Clwb Athletau Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth Athletic Club

Established 1955 Sefydliad

     

 


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Aberystwyth A.C. Club Newsletter

The newsletter is also added to the notice board at Plascrug Leisure Centre (found to the right of the sports hall entrance).

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Latest Newsletter: 20th November 2009

TONIGHT Children in Need - Fri 20 Nov 2009 (thanks to Adriano Evola)
Local celebrity singing duo Blue and Duke Christopher (father and son) are kindly providing live music and supporting the Children in Need night at the Bandstand from 5pm onwards.
To all club runners. Volunteers are needed for the Annual 'Children in Need Marathon Relay' which begins tonight at 5.00pm.
"Please feel free to run in fancy dress, and children are, of course, welcome"
The course begins at the Bandstand and heads along the promenade to the bottom of Constitution Hill and then back to the Pier before returning to the Bandstand. We will take turns in a relay system, where people running individually or in small groups, will each run the 1 mile course until we complete the full Marathon distance of 26.2 miles carrying Pudsey Bear along the way.
Come along on the night and add a mile or so to the total, and feel free to make a (££££) contribution.
Last year we raised a record total of £1010.10, making a grand total of £3,629 over 4 years - a fantastic achievement by all.
Sponsorship forms are available, so come and see me. Get collecting through family friends and work.
Many thanks,
Adriano

Christmas 5k Handicap – Friday 11th December 2009
Prizes up for grabs plus a fast flat new 5k route. Time to be confirmed.

Marshalls still needed for the Aberystwyth 10k on the 13th December
If you are able to give up a few hours to help out please contact Pete Foale foale3@hotmail.co.uk  . Many thanks.

Post Aber 10k Buffet – 13th December 2009
Many thanks again to Gareth at the Academy for agreeing to host the club buffet after the Aber 10K.
This year we have 3 courses for a fantastic £5.50 a head. Friends and family welcome. Please email aiv@aber.ac.uk  if you’d like to come along.

League Update (thanks to Tony Wenlock)
The league has been updated with results from the Condon Classic Hill race held on 15th November as the last of the Trail League nominated races. Whist there are no changes in the top three positions in either the Men’s or Ladies Trail leagues, Adriano Evola has now achieved Trail qualification and takes 6th place overall behind Clive Evans. With only 0.25 points between them Adriano could take 5th place if he can run Ras Y Mast in something less than 56 minutes. Helen Marshall – who finished 3rd Lady overall – has closed the gap between herself and Louise Barker by 10 points leaving around 5 to snatch second position.
In the main league correction to Adriano’s time in the Autumn 5k gives him a new potential optional that would increase overall score by 0.46 points. Meanwhile in Men’s Platinum, Dave Powell’s time at Condon gives him a new potential optional that could see him move to 3rd place overall at the end of the year.
Next Year’s League Races.
If anyone has any ideas for potential new races in the league next year please let me know so that I can begin the work of weaving them into the sheet.

Request for volunteers for Sport and Exercise Department at the University
“Hello,
I am a 3rd year sport and exercise science student at Aberystwyth university and looking for participants in my dissertation study, I will be looking at the effect of postactivation potentiation between aerobic and anaerobic athlete types, participants will need to be 18+ and will have the opportunity to find out many performance details. participants will be required to attend 5 separate sessions during which they will be asked to lift some weights and then perform a wingate test. If you have any club members who would be interested in participating in my study please could you pass on my email address.
Many thanks
Arwen Bell”
awb7@aber.ac.uk

Another request for participants for dissertation study in Sport and Exercise Science Department
“I am a third year undergrad at Aberystwyth. I am currently recruiting volunteers for my dissertation which is based on optimal pacing strategy in endurance events. I have attached a brief information sheet regarding the study and would be very grateful if you would pass the details on to any members of the club that you deem suitable. This information obtained from this type of testing can be of great benefit in exercise prescription, especially in determining areas where improvements can be made with appropriate training.
Please do not hestitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the study.
May I thank you for reading this email and in anticipation of any help you feel you can offer.
With kind regards
Sheree McCormick”
shm7@aber.ac.uk  

Welsh Lady Fun Run - 28th February 2010
10am at the Aberystwyth Bandstand
'Beat the Leek' Race for primary children @ 11am 'Daffodil Dash' race for secondary pupils and adults @ 12noon
to include: live music, face painting, celebrity, Welsh food and more...
For more details contact GWENNANDAVIES@MENTER-ABERYSTWYTH.ORG.UK

