March 2024
By Rosie Clarke
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! We hope that this can be 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 edition, we see the imminent return of a well-loved social blockbuster: Parkrun Tourism at Five Arches; a new and shiny Wednesday speed session led by Mark; a Weston Half-Marathon Volunteering roll-call; an action-packed spring events schedule; a membership renewal reminder, and a lot of races to celebrate… Spring is definitely getting brighter and busier!
Dates for your Diary – next 2 months:
March
- Wednesday 6th March: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and NEW speed session!)
- Sunday 10th March: Total Guide Castle Combe ‘Chilly’ Duathlon & 10K (volunteer marshalls also requested with free or discounted entry to any future DB Max Event!).
- Wednesday 13th March: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session)
- Sunday 17th March: 10:00 The Big Cheese 15 Mile Fell race on Warrens Hill, Cheddar
- Wednesday 20th March: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session)
- Sunday 24th March: Weston Super Mare Half-Marathon (volunteers needed for bag packing and marshaling… Please do get in touch with the committee if you can help! It’s a great way to give back and soak in the atmosphere, and spoiler alert – you get a free entry if you do…)
- Sunday 24th March: Hullavington 20 mile race
- Wednesday 27st March: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session)
- Sunday 31st March: 11:00 Hanham Horror 9K Multi-Terrain race
April
- Wednesday 3rd April: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session – England Athletics’ very own Richard Ayling to join and speak about the benefits of being part of EA: this won’t be one to miss!)
- Thursday 4th April: Weston Prom – 5 miles along the prom
- Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th April: Bath Skyline races – Night/Day – hilly, narrow and technical
- Sunday 7th April: Bristol Brabazon 10K and Half Marathon
- Wednesday 10th April: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session)
- Saturday 13th April: The Maverick Adidas Terrex Original Mendips – 6.5K, 13K, 22K
- Sunday 14th April: Frenchay 10K road race
- Wednesday 17th April: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session)
- Thursday 18th April: Weston Prom – 5 miles along the prom
- Sunday 21st April: Mud Master in Weston Super-Mare 5K, 10K or 20K
- Wednesday 24th April: 19:00 club run (4, 6, 8 and 10 mile groups and speed session)
Upcoming this spring/summer…
That’s right, the most anticipated race series possibly in the world (and certainly in Bristol) is approaching. Is it UTMB? Is it the World Majors? No… it’s the GWR Towpath series (of course)! Want to try your hand at a 10K PB? Want to simply finish strong? Want to just get out and soak in the inter-club atmosphere? Look no further – all four race dates are now live – sign up here!
- Friday 24th May: Race 1 (including MobMatch)
- Friday 21st June: Race 2
- Friday 26th July: Race 3
- Friday 23rd August: Race 4 (5K finale)
February Race and Achievements Report
First up is the crazy masochistic venture of Doynton Hard Half on February 4th. Strava assures me that this one has an insane amount of elevation, and is – indeed – very hard! What’s even harder in fact, is having a first place (that’s right – first!) men’s team, as well as our very own Callum Moore being first to cross the line too. Well done all! Fantastic (and a little unbelievable).
A few days later we all saw some Bristol Lights during the February 7th club run…
Wiltshire 10 miler saw Fi, Lucy and Katy representing the GWR colours – very well done ladies!
Weston Prom 5 miler returned with a rainy post-Valentine’s February 15th edition – well done to all who donned the Great Western Runners kit and raced for us!February also saw the GWR Ashton Court Parkrun takeover! Well done all on a wonderful morning. Ian has written a blog here:
On 10th February GWR took over the volunteering roles at Ashton Court parkrun. A rare dry morning made it more enjoyable and about 25 GWR members helped out with the essential roles that enable parkruns to happen each week. It’s great for running clubs to give something back to parkruns and if you haven’t done it before please give it a go, all roles are pretty simple to do!
I hear in great confidence that there was a very character-building and very (very) muddy Ironwood Challenge on February 25th – well done to all GWR members who took part.As we all know, it’s not just stellar results we value here, because a key part of what we all love about GWR is the community spirit of the club. We regularly go for social runs too! Read the blog on the GWR website here to hear about the latest excursion to Portishead…
ADMF Good News
The Arthur Dagger Memorial Fund (ADMF) was created by Great Western Runners in memory of one of our most treasured club members Arthur Dagger. ADMF’s mission is to provide financial support for young, talented athletes.
Thank you to all those who continue to support this wonderful initiative – the wonderful success stories wouldn’t exist without you all! For more information about ADMF and what it’s all about, see more information here.
Misc. Updates
It’s that time of year again when we start to think about membership renewals. With Richard Ayling joining us on Wednesday 3rd April to tell us about all of the benefits of being affiliated with England Athletics, it’s a great opportunity to be reminded of why renewing your official membership with our wonderful club is not one to be missed. £50 for single and £80 for joint household membership… all information to be listed on the renewal forms.
Fancy trying your hand at blogging and have a Great Western Runners event you’d like to brag about? Get in touch with us at the committee – we’d love to have new blog writers for the website contributing the wonderful things you’re doing for all to see.
Welfare Officer appointments for the club are pending very soon.
New Horfield Junior Parkrun commencing very shortly… stay tuned for further information.
Short on running gear? Fancy a discount at sportsshoes.com? You’re in luck! Contact the committee for the code for 10% off the whole range on orders over £50, complete with free shipping, valid until April 3rd 2024.
Proud of a race effort and want to commemorate it (just in case Strava didn’t quite hit the bill?) Save 20% with code GWR20…
Kit
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.
We’d love to hear from you!
