Serpentine - What’s Happening in March 2020

Hello Serpies: Are you ready for some March Madness? Get yourself a cuppa and enjoy this sneak preview of March 2020...

The Big Half

Good luck to the 40 or so Serpie runners who have entered this London half marathon on Sunday 1st. Knowing that a lot of you would probably want a swift drink or lunch after running or spectating, we have secured some space in the Vanbrugh pub (91 Colomb Street, Greenwich, London SE10 9EZ) after the race. Please come along and join us. It is just about in the Eastern Hemisphere of the world, locally known as the Maze Hill side of Greenwich Park, about 10-15 minute walk from the race finish.

Southern & National Road Relays

Fancy running fast and furious? The South of England SEAA 12 stage (men) and 6 stage (women) road relays will be held at Milton Keynes track on Sunday 22nd. This will be followed by the ERRA National 12 and 6 stage relays at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday 4th April. You need to enter as fast as you run – registration will close on Saturday 7th. Race details are here. Questions? For women's team please contact Laura Carmichael; for the men's team Phil Whitehouse is your man.

Trail running

Want to take it slow and gentle instead? We have a couple of trail running dates for you:

  • On Saturday 7th, Hisayo Kawahara will lead us along to South Downs Way towards Hassocks on a 15km trail route.
  • On Sunday 22nd, it will be Alan Hall’s turn to lead the Berkhamsted loop, about 13 miles long.

Email the Trail Running Team and let us know if you’d like to join. If you’re new to trail running, it’s worth reading this page to understand the do’s and don’ts. Can’t do these two but want to be kept informed?  Sign up for the “trail running” newsletter by selecting the correct email preference option on Serpiebase.

Mad Hatters Duathlon

On Sunday 19th April we are hosting the Mad Hatters Duathlon in Hyde Park. Just like the New Year’s Day 10k, this is a race we organise for the wider triathlon community and so Serpentine members don’t normally enter unless with the Race Organiser’s approval. To stage the event successfully we need a lot of you wonderful people to sign up as volunteers. To register to help please follow this link. Perfect opportunity to help the Club if you are tapering for the London Marathon a week later.

Triathlon kit sale

Continuing the triathlon theme, we have many triathlon-specific kit items for sale in March and April. Enjoy 10% off for most cycling kit – the red-and-gold cycling jersey is now only £45, the tri-top now costs £40.50, and shorts are a mere £36. There are limited sizes available so once they are gone, they are gone! Ask Marina Mok to find out more.

Marathon training groups

Quickly back to running. For those who are still keen on joining the 3-hour training group – please contact me and I’ll introduce you to a couple of existing groups which train a couple of times every week. For everyone else there are a couple of Facebook groups for either 3:00 to 3:30 pace, or 3:30 to 4:30ish pace. Click links to join – these groups are places to organise runs, exchange tips or knowing about warm-up races available.

Walk and Pub

Calling all nature-lovers – Rob Whitmarsh will lead our next Walk & Pub in Epping Forest on Sunday 1st. The walk starts and ends at Epping Underground Station (the end of the Central Line) and is roughly about 10 miles. Leaving Epping station heading into Epping Forest, your reward of walking 5 miles is to enjoy some drinks and food in the Horseshoe Inn. Afterwards we will head back to Epping passing the Boudicca’s Obelisk in Upshire. We are planning to round off the day’s walk in the Black Lion on Epping High Street. Rob will meet you at Epping Station from about 9.45am onwards to start walking at around 10am. Want more details? Join the Walk & Pub Whatsapp Group, or email our Walk & Pub rep Ana Penalver.

Lanzarote

I’d like to wish the 56 Serpies heading over to the Lanzarote training camp from Thursday 5th (for either 7 or 10 days) a very safe journey and the best time ever! Hopefully by then neither the recent sandstorm in the Canary Islands nor coronavirus will be an issue over there. The Serpie Lanza team is monitoring the UK Government’s guidelines on the coronavirus outbreak worldwide and the Foreign Office’s guidance for travellers. As far as we are aware, no cases of coronavirus have been reported in Lanzarote. We have consulted Club La Santa who are currently operating on a business-as-usual basis. As things stand the trip will go ahead, however we recommend that all participants monitor the above guidelines, as well as any advice from your airlines and travel insurers prior to Thursday 5th.

It is sadly too late for those who have not signed up to join next week. Want to join in 2021? Keep an eye on the news later this year.

Regular club activities

Regular club races

The March Handicap race is on Saturday 7th. Running? Come to register between 8:30 and 8:55am at the Serpentine Boat House in Hyde Park. Not running? Volunteer with the handicap crew and stay for a coffee afterwards.

The next Last Friday of the Month 5k is on Friday 27th. The race starts at 12:30pm also near the Hyde Park Boat House. Register to run here; to volunteer to marshal please contact the race organiser.

Good luck to those running / participating...

I’m very sad for those who can’t run the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday 1st, after the Japanese organisers decided to restrict the race to only elite runners over the coronavirus outbreak. No consolation of course, but there are still loads of other races as the spring marathon season is in full swing:

If you’re running these races, please click the links above and put your name down in the Serpie Race & Event Planner, so the others know you're running.

Finally, dates for your diary…

  • The next New Members' Social will be on Wednesday 18th. All new members who want to know more about the club - drinks, biscuits and friendly chats are waiting for you in the Club Room after running. Any current members who are keen to show what a friendly bunch we are - please come and join us too. Feel free to email me for details.
  • The next Meal of the Month will be at Souk Medina, near Covent Garden, on Friday 20th at 8pm. Fancy joining us? Sign up here so we know numbers.
  • We are holding a “Find Out More about Track & Field” meeting on Wednesday 25th after the club run. Rhiannon Needham will be on hand to explain how to get involved in the 2020 Track & Field season as a Serpentine athlete. Contact Rhi for more details.
  • Finally, here comes the Serpie event of the year. The Green Belt Relay will be held once again on 16th to 17th May and Serpie runners can sign up from early March. A fun running weekend that you don’t want to miss out. News coming up very soon…

 

Wishing you a wondrous March Madness!

Hans Ho

Participation Representative

Submitted: 28 February 2020

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