Ras Hwyl 3k Mewn Gwisg Gymreig 28ain Chwefror 2010
10yb ym Manstand Aberystwyth
Ras 'Curo'r Genhinen' i blant ysgol Gynradd am 11yb 'Ras y Daffodil' 3k i ddisgyblion ysgol Uwchradd ac Oedolion am hanner dydd
gyda: cherddoriaeth byw, peintio gwynebau, person enwog, cynnyrch Cymraeg a llawer mwy...
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth yswllt GWENNANDAVIES@MENTER-ABERYSTWYTH.ORG.UK

Welsh Athletics Workshops for Safe Athletics (thanks to Steve Brace)
Attached are details which may be of interest to coaches, team managers, officials and volunteers with responsibilities of young persons and vulnerable adults that you may be aware of which are highly recommended, as outlining best practice for volunteers who work in athletics.
The guidance is highlighted in the Welsh Assembly’s “Working Together” document as part of the Children Act 2004.
The courses will raise your awareness, and your confidence to respond to areas of concern in relation to poor practice or abuse.
Please respond for next weeks Safe Athletics Workshops, and the first Safeguarding Workshop around Wales by registering on line at:
http://www.welshathletics.org/news/archive-news/october-news/autumn-2009-volunteer-support-courses
 or via the Welsh Athletics office.
Please forward this information to volunteers, coaches and officials who you feel may benefit from the workshops.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me
Regards
Steve Brace

Level 1 UK Athletics Coaching Course (thanks to Bridget James)
A rare opportunity has arisen for individuals to complete the level 1 UK Athletics course here in Aberystwyth. The UKA courses are mostly held along the M4 + A55 corridors which obviously involve substantial travel time. This particular course is open to all those interested in coaching athletics and is being held as a full day course on Saturday 9th of January 2010 in the Aberystwyth University Sports Cage. No previous coaching experience is required. Further details regarding course content and how to apply can be found below and are also available on the Welsh Athletics Website - http://www.welshathletics.org/coaching/coacheducationcourses/ . The information will also be available on the Sports Centre ‘Courses’ section of the website from the end of the day today http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/sportscentre/courses/.
The relevant contact details to sign up for the course are listed below and on the websites but if anyone would like to have a chat about the course or its content they are more than welcome to email or call me or any of the other club members who have previously taken the course. My email is bsp@aber.ac.uk or you can call me on 07973846860.
Thanks
Bridget

UK Athletics Level 1 Coaching Course
Saturday 9th January 2010 9:00am - 5:00pm Full 1 day course
Cost - £60 As always, there are club funds available to help support those wanting to undertake their coach education. All we ask in return is that you devote a little time to helping out with coaching in the club from time to time
Closing date for applications - Tuesday 15th December 2009
Course Content
This course is an introduction to coaching skills, with a major emphasis on the “how to” skills rather than the “what” skills. The coaching skills are identified as:
• Instruction, Explanation and Demonstration
• Observation and Analysis
• Feedback
The fundamental idea of the course, the reason why it has been developed, is to give coaches new to athletics an experience of coaching skills and the body's energy systems through practical experience using some of the events as follows :
Via Sprints, Hurdles and Running Drills
• New coaches look at the skill of demonstrating and instructing the other members of the course who act as athletes. This gives everyone the perspective of both being a coach and being coached. The role of the tutor is to facilitate this and to deal with the attendees questions as they apply this learning to their coaching situation.
Via Race Walking
• The understanding of the bodies energy system is explored via a sustained (Aerobic) activity. In a very enjoyable session the skill factors of the event are developed together with the effects of both fatigue and competition. Role of the coach as an observer who will potentially feedback on loss of skills because of concentration losses through fatigue and excitement (through the competitive situation)
Via Horizontal Jumps
• Coaches look at the event to identify from analysis the potential improvement required. Via an analysis of the athlete and event identify the worth of their potential solutions.
Via Throws (Normally Shot and/or Javelin)
• Coaches explore the value of athlete feedback from a complex event when seeing everything in a short time becomes more pressured.
The course has several classroom sessions in between these sessions to consider these issues: Role of a coach, athlete centered coaching, fitness and performance factors, the styles of coaching and finally the responsibilities and insurance cover of the level 1 coach.
Each attendee will receive a complete manual of the course and following on from the course they will be entered onto the UK Athletics Coach database. A Coach pass and license will be produced and will be sent out to the coach usually within 8 weeks of the course. As soon as the course has been completed the coach is qualified and insured to coach under the supervision of a coach qualified at Level 2 or higher.
To apply for this course please download a Coaching Course Application Form and send it fully completed with payment to Neil Wheeler, Welsh Athletics, Cardiff International Sports Stadium, Leckwith Road, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ. . Please make cheques payable to 'Welsh Athletics'. For further information please telephone 02920 644870 or email neil.wheeler@welshathletics.org
For more information please visit http://www.welshathletics.org/coaching/coacheducationcourses/

