Rainforest Foundation 10K, 1/11/09
Date: 2009-12-14
The Rainforest 10K was chosen as our main event for World Vegan Day and with Vanessa in her new role as Press Secretary we had high hopes of good coverage for veganism and the club. With the experience behind her, Vanessa contacted the national press and the Vegan Society who were leading the media coverage. After last year's turnout of 8 members, the most members of clubs present, a similar number would have been good publicity.
Leading up to the event, the weather was going to put a dampener on proceedings with heavy rain and strong winds forecast. Prior to the Rainforest event which was scheduled for 11.15am, there was the monthly Regent's Park 10K at 9am where we were represented by Laurence Klein, a fortnight after his record marathon time at Abingdon.
I arrived in London in time to visit the Regent's 10K which was within a convenient walking distance from Euston. At that time there was only intermittent drizzle but within 10 minutes of the start, heavy rain suddenly descended with runners huddled in the 'Hub' changing area waiting until the last moment before moving off to the start. It made no difference, they were going to get wet as they lined up on a path. I soon picked out Laurence and was quite surprised by the larger than expected field, over 400 finishers in the results.
Runners were glad of other runners around them to provide shelter from the headwind and the heavy driving rain. It was obviously going to be a slow start before they turned left on the first of a multi-lap course. Walking back across the park towards Euston, the trail of runners was not far away on my right and we were converging. I had to cross over the course at the far eastern side and as I arrived runners were still passing with the benefit of the wind and did not have to wait long to see Laurence again. As I left the park to head for Finsbury Park, the rain eased to the relief of the runners but not the wind.
Arriving at Finsbury station at 9.45, earlier than anticipated, there was already some flooding on the road as I approached the Park. Needed to arrive early to meet our runners and the press but given the weather conditions, they had reason to give it a miss. Few runners were around apart from the event volunteers and small businesses hoping for some trade. With little in the way of dry areas for changing it was near impossible not to be affected by the conditions. The meet-up area between marquees gradually became more like a cross country course.
To my surprise as I stood under the registration marquee still getting wet, our runners and supporters found me including a photographer that Vanessa had arranged. We delayed getting changed but the photographer was very patient. As the pre-arranged warm-up exercises routine began, we got together for the photos seen earlier. There were possibly other vegan runners who did not find us but we were now very much in the public eye. Lining up were James Millington, Chris Dhondee, Vanessa Hudson & myself with Andrew Knight & Chloe Vincent in support, Chloe having experienced a non-running injury in the past week and was unfit to run.
As we crossed the line close together, Chloe took pictures (available later) around the circular course in both directions. Despite the weather, the rain having eased, we soon warmed up and the recently fallen leaves were still relatively dry and not yet a cause for concern just what may be underneath them. The course is undulating with the main hill towards the end of the first of four circuits (two in each direction) where we do a u-turn and repeat the course in the opposition direction. The number of runners was well down on last year so there was only a small number of runners ahead. Last year I thought my time of 44:20 was very slow for me, two weeks after a marathon so was expecting to do much better this time although it was windy. Again I seemed to struggle on the hills and into the wind but there was great support from Chloe and Andrew. On the last long straight into the wind, I passed a runner in a banana suit but on the last 500 metres on grass and into the wind, as I tired, a few runners including the banana costume man caught me in the final 50 metres. I was also disappointed again by the clock time of 44:50.
To view more photos of us action click on Andrew Knight's photography.
James, Chris & Vanessa who incidentally started late or last after a toilet visit managed to meet-up at the finish and arranged with Andrew for group photos crossing the line after removing their chips. I had disappeared temporarily to get changed into some drier clothing if possible. The next day when the results were published we discovered there was another vegan on our supporters list who also completed the event. Caitlin Blodans did remarkably well to finish 7th female in 49 minutes (also 2nd vegan) so obviously has some potential.
To continue the meet-up we found a local cafe, not ideal that could accommodate us all. The cafe was certainly not use to catering for vegans but we were relieved to have a roof over our heads and somewhere dry to sit down. For those of us who were still interested in a lunch, three of us (Vanessa, James & myself) continued the social with a visit to the Inspiral Vegetarian Cafe in Camden town. Andrew had some other pre-arranged lunch for 20 or so at a grand restaurant.
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VRUK blog - latest news
http://veganrunnersuk.blogspot.com/
Vegan running shoe guide - as featured in "Vegan" Summer 2011
http://www.veganrunners.org.uk/articles/vegan_running_shoes_and_trainers_1398.html
Club Training and Meetups
The monthly London meet up and training run has a base at Regent's Park from The Hub sports facility & cafe in the north of the park. Members, supporters, or indeed anyone who would like to try out our sessions are more than welcome. Attendance at the January & March 2012 sessions were 8 & 7 runners respectively.
