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BA Athletics Club News Digest 8th March 2021

 For future weeks: inclusions, with photos, please to Roderick Hoffman at news@barunner.org.uk.


Events Calendar - online here

 

Unrestricted races are currently off so the club continues to operate with Solo and Shared runs as listed above - for restrictions and advice see the Coronavirus footnote at the end of this digest.  Due to the Tier 4 lockdown all shared runs are off the agenda until at least 29th March. Hopefully shared runs will restart then, including with the Winter Handicap run on Wednesday 31st March.

Expect news of the Rosenheim Track&Field league matches shortly. Matters are in hand but need to be confirmed with venues.

Club Event Map: [Clickable link to Google Maps]

Roderick Hoffman


Editorial - Disappointment

Sorry, but I have to express my disappointment at the news that Joe has not been able to get a full BAAC members and friends team of 26 for the virtual London Marathon Relay due from 8am next Sunday 14th March. We are only asking you to be part of a team running one mile each, and there is nothing to stop this just being the first mile of a longer run. If you are still able to volunteer please let Joe know ASAP => 2021VirtualRelayLM@gmail.com. Joe has got 16 other teams for this - all full!

At the same time, have you notified Chris Kelly of your interest in the Green Belt virtual Relay for 15th / 16th May? => Chris Kelly (ChrisK@barunner.org.uk).

Roderick Hoffman


This Week's Events

Please help me by sending in your results, for instance by filling in the tables below and forwarding to News@barunner.org.uk. Some events, such as the weekend achievement, will have "Prompts" set up in Facebook. These allow the posting of a single image and some text and make it easy to flip through everyone's entries.

Solo Mile (submit before Monday 15th March):

Run one mile, perhaps as a rehearsal for your leg of the Virtual London Marathon Relay, and send me your time or add the details to the Facebook prompt. I'll then produce a fancy graph showing your time this month compared to those of other people and previous runs over the last year.

Participant Location Date Start Time Duration/Time Comment
 

Weekend Achievement (by 5pm on the Monday) or use the Facebook prompt that will be added on Friday:

Participant Event Distance Location Day/Start Time or Duration Details or comment, and other achievements
e.g. Running

Roderick Hoffman


Streets A to Z logoMidweek Challenge - Street Suffixes - Results

The latest event in the Streets series has now been completed. Between the eleven of us we collected 49 different suffixes, plus "No Suffix". And that was only those that I permitted - several others had been claimed but rejected by the judge. Piers in particular got in a pickle claiming that "Barnes Pikle" in Ealing used a valid suffix. The judge didn't agree. All eleven of us found an Avenue, a Close, a Crescent, a Drive, a Gardens and a Road. No way could Sarah find a "Way" or "Waye", but the rest of us did. Two of us couldn't find a "Lane" and two of us a "Walk". There were 17 suffixes with only one example found in total. The only "Chase" we found between us was "The Chase" found by Melanie which had to count as a thoroughfare without a suffix. Commiserations to Jain Reid who had researched the suffixes around her and plotted 36 of them on a map...and then ran out of time to do her run. There is a lesson to be learnt there!

Participant Type Suffixes Time Distance (km) Time per Suffix Distance per Suffix
Roderick Hoffman Calibrate 18 00:54:12 7.86 00:03:01 0.437
Piers Keenleyside 1st Run 28 01:39:36 12.4 00:03:33 0.442
Melanie Miller 1st Run 13 00:40:00 4 00:03:05 0.308
Roderick Hoffman Calibrate 5 00:10:56 0.95 00:02:11 0.190
Ben Cooper 1st run 14 00:33:37 6.45 00:02:24 0.461
Piers Keenleyside 2nd run 34 02:01:57 16.5 00:03:35 0.485
John Scaife 1st Run 22 00:53:59 7.9 00:02:27 0.358
Steve Hillier 1st Run 11 00:33:50 3.1 00:03:05 0.282
Melanie Miller 2nd Run 15 00:33:34 4.5 00:02:14 0.299
Sarah Gordon 1st Run 11 00:24:22 1.95 00:02:13 0.177
Simon Turton 1st Run 17 00:22:20 3.29 00:01:19 0.194
Roderick Hoffman Calibrate 12 00:27:44 4.01 00:02:19 0.334
Melanie Miller 3rd run 19 00:40:00 5.32 00:02:06 0.280
Denis Foxley 1st Run 22 01:04:00 10.2 00:02:55 0.464
Amanda Coombs 1st Run 18 00:34:26 6.09 00:01:55 0.338
Amanda Coombs 2nd run 8 00:02:56 0.59 00:00:22 0.074
Steve Newell 1st Run 31 02:53:17 13.4 00:05:35 0.432

Street Suffix ResultsThe results are shown in the table above and in these two graphs. It is obvious that being towards the bottom right of each of these graphs is a better result - more suffixes collected and shorter time or distance to gather each one. The dotted line shows the average of all of the results submitted.

