November highlights
A few of the events to look out for in November
With the leaderboard of the 2017 Tom Hogshead table very close on points, the penultimate club handicap of the year on Saturday 4 November, may prove decisive. If you haven't run the handicap before, all standards are welcome and there's no need to enter in advance - you can read all about the race here and if you're not planning to run but can offer to help, please email the handicap team. Also on Saturday (for Serpies who registered in advance before the closing date!) there's the North London cross country championship in Greenford; the infamous Winter Ballbuster duathlon, which always attracts a hardy band of Serpies; and for those who fancy a non-competitive run, Alan Hall will be leading a social trail run over the Tring Hills.
On Sunday 5 November a few Serpies will be running the New York marathon, while on the same day there's the next in the winter Regent's Park 10k series.
The second race of the Start Fitness Metropolitan Cross Country League is at a new venue in Welwyn Garden City on Saturday 11 November. The course is described as undulating; and there will be full details about the race sent out soon. We had 77 Serpie seniors and 5 juniors running in the first Met League of the season and it would be great to see at least that many out for the next fixture. This will be a double cross country weekend for some, with the second Sunday League cross country event of the season on Sunday 12 November - this one in Trent Park. The Sunday League provides an excellent introduction to cross country running; there is no need to enter in advance; and men and women run the same course. Also on Sunday, at least a couple of Serpies will be running the Grand Union Canal half marathon.
On Saturday 18 November (for Serpies who registered in advance before the closing date!) the London cross country championship will be at Parliament Hill. On the same day, there's a social trail run of about 10 miles on the Eden Valley Walk, led by Hisayo Kawahara. On Sunday 19 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 Havana marathon and a QEOP Velopark duathlon.
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 22 November. The November Harbour Club Last Friday of the Month 5k will be on Friday 25 November.
The Fraternity and Sorority cross country cup races will be held on Saturday 25 November in Trent Park. Sunday 26 November is a busy day of racing, with the Sri Chinmoy 10k in Battersea Park, the Florence marathon, the San Sebastian marathon and half marathon and the Richmond Park half marathon which will all have Serpies taking part. Also on Sunday there'll be a few Serpies, led by Catharine Sowerby, running the short course of the LDWA Gatliff event. And, importantly, Sunday 26 November is the last date you can buy your ticket for the Serpentine Christmas party, which will be on Saturday 2 December at the Grand Connaught Rooms.
Tuesday 28 November will be the last date for club members to submit their applications for a club place at the 2018 London marathon. Details of how to apply will be sent out very soon, but you can see full details on the website.
Looking forward to early December:
- the December club handicap will be on Saturday 2 December
- the third Met League cross country fixture will be on Saturday 2 December
- the Serpentine Christmas party will be on Saturday 2 December
- the Perivale 5-mile will be on Sunday 3 December
- a Enfield and Haringey indoor open track & field meeting will be on Sunday 3 December.
There's more information about lots of these events on the Serpie events planner.
Opportunities to help
If you would like to help the club, volunteers are needed at the following events this month:
Handicap - Saturday 4 November in Hyde Park
If you want to volunteer and share the unique experience of an early morning in Hyde Park please email handicapper@serpentine.org.uk. You'll need to be at the Boathouse at 8:30am, you'll have fun and get a thank-you cup of coffee and the temporary loan of a fluorescent bib!
Harbour Club Last Friday of the Month 5k - Friday 25 November in Hyde Park
Help is needed with course marshalling, in the finish area and to keep an eye on the runners' bags. If you can help out, please either email lfotm5k@serpentine.org.uk or add your name to the Serpie Planner.
Advance notice of helpers needed at the New Year's Day 10k
We will have around 650 runners at the New Year's Day 10k and 3k and really want to put a great event on for them, so if you can spare some time to help on 1 January 2018 in Hyde Park, please put the date in your diary now and look out for messages letting you know when sign up for helpers is open.
Eda Korkmaz
communications@serpentine.org.uk
Submitted: 27 October 2017