Up and Coming “muddy” fixtures:
Sunday 22nd November – Sospan 10 miler, Pembrey Park (http://www.sospanroadrunners.co.uk/races/sospan/mt/mt.html)
Sunday 29th November – Ras y Mast, Sarn Helen.
Sunday 6th December – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Bridgnorth
Sunday 6th December - Gwent League, Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton
Sunday 13th December – Merthyr Mawr Christmas Pudding 10K, Bridgend.
Saturday 23rd January 2010 – Tarren Hendre Fell Race (http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/downloads/poster_tarren.pdf)
Sunday 24th January 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Corus/Pontrhydyfen.
Sunday 7th February 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Gnoll Estate, Neath.
Saturday 13th February 2010 - Gwent League, Penlan Leisure Centre, Brecon.
Sunday 14th February 2010 – Dursley Dozen, Gloucestershire (http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm)
Saturday 6th March 2010 - Gwent League, Blaise Castle, Bristol.
Sunday 21st March 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Margam Park, Port Talbot
.

12th November

Marshalls needed for the Aberystwyth 10k - 13th December
Please contact Pete Foale foale3@hotmail.co.uk if you are able to help out. Many thanks.

 

London Marathon Places (thanks to Brian Ashton)
At last night’s committee meeting, we were told that we have again been given 2 guaranteed places for next year’s London Marathon.
It was also decided to follow our policy of offering these places to all of our currently fully paid up members of at least one full year’s membership. (Let us know if you are interested but do not fulfil the one year criteria)
Anyone interested could you please e-mail me or Kevin Holland as soon as possible and definitely before the deadline of Monday 30th. Nov.
If there are more than two applicants, then the two successful entrants will be picked out of the hat at our usual monthly committee meeting the following night of Tues. 1st. Dec.
Cheers and good luck – Bash.

 

Children in Need - Fri 20 Nov 2009 (thanks to Adriano Evola)
Local celebrity singing duo Blue and Duke Christopher (father and son) are kindly providing live music and supporting the Children in Need night at the Bandstand from 5pm onwards.
To all club runners. Volunteers are needed for the Annual 'Children in Need Marathon Relay' which begins at 5.00pm on Fri 20 Nov.
"Please feel free to run in fancy dress, and children are, of course, welcome"
The course begins at the Bandstand and heads along the promenade to the bottom of Constitution Hill and then back to the Pier before returning to the Bandstand. We will take turns in a relay system, where people running individually or in small groups, will each run the 1 mile course until we complete the full Marathon distance of 26.2 miles carrying Pudsey Bear along the way.
Come along on the night and add a mile or so to the total, and feel free to make a (££££) contribution.
Last year we raised a record total of £1010.10, making a grand total of £3,629 over 4 years - a fantastic achievement by all.
Sponsorship forms are available, so come and see me. Get collecting through family friends and work.
Many thanks,
Adriano

 

League Update (thanks to Tony Wenlock)
Results from the Snowdonia Marathon and Rhobell Fawr have now been added to the tracker. Despite some really good times in the race - Dave Powell knocked nearly 8 minutes of his time of last year, Anita Worthing improving by13 minutes for an all time marathon PB, and a season’s best for Tony Wenlock - these are not reflected well in the scores and so there were no changes in any of the divisions. Representing Aber at Rhobell Fawr were Dave Powell and John Evans. Despite the heavy conditions after a week of rain Dave knocked a clear 4 minutes off his time from last year. In the main league Dave has now improved his overall score by 1 point ahead of Ian Evans. Meanwhile he has clearly cemented in his position at the top of the men’s Trail league ahead of Dan Burgess and John Evans.
There are only three league races left to the end the year
Elan Valley 10 – 21st November
Ras y mast - 29th November
Aber 10 k - 13th December