In the "Time" competition the performances that have most exceeded the average performances are, in 1,2,3 sequence, Amanda's short run, Simon's run and then Pier's longest run. Amanda (long run), Melanie (3rd run) and the Scaife's run are quite close for fourth place.

In the "Distance" competition the 1, 2, 3 is the same but Steve Newell comes fourth from nowhere and Sarah Gordon edges Melanie for fifth place.

For all of these "Street" events I've excluded private roads and buildings. The reason for that is because with private properties naming conventions go out the window and someone could have an unfair advantage because, for instance, they lived next to an industrial estate with blocks named after people or alphabetical animals. In this "Suffix" challenge I have had to stand my ground on this. In two of the pictures below Melanie was "not a'mews'ed" (her pun) to not be able to include the one on the left whereas I was unable "to rain on Pier's Parade" (my joke) since these two are clearly council street signs (unlike the building sign behind which is more typical of "Parades" and the like). Have I been consistent and fair to all? Well, it has been difficult, particularly when Denis submitted "Dickson Fold" within his set. Is "Fold" a valid suffix? I'm sure there will be other examples in Lancashire.  But it certainly ticked the box for me, perhaps because this shortcut was the path I frequently trod when visiting my first girlfriend back in the 1970s.

Street Suffix Sign examples

Roderick Hoffman


Club Virtual Social & Quiz

Remember to put the date of Wednesday 24th March into your diaries for a BAAC Social Quiz starting from 8pm. Details nearer the time.


Ross Barkley February Results

Date Run Participant Location Net Time Total time Comment
23-Feb-21 Micheal Ball Brooklands 00:24:58
28-Feb-21 Steve Hillier Local roads 00:25:08 00:01:00 20x250m.
07-Mar-21 Roderick Hoffman Northala Fields 00:27:29 00:50:22 5x500m & 10x250m

Just three of us over the last month or so. Next month we may do something different - perhaps meeting in Bedfont Lakes to do a Ross Barkley together around the Bedfont Lakes course but as a Hare and Tortoise event with some participants doing a standard run instead. It could prove interesting...and chaotic.


BAAC 2021 Virtual Relay London Marathon (BAAC Team Manager Steve Newell)

  • Tuesday - info pack / final instruction to all runners [may include rough start times for each runner or this could be worked out during the week],
  • The team Whatsapp group will be set up by Saturday (hopefully before),
  • Sunday 07:35 TM WhatsApp final briefing followed by team WhatsApp team briefing (or at least TM announcements in most of the team members sleep),
  • Sunday 14 March – live running - 8am (first leg) start,
  • Sunday evening - WhatsApp or Zoom party (tbc).

Remember we still need some additional team members (at least two) - please contact Joe now: 2021VirtualRelayLM@gmail.com .

Roderick obo Joe and Steve.


SOLO Activity Achievements, Weekend 5th to 8th March 2021

Only 19 results listed this week for members and friends though some regulars recorded their Street Suffixes runs instead.

