holding out their hands for ‘high fives’ as you went past, which you couldn’t resist. As suggested earlier, the first few miles were proving to be relatively easy, and I was maintaining a steady pace reaching the 10k point in around 50 mins. Being so focused on my own SWINTON

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race, I had lost sight of any other Swinton runners, so I wasn’t aware of who was ahead or behind me. The scenery rarely changed, from hedgerows to fields to expensive country properties, and primarily hundreds of runners as far as the eye can see. In some (smaller) races you often find yourself running alone with yards between you and the next competitor, but not Wilmslow. Due to the amazing amount of entrants you were always surrounded by other runners. As the mile markers passed, I was still plodding along at a manageable rate, taking a welcome cup of water from all the well placed stations, managing to actually swallow very little whilst trying to master the impossible task of drinking and running at the same time. 10 miles in, and approximately 1hr 24m later things still seemed to be okay and I was thinking about finishing with a time somewhere close to what I was hoping for. But not long after 11 – 11.5 miles, out of nowhere, the proverbial wheels began to well and truly fall off !! I couldn’t understand why I was suddenly finding it hard to breathe. I’d convinced myself that it was just due to the gradual incline of the course and maybe the heat. Unfortunately, it didn’t get any better, and I was cursing myself because I had to stop and walk a couple of times to try and catch my breath. By the time I neared the 12 mile point I was really starting to suffer. As if the breathlessness wasn’t bad enough, I was beginning to get blurred vision, I couldn’t string a coherent sentence together, and my legs felt like they were dragging a small family car. At the time, the last mile all became a bit of a blur as my body was trying to convince my brain that continuing on may not be a good idea. But my brain and pride were having none of it. I’d gotten this far, and I wasn’t missing out on my medal and goody bag. After several sit downs at the side of the road being tended to by the wonderful marshals who were pouring water in me and over me, I kept insisting on getting up to stagger a few more yards whilst they stayed at the side of me (as much for my own safety….and probably also preventing me falling into the path of other runners !! ). I could hear the noise of the crowd as the finish line came into one of my many blurred views. To say I crossed the line at a snails pace, would be disrespectful to snails, but I had made it, barely able to stand, but I’d finished. I know this all sounds like some kind of Dean Karnazes egotistical, self gratifying hogwash, but believe me, it wasn’t an experience I’d like to go through again. This report cannot end without me expressing my utmost gratitude to all my fellow Swinton runners who were there in the car park at the end to provide much needed assistance as I vomited my way to partial recovery. And extra thanks to Paul Shier who helped me stagger back to the car park in the first place. Thank-you all. To summarise – If you’re running in the heat (did I mention it was warm ?) hydrate properly …… Your kidneys will thank you for it, and your heart will find it much easier to pump blood that doesn’t have the viscosity of treacle !! Bring on Wilmslow 2013……There’s a score to settle.

Dave (dehydrated) Pargeter Full results available here

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W ILMSLOW HALF MARATH ON - SUNDAY 25

