Christmas Cheer!!

Club morale and Christmas spirit were clearly evident this week at both the ORC club runs on Sunday at the Orange Botanic Gardens and then again at Elephant Park this Wednesday. It could even be asked if running is the main motivation for all our athletes to turn up week after week or is it in fact the catch up chat both before and after the run that keeps us coming back! It must be a combination of the two, as ORC members consistently record excellent results at all our runs and other local fun runs. Sunday’s run at the Botanic Gardens certainly raised this question as members were seen and heard chatting happily with each other well before the gun was sounded and well after the last runner crossed the finish line!

With a choice of running between one to five laps of the 1.6km circuit, there was a distance for everyone, and handicap honours went to 7 year old Emily Pell. Emily’s commitment to her running is an example to everyone and she enjoys running all distances, ranging from the 100m sprint to regularly completing the 3km course at ORC. She is often seen on Wednesday afternoons coming straight from her dance class and completing the 3km course in ballet attire, although she does swap her ballet slippers to something more suitable for running! It looks like nothing gets in the way of this little pocket rocket and her desire to run! Well done Emily and I’m sure we will hear your name much more regularly in the future!

Sunday’s results were as follows: 3.2km male – 1st Joel Kitto, 2nd Thomas Lloyd, 3rd Besu Ward; 3.2km female – 1st Alice Bowmer, 2nd Gabrielle Lloyd, 3rd Emily Pell; 4.8km male – 1st Jack Daintith,2nd Anthony Daintith, 3rd David Craig; 4.8km female – 1st Amber Rich, 2nd Sue Dean, 3rd Lily Craig; 8km male –1st Brett Rosser, 2nd Pete Mueller, 3rd Daryl Roweth; 8km female –1st Liz Simpson, 2nd Frewiwot Ward, 3rd Danielle Williams.
Once again, Wednesday’s run was a great social occasion with members arriving early and going home late. The weather was perfect for Summer running, with a cool breeze and a light shower keeping everyone cool and energised. Young Tom Desborough certainly felt energised and fast, being the handicap winner on the day. Great running Tom! I hope Santa puts something extra special in your Santa sack as a reward! A 20 second pb was recorded by Liz Simpson, completing the course in a lightning fast 11.22. Liz is certainly putting in the extra training to put her in a great position for the upcoming marathon in Canberra. Well done Liz! Other pb’s went to Tiffany Roweth (3mins 38secs), Anna Daintith (4 secs) and Richard Eggleston (14 secs).
President Frank reminded everyone that the Orange Running Festival and the Canberra Running Festival are only a few months away. Everyone is welcome to step up their training regime and join in on Saturday mornings from 6.30am to prepare for both the Half Marathon in Orange and the Marathon event in Canberra. Word of the Saturday run is spreading and it is becoming increasingly popular, with even our four legged friends joining in on a regular basis over the last few kilometres for the past couple of Saturdays!

It is only a very special event that leads to the cancellation of a Sunday run on the ORC running Calendar. With Sunday being the day that belongs to the big guy in the red suit, there will be no run this weekend! Do not fret! Alternatively, enjoy your time with family and loved ones and I hope Santa is good to everyone. You never know – he might even deliver a pb or two if you have been extra good! On behalf of the ORC, I wish everyone a safe, happy and holy Christmas, and I look forward to sharing the New Year with you all!