Colleague Activity Distance Course Start Time Duration Comments
Andy Rayner Running 4miles XC Sun 00:53:10 First go at my Cross-Country course since Autumn. Very muddy and many water pools. Also 3 miles in 42:55 on Thursday.
Barry Walters Running 15.5km Ascot Racecourse Sat am 01:26:23 Remarkably even paced run over the undulating course. Halfway time was 43-15 with second half completed in 43-08.
Ben Cooper Running 5.45km Local (Cardiff) Sat lunch 00:26:00 I've been out running every day due to my 4x4 shift falling Fri-Mon. This was the longest, but very happy with all 4!
Benita Scaife Running 7.1miles Flackwell Heath 01:29:56 Flackwell Heath is on a ridge between the Thames valley and High Wycombe, and the last 2 miles of the route is a testing climb up from riverside Bourne End.
Chris Kelly Running Half-M Tokyo Half Marathon (virtual) Sat 01:46:27 ...currently standing in 258th position, but declining as the other results 'come in'.... Hey Ho.. [now 280th of 2076 finishers, though the winner is claiming 48minutes]
Clara Halket Hula Hooping Home 00:30:00 Busy weekend, managed to fit in a 30-minute weighted hula hoop workout and 15-minute of shoulder and arm strength exercise plus 15-minute stretching.
Jain Reid Running 33.5km Chiswick to Richmond Sat 04:29:53 Usual run extended a little as part of my street sign suffix research.
Jane Harbert Cycling 10.7miles Over Angler Mt (hill) Silverthorne Sun 01:07:00 Not enough snow to call it a snow ride as roads are clear.
John Scaife Running 7.1miles Flackwell Heath Fri 01:29:56 Wikipedia reports that in 2006 the village hall staged the Scouts' Christmas pantomime Treasure Island. Nothing has happened since.
Julie Barclay Running 5km Rushmoor Freedom Run Sat 00:21:55 Still improving
Keith Johnson Running 10.17 St Albans area Sun 00:51:25 And 8.2km run on Saturday in 40:49.
Melanie Miller Walking 15.25km Chilterns Amersham / Little Missenden Sat pm 04:09:00 Lovely hike passing streams, quaint villages, railway bridges and returning via the woods only to be greeted the other side by the most magnificent sunset.
Michael Ball Hill Sprints Sun am 6x120metres
Mike Dennison Running 16.2km Hanworth Sun 01:20:01 Taking in a few local parks and open spaces - Hatherop Park, Hanworth Park, Leitrim Park, Hounslow Heath and Crane Park. A change from just running streets!
Paul Watt Running 5km Rushmoor Freedom Run Sat 00:19:51 Long time goal achieved..sub 20!
Piers Keenleyside Running 10.3miles Ealing to Richmond Lock and back Sun 01:59:28 Went a reasonable pace (for me) across the other miles (10:30 ish a couple of times). MAF training slowly paying off and no injuries.
Roderick Hoffman Running 12.32km Around Hillingdon Hospital Fri lunch 01:28:51 Postbox orienteering including one that proved harder to spot from a distance (picture below).
Simon Turton Walking 4.4km Bowsey hill, near Wargrave Sun pm 01:08:00 With the girls and back in time for the European athletics!
Stephen Taylor Running 13.13miles Ealing HM route 02:13:53 It doesn't get any easier.

Golden Postbox

<<< Golden Postbox - Celebrating Natasha Baker, gold medal winner in the 2012 Paralympics in Equestrian Freestyle.

Roderick Hoffman


BA Athletics Club Records - The Marathon

The table below shows the club records held for each age group for the Marathon. To qualify as a record the event has to be competitive and timed and the runner has to be a paid-up member of the club and running in a club vest (or in an in-house organised event or, in the case of the Marathon, in a charity fundraising vest). Members for whom BA is a second claim club may need permission from their first claim club for them to run in a BA vest and claim the record (so the same performance cannot be claimed by two different clubs). The men's records appear to have been well contested but the ladies less so. If you know better please send us your claim - we want to get these in the best shape possible. New records or questions: Stats@barunner.org.uk .

GROUP ACTIVITY NAME TIME EVENT LOCATION DATE Status
ROAD - LADIES (OPEN) Marathon Amy Stiles 02:50:34* London Marathon London Apr-00 Current
ROAD - LADIES (FV35) Marathon Di Smith 04:24:50 London Apr-96 Current
ROAD - LADIES (FV40) Marathon Di Smith 04:24:50 London Apr-96 Current
ROAD - LADIES (FV45) Marathon Di Smith 04:24:50 London Apr-96 Current
ROAD - MEN (OPEN) Marathon Barry Walters 02:32:06** London May-87 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV40) Marathon John Williams 02:40:48** London Marathon London Apr-89 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV45) Marathon John Williams 02:40:48 London Marathon London Apr-89 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV50) Marathon Ray Hampton 02:56:16 London Marathon London Apr-95 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV55) Marathon Nick Doran 03:09:06 London M London Apr-07 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV60) Marathon Ray Hampton 03:17:20 London M London Apr-06 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV65) Marathon Ray Hampton 03:27:34 Jersey M Jersey Oct-08 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV70) Marathon Derek Brion 03:51:29 London Marathon London Apr-98 Current
ROAD - MEN (MV80) Marathon Bill Buckley 05:52 London Marathon london Apr-97 Current

Roderick Hoffman

* I looked up in the Round-the-Block edition for details of Amy's record - over eight minutes under the previous record set by Betty Green in New York in 1985. I struggled. But on page 85 of the July 2000 edition 56 I found that Amy's time had been listed, including that her first half was completed in 1:22:24 which is well under our ladies half marathon record, but it wasn't documented at the time that it was a record of merit.

