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While we are still in our Covid Apocalypse and unable to compete at any regular events it is our good fortune to be able to compete in the club activities. So even though Beach2 Brother, the rescheduled NewRun and City To Surf were either cancelled or gone virtual we have had a full month of competition plus some. The buzz surrounding the Ryano v The Poachers (1x5km verses 5x1km) challenge will be hard to match.

Speed week once again started the month and while in the gents Ryan and James repeated their grade topping performances as did Karina in the ladies Leigh, Bel and Alana added their names to this illustrious list of monthly winners. A reminder to all parkrun and (not) parkrun competitors your best 5 performances count in the championships.

The Pacer Mighty Mile was run and won with a familiar feel about the individual winners as Ryan and Ebanie stood atop the rostrum again. Ryan in a club record of 4m 43s beat out Andie who beat the adult club record on the day. Ebanie’s time of 6:04 is the best time by a female in the post Kirstin age.

The 11th saw us run our second Pacer Handicap Pursuit 8km Event. Brent, Amanda and Gary were the podium places.

Meanwhile one of our members was able to race against their peers from beyond the club with Ryan competing in the state cross country long course championships and placing on the podium in an outstanding time under 20 minutes for the 6km course. Recent member Trent also had success in his age group. Congratulations to both runners.

Which brings us to the event that created the greatest buzz among the members for many long months. The Ryano v Poachers 5k event where Ryan was expected to run 5k against 5 speedsters taking turns to run 1k each in a relay. The challengers comprised a team who individually held the adult club records for 1k, 1 mile, half marathon, IM and an aging parkrun champion. So much interest was shown that the 1k time trial leading up to the event will no doubt become a more permanent event on our calendar after Paul smashed out a new club record. To cut a long story short Ryan must have been growing tired of seeing the back of his opponents as they streaked away at the start of their legs only for him to wind them back in before the next relay runner set out to break him again. Break him they could not despite numerous personal bests by the challengers and a new club record to Paul of 2m50s, Ryan prevailed in the final sprint to the line. Such entertainment. Brilliant performances all round. So much encouragement that Eb then went a set a new female club record for the 1k as well of 3:31.

The month of September saw the continued cancellation of all the iconic races that Pacerdom would normally be involved in so the new club season is a relief to all the Pacers who were yearning to get out, train and compete. As well as our Speed Week competitive (not) parkrun 5km and the Mighty Mile we had the RAV run (1300km team total and/or 200km individual distances in 19 days), we also ran the inaugural 8km handicap Pacer Pursuit time trial, the Super Series 10km and 21.1km events. On top of this our L plated coaches began structuring our Pacer West interval sessions for us and the Hello Koala sculpture trail social runs began. Highlight performances from Goody, Bernadette and Jo in the half; Dave Chinn in the 10k, Neil and Leigh Carroll in the 5k and Karina in the Pursuit stand out for me.

Despite the lack of races due to public health concerns, as a group we achieved a lot this month (our last of the 19/20 Pacer season). Our Pacer parkrun championships were concluded just when no one really knew they existed – don’t worry they start anew next week and we all have an even starting point. Speed Week was run and won, (not)parkrun is growing in popularity, Coach Training selections were made (Carina and Clarissa) and some excellent Personal Best Times were recorded with the aid of Pacer pacers (?). All the while we were preparing to celebrate our 3^rd birthday (Plan C is sure to be activated soon as C19 wipes out each successive plan).

A huge few weeks for Bel who ran a PB 5k on the 15^th and then blew her previous 10k time out of the water on the 21^st and managed to run sub 50 minutes after 8 years of often interrupted preparation. Congratulations on a well deserved PB.

Speed Week started with the Mile at Tuesday’s Pacer West Speed Session. This month’s winners were Andy (5:24) and Ebanie (6:07). (not)parkrun grade winners were Rache, Honni, Karina, Ryan and James. If you wish to get involved (I am especially talking to you Andy) make sure you are registered with parkrun and your club is Port Pacers and then you just need to register your best 5k time for the week on the parkrun site. Unfortunately (not)parkrun seems to be the vehicle for parkrun for longer than we might wish. But there are positives. You can upload a time even if you miss the 7am parkrun time and are out of reach of a parkrun course.

Other (not)parkrun PBs were achieved by Adam, Carina, Kate (twice), Laura, Chel, Karina, Ryan, Rache and Jo.

Lastly we would like to take the opportunity to congratulate our 2019/20 Pacer parkrun grade champions. In the ladies our champions are Eb, Lyndsey, Karina and Minnie. In the gents our champions are Ryan, James and Dawso. A reminder that it all starts again in September so happy and safe running.

Nearly 2 months since our Covid Lockdown our club has returned to offering our whole range of running related fun. Taking into consideration that we are still in winter and race after race has been abandoned or put off until some, maybe, unrealistic future date our program is successfully up and running producing some outstanding results.

