Cheap AND Cheerful
Question: What costs 2.74 pence and is really good for you?
Answer: A day’s membership to your friendly neighbourhood Horsham Joggers.
That’s value, right? Being part of the HJ community costs just £10 annually as prices have been frozen once more in light of all the restrictions. And it’s only £20 for a family membership! Renewals were due on April 1st this year and we do have a few stragglers off the back of the main pack who we don’t want recording a DNF (Did Not Finance).
So, to avoid a serious roughing-up at the hands of the club treasurer, just go to the website, log in, choose ‘subscriptions’ from the Member Zone drop down menu and fork it over.
Bosh. Simple as that.
Changing Track
Now, before your correspondent joined Horsham Joggers, his favourite track involving a Nigel was this absolute banger from XTC. But in time it came to be supplanted by the Thursday evening track sessions at BBH. The warm up laps. The dynamic stretches. The sense of anticipation as the paper goes on the post. Will it be 6 X 800m or 8 x 600m? Or what about 20 x 200m sprints (tough, tough, tough)? Or the Pyramids (weirdly, my favourite)?
While track has recently returned to the calendar, it has done so without the presence of Coach Nigel who is stepping down from the coaching duties he has been fulfilling since 2009. So a big shout out to Nigel for all the help he has given to people over the years. It has no doubt been an introduction to the club for many people.
In the near term, track sessions will be self-coached. New coaches and perhaps a few tweaks will appear in time. One thing it is important that everyone understands is that track sessions are by no means the exclusive preserve of super fast runners. Everyone should feel encouraged to give it a go. While numbers remain controlled, capacity is being increased. So spread the word!
Which brings us to…
The rules as we emerge from lockdown are changing, but not quickly. For the foreseeable future we must continue with the booking system for Tuesday and Thursday nights to ensure we are operating in a ‘covid-safe’ environment, although this is is continually under review. In the meantime the Committee would like to thank all the run leaders who are stepping forward to take Tuesday groups, and all the people working extremely hard in the background to make any kind of activity possible.
#RunAndTalk
We all hear often about the link between running (and exercise in general) and improved and maintained mental health so we’re pleased to announce that the first Tuesday of every month will feature dedicated Run and Talk groups. These are for anyone to join who fancies a bit of a chat or some friendly support for whatever reason. Paces can be varied to accommodate all comers and there’s the opportunity to have a warm drink and a continued conversation. As always, everyone is welcome.
Meanwhile the HJ Run and Talk team is planning an event in Horsham Park on May 29th. Keep an eye out for more details nearer the time.
Back in the race!
Races are back on and the Joggers are right in the mix. On April 5th, six members of Horsham Joggers took part in the PB5K, which is part of the Super-Fast winter race series at Ardingly Showground. There were 5 x 5k races setting of in waves a few seconds apart.
Honorable mentions to: Pete O’Connell 00:18:36 (1st M60), Stuart Adesilu 00:18:48, Steve Wright 00:18:50, Matt Cooper 00:19:04, Andrew Puttick 00:19:14, and Miranda Huisman 00:22:07
Five days later, five intrepid Joggers took part in the UK Sporting Events New Forest races. They were all held in a Covid secure environment and were well organised as they wound through the trails of the New Forest near Christchurch.
In the half marathon event Philip Liberman was first Jogger home in 1.48.10, followed by Rob Jochimsen 1.58.12, Richard Cherriman 2.01.57, and Derek Buckman 2.02.01. In the 14K event Julie Jochimsen ran strongly to finish in 1.29.24.
On April 11th Chris Yeomans & Paul Burgess competed in The Kent Spring Marathon, a two lap marathon on an undulating course of quiet, wide lanes outside Ashford in Kent – plus a short section on the Pilgrims Way. Chris crossed the line at 03:53:47, while Paul clocked 04:56:25.
This weekend just past we had three HJers in the South Downs Way 50-mile race. SDW50 starts in Worthing and finishes in Eastbourne. Runners start by negotiating six miles of chalk footpaths and bridleways, climbing up to join the south downs way at Chanctonbury ring. The remainder of the course is identical to the final 44 miles of the SDW100 and remains on the SDW until the final turn off – bringing runners out to the finish with a lap of the track at Eastbourne. Congratulations to James Tombs (08:46:25), Ian Moore (10:09:42), and Emma Whyman (12:09:41).
On the same day Geri Smith and Phyl Weston competed in the Hurtwood 50k, which starts in Dorking and follows the Greensand Way into the Surrey Hills. This is essentially an out and back, with a loop of the Greensand Way before starting the return journey. The undulating course takes you up and over Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill, and Pitch Hill on a well-marked, easy to follow trail through the woodlands, ridgeways and valleys of this area that is collectively known (perhaps appropriately) as The Hurtwood. Congratulations to Geri (06:37:41) & Phyl (07:06:36)
Great work everyone!
If you’d like a mention, please remember to send in any race photos or reports to info@horshamjoggers.co.uk
And there’s more to come…
If you want to get back in the race, then why not check out one of these:
25 APR, SUN
Running GP at Goodwood 5k, 10k, HM, 20 miles, Full Marathon races
1 MAY, SAT
Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd
2 MAY, SUN
Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd
3 MAY, MON
Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd
9 MAY, SUN
Dunsfold Jigsaw Run 10k
15 MAY, SAT
Eastbourne Trackstar Marathon and Half
23 MAY, SUN
Three Forts Marathon
Something important to (SDW100) relay…
South Downs Way Relay Saturday 3rd July 2021
With less than three months to go until the running of this great event we are still looking for two or three more members for our Vets squad. If you like the sound of a superb day out, running three legs of the South Downs Way as part of a relay team, and getting chauffeured between stops in the team bus with all the fun and camaraderie that goes with it, please drop me a line at johnw@ohob.co.uk. You won’t regret it. You will need to be confident of running at or under an 8:30 per mile pace over hilly terrain and a total of 15 to 18 miles over the whole day. Don’t let those numbers put you off it really is the best running event of the year. We could also do with a driver so if any former participants familiar with the fun would like to step forward you will be welcomed.
And Finally…
The AGM this year is booked for August 13th. More information is coming down the road.
Stay safe, keep logging those miles, and enjoy your running, everyone!
The HJ Committee will next be meeting on Wednesday 12th May, if you have any questions, or anything you would like us to discuss, please let us know.
Our thanks to Mike Hibberd for another great news round-up!