November highlights

A few of the events to look out for in November

It remains to be seen if there will be fireworks at the penultimate club handicap of 2016, which is on Saturday 5 November – if you can't run, why not come along and share the experience of an early morning in Hyde Park by being a marshal/timekeeper/writerdowner or cheerer – please email handicapper@serpentine.org.uk if you can help. There will be five Serpie teams running at the ECCA cross-country relays in Mansfield on Saturday: two men's teams and three women's teams. Also, on Saturday is a Serpie trail run on a long section of the Ridgeway National Trail, through the beautiful Chiltern Hills, with a choice of 18, 26, 32 or 39 mile-routes – watch out for more details to be sent out shortly to the Trail Running mailing list.

On Sunday 6 November there are a few Serpies planning to run the Regent's Park 10k, while others will be across the Pond at the New York marathon. On the same day it's the Leeds Abbey Dash, which is the English 10k championships for 2016.

New club members have the opportunity to meet other club members and find out about what Serpentine offers at the new members' evening at the Seymour Centre on Wednesday 9 November.

The second race of the Start Fitness Metropolitan Cross Country League is at Stevenage on Saturday 12 November. This is a multi-lap course on open parkland which is predominantly flat but with a couple of small climbs on each lap. The surface is grassy and soft but not normally muddy. There will be full details about the race sent out soon. We had 84 Serpies running in the first Met League of the season and it would be great to see at least that many in Stevenage, in particular a few more of our juniors. On the same day is the infamous Winter Ballbuster duathlon, which was won by Andy Greenleaf in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 – no pressure Andy!

For the cross country lovers amongst you, this is a double xc weekend, with the second Sunday League cross country event of the season on Sunday 13 November in Grovelands Park, Southgate. The Sunday League provides less experienced runners with an excellent introduction to cross country running. For anyone not running, Malcolm French is the Race Director and he needs Serpie help to stage the race. The race starts at 10.30am and marshals will be needed from 10.00am – please contact Malcolm if you have any questions or can offer your help. Don't forget that this adds to your points tally to apply for a club place at the 2017 London marathon – entries will open very shortly. Also on Sunday are the Grand Union Canal half marathon, in sunnier climes the Marathon des Alpes Maritimes and a women's only QEOP duathon.

The first of the major cross country championships of the season will be the London cross country championships at Parliament Hill on Sunday 19 November. You have until Monday 31st October at midnight to get your entry in if you want to race! There are no entries allowed on the day and no number swaps, but those not racing will be very welcome as marshals – in return you will receive a packed lunch and have your travel expenses reimbursed (up to a maximum of £50). Please contact Malcolm French before Monday 9th November if you can offer your help.

On Sunday 20 November there's the fast and popular St Neots half marathon which always attracts a few Serpies. On the same day, there will be Serpies competing at the Valencia marathon and the next in the QEOP duathlon series. Also on Sunday Catharine Sowerby will be leading a beginner-friendly trail run of 3-6 miles in Epping Forest – a remarkable oasis of ancient woodland within the M25. Keep an eye on the Trail Running mailing list for further details.

The November Brooks Last Friday of the Month 5k will be on Friday 25 November, and on Saturday 26 November there's the Sri Chinmoy 10k in Battersea Park and, for those who have pre-entered, the North London cross country championships in Trent Park, incorporating the Fraternity and Sorority Cups – if you haven't yet entered, you have until midnight on Sunday 6 November to enter. All athletes who have been pre-entered and registered for the North London Championships will also automatically score in the Fraternity & Sorority competitions. Athletes who are registered on the day for these races will not be eligible to score in the championship events but will score in the Fraternity and Sorority Cup competitions only.

We're getting towards the end of the peak autumn marathon season, with the Florence marathon and San Sebastian marathon and half marathon on Sunday 27 November; whilst for those wanting something shorter and closer to home, there's the Watford Joggers 10k.

Looking forward to early December, Saturday 3 December is a busy Serpie day, with the last club handicap of the year and Tom Hogshead trophy decider, the third Start Fitness Metropolitan Cross Country League race at the not-exactly-glamorous venue of Wormwood Scrubs, followed by the ever-so-glamorous and not-to-be-missed Serpentine Christmas Party (tickets will be on sale very soon!) How many Serpies will manage the triple?

There's more information about lots of these events on the Serpie events planner.

Sally Hodge
communications@serpentine.org.uk

Submitted: 28 October 2016

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