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Posts from — August 2013

Devil Takes the Hindmost Results

This year’s competition took place on Tuesday 27th August at 7pm on the normal course at Rochester Road in Northwood Hills, opposite Haydon School. [Read more →]

August 20, 2013   Comments Off on Devil Takes the Hindmost Results

The South Downs Way 100

100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne

Saturday 15th. to Sunday 16th. June 2013

Eastbourne has never figured as the destination for a journey to the Promised Land but for me this year, setting off from Winchester in the early morning, I (Brian Feldman) was as determined as any pilgrim to arrive at the end of the South Downs Way.  Last year I had to pull out at 76 miles and I did not want a repeat of that disappointment.

On a good summer’s day, the air would be warm, or even hot, and the views, north to the North Downs across the Weald and south to the coastal resorts of Littlehampton, Brighton and Bognor Regis to the sea would be stunning.  But for me when I am running a warm day, such as we have had recently, is a killer so the forecast of only 150C was just right except for the wind which would gust up to 28 mph, but also no rain.

My support crew of John Hughes and Tony Bennett would be with me all the way and be one of the main reasons I succeeded.  Another reason is that in 2012 I noticed that many people used walking poles and after practising with them on my reconnoitring trips I carried a pair of ultra-lightweight Lekis, but the biggest difference this year was water.  My problems last year were all due to dehydration, I had not drunk sufficient liquid, but this year I consumed my Isostar at the rate of about half a litre per hour and had no problems at all in keeping going.

The race starts at Chilcomb, just outside Winchester, with a couple of laps of the sports field, but most of us had not completed half a lap before the front runners were hard on our heels.  “Take good look”, said one wag, “It’s the last you’ll see of them”, and of course he was right.  Once out of the field we were on the South Downs Way proper and it felt as we were really on our way. [Read more →]

August 20, 2013   Comments Off on The South Downs Way 100

Road And Cross Country Season 2013/2014

The Road and Cross Country season starts with the Middlesex 10K Road Race Championship on Saturday 07 September at Victoria Park in Hackney. As a County Championship event, the club will pay the event entry fee for its members and so any members that wish to compete in this race should email Gavin Collett at gavin.collett@jti.com with a copy of the entry form by 27 August. The entry form may be found here: http://www.middlesexaa.org.uk/

As the team manager for the men’s road and cross country teams I (Paul Leppard) will be using teamer over the course of the season as the mechanism for communicating with athletes and collating race entries. I’ve already sent out the first messages regarding upcoming races and so if you are a male club member over 17 who has indicated on their membership application that they wish to compete in road and cross country, please check your email (including the junk folder) to ensure that you are receiving these messages. If you haven’t received any messages from teamer and think that you should be, please email me at pleppard@hillingdonac.co.uk.

August 18, 2013   Comments Off on Road And Cross Country Season 2013/2014

Burnham Beeches Half Marathon 18th August 2013

On a perfect day for running a distance race 7 HAC athletes cut a swave through the undergrowth of the opposition to run rings around the Burnham Beeches Half Marathon. On a course that can only be described as undulating it is not easy to branch into the realms of PB territory however according to the power of 10 that is what Dave Newman V50 achieved with his performance of 1:27:26. I’m sure he must have run quicker when he was a sapling. I (Martin Bateman)  must be barking mad to be preparing for another marathon and was our first finisher in sixth in a modest training time of 1:19:35 some way behind winner Phil Wicks of Belgrave who is also training for a German marathon. Scott Farley V40 improved on last years performance in the race, which was run in stifling heat, to finish 11th in 1:22:09. Dave was next in 35th followed by newcomer to the HAC family tree Phill Weall who finished 55th in 1:31:01. The first woman for HAC on the day was Lynda Copson V50. Lynda who is training for a ultra marathon came 237th in 1:59.48.  Brian Feldman V60 who likes to do the odd 100 miler completed his run to the shops via BB in 2:10:36 and 300th. Jackie O’Dowd V50 crowned a good day by running her best time for many years I’m realiably informed by clocking 2:15:35 for 317th. 365 finished. Results here.

August 18, 2013   Comments Off on Burnham Beeches Half Marathon 18th August 2013

Bearbrook 10km

Donna Nash, Leslie Conway, Jane Newman and Jackie O Dowd made up the Hillingdon AC ladies team at the Bearbrook 10km on Sunday 11th August. All four did well in their age categories with Leslie 2nd in hers, Donna 3rd in hers, and Jane and Jackie 8th and 9th respectively in theirs. As a team they finished in 7th place, a good performance against some fine local opposition. Three other Hillingdon AC ladies also ran the race. Unfortunately, they didn’t enter themselves as running for Hillingdon AC, so I was unable to identify them from the results. That said, it was great to see so many ladies turn out, this was the highest number for a summer series race this year.

The men’s team finished in 8th place with Martin Bateman, Paul Hull, Dave Newman and Andy Torrance making the scoring four, closely followed in by John Luscombe. Full results can be found here. The next Summer Series race is the Burnham Beeches half marathon on Sunday August 18th, entries will be available on the day. Latest Summer Series results are HAC 2013 Summer Series Results latest

August 11, 2013   Comments Off on Bearbrook 10km

5K Training Race Results

Results are here.

Date for your diary: 27th August, Devil Takes the Hindmost at Northwood Hills. Register at the clubhouse by 6.30pm or at the start at 6.50pm.

August 9, 2013   Comments Off on 5K Training Race Results

Summer Series update

The next races in the summer series take place over the coming week. The 5km training race this Thursday, 8th August, and the Bearbrook 10km on the  following Sunday provide two chances to increase your points total and close in on the leading man, Dave Newman, and woman, Donna Nash. Latest results are here. HAC 2013 Summer Series Results Please note that the starting time for the Bearbrook 10km is 9.30 am not 10.00 am as has been stated elsewhere.

Please support these club events, especially the 5km training race, meal and quiz. Remember, you do not have to participate in the race to enjoy the social, but of course we would prefer that you did. All are welcome.

For those of you who like something a little longer, forthcoming summer series races include Burnham Beeches half marathon on the 18th August and Windsor half marathon at the end of September.

A significant number of runners are competing in the Windsor half marathon. Entries are now closed but if anyone would like to come to support the event & maybe join us for the meal afterwards they are welcome. The final numbers for the restaurant are required by the end of this week. Please contact Bhavna Shah if you would like to come along.

August 6, 2013   Comments Off on Summer Series update