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 17th. While in the 21.1k event Eb and Manda finished 12th and 14th. 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 1st in the 5k and 2nd 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.
