January highlights
A few of the events to watch out for in January.
The first day of the New Year will see hundreds of runners in Hyde Park for the annual Brooks Serpentine New Year's Day 10k and 3k fun runs. Any Serpies who find at the last minute they are free on Thursday morning will be very welcome to join the team of marshals and helpers in the park - either email the race director in advance or just turn up by 10am at the marquee by the finish on Serpentine Road.
On Saturday 3 January Serpies will be returning to Hyde Park for the first club handicap of 2015. Handicap regulars and new runners alike are very welcome. If you haven't run the handicap before you can find out more about this regular monthly event, open to all club members. On the same day, the Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey county cross country championships will be taking place for anyone who pre-entered. On Sunday 4 January there are sure to be a few Serpies at the Tadworth 10 in Epsom.
After the Serpie double win at the last race, we'll need an excellent turnout at the fourth Metropolitan League cross country at Horsenden Hill, on Saturday 10 January to stand a chance of a repeat performance. The Serpie men are now only a few points off the top of the league, so it's all to play for! There's a second chance for mud-lovers on Sunday 11 January at the Sunday League cross country in Trent Park; while those looking for a longer outing have the options of the 20 or 30 mile Winter Tanners routes. Also on the same day is the next in the winter series duathlons at the QEOP Velopark - the Mince Pie's Revenge.
On Monday 12 January the club’s committee will be holding their next committee meeting in the club room at the Seymour Centre. Any members who would like an item to be added to the evening’s agenda can contact the appropriate Committee member before the meeting.
There are 40+ Serpies signed up for the Box Hill Fell Race on Saturday 17 January, so we may even surpass the 28 finishers from the club in 2014. On the same day, a smaller group of Serpies will be tackling the 45-mile Country to Capital. The following day, it will be back to road racing for some, with the Fred Hughes 10 on Sunday 18 January, plus another opportunity to hit the trails at the Benfleet 15.
There are around 100 Serpies signed up for the Southern counties cross country championships in Brighton on Saturday 24 January. And on Sunday 25 January there's another chance to race duathlon at the Rabbie Burns Duathlon at the QEOP Velopark - an event which Serpentine will be hosting, so Serpie helpers will also be very welcome!
More helpers will be welcome at the January Last Friday of the Month 5k, which will be on Friday 30 January in Hyde Park.
Looking forward to early February, the Watford half marathon, which is always a popular event with Serpies, is on Sunday 1 February; and the final Metropolitan League cross country will be on Saturday 7 February at Wormwood Scrubs, when we hope there'll be plenty of reasons to stay around for the end of season presentations!
There's more information about lots of these events on the Serpie events planner.
Sally Hodge
communications@serpentine.org.uk
Submitted: 27 December 2014