Membership is now due for renewal, and we ask everyone to renew (or sign up if you’re a newbie to the club) in a timely fashion. This makes management, duty allocation, AV organisation and insurances more easily manageable, and means we don’t have to chase people.
Marathon entry is open, and we already have some solid entry numbers. Please note that numbers in each event will be capped so we encourage members to sign up early. Sunday June 4th is the date. The first 50 entrants in each event will receive a special commemorative t-shirt.
Go to traralgonharriers.org.au and click the links for both Membership and Mara entry.
Over the next week we’ll be launching our new club website (still at the address traralgonharriers.org.au) and phasing out the old-look one. Some excellent work by our member tech geniuses Dave Barr, Andrew Broburg and Sep Marino has resulted in a smoother, new look and easier to navigate website, which will be easier to manage and handover as new committees step in.
First run of the Winter Season; Park Lane 5k. Park on smith Street where the run starts and finishes. Duty: Geoff Francis & Lee Francis. CM: Chris Van Unen.
Next week’s run is Meadow Park Drive 6k. Duty: Karen Graham & Catherine Leonard. CM: Dave Mann.
Winter Season Rules
-Due to membership numbers, and safety on roads for in-town runs, we’ll be running 3 Groups for winter. Group 1 (Walkers/Slower Runners) Start Upon Arrival by 5:55. Group 2 Starts at 6. Group 3 Starts at 6:05.
-Self Timing
-New Runners Always Welcome
-ALL RUNNERS MUST WEAR THE CLUB-APPROVED REFLECTIVE VEST. Guests and forgetful members will be issued a loaner to be returned. All financial members receive a vest as part of their membership (over $55 value).
-Make sure you get your name checked off the list BEFORE starting!
, and the walkers will still start early for winter season.
-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).
-ALL MEMBERS MUST WEAR A CLUB APPROVED REFLECTIVE VEST AT EVERY WINTER RUN. -Look after junior runners and newbies
-Be careful on the road, at road crossings. Give way to traffic. Please run on the right hand side so you can see traffic. Watch for obstacles
-Safety is the priority over times!
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We still need a few course markers for the Winter Season. Runs can’t happen without the essential and valued course markers. The Winter Run list is in this NL and Legge has a list to slot in names. If you marked a course last season, and you know it, put your hand up again. Each course is only used once or twice in a season, and course marking fulfils your allocated duty slot, so you won’t be on the duty roster. Thanks to those who have already claimed a course.
Last week’s Newborough Track 5k Handicap had a great turnout, and some smashing times. There were some PBs and quite a few newbies to the track. Check the report in this newsletter.
The AV Team is gearing up for a new season, and Club Captain Greg Semmler is working with Miles Verschuuer to put together our club’s reps. It’s another thing I love about the Harriers, and that is we have so many levels and reasons for participation, and each is excited and enthusiastic for their involvement. Whether its Thursday runs, the social and recreational aspect, our club weekend events or AV level participation, this club has dedicated members who support each other. Add to that those members who volunteer their time to sit on committee, race direct, do media, the newsletter, course marking, help out with events or the myriad other small jobs that make the club run, and everyone can see why this club is so special, successful and in such a great position.
But please note, it requires new energy, and new ideas to keep it going. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to think about taking on a role or joining the committee to ensure the health of our club. The AGM will be after the Marathon in June.
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GENERAL CLUB NOTES:
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 five 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). 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.
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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 colours.
Don’t forget the 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 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.
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. (Please note; membership is due in the second week of April, once AV open the portal).
Please check the duty roster 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), 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. The remainder of the duty roster will be issued once memberships for the season are finalised. (NB: If you’re on duty, you can go early, do the course and put in your time).
*Duty Roster Winter 2023
REMEMBER: If you can’t fulfil your allocated duty, the onus is on you to swap with someone.
6 April Geoff Francis & Lee Francis
13 April Karen Graham & Catherine Leonard
20 April Michelle Colwell & Kathy Quinn
27 April Darrell Cross & Michael Walker
4 May Krissi Crieghton & Luke Witham
11 May Alysha Duncan & Angelo Gaudiano
18 May Desley Tulloch & Kylee Earl
25 May David Hood & Andrew Broburg
1 June Claire McCumber & Marieka Reilly
8 June Ron Verschuur & Collette Hoffman
15 June Mark Fairbairn & Ian Cornthwaite
22 June Paul Rollandin & Nicholas Talerico
29 June Dave Mann & Kate Cumming
IMPORTANT Harriers Dates
15 April Springwood Championship Morwell (RD Greg Semmler & Miles Verschuur)
27 April Committee Meeting
4 June 2023 - 56th Traralgon Marathon
29 June AGM
*T-Squad Weekend Sessions; usually Saturday mornings, various locations with Greg Semmler. Join the FB Group “T Squad” for more details.
*Tuesday Group Sessions; at the Little Aths Track, Davidson Street Traralgon from 6pm. Join the FB Group “Traralgon Tuesday Running Group” for more details.
Remember to shoot your run reports and fitness adventures to Twitey to be included in the newsletter. ([email protected]).
Finally, thank you to all those members and friends who came and supported my Melbourne Comedy Festival preview show last Friday at GPAC. Much appreciation. I’ve just had new shows added to the Melbourne season, so I definitely won’t see you all this week, but I’m hoping to sneak back next week!
Happy start to the club’s Winter Season!
Phill Mayer – President
