London Marathon: Final Reminder   If you were rejected by the ballot for this year's London Marathon on 2nd October, there is still time to apply for a club place. Please email Phil West on plwest6@hotmail.com by Thursday 31st March at the latest.   To be eligible, you must have been a fully paid up, first claim member for at least 12 months. Evidence that you have applied, and have been rejected in the ballot, will be required.   Spring Races   Please could you let Rebecca know if you have any races coming up so that we can give you props on social media   Club Handicap   Volunteers are still needed, sign up here     Kit Update   There are two crop tops on offer. One is a racer and one has a classic cut. Sizing is complicated. Speak to Rebecca   Tuesday Night Tea   Your Club needs you to sign up for the Tea Rota for the 12th April, or a date in May. Yes, YOU! No previous experience with infusions of Camellia sinensis required. Contact Phil West (plwest6@hotmail.com) if you'd like a chat about how to fulfil this important function or sign up here   Sheffield Half – Nick Johnson   2 years in the making? 2 years of training? 2 years of missed races? 2 years of questioning yourself! Will it ever happen? Will it all just go wrong when it actually does happen? Will, will, will I just put all those negative inner voices to one side and smash it? Yes, I will and yes, I did! There is no suspense to this story. No, will he, won’t he make it. No moment of jeopardy in the race even. Not even the usual pre-race toilet drama, despite the very aggressive rules about being dq’d if you did not use the toilets provided. JT run for all? For all? Sure on the basis that you have perfect bladder/bowel control on race day – Very inclusive! Nope, not even that could add any element of doubt to this race report. It all just clicked into place and came together at the same time. All the training from the last 2 years, the Thursday nights at the PB Factory, the Chaser Tuesday nights, the Sunday Long Runs, the S&C, the rolling and stretching, the weight sessions in the gym, all of it came together. All the positive energy I have received during the last 2 weeks in the run up to the race as well as the whole of the last 2 years since I was actually meant to do it just came together. All the money I spent on Hoka Rockets all came together! The most magical thing was that it all clicked into place two days before on the Heath so that when I got to the start line I just had to press play on what I had pre-recorded in my mind! On my final training session I actually visualized the race and picked out all of the above at various different points on my run locking them in for when I knew I was going to need them in the race. At the start I know I need the confidence to set off fast as those first 2 miles of gentle incline really do suit my style. I give you, you guys! The love, support and positivity from the Chasers means I know even if I blow up after 2 miles and get a DNF I would be fine. I knew I’d needed something extra for the insane climb. 350ms from mile 2 to mile 5? No problem. I give you Highgate and Heath extension on Tuesdays. I’ve got to clear the lactic and crack on along the flat for mile 6? No worries. I give you Thursday night track at the PB factory with the most inspirational crew imaginable. I know I need to crank up the pace for 110m descent miles 7 to 8? Easy. I give you Kenyan Hills and the lean forward down hill running technique as well as the boost from those Hoka Rockets! Miles 9 to 10? This could be the dark place? It is undulating so I need to make sure I am strong and not knocked out of my stride. I give you endless S&C and what, for all who read them, must be very monotonous Roll and Stretch Strava updates. I know they bore you to tears but they give me 100% confidence in my legs. I’m over 10 miles now? Longer than I have ever raced before so I need to get over that mental barrier. I give you all those glorious Sunday Long Runs. I’m just doing what I do every week at this exact same time. OK, mental barrier overcome but physically can I really race beyond 10 miles as I know I am going to need more than my legs for the next crazy 90m descent. I check my core, look side to side I think I can actually see muscles on my arms, maybe even my shoulders as well and I suddenly feel powerful. I give you all those weight sessions where I whimper in pain on my own at Pure Gym on Holloway Road. I’ve got 1.1 miles to go now and I’ve got one thing on my mind – I beating my last mile from Fred Hughes! I don’t care that this flat and that was downhill or that I’d done 9 miles there and 12 miles here. I also, don’t actually know what time I am even on for in this race. All I do know is that I’m beating 6.39! I give you the Chasers and you give me the power to exceed it by a couple of seconds. Yes, there was a sprint finish! I have 10 minutes of quiet reflection before my post-race which involves meeting my 2 childhood friends who I entered the Half with and my sister who did it separately along with my nieces who came along to cheer us both. There is emotion now with lots of nostalgia, laughter and love as much as talk of times, training and trainers. In an instant I have a moment of clarity. This is why I love running Calendar Here's whats happening over the next few weeks other than our usual Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday runs. You can find our full calendar on the website. 04/04/2022 Committee Meeting 21/04/2022 2nd Annual Club Championship Handicap Race - Highgate Wood (provisional date) Run - deadline 2022-04-19 21/04/2022 Club Handicap 🏃 Run Volunteer (2 of 12 left) 05/04/2022 Volunteer - Spring Beginners Week 1 Volunteer (2 of 5 left) 12/04/2022 Volunteer Spring Beginners - Week 2 Volunteer (2 of 5 left) 19/04/2022 Volunteer Spring Beginners Week 3 Volunteer (3 of 5 left) 26/04/2022 Volunteer Spring Beginners Week 4 Volunteer (4 of 5 left) 05/04/2022 Veterans AC Masters 5K Road Race Battersea Park 03/04/2022 Manchester Marathon Will you be there? We are also currently taking names for the following events. 03/05/2022 Spring Beginners Week 5 VOLUNTEERING volunteer (4 of 5 left) 10/05/2022 Spring Beginners Week 6 VOLUNTEERING volunteer (4 of 5 left) 17/05/2022 Spring Beginners Week 7 VOLUNTEERING volunteer (3 of 5 left) 24/05/2022 Spring Beginners Week 8 VOLUNTEERING volunteer (3 of 5 left) Results If you want to upload a photo or your results are missing, log in to our website and update your picture and Power of 10 ID. Ashridge Boundary Run 16.5m (Ashridge), 19/03/2022 Other Rafaele Lamour 3:06:12, 241   Eamon Byrne 3:06:12, 242 Links Send your stories to newsletter@chaser.me.uk. Home Facebook Twitter Strava