Peter reports on the first club training session of 2013, held at Regents Park and Primrose Hill. Eight vegan runners, one of our highest attendances, turned out on a cold day. There were a number of runners attending their first session as well as many regulars turning up at the last moment. Cherryl Sinclair turned up at the last moment after the photo was taken, her first session since returning from Sydney, Australia and similarly Chris Dziadul’s first attendance since last winter. Given the cold day it was an opportunity to try out the new teamster II jacket.

A regular format for the session was chosen including:

1. A loop around Primrose Hill with a climb to the top
2. A brief track session with the choice of 2 or 3 laps at your faster pace
3. Group jog around two sides of Regents Park
4. Five intervals of 1 to 1.5 minutes with 0.5 to 1 minute recovery.
5. Group jog back to the Hub

Left: Sarah, Chris D, Chris C, Simon, Siobhan, David & Peter

Session lasted just under the hour and after holding the timer for most of the intervals my hands were rather numb at the end. The teamster II jacket certainly kept me at a comfortable temperature without overheating. We regrouped in the Hub for a social and to discuss options for the coming months. We also looked through the Runner’s World diary for possible events. It was suggested that we target a 10K or other short event.

The next training session from the Hub in Regents Park will be on 10 February, meeting at 10.30am otherwise if anyone is interested in supporting myself and David Campbell in the Southern of England cross country championship on Saturday, 26 January, you would be most welcome. There is a schedule of 10 events for different age groups and gender, starting at 11am. The women’s 8K event starts at 2.05pm and to complete the schedule, the men’s 15K at 2.50pm. The women’s event includes two laps and the men’s event three laps. Depending on the course conditions the 15K is likely to take me 1 hour 20 mins.

On the 3 February there is the Watford Half Marathon from Cassiobury Park which would be a good event for anyone with plans for a Spring marathon. I plan to be there to give support and take photos.

Peter Simpson
Club Secretary