 

Keep the tempo (thanks to Pete Foale)
Struggling my way around the quagmire of a cross country course at Fairwood common near Swansea last Sunday it made me think (again) about how important it is to do a regular tempo or steady run session to discipline yourself to running hard non stop. It's a session that's even more important than a Tuesday speed session for building up race strength and stamina. It's also a session that is very difficult to do all together as a club on account of each individual maintaining a set pace for a set distance. For that reason it's the sort of training session that you can only do by yourself or with someone of similar fitness and ability.
I have sent out this training programme before but we have quite a few new kids on the block so it's worth including a modified version in this newsletter so everyone can see it..

Aberystwyth AC – Tempo type Training sessions

This session is all about ‘Tempo’ or steady running at YOUR pace and getting you used to running at a faster pace than you would normally feel comfortable with. This is important for race day preparation. It is not as an intense a session as the Tuesday one but has just as much benefit, if not more.
There’s more emphasis on building up stamina at a decent pace that will ultimately help to improve race times over all distances, it can be psycollogically more demanding too. This is a session that you can do by yourself or with someone of similar ability and fitness. The session is not about racing each other but having the discipline to keep to your own predetermined pace throughout.
It is important to try hard to keep to an even pace so don’t start at a faster pace than you intend to maintain. Start at a pace that you personally are confident you can maintain with a bit of grit and determination, but not finishing as if you’ve raced! It is also very important to keep moving and jog between the efforts.
Every session to start with a 10 to 15 minute warm up jog and perhaps a bit of stretching, then at least a 10 to 15 min gentle warm down after the session.
There's 18 different sessions to choose from so no-one can complain about doing the same session over and again!

1 2 x 2 mile effort at your half marathon race pace 5 to 10 min jog inbetween effort.

2 Flat 5 mile steady run at half marathon race pace.

3 4 x 1 mile at your 10k race pace. 3 min recovery between efforts

4 4 x 5 min at your 10K race pace. 3 min easy jogs in between.

5 5K at a pace about 10% slower than your 5K race pace. i.e. 22 mins if you do 20 mins for 5K; 27.30 if you do 25 mins for 5K race.

6 2 or 3 x long steady effort up Moria hill from Glanyrafon Ind estate to top road, easy run back down.

7 3 mile at your half marathon race pace then immediately into 1 mile at your 10K race pace.

8 Flat 10K at your half marathon race pace.

9 2 x 15 min at your half marathon race pace. 10 min easy jog in between.

10 4 miles at your half marathon race pace then straight into half a mile at your 5K race pace.

11 2 x 2 mile at your 10K race pace. 5 min recovery in between.

12 Constitution hill or Bryn Y Mor rd: steady effort from bottom to top three times, very easy recovery jog down.

13 Flat 7 miles at slightly slower than your half marathon race pace.

14 4 mile at your half marathon race pace then immediately into 1 mile at your 10K race pace

15 2 x 15 min at your 10K pace with 10 min easy jog in between.

16 3 x 10 min at your 10K race pace. 5 min recovery in between each effort.

17 6 miles at slightly slower than your half marathon race pace.

18 Flat 8 miles at half marathon race pace or slightly slower.

 

West Wales Cross Country (thanks to Jos Jones)
The wet and windy weather was no match for a hardy bunch of Aber AC athletes as the ventured down to Swansea for West Wales Cross Country Championships.
Under 13 Boys
9th - Kieron Owen
11th - Callum Carter-Davies
Only 2 seconds separated these juniors in a close finish.
Under 13 Girls
Bronze Medal - Emily Thomas
11th - Fay Walsh
14th - Zoe Walsh
Another excellent performance from Emily to get the Bronze with the Walsh Girls putting in a fighting performance.
Under 15 Boys
7th - Stephen Williams
9th - Jamie Owen
Good runs from the boys up against a class field.
Under 15 Girls
5th - Megan Turner
10th - TBC - Megan Carter-Davies
Top 10 finishes for the girls in a fast race.
Under 17 Boys
8th - Sion Owen
Battled through a stitch to recover later on to finish strongly.
Senior Ladies
7th - Helen Marshall - Awarded the Bronze (Complicated system, dint ask)
12th - Jo Thatcher
22nd - Phoebe Pender
How Helen and Jo had the energy to race after talking all the way down I dont know. They must have been incentivised by the sight of Jos Jones in a pair running tights.
Clearly the tights were not the cause of Phoebe "Man City" Pender's travel sickness.
Senior Men
28th - Jos Jones
49th - Pete Foale
58th - Dai Roberts
Jos was in much better form than in the last couple of weeks, Dai thought that he would have had Pete in another couple of laps.
The 2nd fixture in the West Glamorgan Cross Country League was also incorporated in the seniors races. Updates to follow as soon as they are up on the website.

