Correction - Leading runs   We had a cracking piece on leading runs in our Newsletter last week that was wrongly credited to Laurie Boult, when it was actually the great work and suggestion of our Club Secretary and Improvers Leader, Phil West.  Thanks Phil.  Thanks also to those who have already volunteered to lead more accessible runs this week.   Handicap   Race is next Thursday (21st April) based on your best recent performance. You can view your handicap by searching your name on the Chasers website and scrolling to the bottom of your personal results page.   Tuesday nights for slower runners   Following a successful launch this week, the fantastic Winter Improvers team are planning to make slower runs a regular Tuesday night offering from now on. A run of 3-4 miles at a 12+ minute miles pace will be followed by tea, biscuits and juice served upstairs by the magnificent Tea Rota squad.   Look out for confirmation on the Facebook page each week.   Tea Rota - Update by Phil West   Enormous appreciation to the regular heroes Nelson Goh, Nick Johnson and Matt Brand, who will be serving us tea over the next few Tuesday evenings. Gentlemen, your reward will be in heaven - or conceivably even sooner! You can sign up here   Race Report by Andrew Disley   Northern Traverse - 2-6 April 2022 – 300 km and 9,000m ascent       I entered this race about 30 months ago but because of two Covid postponements have only just run it.  My longest build up to a race although as it turns out I did not spend the time wisely (see below).       The race follows the“Coast to Coast” path created by Alfred Wainwright. Some claim it is the most popular long distance path in the UK, starting in St Bees on the Irish Sea and ending in Robin Hoods’ Bay on the North Sea. Total distance is about 300km with 9000m of ascent so equivalent to 390 km on the flat.         It is wonderfully scenic route going through three national parks.  In the Lake District the path goes through less popular areas such as Ennerdale Water, Kidsty Pike and Haweswater.  You leave the Lakes, and cross the M6, at Shap and then enter the Yorkshire   Dales which are followed by the boring, but crucially for competitors, a flat section over the Vale of York.  Final section is over the North York Moors. The majority of the route is over good tracks and paths.  However in a few sections there is some seriousbog trotting to be done.       The race was won this year by Kim Collinson in 44:24:30 beating the course record by about 7 hours. I did not trouble Mr Collinson coming in over twice his time at 103:57:58.  I was third from last at 102 but there were also 36 starters who did not finish.       What can I say about the race?       For some of the time we were very lucky with the weather and the scenery was stunning.  Going up Kidsty Pike at 06:00 in the morning with hardly a sole around, blue skys, snow on the tops and wild deer in the distance was breathtaking. Three and a half days later approaching the coast and finishing with similar weather conditions was wonderful. The event is a tough one.  Most people need some sleep but there are (generous) cut-offs to beat .  I slept for about 15 hours in total over four nights.  At one point a fellow competitor pointed out I was staggering around a bit much.  I had a cat nap in the verge for 30 minutes and felt much better! Spending about another eight hours  on eating, blister repairs etc meant I was on the move for 80 hours over four and half days. Writing this article after two good nights sleep and still feeling very knackered I can confirm that 18 hours of movement a day is a tough one. I was hoping to have run/walk strategy but after day two it was really just a shuffle/walk strategy.  A fellow competitor said that our end of the field the race is not a running race but a walking race.  