Running in All Conditions
This week saw Runners Club members doing their runs in some very different and at times trying conditions.
Sunday mornings run was to be a casual run through Kinross Forest over distances from 2kms to 9kms. When we woke on Sunday we were met with a lot of rain, wind, mist and a much lower than normal Spring time temperature. Upon arrival at Kinross Forest we also found a very slippery road with very large and in places deep puddles with water running everywhere. After our course was checked by Gary and Wayne they told the 16 brave or crazy runners who had turned up to go home. However we all decided to plow on and do the run anyway because we were already wet waiting for them to return.
The runners took off at a cautious pace trying not to slip over or fall into any deep water. A couple of members were really keen and walked the track in the rain. Judy Tarleton walked 2kms with her young Grand Daughter while Peter Muellor who is recovering from injury walked 4kms. Very dedicated indeed.
For the rest of the runners other challenges lay ahead on the way to the finish line, in the rain the markers for the distance turn arounds had been washed away so it was impossible to know exactly how far you had gone. Relying on other runners for distances or your own knowledge of the road was vital. One comment heard from a returning runner to one still going out – “Just turn around at the creek”, this was fine except every place you looked was like a creek with water running everywhere. The super keen runners who took on the 9kms found another challenge with a very large and deep “puddle” right across the road and no way to go except through it. One young lady runner was heard to say afterwards that the puddle was well over her knees when she went trough it.
When we had all returned safely to the finish line over the period of 50 minutes or so it was determined that Liz Simpson was the handicap winner for the day.
At the same time this was all going on, three members of the club were at The Entrance on the coast competing in the Central Coast Half Marathon over a distance of 21kms with over 900 other runners. The weather they were greeted with was fine but overcast and a temperature a lot higher than in Orange. The members who completed the Half Marathon were Frank Ostini in 91 minutes, you will break that magic barrier real soon, Mike Cooper in 95 minutes 26 seconds and Brett Sammut in One Hour 59 minutes. A great effort by all three members, well done.
Wednesday afternoons run at Elephant Park looked like it was heading the same way as Sundays, wet, cold and miserable. However the Running God must have heard our pleas for a break in the weather because by race time it had stopped raining and there was actually clear skies around. 45 keen runners took to the Elephant Park 1 km course for their 3 laps with some caution because of more puddles but these didn’t stop everyone from running fast. Some notable exceptions were Joe Miller with another PB, his third in four weeks. Also Daryl Roweth with a 5 second PB and Trish Moran with a 4 second PB. Trish said she trains harder than everyone else over this distance because she takes longer to complete it, however if she continues to achieve the PB’s she will be doing it in no time at all.
The winner on the day was the ever consistent Dave Miller, not to be out done by his son.
This Sundays Run is the Daniel Middleton Trek To The Top, a run or walk up Mount Canobolas. Registration is at the Car Park opposite the Mountain Teahouse at 8am for 8-30am start. Cost is $5pp or $10 for a family.
The next club Sunday Run will be at Elephant Park on 12th December over distances of 3.2km to 8km. What a great way to get over the Club Christmas Part from the night before. Don’t forget the NEW START TIME of 9am during the Summer months from this weekend onwards.
The Club’s Christmas Party is on Saturday 11th December at EMUS Rugby Club starting at 6pm. If anyone can help Rhonda set up on the morning of the party please be at the club between 10am and noon, the more help the easier it will be.
Don’t forget the Club’s Running Festival is fast approaching and we would like to say “A big thank you to Electrolux who have agreed again to supply a fridge as our Early Bird Prize for next years Running Festival. We have several Club members employed by Electrolux and proud to have them associated with our run.
As we get closer to 6th March, I’m sure you will see more runners out there training for Running Festival PB’s and some of the many prizes up for grabs.”
Finally, a big thank you to Wayne Stewart and Karen Neal for doing the Club’s weekly reports over the Spring period. A job well done. It is now over to myself and Tom Gleeson to do the Summer period, so if you have anything of interest, be it a run you’ve done somewhere or something coming up please let us know so we can put it in these reports.
SUNDAYS RESULTS
Overall Winner – Liz Simpson
2km Female – Sally Kitto – 19min 34sec
Judy Tarleton – 26min 49sec (Walked)
2km Male – Joel Kitto – 19min 35sec
4km Female – Liz Simpson – 23min 27sec
4km Male – Wayne Stewart – 22min 39sec
Russell Tym – 23min 40sec
Jacob Coles – 28min 47sec
Peter Mueller 42min 02sec (Walked)
6km Female – Kim Jarvis – 34min 56sec
6km Male – Brian Penrose – 50min 04sec
7km Male – Michael Sharp – 47min 42sec
8km Male – Gary Taylor – 49min 12 sec
9km Female – Melissa Watson – 44min 34sec
Amber Rich – 45min 11sec
9km Male – Jared Sullivan – 42min 37sec
Jim Rich – 47min 14sec
WEDNESDAYS HANDICAP WINNER – Dave Miller
Brian Penrose