 

Snowdonia Marathon
Apologies to Delor Harvey one of our original Aber Ladies! Delor competed in her first marathon this year and instead of choosing a flat course
decided to enter the Snowdonia race! Delor crossed the line in a fantastic 4 hrs 13m.

 

The OMM in the Elan Valley, Oct 25 and 26 (thanks to Kate O'Sullivan)
Those of you who followed my exciting adventures with The Other Kate in Borrowdale last year will be ready for the sequel, no doubt. Not exactly Dan Brown, but we did have yet another map to decode. The scene: a score class, with a number of control points marked on a map to be visited in any order within a time limit of 5 hrs on day 1. The map is unseen until you cross the start line.
We were dropped off on the northern end of the Elan's vast nothingness, in a layby between Llangurig and Rhayader, and spent Saturday wending our way south, crossing the reservoir chain and wallowing for several hours in the famed Tussocks of Doom, emerging wet and cold on Sat evening at the overnight camp on the southern tip of the Caban-coch reservoir. At this point I should come clean and admit that we hadn't been planning to run a lot of the rough stuff, on account of Kate, my partner, aiming not to break a leg again this year and still not confident that her ankle was OK for off-roading. The tussocks proved unrunnable anyhow, so we hadn't missed much, and were smugly celebrative about having not broken anything, and having completed our score class without incurring time penalties and not getting lost. We spent the night in the tent with pot noodles, choc and brandy. We were off just after 8am on day two, having forced feet into wet shoes again (ugh). This time we were over-confident, and made the classic error of ignoring our pre-prepared piece of string (you know the bit in the middle of the story where our heroes' antics go a bit pear-shaped?). We received our new map at the start line, and decided to aim high and far, thus committing ourselves to a route that inevitably incurred time penalites. We were ultimately 53 minutes over our allotted 4 hours and lost 108 of our hard-earned 155 points!! However, the route was fantastic, with lots of ridge running (we had to, we were so over time), cairned tops such as Drygarn Fawr, views, some rainbows and loads of bog. The landscape seemed very large, a perspective that is the peculiar privilege of walkers and runners, and we were in awe of this beauty on our doorstep. I was equally in awe of the soup at the finish line. Overall, it was an achievement to finish, in one piece, albeit exhausted. No Holy Grail though; no doubt that quest will drag us off again next yr......

 

Up and Coming “muddy” fixtures:
Sunday 15th November – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Much Wenlock.
Sunday 22nd November – Sospan 10 miler, Pembrey Park (http://www.sospanroadrunners.co.uk/races/sospan/mt/mt.html)
Sunday 29th November – Ras y Mast, Sarn Helen.
Sunday 6th December – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Bridgnorth
Sunday 6th December - Gwent League, Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton
Sunday 13th December – Merthyr Mawr Christmas Pudding 10K, Bridgend.
Saturday 23rd January 2010 – Tarren Hendre Fell Race (http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/downloads/poster_tarren.pdf)
Sunday 24th January 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Corus/Pontrhydyfen.
Sunday 7th February 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Gnoll Estate, Neath.
Saturday 13th February 2010 - Gwent League, Penlan Leisure Centre, Brecon.
Sunday 14th February 2010 – Dursley Dozen, Gloucestershire (http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm)
Saturday 6th March 2010 - Gwent League, Blaise Castle, Bristol.
Sunday 21st March 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Margam Park, Port Talbot.

