Membership is now due for renewal, and we ask everyone to renew (or sign up if you’re a newbie to the club) today. It makes managing the club, duty allocation, AV organisation and insurances more smooth to administaer, and means we don’t have to chase people. Please finalise your membership by Thursday 27th April at the latest.
Marathon entry is open and we already have a 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 56th running of the event will be a fantastic day as always, so enter the full, ½ or ¼ asap to avoid missing out. The first 50 entrants in each event will receive a special commemorative t-shirt.
Check out the new club website (still at traralgonharriers.org.au)! It has a new look, a new layout and new, easy to navigate pages. Excellent work by our tech geniuses Dave Barr, Andrew Broberg and Sep Marino has resulted in a great updated website. All you have to do is go, check it out, and find the button links to renew membership, enter the Mara or find out any info you may need. Let us know what you think, if we’re missing anything or ideas to keep it fresh.
This week’s run is Meadow Park Drive 6k. Park at the club – Limited parking on Grubb Ave. Duty: Karen Graham & Catherine Leonard. CM: Dave Mann.
Next week is the Tennis Court 5k (starting and finishing on Franklin Street). Duty: Michelle Colwell & Kathy Quinn. CM: Alfie Warner.
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 6:10.
Self Timing
New Runners Always Welcome (2 free runs).
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).
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 will still start early for winter season.
ALL MEMBERS MUST WEAR A CLUB APPROVED REFLECTIVE VEST AT EVERY WINTER RUN. This is part of an agreement made with Latrobe City and Vic Pol.
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, or, preferably, on the footpath. Watch for obstacles. Safety is the priority over times!
The course marking roster is now full. Thanks to those who claimed a course to mark. Runs can’t happen without our essential and valued course markers. Marking fulfils a member’s allocated duty slot. Course markers, make sure you adhere to the CM outline below.
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. Its 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, coaching, training groups, 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 smoothly, 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, its 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). 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. Winter in town runs must be marked with white chalk with large arrows.
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 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 Stephen Renehan & 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]). Thanks again to Glenn Crawford for putting together the NL in Twitey’s absence.
I missed Harriers last week, but did a few runs around the city between living the comedy/arts night partying life style, which I will have to endure for another weekend. If you’re looking for a great night out, MICF has some fantastic fun shows, including Bogan Shakespeare obviously!
Phill Mayer – President
