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BA Athletics Club News Digest 23rd November 2020

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

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. We intend and expect to hold the December 5-mile handicap run on Wednesday 9th December at the Bedfont Club. We probably won't be able to socialise afterwards, but please try to make the event. It will be good to see you.

Roderick Hoffman

This Week's Events

Track-on-Field will be reported on next Monday and Ross Barkley the week after - but you can do your runs anytime until then. Please help me by sending me 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.

Track-on-Field (by 5pm on the last Friday of the month):

Ross Barkley 5k (by the end of the month):

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

Roderick Hoffman

Midweek Hexathlon Running, Jumping, Throwing Challenge - Results

Last week’s challenge was meant to be fun, as well as being a track and field training exercise.  The ten who took part tackled some new challenges with great success, sometimes in grotty weather.  The best five performances by each athlete counted towards their final score.
The shuttle run, ten lengths of a ten metre course, was won by young Fran.  Her superior turning technique meant that she just pipped her seniors, Mike D. and Roderick, into 2nd and 3rd places.

Throwing a ball provided a strong win for Mike D.  The tennis ball proved more “floaty” than a cricket ball in windy conditions, but Mike managed to gain control.  Our top lady was Laura, who brought to bear her goalkeeping distribution skills to achieve the longest throw.

The standing long jump puts many muscles to the test. Our springiest competitor was Mike B., with Maarten just seven centimetres behind.
The kilometre run is unusual.  We try and tackle it each Spring at the start of the T&F season, then put the distance to one side, but it is a great distance to train at to gain endurance for the 800m. Once again Mike D. took the spoils.  Amanda was the quickest lady and third overall, while Jakob was the fastest junior, just one second behind Amanda.

Overhead throw – great if you can find a dusty football in your shed.  It requires balance and long arms.  Reportedly Steve N. kept his dog-walking neighbours entertained with his useful efforts, as he took bronze in the men’s group.

Vertical jump.  A test of technique, and how to measure.  Do you use chalk, or masking tape, or ask a friendly observer to help?  For the third time, Mike D starred in this event.

Steve Hillier

SOLO Activity Achievements, Weekend 20th November to 23rd November 2020

This week 26 members and friends reported activities. There are a few gaps again, including by two members who were actually seen by a third - but I can only report what I'm told about.  Please try to make future submissions by Monday 5pm, or 6pm at the latest, either by email to me or using the "Prompt" in Facebook.

Roderick Hoffman

parkrun News

parkrun is up and running again in Namibia but the run at Windhoek which is based on a golf course was cancelled this week because, guess what, a golf tournament was taking place!  After 2nd December, it may be possible to fly there via Frankfurt or Johannesburg but there no direct flights from London at the moment. Quarantining (7 days) on arrival can be avoided by having a negative Covid19 test result (nb £private, not NHS !) less than 72 hours old.  Allow 24 hours for the journey.  A nearby street is named after sprinter Frankie Fredericks.

...and the really good news...... if you could get a direct flight back from Namibia there would be no need to self-isolate on arrival back in England.

Steve Newell

Ed: Certainly easier than taking the six-months job with the army my mate has taken in order to run at Cape Pembroke Lighthouse every other week.

Another positive, shown in the graph, is that the number of locations operating parkruns has increased every week since parkrun resumed in September. 11,256 individuals finished one of the 117 parkruns last Saturday. It originally took over seven years to build parkrun up to that size.

Masters And Maidens Alan Blatchford Memorial Marathon

I know nothing, does anyone have any memories or ideas about the following:

Let me know if you do.

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 irrespective of distance, but you should follow social distancing guidance whilst you are there. Advice is to reduce public transport and shared car journeys,
• The current English lockdown restrictions allow you to run on your own, with people in your linked household (or "bubble"), as part of child care or with one other person
• 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.

During the England lockdown the club is not allowed to organise any club shared activities. When the "Tiers" are reintroduced Club members will be asked not to cross the third tier ("Very High") boundary (in either direction) to attend a club organised event.

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.

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