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Spectating and Second Opinions It has been rubbish these past few months in terms of running due to getting a pesky knee injury just before my marathon in October. Like an idiot I continued training and racing but I couldn’t get any consistency going so I promised myself that if things weren’t right in the New Year then I would get it seen to. Confirmation that things were not right was during the Central Lancashire Half Marathon where I dropped out after 5 miles. I saw the physio the next day and she suspected I had torn my cartilage in my knee and subsequently went to the doctors who referred me for an MRI scan. After getting the results of the scan back my Doctor kindly told me ‘your knee is knackered and you have to give up running.’ I was diagnosed with Chrondomallacia Patellae which is basically a degenerative condition and wearing of the cartilage and in addition to this impingement of the Hoffa’s pad (pinching of the cartilage in my terminology). The doctor said he wasn’t referring me to physiotherapy as there is no point and I need to find an alternative sport. I burst into tears and left the doctors surgery like a broken woman. To a non-runner this sounds very dramatic but I am sure there are many people out there who identify what I am writing about. I found the next couple of weeks very difficult and was very tearful and miserable. Like many runners at Swinton I run for numerous reasons and not just for fitness. I run so I can have that slice of cake so I don’t need to wear elasticated pants; I run as a way to socialise so I can gossip with my friends; I run to unwind- it’s a fantastic stress relief; I run for the unmistakable buzz of the runner’s high that nothing compares to! I am one of those people who revel in making a training schedule, ticking off the long runs, watching the miles add up and pushing my body that bit further. Now it had been taken away from me and worst of all my childhood dream of running the London Marathon was over. I saw an article last year in Runner’s World magazine that described the feelings you get being injured as being compared to the seven stages of grief. I’ve listed these details below for other people at the club who are injured at the moment and hopefully you will see that there is light at the end of the tunnel: Stage 1 - Shock or disbelief - this was at the start of the injury and I would not admit that there was anything wrong and continued to push on. Not believing that an injury has happened to you is common in runners but it is very important to listen to your body. Stage 2 - Denial - This goes hand in hand with the disbelief. You know it hurts, the painkillers aren’t working, the couple of days rest aren’t doing anything yet you still carry on. By continuing to train on an injury you are inevitably making the problem worse and what could be an initial 2 weeks off training could lead to a six month break. Stage 3 - Anger - I spent ages at this stage. I was furious with the doctor for writing me off and I was so frustrated There were a few ‘it’s not fair’ moments where I am sure friends and family hid out of my way but I did feel so sorry for myself and moped about. It does get to a stage though where you have two choices- let it eat away as it is something you can’t control, the injury has happened. Or you put your time to good use- go and watch a few races, cheer your team mates on- you know yourself how good it is to see a friendly face supporting you, seek a second opinion, try some cross training. There are plenty options to see you through this stage.

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Spectating and Second Opinions Stage 4 - Bargaining - We all know there is no quick fix to running injuries. Your body needs time to rest and the injury needs to heal or you have to go through a specific rehab programme. Some people try to cram the miles in to make up for the loss of training that has happened or think they will add in extra days to ramp up mileage, this is no good and just impedes you further. Stage 5 - Guilt - I had many moments of ‘why didn’t I get this seen to sooner?’ ‘Should I have run Snowdonia Marathon?’ ‘Should I have done extra cross training’ and ‘Should I have listened to my body more?’ Guilt is a common feeling; it doesn’t speed up your recovery it just makes you feel worse! So rather than feeling guilty about things you could have done differently use this as a positive so in the future you know what to look out for in the future. Stage 6 - Depression- I have previously mentioned that I felt completely rubbish and wallowed in self-pity. What I needed to do was find something else to do as an interim activity to at least try and do something so I didn’t go insane. I have decided to learn to swim properly and have started to go along to Bolton Triathlon Club on a Saturday afternoon to learn front crawl (not defected over to another club- just so you know!!)I have also ensured I have stayed in touch with my running friends and like a proud parent I have been basking in their glories of fantastic running and amazing PB’s. Stage 7 - Acceptance - This is pretty self- explanatory. You have acknowledged the injury and you have learnt to accept what you need to do to get back running. It may also be that you need to alter your goals but if it means you can continue running who cares???????????? In regards to my own injury I have sought a second opinion and went to Salford University where they do sports studies. You are seen by a student but are overseen by a specialist. They checked my scan results and my condition is only a grade one (four being the most severe) and the pain I had was caused by the cartilage pinching. They have identified muscle weaknesses in my legs, gave me loads of strengthening exercises to do and they are confident I will be back running in a few weeks. In the meantime I will be loitering at races, taking photos, cheering my fellow Swintoners and trying to support my friends every way I can with their running. If you are injured at the moment please keep positive, if you are unhappy with what you have been told, go and get a second opinion and explore other options.