The next London meetup & training session is scheduled for Sunday 20 May 2012, meet 1030am at the Highgate Harriers track, Hampstead Heath for an off-road / trail session, more details to follow.
The next Birmingham meetup and training session held in Cannon Hill Park, south of the city centre has been scheduled for Sunday 13 May 2012. Meet 11am inside the park at the entrance to the mac building / cafe.
Other local or regional Vegan Runners groups include:
- South Wales VR - meet-up at open events including the Cardiff Parkrun on Saturdays at 9am
- Brighton VR - open events and the Hove Park 5K Parkrun on some Saturdays.
We are also trying to establish VR groups in
- Bristol
- Bath
- Leicester - meets at the Braunstone Park Run, 9am Saturdays
Check the VRUK diary to see if there are any dates for training sessions or event meet-ups. Alternatively, for a free 5K run, we suggest you visit Parkrun to check for a local venue. They are held weekly on Saturdays starting at 9am, you just need to register for a barcode at least a day before your first Parkrun and take a printout along.
For an idea of how recent London training sessions have turned out click here.
If you would like to arrange sessions in a different area of the UK we can publicise it through VRUK and this website. Please contact Peter Simpson on Protected email address.
Summary of 2010 Activities
Depending on the location of members, the club was represented in most regions of the UK sometime during the year. In the Winter season more members were taking part in off-road events or training for Spring marathons otherwise generally road & park races throughout the year. Here we focus on a sample of events where members met either through popularity or locality. Click title to open report.
London Marathon 2010
Eight members of Vegan Runners UK successfully completed the London Marathon, five wearing the club kit. In the photo from the left: Cedric David, Helen Watkinson, Maria Hamilton, Peter Simpson (support), Chloe Vincent & Keith Hammond (Vegetarian C&AC). In the 2009 event we had one of our strongest teams, the highlight being our 4 sub 3-hour runners, this year the focus was on our core members. Some of our runners set large personal bests, others their first marathon or first London event. Congratulations go to all our runners who achieved the following times:
- Colin Braybrook 3:02:41
- Cedric David 3:46:51
- Verna Burgess 3:49:36
- Chloe Vincent 4:04:56
- Helen Watkinson 4:10:36
- Maria Hamilton 4:11:40
- Laurence Klein 5:12:04
- Teressa Longhurst 5:27:05
Anna Finn Reaches 100 Marathons
33 Year old Anna Finn, a maths teacher and member of Vegan Runners UK, has run 100 Marathons. She seems to be the youngest woman to achieve the feat, and is awaiting news from Guinness about the World Record.
Vegan Runners Cross Country Season: Victors, Veterans and Virgins …
Winter is another busy period for several members who enjoy cross country. Vegan Runners of all abilities and ambitions have taken part in races large and small over the last few weeks. Peter Simpson reports on the South of England XC Champs held on the 30th January 2010. Beside his own well-paced race, Peter reports on Vannessa Hudson’s battle with road shoes and the mud, and a well-placed Colin Braybrook (a vegan runner competing under the St Albans Striders banner). Neil Ford marks his come-back with a victory in the Berwick Cross Country, which was ‘somewhere between four and five miles’. A winter-loving Clare Coombes has been mud-running through the cross country season, sporting her club vest, finally breaking the top 100 places.
Club Training Session Report
The London Club Training Session continues to attract a sizable core of members, at the December 2010 session in Kensington Gardens we missed the severe weather, attracting eight runners and was filmed. At the January 2011 session in Regents' Park another seven turned out. The new Birmingham session in January 2011 attracted four members as did the first London session.
Rainforest Foundation 10K, 1/11/09
The Rainforest 10K was chosen as our main event for World Vegan Day and with Vanessa in her new role as Press Secretary we had high hopes of good coverage for veganism and the club. With the experience behind her, Vanessa contacted the national press and the Vegan Society who were leading the media coverage. After last year's turnout of 8 members, the most members of clubs present, a similar number would have been good publicity.
Robin Hood Half & Full Marathon 13/9/09
The Robin Hood events in Nottingham attracted in the region of 10,000 runners this year with approaching 7,000 in the half marathon and 1,400 in the Marathon. Running for Vegan Runners UK we had Mick Morgan from Doncaster, Anna Finn of North London and James Millington of East London. In the half we were represented by Clare Coombes a local and Peter Simpson of Milton Keynes with Vanessa Hudson our support crew and photographer. To view Vanessa's album clickhere. On the eve of the events some members of VRUK & the Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club met up at the Alley Cafe-bar for a meal and social.
More General stories.