 

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3rd November 2009

 

Committee Meeting tonight – 3rd November 8.15pm in the Belle Vue Hotel, Aberystwyth
“Hi all
Here's the draft agenda for tomorrow night's club meeting - all members are welcome to attend. If you'd like to add an item please let me know by tomorrow lunch time.
Best wishes
Kevin”

Draft agenda for committee meting Tuesday 3rd November 2009 at 8.15 in Belle Vue Hotel, Aberystwyth

1. Minutes of previous meeting
2. Apologies
3. End of year club dinner/social
4. Juniors section & Mid Wales Athletics Forum including "Penweddig” cross country feedback
5. Twin Peaks - feedback
6. Aberystwyth 10K
7. 2010 London Marathon club place
8. Children in Need
9. Bunkhouse weekend - feedback
10. Any other business
11. Date of next meeting

 

Aber AC’s member TV Appearance this Friday
Elinor Thorogood is due to appear on Sportsround this weekend. She’ll be interviewing Kelly Holmes! That's on the CBBC channel on Friday (6th November) at 6.30pm and then on BBC2 on Saturday at 7.25am.

 

Cerist Aquathlon Entries now open
See Cerist website for more details: http://www.ceristtriathlon.org.uk/triathlon.htm

 

Children in Need - Fri 20 Nov 2009
To all club runners. Volunteers are needed for the Annual 'Children in Need Marathon Relay' which begins at 5.00pm on Fri 20 Nov.
"Please feel free to run in fancy dress, and children are, of course, welcome"
The course begins at the Bandstand and heads along the promenade to the bottom of Constitution Hill and then back to the Pier before returning to the Bandstand. We will take turns in a relay system, where people running individually or in small groups, will each run the 1 mile course until we complete the full Marathon distance of 26.2 miles carrying Pudsey Bear along the way.

Come along on the night and add a mile or so to the total, and feel free to make a (££££) contribution.

Last year we raised a record total of £1010.10, making a grand total of £3,629 over 4 years - a fantastic achievement by all.

Sponsorship forms are available, so come and see me. Get collecting through family friends and work.

Many thanks,
Adriano

 

Snowdonia Marathon (Thanks to Anita Worthing)
Just a brief personal account of the 2009 Snowdonia Marathon, as the Aber AC finishing times have already made it to the newsletter:

The start was horrendous: it was bucketing with rain driven by strong winds; there were long queues for the buses; running shoes were squelching before we’d run a single step; and the start was delayed by 15 minutes. However, all this was soon forgotten as the rain eased off and everyone warmed up on the climb to Pen-y-Pass, and the cheers from supporters (wetter than we were!) lifted the spirits. Then there was the lovely long downhill stretch from mile 4 to mile 8 or thereabouts, where running isn’t such an effort and you can enjoy the wonderful views and autumn colours. Somewhere around miles 6 – 7 I was overtaken by Cliff Thomas and Tony Wenlock, both running well.

By Beddgelert (12 miles) it still felt fairly easy as there had been more downhill than uphill, but the 3-mile climb after Beddgelert caused quite a few people to struggle. The wind seemed to keep changing direction but it was just enough to give a cooling effect – it might have been quite muggy otherwise. The supporters were fantastic all along the route, many shouting “Come on Aberystwyth!” and it’s amazing how energizing that can be. Somewhere after Beddgelert I passed Cliff at a drinks station but Tony was long gone.

By mile 18 (between Rhyd-Ddu and Betws Garmon) my legs were tiring a little so I tried the caffeine gel which had been given to us at registration. The effect kicked in a couple of miles later, like rocket fuel – this and a following wind carried me up the hill from mile 21 to 23 with just the occasional walk break, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted Tony half-way up the hill, walking. As I cruised past him he muttered “cramp” so I took the advantage and ran on. By then I wasn’t sure whether Cliff was still behind or whether he’d sneaked past at a drinks station when I wasn’t looking, so I pushed the pace for the last couple of miles, managing to stay on my feet on the muddy downhill bits (unlike one of the Eryri Harriers who fell 4 times!) and finishing strongly, though by then even the speed bumps in the road felt like big hills.

Tony wasn’t far behind, having recovered from cramp and achieved his target time, and we heard that Dave Powell had had a really fast time, but it was too cold and wet to wait for the others (Cliff and Delor) and the lights had mysteriously gone off in the registration hall leaving all the trade stands etc in darkness, so it was back to the car to dry off, change and EAT!

It’s a lovely marathon – the scenery is so spectacular that the mile markers seem to flash by really quickly, and the atmosphere is second to none. Many thanks to the very vocal supporters from Aber AC! Before this year’s race, I said I wouldn’t do it again if I achieved my target of less than 4 hours, but it’s strangely addictive………..