Pacer West (Tuesday 6am) is only averaging about half the numbers of attendees that we saw in February in the lead up to Port Run Fest but the intensity is producing brilliant results. Cruiseday Tuesday (Tuesday after work) has low numbers which will pick up once the daylight hours stretch out. The Wednesday afternoon Sussex Sufferfest is picking up and rivals earlier in the year for participation. Thursday morning at Oxley Oval is actually as healthy as it has been for a long time (must be the move from laps to Fartlek along the breakwall I think), ThursDAY morning numbers move around but were healthy at the end of July while the Back Of The Pack group is attracting good numbers, Friday Long has been popular and is hitting the long term average number of attendees, (not) parkrun has kicked up in attendees while the Sunday Pursuit/Social Runs are up and down. Please get involved if you fancy any of these sessions as we try to cater to all levels of running/walking abilities.

On the performance side of things, the obvious highlight was the performance of Trent and Ryan at the NSW short course cross country championships at Dapto with each qualifying to represent the state at the national championships.

Other performances of note occurred in the Gold Coast Virtual Marathon Running Festival held over the month of July. Eb, Manda, Kate and Tash all had outstanding results in their age group. In the 5k event the four ladies occupied places 6, 7, 8 and 11. In the 10k event they came 6, 8 12 and 17^th.  While in the 21.1k event Eb and Manda finished 12^th and 14^th. Trent placed 2nd in the 4k Junior Dash in a very quick time of 14:34. Meanwhile in the men’s 60-64 years events Gary placed 1^st in the 5k and 2^nd in the 10k and 21.1k events. Other memorable performances may have occurred and I am not aware of them at the time of writing.

Some fantastic run times were recorded in July with Ebanie and Amanda breaking into the sub 45 minute 10k club. Ryan ran a PR of 15:36 for 5K and Jade ran a 10k PR.

July saw the relaunch of the Mighty Mile, a monthly time trial for all comers over the mile distance. We decided to run the event as part of our Pacer West Speed Session on the first Tuesday of the month. Any Pacer who is unable to attend has the opportunity to run a mile, record and upload for Championship points at any time during the day of the race. The Mighty Mile will run in the first week of each month which will in future be known as Speed Week and will feature as well as our parkrun Championship (not parkrun Championship for the time being). The July podium saw Amanda (6:39 minutes), Tash and Goody in the Ladies event and Ryan (4:55 minutes – a new club record), Binny and Andy in the Gents event.

What a weekend it was for us, as the 9th annual Port Macquarie Running Festival was held on the weekend of the 7th/8th March. The club was well represented in the saturday events, with lots of junior pacers running across all distances, and a team of vollies helping out as marshalls across all the kids races.

Sunday was the main event. We had approx 80 pacers scatter themselves across all the events from the Buster, to the Half Marathon, the 10km and the 5km.

There was some amazing achievements across the club, with 13 stand-outs.

• Ryan Binskins efforts was voted the outstanding achivement in the club. Ryan won the 10km event in a time of 33:30, and backed it up with a 3rd placing in the 5km.
• Jo Ashton was voted the 2nd most outstanding achievement of the weekend, with her longest ever run, and her first Buster event completed.
• Kylie Brown was voted 3rd most outstanding achievement. Kylie didnt run on the weekend, but volunteered tirelessly on both days, dancing up a storm on the southern end of the course
• In a tight 4th placing was Adam Carralls amazing 80 minute half marathon, on his way to completing the Buster.

Other notable achievements included:

• Leon Poltorasky with his first sub 50 in the 10km.
• Julie Best with an outstanding run in the 10km.
• Bel Carralls blistering 10km run.
• Joanna Ryan with her first sub 50 in the 10km.
• Lyndsay Kinsman smashing run in the 10km .
• Christie Christoforo smashing out her first half marathon, and cracking 2 hours to boot.
• Gary Snows age group placings in the half, 10 and 5 as he completed the Buster.
• Trent Ally was the fastest junior on the Saturday and 4th placed overall in the 5km race.
• Laura Philps great runs in the half marathon and 10km on her way to completing the Buster.

Another Huge weekend, this time in Forster, as the tribe headed south for the Forster Running Festival. Some cracking results, with the highlight being Lizzie and Claire’s first half marathon.
We had competitors in every event, from the kids event, the 3km, 5km, 10km, half marathon and Buster.
Congratulations to Trent for winning the 3km and his second placing in the 5km; Ryan and Clarissa for their 2nd placings in the 10km and to Paul for his age group placing in the half!

Meanwhile, the Poltoraskys hit the trails at the Tomaree Trail run, with Leon again collecting a podium finish! Browny and Pat were further west, at the Duval Dam Buster. And lastly, Gary knocked off his 7th International parkrun, in Belfast!