December 2024

By: Mark Watts

Welcome to December’s edition of the GWR monthly newsletter!

This is the place where you can hear all about the latest club information including races, save-the-dates, ADMF good-news stories, kit updates, and more… all in one place! This is a great way to keep you all updated on the exciting goings-on of the club, and to celebrate all we have accomplished.

In this festive edition of the newsletter, it’s all about giving. If you’re a member reading this you will have received even more discounts with the addition of RunthroughUK giving us 20% off some of their local events. We attended the first ADMF hosted social night and now we can look forward to the Christmas lights evening as well. We spent a fair bit of time getting dirty at the slog and cross country whilst also being the poster boys of yet another race!

Time for a mince pie and a brew for your monthly read on all things the club has been up to in November.

Dates for the diary and Events:

December 2024

• Wednesday 4th December: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups)
• Sunday 8th December: Christmas “Chilly” 10k and Christmas mile
• Wednesday 11th December: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups), additional Brailsford lights run for those that wish (7ish miles)
• Saturday 14th December: 12k’s of Christmas, trail 12k in Dursley
• Sunday 15th December: Weston Christmas Cracker
• Sunday 15th December: Westonbirt house festive 10k
• Wednesday 18th December: Christmas lights run and quiz/raffle
• Thursday 19th December: Weston Prom 5 Mile – Race 4
• Friday 20th December: Run and Rave 5k
• Wednesday 25th December: CLUB IS CLOSED
• Wednesday 25th December: parkrun special event day
• Thursday 26th December: Clevedon 4 miler

January 2025

• Wednesday 1st January: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups)
• Wednesday 8th January: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups)
• Thursday 9th January: Weston Prom 5 Mile – Race 5
• Sunday 12th January: Riverbank Rollick
• Wednesday 15th January: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups)
• Wednesday 22nd January: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups)
• Sunday 26th January: Chepstow Running Festival (5k, 10k, HM)
• Sunday 26th January: Longleat 10k
• Sunday 26th January: Slaughterford 9
• Wednesday 29th January: Club run at 19:00 (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups)

November Race and Achievements Report

Done something you are proud of? Then please share it all! Look out for the monthly calling post on facebook and give us all the news, and pictures!

A few of the club ran the particularly muddy Sodbury Slog on remembrance Sunday. A slightly different shortened course this year of 9.5 miles but still the same troughs of mud and other mud. It’s a lot of fun and after a few showers and baths I’ve just about removed all the mud from my finger and toe nails.

Sticking to off road, it was the local Blaise Castle Gwent league meet on the 30th of November. A big thank you to John Hargreaves for getting everybody registered. We had 4 ladies and 5 men represent us which is good. There are still a few events left so if you would like to run (for free) then get in touch with John H and he can get you sorted.

There was a storm brewing in Battersea park, some may call it Berttersea! Kelly Dicks breezed home to finish 1st female in a negative split run time of 3:11, able pacer John Cox went along for the ride for 18 miles until Kelly ran home to glory. Kelly had been “under the weather” and so wasn’t sure if she was going to run, but her slower than goal pace was still too quick for the rest. Congrats!

After being the poster boys for the Severn Bridge half, we are at it again as Alex Veitch becomes the main man to attract people to run the Oxford half!

James Healey in November has set a target of running and walking 60k to raise money for the charity Movember in aid of male mental health. James easily passed the 60k mark and upped the distance to 100k which he also completed. As part of his work team they have raised over £2500 for the charity which is excellent work. There is a post on the group facebook page should anyone feel like they want to donate. Excellent job James!

Misc. Updates

Stay visible this winter!

With the darker evenings approaching, we kindly remind everyone to wear bright, reflective gear during runs. While we ensure our winter routes are reasonably well-lit, it’s a good idea to bring a head torch for extra visibility as the nights grow darker.

40th Anniversary t-shirts

Still awaiting delivery… but they are coming.