 

Up and Coming “muddy” fixtures:
Saturday 7th November – Rhobell Fawr Fell Race (http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/downloads/poster_rhobell.pdf)
Sunday 8th November- Gwent League, University of Bath.
Sunday 15th November – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Much Wenlock.
Sunday 22nd November – Sospan 10 miler, Pembrey Park (http://www.sospanroadrunners.co.uk/races/sospan/mt/mt.html)
Sunday 29th November – Ras y Mast, Sarn Helen.
Sunday 6th December – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Bridgnorth
Sunday 6th December - Gwent League, Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton
Sunday 13th December – Merthyr Mawr Christmas Pudding 10K, Bridgend.
Saturday 23rd January 2010 – Tarren Hendre Fell Race (http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/downloads/poster_tarren.pdf)
Sunday 24th January 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Corus/Pontrhydyfen.
Sunday 7th February 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Gnoll Estate, Neath.
Saturday 13th February 2010 - Gwent League, Penlan Leisure Centre, Brecon.
Sunday 14th February 2010 – Dursley Dozen, Gloucestershire (http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm)
Saturday 6th March 2010 - Gwent League, Blaise Castle, Bristol.
Sunday 21st March 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Margam Park, Port Talbot.


 

29th October 2009

 

Congratulations
Our club coach Pete became a grandpa for the first time on Friday. Congratulations to Claire and all the family on the arrival of their little boy born a very healthy 8lb 2oz.

 

West Wales Cross Country Championships
Good luck to all club runners taking part this Sunday in Swansea. Contact Helen Marshall by 5pm this Friday if you would like to take part.
(Helen Marshall hem@aber.ac.uk)

 

Dublin Marathon
Bethan ran her first marathon along with over 10,000 other runners on Monday in Dublin and looking at the results it looks like her race went really well - a fantastic time of 4.27.06!

 

Snowdonia Marathon
Representing Aber AC in this tough marathon on Saturday were Dave Powell, Anita Worthing, Tony Wenlock and Cliff Thomas. All had excellent runs and results. There were over 1300 runners.
Thanks to Bethan Lewis for the photos. They can be viewed on the club flickr website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aberac/sets
Dave Powell 3.12.32 (4th in age category)
Anita Worthing 3.51.56 (2nd in age category)
Tony Wenlock 3.55.13 (10th in age category)
Cliff Thomas 4.37.11 (16th in age category)
Full results can be found at:
http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/index.php

 

Up and Coming “muddy” fixtures:
Sunday 1st November - West Glamorgan League, (inc. the West Wales Cross Country Championships), Fairwood Common, Swansea.
Saturday 7th November – Rhobell Fawr Fell Race (http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/downloads/poster_rhobell.pdf)
Sunday 8th November- Gwent League, University of Bath.
Sunday 15th November – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Much Wenlock.
Sunday 22nd November – Sospan 10 miler, Pembrey Park (http://www.sospanroadrunners.co.uk/races/sospan/mt/mt.html)
Sunday 29th November – Ras y Mast, Sarn Helen.
Sunday 6th December – Shropshire Young Athletes League, Bridgnorth
Sunday 6th December - Gwent League, Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton
Sunday 13th December – Merthyr Mawr Christmas Pudding 10K, Bridgend.
Saturday 23rd January 2010 – Tarren Hendre Fell Race (http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/downloads/poster_tarren.pdf)
Sunday 24th January 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Corus/Pontrhydyfen.
Sunday 7th February 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Gnoll Estate, Neath.
Saturday 13th February 2010 - Gwent League, Penlan Leisure Centre, Brecon.
Sunday 14th February 2010 – Dursley Dozen, Gloucestershire (http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm)
Saturday 6th March 2010 - Gwent League, Blaise Castle, Bristol.
Sunday 21st March 2010 - West Glamorgan League, Margam Park, Port Talbot.

 

 

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  (Previous news can be found here)

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If there's anything you would like posted just e-mail: aiv@aber.ac.uk  

 

 

 

The information provided on this and other pages by me, Anita Saycell aiv@aber.ac.uk, is under my own personal responsibility and not that of the Aberystwyth University. Similarly, any opinions expressed are my own and are in no way to be taken as those of A.U.