Peter Simpson writes:
VRUK has ten members participating this year and many have been on good form recently so we are confident they will all get round safely. Are there any other runners entered from our mailing list? Our VRUK runners include:
Verna Burgess & Georgie Simmons (both from the Green Start – Good for Age), Alex Portwine (has already run marathons this year), Liz Lockwood (her first), Shelley Vander Berg, Caz Lyall-Ford, Katie Sinclair, Cherryl Sinclair, Erik Seibold, Steve Penny, Robert Crangle & John Bateson. A lot of experience in that line-up.
Supporting the VRUK members at the start, I will now be at the RED Start in Greenwich Park given that we have six members here with two at the Green Start and two at the Blue Start with three more to declare their Start at the time of posting . If you are there, look out for the banner
“Best of Luck
Veggies / Vegans”
After the runners have left Greenwich Park I will walk back down the hill where the course passes later at 6 miles and pedestrians can access the Isle of Dogs to see the leaders again at 16 / 17 miles and walk up to Canary Wharf to take the tube back towards the Finish. The meeting points at the Finish are in Horse Guards Road adjacent to St James’ Park and the Vegan Runners will be meeting at the tree labeled ‘N/O’. I will hopefully be there until the last VRUK member has finished after 4pm. I will aim to stay there as long as necessary otherwise supporters and any runners can head off to the meal (details below). There will be the usual photos at the finish.
Thanks to Vanessa and Hannah, we have been informed that the original venue for our meal, the Jao in Old Compton Street has closed so, as an alternative we will try the Tao in Great Windmill Street (W1D 7LY), off Shaftesbury Ave and east of Piccadily. We did go there a few years ago but it is small if still the same. If too congested, there is the Maoz Falafel Café (W1D 6HG) at 43 Old Compton St ( further east along Shaftesbury Ave, left into Wardour St and 1st right). The phone number on the day for Peter and the arrangements is 07967 589663.
Vanessa Hudson (Animal Welfare Party & VRUK member) will be holding a fundraising & party awareness day at the Finish so will obviously be in her party colours or wearing some animal suit. Vanessa will look out for us and may see us at the meeting point.
Peter Simpson
Club Secretary