ADMF Bingo night

In November the club held its first ADMF social fundraiser and what a successful night, even with the erratic bingo dabbers causing some havoc on the back table! The night raised £405 in the process that will support the young athletes of Bristol. A big thank you to Bingo Caller Kelly and glamorous assistant Mike for organising and the local businesses for supplying some excellent prizes.

I’m sure everyone will but please thank those businesses and remind them they are helping inspire a generation.

Brailsford Lights run

Our annual trip to visit the Brailsford lights house will happen on the 11th of December. This will be a single group run of around 7 miles. Everyone is welcome and the pace will be of the slowest runner and regular re-groups as we usually do.

Xmas Lights run

The annual Xmas lights run, quiz, raffle and buffet will take place on the 18th of December. There will be a single group run of around 4 miles around clifton and then be back to shower (please) before food and quiz. Fancy dress is encouraged for the run and there will be a prize for the best dressed as usual. The price for this event has had to rise to £10 per person as the catering is now costing the club £15 per head, which the club are subsidising £5. This will also get you one raffle ticket but you are encouraged to spend all your pocket money on tickets because as usual, there are some excellent prizes on offer and they will be revealed daily from the 1st of December on the event page.

Please pay promptly so we can have an ideal of numbers and any dietary requirements please let Elena know.

London Marathon Draw

As part of our affiliation with England Athletics the club up until now has received one London Marathon spot each year and this year it could be you running down the mall in April!

There are a few criteria for selection of which they are here:

• Have failed in the public ballot, and have emailed the evidence to the club. committee@greatwesternrunners.org.uk
• Be a current 1st claim member of GWR.
• Sign up for 1st claim GWR membership for the following UKA year.
• Not been the beneficiary of a GWR London place in the previous 5 years
• Extra Entry for helping the club out, This includes:
  • Being on the committee
  • Marshalling at the clubs towpath race series
  • Run leading
  • Anything else the club deem of significance.

*The draw will take place at the xmas lights event and will happen if EA confirms that we indeed have a club place to draw.

Cross Country Dates

As you read earlier a good turnout for the Blaise Castle meet. Here are the dates for the remaining two meets. Please see John Hargreaves to run and he can register you. The 4th meet has not been decided at the time of writing on the Gwent league website.

Saturday 9th November 2024 – Llandaff Fields, Cardiff

Saturday 30th November 2024 – Blaise Castle, Bristol

Saturday 8th February 2025 – Margam Park, Port Talbot

Saturday 1st March (or Sunday 2nd) 2025 – VENUE TBD

Cheap January Racing

Runthrough have been in contact with the club as they are trying to expand their races more into the South West and Wales. They are offering 20% off their Chepstow and Frome race events using our discount code.

As well as participating in their events, the support of club runners as volunteers at their events is invaluable. Runthrough will offer each volunteer £65 worth of RunThrough race credits and £10 RunThrough Kit credit each time they volunteer, or they can make a donation to GWR of £20 per volunteer instead.

For volunteering, hit this link to sign up!

https://forms.volunteero.org/view/2f611225-97f1-4c82-86ee-f94d78351445

parkrun Tourism

News on this will drop this week. Keep an eye on the socials or the announcements at the club on Wednesday!

Sportsshoes Code

We have an exciting new discount to offer members of England Athletics affiliated clubs!

You can now link your England Athletics membership with your (free) SportsShoes ULTRA account to receive a discount automatically at checkout. This prevents the need to enter a code at checkout, making receiving a discount from us a lot quicker and easier. You can find out more here.

The discount on offer has been increased to 15% off in season products. Some exclusions apply to this promotion, including Coros, Garmin, Shokz, Maurten products and a few shoes.

Please note the old system of sportsshoes supplying a code for discount will cease in the coming months in exchange for the new one.

Kit 

For club kit and leisurewear (including club-branded running gear), please see the website here.

Welfare

Need some support, a neutral second opinion? Please reach out to our welfare team David Honeywill and Karen Wills via email welfare@greatwesternrunners.org.uk

Everyone should feel safe and supported at the club.

Contact

If you would like to contact the committee about any club run business, suggestions, questions or otherwise, please do get in touch on committee@greatwesternrunners.org.uk

We’d love to hear from you!