I think that is correct and if there is a next time walking, and hills,  is what I would concentrate on. You need a good GPX device. On day four after a three hour forced march over the Moors in the dark with a strong wind swirling around us there is no way we would have found the turns to the checkpoint with just a map and compass. Foot care is also very important.  After hours of bog trotting my feet were well macerated, blistered and painful to run on.  Long waterproof socks and overtrousers were recommended as a solution. There are consequences of trying to live on a diet of fried eggs and chips.   Having been outed last year as the worst perfoming member of the club I hereby claim the 300km distance club record.  Worth noting that it will certainly fall the next time somebody finishes this race.   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. 21/04/2022 2nd Annual Club Championship Handicap Race - Highgate Wood (provisional date) Run - deadline 2022-04-19 07/05/2022 The Maverick Adidas Terrex Original Surrey 2022 Join 21/04/2022 Club Handicap 🏃 Run 19/04/2022 Volunteer Spring Beginners Week 3 Volunteer (2 of 5 left) 26/04/2022 Volunteer Spring Beginners Week 4 Volunteer (2 of 5 left) 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) 14/04/2022 Track Thursday Sign Up Here 19:00 (1 of 25 left) Sign Up here 19:20 We are also currently taking names for the following events. 17/05/2022 Spring Beginners Week 7 VOLUNTEERING volunteer (4 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. Parkrun 26/03/2022 Hampstead Heath Alina Williamson 27:04, 128 [55.05%] Northern Traverse - 300km (Lakes, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors), 02/04/2022 Other Andrew Disley 103:57:58 (103:57:58), 102 NEW PB Parkrun 02/04/2022 Stretford Alina Williamson 31:22, 457 [47.50%] Spring Run Thruxton (Andover), 03/04/2022 10K Bethany Thompson 39:34 (39:34), 3 (1, 1) [79.44%] NEW PB Therme Manchester Marathon (Manchester), 03/04/2022 Mar Alina Williamson 04:08:19 (04:08:19) [55.12%] NEW PB Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (Paris, FRA), 03/04/2022 Mar Daisy Wooller 4:35:21 (3:37:30), 11684 (467, -) [62.26%] NEW PB Vets AC 5K (London Battersea Park), 05/04/2022 5K David Gouldstone 19:20, 28 (3) [70.43%] NEW PB   Marcos Cuevas-Nunez 20:20, 34 (9) [71.97%] NEW PB   David Renton 20:50, 39 (10) [70.24%]   Rebecca Taylor 21:09, 43 (9, 1) [75.65%] NEW PB   Alice Sullivan 24:36, 63 (18, 5) [65.72%] Parkrun 09/04/2022 Aldenham Juliette Westbrook 24:00, 22 (2, 1) [61.53%] Ally Pally Mike Hurford 20:41, 16 (1) [78.49%]   Stephanie Mercier 25:20, 70 [58.68%]   Paul Dickens 25:50, 77 [51.61%] Canons Park Alex Renton 21:09, 5 [66.67%] Finsbury Park Rahul Mohindra 20:50, 24 [62.32%]   Ben Bond 24:50, 99 [53.42%]   Jodie Pearlman 25:10, 107 [58.68%]   Ellie Holloway 25:11, 108 [58.64%]   Rafaele Lamour 26:14, 130 [62.96%]   michele griffiths 28:29, 190 [62.79%] Hampstead Heath Daniel Berry 21:15, 23 (1) [74.51%]   Marcos Cuevas-Nunez 22:03, 31 [66.36%]   Yan (Patrick) Li 26:01, 92 [57.59%]   Elizabeth Aryeetey 29:32, 167 [63.54%]   Alina Williamson 31:31, 199 [47.28%] Highbury Fields Bruno Papadacci 22:10, 43 [60.15%]   Fiona Russell 22:56, 55 (-, 1) [74.49%] Kingston Christopher Leslie 18:28, 2 (1) [70.31%] Markshall Estate David Nelson 24:01, 37 [56.28%] Orpington Lizzy Muggeridge 34:32, 97 [46.81%] Sherwood Pines Hattie Lowe 22:05, 26 (1, 1) [66.87%] Sutcliffe Andy Davies 17:59, 4 (1) [72.29%] NEW PB Valentines Paul Matthews 28:42, 84 (1) [70.62%] Wormwood Scrubs John H Grigg 40:12, 55 (1) [61.36%] Kew the Run - Half Marathon (Kew Gardens), 10/04/2022 HM Dominique Russell 01:57:58 (01:57:58) [55.33%] NEW PB Links Send your stories to newsletter@chaser.me.uk. 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