President’s Note – 16.11.2023
This week’s special event for Thursday is the Barry & Carol Summersgill Championships at Edward Hunter Reserve Moe.
There are 2 carparks at the Reserve on Coalville Rd, or park on the Reserve side of the road to avoid too much traffic congestion.
The main event is the 12k perpetual trophy race, in honour of Barry & Carol Summersgill, who have been huge contributors to the club over many, many years. Many would know that Carol was finally made a Life Member last year. There is also a support event of 6k. RDs have decided no shorter course this year.
Duty: Krissi Creighton and Luke Witham.
RD / CM: Miles Verschuur and Greg Semmler.
The 12k starts at 5:50, with the 6k kicking off at 6:10, so please get there early to sign up. Members are free, with a $10 cover charge for non-members. There will be medals presented.
This is the course https://clipchamp.com/watch/fqjXoLsJa9X
Next week is the Chook Hill 5k
Duty: Andrew Panayiotou & Chesney Podmore. CM: Michelle Sawyer.
COMMITTEE MEETING AFTER THE RUN
A couple of weeks ago Wally Lappin presented me with a Harriers mascot drawing (included in this NL). For our youngest member to be so thoughtful and value the club in this way is wonderful. The club means many different things to different members, but the common link is the welcoming and friendships (aside from the running of course) irrelevant of age. I hope everyone appreciates Wally’s artistic interpretation of the Harriers, as well as his time and thoughtfulness.
The next major weekend club event for us is the King and Queen of the Mountain on Sunday December 3rd, which is a 30k trek from Traralgon South, up to the top of Mount Tassie. It’s an excellent run, very challenging and the feature event is running it solo.
If that seems too daunting, there is a team relay option (teams of 5 which must be made up of male and female team members). If you’re looking for a team let me know. It’d be good to even out the teams and make the run enjoyable and supportive for all. This is again a free event for Harriers members, with a $15 non-member entry for the solo event and $25 entry for non-member teams.
First time Race Director Ron Verschuur is still looking for a few support crew to volunteer on the day, so please have a chat to him.
It’s also time to start thinking about the Community Fun Run 2024 and the Traralgon Marathon 2024. We need Race Directors for both these events. If you’re interested, please speak to me. You will be supported to ensure the club runs these fantastic events.
We’re also starting to plan the legendary Harriers Xmas Bash 2023, which will be held on Thursday 14th December. Current financial members will free, guests (non-financial members) are $15. You will need to RSVP via the link that will be published soon, so we can plan catering and drinks.
*IMPORTANT Harriers Dates
16 Nov Barry & Carol Summersgill Champs at Edward Hunter TONIGHT
23 Nov Committee Meeting Note Date Change (after Chook Hill Run)
3 Dec King & Queen of the Mountain (30k Individual + Mixed Relay Teams, Mt. Tassie)
14 Dec Harriers X’Mas Bash (Unmissable - Details TBA soon)
28 Dec & 4 Jan X’Mas Break - No Harriers Thursday Runs
15 Feb 2024 Trivia Night DeGrandi’s Vineyard
24 March 2024 Community Fun Run Morwell (Race Director Required)
*Duty Roster Summer 2023/24
REMEMBER: If you can’t fulfil your allocated duty, the onus is on you to swap with someone.
12 Oct Samantha McGown & Mandy Ellis
19 Oct Matilda Lappin & Claire McCumber
26 Oct Karen Graham & Stephen Renehan
2 Nov Michelle Colwell & Kathy Quinn
9 Nov Sally Eenjes & Kylee Earl
16 Nov Edward Hunter (C&B Summersgill Champs) Krissi Creighton, Luke Witham, Miles Verschuur & Greg Semmler
23 Nov Andrew Panayiotou & Chesney Podmore
30 Nov David Hood & Kate Cumming
7 Dec Catherine Leonard & Siyao Ma & Zoe Zhang
14 Dec Harriers X’mas Break-up PM & Legge
21 Dec Harriers X’mas Lights Run
28 Dec & 4 Jan No Run - X’mas Break
11 Jan Owen Notting & Nicholas Talerico
18 Jan Geoff Francis & Lee Francis
25 Jan Maree Graham & Collette Hoffman
1 Feb Darrel Cross & Kathleen Kent
8 Feb Adrian Clements & Alysha Duncan
15 Feb Jason Odlum & Mark Fairbairn
22 Feb Jay McGown & Nick Hodson
29 Feb Paul Smith & Josh Dalton
7 March Chris Francis & Felicity Beasley
14 March Tania Whitehead & Helen Whitby
21 March Adam Van Baalen & Barry Higgins
28 March Peter Fairbairn & Paul Rollandin
GENERAL CLUB NOTES:
The 5 starting groups for Thursday runs will remain for the summer season. Club Handicapper Andrew Legge groups members into fair handicaps based on times. If you feel you need to be re-handicapped please have a chat to him. Handicaps are about members running in a group that is commensurate with the individual member’s time, so we all run in a group with similar times and ability. Handicaps are not a penalty. It spreads runners out at the start, so is safer, and means that members all finish around the same time. Handicaps are fluid and adjusted as required. Let those on duty know if there is a mistake so they can make note and can be rectified.
Make sure you get your name checked off the list BEFORE starting, making note of your group.
Group 1 (Walkers/Slower Runners) - Start Upon Arrival
Group 2- Start 5:50
Group 3- Start 6
Group 4- Start 6:05
Group 5- Start 6:10
*Summer Season Rules
-Self Timing (please give time to duty member after you’ve finished the course).