Emma

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Greater Manchester Marathon Marshals Required Sunday 29th April 2012

2012 marks the return of the Manchester marathon and with a large number of Swinton runners taking on the 26.2 mile challenge some of us not running are opting to channel our energies into marshalling instead. The club will be manning a water station so we ideally need at least 20 people to help out. The organisers of the event have promised us all some complimentary event clothing plus a donation to the club as a thank you, plus we also get to cheer on all of our club mates. If anyone would like to help out (and this can be friends or family as well a club members) you'll need to register through the organisers' website at: http://regonline.activeeurope.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1031300 When given the option make sure you select "Drinks station marshal" and you'll then be asked to enter the club code which is: swinton2012. Any questions please give me a shout. I know some people won't know availability/ shift patterns etc. until nearer the time but don't worry we have a few weeks to get you registered yet. Many thanks Rebecca

Confirmed Volunteers to date, but we need more please sign up if you can Steve Hart

Carol Hart

Emma Flynn

Kate Cammish

Ian Thomas

Janet Thomas

Adam Pickup

Paul Shier

Barbara Bayliss Gaynor Clarke Viv Samuelson

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Up and Coming Races Sunday 1st April Bent & Bongs 10K Trail Race, Tyldesley

Sunday 6th May Keswick Half Marathon Bluebell 10 Mile Trail Race

Friday 6th April Salford 10K Road Race

Thursday 10th May Mobberley “Round the Runway” Race

Saturday 7th April Rivington Fell Race

Sunday 13th May The Blacksticks Blue 10K Race Port Sunlight 10K

Sunday 8th April Guiseley Gallop 10K Trail Race

Wednesday 16th May Horwich 5 Mile Road Race (CLGP)

Sunday 15 April Radcliffe 10K Trail Race (CLGP)

Saturday 19th May White Peak Half - Full White Peak Marathon - Full

Sunday 22nd April Bolton 10K London Marathon

Sunday 20th May Eyam Half Marathon

Saturday 28 April Wray Scarecrow 10K Road Race

Sunday 27th May Blackpool Beach 10K Sinfin RC Classic 10K

Sunday 29th April Greater Manchester Marathon

Please confirm any dates before entering, just in case of any typos

Latest North West parkrun

Worsley Woods parkrun Heaton Park - Park Run Every Saturday at 9am this 5km run is organised - free!!. All you have to do is let them know you're coming in advance. It has been suggested that it could become a Swinton regular event on the first Saturday of each month. Web page link Lucozade Sport have a van at the run every 4 to 5 weeks, giving away lots of freebies and advice.

Race Calendar Web Sites Look for all those local and not so local races on these web sites  Swinton RC Forum  Fetch  John Schofield  SoftSport SWINTON

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The wonderful Fetch does it all (running log, routes, race log, leagues, logs shoe miles, blogs, fetchmail & more!!) its a great place full of nice running types, a proper online community, its the place to see and be seen, AND its free!! King Fetch (Ian) is very good at responding to member requests about new site content and there are now a total of 13 Swinton Members using the site! Fetch (in my opinion Fetch has the Class!). Andrew

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Race Series

Central Lancashire Grand Prix Series 2012 This years Central Lancashire Grand Prix races are fast approaching, with new races and another one new club Leigh Harriers. The website is http://centrallancsgrandprix.blogspot.com although a new catchier address and site are coming soon. There will be a results service around the site and each club is expected to provide race reviews of its own races at least. Other contributions will be gratefully accepted by Gary Stevens.

The next race in the series is the

Radcliffe 10K Trail Race on Sunday 15th April 2012

Date

Race

Sunday, 19th February

Central Lancashire 5K

Sunday, 5th March

The Trotters 5

Sunday, 15th April

Radcliffe 10km

Wednesday, 16th May

Horwich 5

Wednesday, 13th June

Three Sisters 5K Trail Race

Wednesday, 1th August

Chorley 4.4 Trail

Sunday, 12th August Sunday 9th September Sunday, 30th September

NVAC 10km at Bisham Pennington Flash 5Mile Trail Race 2nd Swinton 10 Mile Road Race

Sunday, 7th October U S E FU L CL GP LI N K S Central Lancashire Grand Prix Web Site Swinton Running Club Website UK Results ( on-line entries ) SportSoft ( on-line entries )

