Included is a Word document and also a PDF version.  For more info talk to Mary or Stan or Michael.

Twilight Half Training Plan – PDF

Twilight Half Training Plan – Word Document

Jenny Cawood and Sandy Scott are our most consistent half marathoners, Sandy did one in Sydney and Melbourne as well as races in SE Qld. Last year’s title was won off only 6 races so the challenge is on.  You can choose whatever distance you want if the designated event has it.  The only race that doesn’t provide any choices is the Pinnacles Classic which is an 18km trail run (18 hills in 18km’s as they say!).

In order to qualify for points in the club championship you need to be a financial member of the club at the time of the race. Points are accumulated and after the final race of the season in Toowoomba the winner is announced at our Annual Awards.  The winner receives a perpetual trophy for the year as well as a take home trophy to keep.

The Club Championship races for 2012 are:

1.  Twilight Running Festival: Sunday night 18 March (10km, Half marathon)

2.  Pinnacles Classic: Saturday morning 14 April (18km trail)

3.  Noosa Half Marathon: Sunday morning 6 May (10km, Half marathon)

4.  Gold Coast Marathon: Saturday 30 June-Sunday 1 July (10km, Half marathon, marathon)

5.  Jetty @ Jetty: Sunday morning 15 July (10km, Half marathon)

6.  Brisbane Running Festival: Sunday morning 5 August (10km, Half marathon, Marathon)

7.  Bridge 2 Brisbane: Sunday morning 9 September (10km) – to be confirmed

8.  Toowoomba Marathon: Sunday morning October 21 (10km, Half marathon, Marathon) – to be confirmed

The Distance Awards were:

The Club Championship is calculated on points from our 8 nominated races starting in March and finishing at end of October.  As you can see women dominated the top ten.  Expect tough competition throughout 2012 for this award.  You don’t have to be fast to win this award.  Points are accumulated from the top 5 positions in any of the races in our 8 nominated races.

The Coaches Awards went to:

The walkers proved to be the real party people dancing the night away after the awards were done keeping Simon playing away on the guitar.  Well done the dancers!  Thanks to Wendy Clark, Julie Turner and Jo Filmalter for all their hard work setting up the hall during a long Saturday and to all who helped pack it away.  Plans are already underway for next year and you can even book your tickets already if you want!:

Mary was honoured with a Good Samaritan award because she broke her race 3 times to assist people in need including our own Gazza. Gazza collapsed about 200m from the finish suffering from severe dehydration and muscle damage. After some initial difficulty getting propoer help and ambulance arrived. Gary had been supported initially by Abi and Sandy and then Stan and Mary came along. Mary’s presence was greatly valued as she is a nurse and understands the medical needs of athletes in such conditions. Thankfully the hospital took good care of Gary. Mary got dropped off at the hospital whilst we had a somewhatt deflated meal at Sizzler, getting text updates from Mary. We eventually made it over to the hospital and Stan & Mary saw him before he was taken up to a high care ward. Latest update from lunchtime today is that Gazza will be released on Friday this week.  It will be great to see him back home and recovering over the next few weeks.

There are a couple of reflections I have. Firstly, a big thank you to Mary, who always thinks more of others than herself. The support she provided to Gary was incredibly valuable. She also helped a runner hit by a car and another woman who also collapsed. Her support of Gary in the hospital would have made the world of difference to him as well, ensuring that he got the best care and the medical staff understood the unique nature of the injury (you never know – its Toowoomba).

The other reflection I have is just how dangerous running can potentially be, especially at events where the temperature is either high or low. We have been running information nights on nutrition and hydration already, but I will endeavour to put together a factsheet for our website of essential information about nutrition and hydration for long distance running which clubbies can access 24/7. What happened this weekend is both avoidable but also easy to understand how it happened. It doesn’t take long for you to get distressed and not make good decisions (or be aware of making good decisions). Ultimately we don’t want anything like this to happen to anyone else, cos as Gazza will no doubt tell you, its not pleasant. I really did get a big fright out of this. Long distance running is a tough gig, and we need to know as much as we can and also know our bodies. Be careful peeps!

Dackie & Enda accompanying the female marathon winner

Gazza whilst he was still powering!

Stan had good company from Barry, a Moreton Bay runner

Brownie - Karen Brown nails her second marathon for 2011

Jerrod was a running advert for compression garments

Scotty Brown cruising in the Half after a great training run up

It was great to see Abi again!

Abi keeping the pack on track

The fabric is a breathable sports weave the same as most running shirts from recognised brands. The design is fully sublimated so will not fade. This shirt is ideal for walkers and also for runners during the colder months. It’s a great breathable shirt that looks great and helps identify and promote our club. We encourage our club members to wear this as a casual shirt as well.

We’ve kept prices as low as possible, and our deal with Alanic allows us to price these shirts at $30, which represents excellent value. At this price you may want to think about getting more than one, not just for yourself but for family and friends as a unique Christmas gift.

Ordering is only open for 2 weeks so act now! (Orders close on 30 October.)

We have tried to get in ahead of all the usual end of years events and we hope that as many can come as possible. The food will be provided by a spit roast caterer and we’ve managed to keep the prices as low as possible to encourage as many as possible to come. We encourage you to bring your partners, friends, etc. You can bring your children if you like but there will be no supervision for them available – your call.

We have a number of awards, with the usual 10km, Half and Marathon titles plus Walkers Award and the Inaugural Club Champion Award. The last chance to score points in the Club Champions Award is Toowoomba Marathon weekend (10km, Half, Marathon) plus there’s still time left to set the record for 2011 in any of those distances. There will also be Coaches Awards and some not to serious awards like Media Tart, Gonna Award, Most Lairy Dresser, etc. Suggestions for more spoof awards and nominations welcome!

The night kicks off at 6:30 with finger foods. It’s a BYO drinks and alcohol. the only liquid on offer will be coffee and tea at the end of the night so remember to come prepared. At 7:30 we’ll kick off with the main meal followed by the presentations and then dessert and then time to kick our heels up. We would like to put together a Year In Perspective slide show so please send Stan any pictures you may of Striders at events, socials, etc.

Ticket Prices are $20 per adult $10 per child.  Book early to help us organise catering please.

Members of each club enjoy reciprocal (but restricted) membership rights. That means a Strider enjoys the same rights and payment schedules as RTC members do for all coached (paying) sessions. similarly RTC members enjoy the rights of a Striders member (who do not pay for coached sessions). Reciprocal members do not have voting rights of the club they are NOT members of and don’t qualify for other benefits like club polo shirts, etc. Most RTC members who hang with Striders have become members in anycase, and most Striders who hang with RTC similarly have become members. There are some who do not connect with Striders enough to warrant joining and vice versa. Many thanks to Mary Jackson for her negotiation on the matter.

At the last Management Team meeting we agreed to recognise South Pine Striders as an associated activity of South Pine Striders.  SPR will have their own kit and those that race on weekends will use it for those purposes as well as bunch rides, etc. SPR is a casual group, there are no coached sessions, and all participants agree to come under their own insurance cover. Riders are encouraged to become Social Members of SPS, but this is not mandatory. SPR will use the SPS icon in their logo. Key members of SPR Team are Gabriel Petrie, Fabian Gonzales (SPS member), Paul Sterling.