-New Runners Always Welcomed (2 free runs before membership due).
-PLEASE check in with duty members and get your name marked off the list BEFORE you take to the course (Very important for safety so we know who is on course). Walkers still start upon arrival for winter season.
-Look after junior runners and newbies. Be careful on any public roads and at road crossings. Give way to traffic. Please run on the right hand side so you can see traffic, or preferably, on the footpath.
-Watch for obstacles on course. Summer runs are mainly on trails, which present multiple hazards; logs, holes, rocks, snakes, wildlife, dumped rubbish, slippery downhill sections, etc. Safety is the priority over times!
*All members please check the Duty Roster and make note of your rostered date. If you can’t do your allocated duty, it’s up to you to swap with someone or get a fill-in. If you’re not on the roster it’s because you’re a course marker, you don’t run Thursdays (only do AV or you’re a social member), you’re a junior member, late-in-the-season-joining new member, or you got lucky. That’s the benefit of having good membership numbers; you get to run more and only have to do one duty in a season. The idea is to make duty fun, it’s not a chore. It’s a great way to get to know other members and put names to faces. (NB: If you’re on duty, you can run early, do the course and put in your time). Those who do duty or course marking get bonus points in the championships each season.
*For those doing Thursday duty, please arrive by 5:40 at the start of the course. The list will be there provided by Handicapper Andrew Legge. You need to check-in all attending members (by highlighting their names) before they set off on course, and write in their times at the end. One person should be responsible for the list, the other should be on the clock and announcing start times for the groups (use your phone). Give each group a two minute, one minute and 10 second warning, and then a clear vocal start.
*Course markers should inform of any aspects on the course for safety, and you should be familiar with the course if there is a plotaroute (many summer trails don’t have them) so you can give directions especially to new runners (who you should make feel welcome and inform me of their attendance to give a shout out at the end). Plotaroutes are posted on the club’s FB page and Insta. The course marker should make note of any obstructions or obstacles and point them out at the start of the run and inform those on duty, who should communicate to each starting group.
-Course markers to mark/highlight any fall-risk areas on the course
-Course markers to only mark footpath and not the roads
-All runners to run on footpath
-There is no insurance for runners who run on the road
-If runners elect to run on road at their own risk (not recommended or supported by
club) they should run on the right hand side and run towards traffic.
Course Markers are to get white marking chalk (winter) or pink marking paint (summer) from Molly Irvine, preferably the week prior to your course at the Thursday run. Marking is dependent upon weather, and should be done just before the run to ensure clear, fresh arrows.
*In the event that weather is seriously inclement in winter (severe rain, gale force winds, extreme heat, lightening etc.) we may cancel the Thursday run, but traditionally, Thursday Harriers is run despite the weather. If it is too bad to run, we’ll notify cancellation via social media. If the weather is bad and we still run, we may just cancel doing lucky member draw and member’s address after, to avoid standing around in the cold. In that case, members can arrive, run, lodge times and go, with no need to stand around freezing.
*Traralgon Harriers Merchandise – Remember we’ve got club socks, caps, visors and beanies; socks come in women’s and men’s and are $15 for members ($20 for non-members), caps are one-size fit $20 ($25 non), and beanies are $20 for members ($25 for non). We also have running singlets at a cost of $30 for members. All merchandise is at a subsidised cost to members; we’re not trying to make money off these items, just provide another way for members to unify, identify and fly the club flag.
*Lucky Member Prize Draw after each Thursday run - All financial members are on the list. Remember you must be there to collect your prize otherwise it is re-drawn (This happens a fair bit, so don’t miss out - Don’t be a winner who leaves and therefore loses). The value of the prizes has gone up so it’s even more worth your while sticking around. Remember, the draw happens after the last runner is through and all times have been recorded. Thanks to Kaye Livingstone for organising the weekly prizes. Thanks to Kaye Livingstone for coordinating.
At the end of each Thursday run we also welcome and acknowledge any new runners who have joined us for the first time. If you see a new face, say hi, chat to them and make sure they stick around and feel welcomed. We seem to have new runners every week and a lot are actually joining after their 2 free runs.
Aside from our Thursday runs, club weekend events and AV team opportunities, the club also has 2 fantastic weekly training groups, one in the morning for early risers, and one in the evening, which everyone is welcome to join.
*T-Squad Weekend Sessions; usually Saturday mornings from 8:30am, at various locations with Greg Semmler. Join the FB Group “T Squad” for more details. This group has built into a really strong part of the Harriers, and aside from quality training, they enjoy breakfast together. Food is a great motivation!
*Tuesday Group Sessions; at the Little Aths Track, Davidson Street Traralgon from 6pm with me and a great team. Join the FB Group “Traralgon Tuesday Running Group” for more details. This group has been going for over 20 years, and is all about training (obviously) but also laughs, support and friendships. The camaraderie at TTRG is the thing that has seen it continue for so long, so if you haven’t come along to a session, put it in your diary.
The club newsletter is an important communication medium, and most members use it as a place to get updates, information and share stories. Our NL editors work hard to ensure it’s interesting, informative and relevant. We will be moving towards changing the format in the not too distant future, just to update the look and presentation. Most members enjoy reading of other member’s adventures and inspirational journeys, so don’t be shy to share and shoot your articles, thoughts and running snippets through to Glen Crawford at [email protected]
On a personal note, I’d like to thank all those who came along to see my MICF show “Bogan Shakespeare” recently. It’s good to know we have so many great runners at the club, who also enjoy some arts and culture.
Thought for the week: You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream! (C.S. Lewis)
Phill Mayer – President