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Swinton Running Club Championships 2012 This was set up to try and encourage competition between club members at all levels and to be sure of a good turnouts at events in the area: seeing Swinton runners competing at events throughout the field is the best advertisement for the Club. For this year 2012 will see a slight change to the championship: ď&#x201A;¨ For the men there are 13 events of which 7 races will score. ď&#x201A;¨ For the ladies there are 14 events of which 7 races will score. Scoring is done the same has in the Central Lancashire Grand Prix, 1 point for first, 2 points for second, 3 points for third etc. etc. etc. Prizes will be awarded for the first 3, and also in each of the vet categories. Only one prize per member. To be eligible for prizes, competitors must have taken part in the minimum number of events (now 7 races for both sexes)

Date

Race

Sunday, 19th February

Central Lancashire 5K

Sunday, 5th March

The Trotters 5

Sunday, 15th April

Radcliffe 10km

Wednesday, 16th May

Horwich 5

Wednesday, 13th June

Three Sisters 5K Trail Race

Wednesday 12th July Wednesday, 1th August Sunday, 12th August Sunday 9th September

Bull Hill Fell Race Chorley 4.4 Trail NVAC 10km at Bisham Pennington Flash 5Mile Trail Race

Sunday, 7th October October TBA

Gin Pit 5 Self Timed Run

Sunday 4th November

29th Through the Villages Race

Sunday 25th November

City of Salford 5.25 Ladies Race

Sunday 9th December Further details can be found on the Club Website SWINTON

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Ladies Club Championship 2012 - Results to date

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Men’s Club Championship 2012 - Results to date

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Committee Meetings Regular meetings are now being held on the second Wednesday of every month at the club after pack runs. Remember any member may sit in the meeting.

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Social Events Dateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for the Diary

Friday July 27th

Olympic Opening Ceremony Party More details next month Sunday December 9th

Childrens Christmas Party The best social event in the diary. SWINTON

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Social Events Pie Night - Last Wednesday of the Month Last Wednesday of every month

Pie Night Next one 25th April 2012 Special Offer’s to Members Special Discount Rate for Swinton Running Club Members To match the offer made by both Prestwich and Leigh Road Physiotherapy Clinics, our very own Shirley Duckworth-Oates has lowered her rates. Shirley Duckworth-Oates MBCA, MSTAT, MATI Bsc Hons(Healthcare);Bsc Hons (Chiro); Msc.(Psych) Doctor of Chiropractic and Teacher of the Alexander Technique Telephone 0161 773 3395 Treatment rate for Swinton Running Club members: £25 (normally £35)

Special Discount Rate for Swinton Running Club Members

The usual price per session is £35, SRC members, on production of a current English Athletics card, will only pay £25. This offer is available at both the Leigh Road and Prestwich clinics. Anyone who wants to access the service but does not yet have their card can contact Barbara who will contact the clinic on their behalf. Please check there website for more details

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Race Results Corner Full race results can now be found on both the Swinton Running Club Website and the forum If you have ran a race and cannot find the details on either site please let me know.

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Secretary Steve Doxey Treasurer Ian Thomas Membership Secretary Barbara Bayliss Social Secretary Jonathan Mellor Club Captain Steve Doxey Ladies Captain Rebecca Mills Web Site & Forums Steve Hart Swinton Running Club is proud of its friendliness and welcomes newcomers to come down and meet us for a run, to see if we meet your expectations. We meet at 7:30pm on Mondays and Wednesday at Swinton Moorside Cricket Club. The club can provide you with the opportunity to train and compete at whatever level you choose. We are affiliated with England Athletics for Road, Fell and Cross Country running. We have members from fun runners up to International level - all enjoying taking part in a sport that provides the chance for everyone to find the event that suits them best. We regularly compete in local races at all age and ability levels. Some members just come down to the club to run and don't want to enter races, but prefer to train with like minded people and enjoy the social side of being with a club.

We hope that you enjoy this occasional newsletter. If you are sick of it clogging up your in box, let me know and I will take you off the circulation list.

Steve If you have any race reports, photos, announcements or any news that would be of interest to the others members please let just know.

Lauren Website Forums

SWINTON

RUNNING

CLUB