** I then looked up the men's records. I don't have the Round-the-Block with May 1987's results but I did for April '89. Again, John William's impressive time was simply listed with no comment attached. Who is to blame for that? One has to start with the editor of the Round-the-Block...one John Williams. Modest man is he. You'd never get the editor of this digest passing on an opportunity to mention his own performance such as his best marathon in 1985 of just over 3:33 (clock time).


parkrun update

Those of you who get parkrun updates will have learnt that parkrun hopes to re-launch on the England mainland on Saturday 5th June (and also Junior parkruns for under 11s on 11th April ). The hope is to re-launch in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at around that time but the different assemblies and regulations make announcements not yet possible. In truth "5th June" means "No earlier than...5th June" with the 5th June being the third Saturday after the government's roadmap "Stage Three" start. Individual parkruns will still be subject to getting local permissions and sufficient volunteers - and could be subject to additional social distancing protocols.

The four "UK" parkruns that have been held this year continue to stutter along - just one being held last weekend what with local lockdowns and storms in the South Atlantic. There was a brand new reason for one of the Australian parkruns to have a late cancellation last Saturday - a boat beached on the course! Well, what do you expect at "The Beaches parkrun"? 433 events were held last week, down on the previous week's recent record of 459 because New Zealand has had to go back to lockdown.

Roderick Hoffman


Coronavirus Warning Footnote [changes from last week underlined or struck-through] (no changes)

In the UK exercise outside is permitted because it will boost physical and mental health and because the risk of catching Coronavirus outdoors is very low provided social distancing advice is kept to.

  • Do not exercise outside the house if you have been asked to isolate or you are unwell, particularly if you have symptoms of the coronavirus such as a fever, or if you share a house with someone who has these symptoms, or if you consider yourself to be vulnerable, such as being elderly or with pre-existing health conditions,
  • You may drive to outdoor publicly accessible open spaces but you are advised to stay 'local' (defined as "in the village, town, or part of the city where you live."), you are also advised to minimise the amount of time spent outside your home and you should follow social distancing guidance whilst you are out. Further advice is to reduce public transport and shared car journeys and if reinstated do not cross the "Tier 3" boundary (in either direction).
  • Current rules only allow you to exercise on your own, with people in your linked household (bubble), as part of child-care or with one other person. You are advised to exercise just once per day and to minimise the variety of people you meet over the weeks of lockdown. Exercising your pet is allowed in addition, but only on your own. The "Rule of Six" will be reinstated on 29th March so from then on informal groups of up to six (or two households) are allowed to meet outside and exercise together.
  • As you exercise, keep 2m away from all others including those you run with as well as those you meet on the run, by default diverting around those you meet (don't leave it up to them to avoid you),
  • Do not push yourself too far, this may weaken your defences against the virus and/or increase the probability of requiring assistance. We all have different limits so you need to judge what would be too far for you,
  • If government instructions are updated to limit or prevent exercising outside your homes, or to meet with fewer people, please respect such instructions - we should be fighting the virus, not authority.

If you are unwell yourself, especially if you have symptoms of the virus:

  • Put your needs first...
  • but please let me (Roderick Hoffman) or Steve Hillier know of your condition/status, but we will keep it to ourselves unless you ask us to pass information on.

Shared club activities are not permitted until 29th March.  From then any club member may be permitted to organise a shared activity. We recommend the social distancing gap of 2metres although "1meter+" can be followed during the activity itself.  Until everyone has had the opportunity to be protected by the vaccine all participants should continue to follow the social distancing rules. To legitimize a run with more than six participants:

  • The chairman (Roderick) or the secretary (Steve Hillier) must be notified in advance that the event is taking place,
  • One of the participants must be a paid-up member of the BA Athletics Club and must be prepared to perform the duties of a "Covid-19 Coordinator", if more than six attend we recommend that that member wears a BAAC top or distinctive clothing,
  • If the tiers are reintroduced then participants, and the activity, should not cross the "Tier 3" boundary or the "Tier 4" boundary (in either directions).
  • A risk assessment has to be raised based on this template,
  • The considerations within the risk assessment must be followed,
  • After the activity perform a review of the risk assessment and log and pass on any issues or lessons learned.

Next Digest - Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes, stories - send them to the editor, Roderick Hoffman, at news@barunner.org.uk.

Not for you, no longer interested? remove me please.

Difficulty viewing this? Read it from the website:- http://www.barunner.org.uk/News Latest.shtml. Club website: www.barunner.org.uk.


 

      

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