This week’s run is the Netball Court 5k. Park in the car park off Breed Street; limited on Breed Street. Duty: Darrell Cross & Michael Walker. CM: Kate Mayer.
Next week is the ASIC 5k. Duty: Krissi Crieghton & Luke Witham. CM: Alfie Warner.
Membership is now due for renewal. We’re over the 100 member’s mark, which is excellent, and I thank everyone who has signed up nice and early this year. Historically we’ve had quite a few stragglers, which means someone has to chase them up and have that conversation, which isn’t what I personally want to be doing with my time. Reminding is one thing, but chasing is another. If everyone just renews (or signs up if you’re a newbie to the club), it makes managing the club, duty allocation, AV organisation and insurances more smooth to administaer.
Please finalise memberships by Thursday 27th April. Being a member gives you Thursday runs, discounted entry or free entry to club events, a club reflective vest worth over $60 to help keep you safe, social functions, discounts on club merchandise and a sense of belonging to a fantastic club! (Hopefully you’re sold)! Most will be Recreational Members, and there is also a Junior Rec Member option this year. The club tries to keep its portion of the fees low. It is noted that AV membership is quite expensive for those doing AV level participation, however it’s much cheaper than football/netball club membership or the cost of membership at most city clubs.
Marathon entry is open and all events are almost half full. 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 comemarative t-shirt.
Goto the taralgonharriers.org.au and cleck the links for both Membership and Mara entry.
All members please check the updated Winter 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), 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).
*UPDATED 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 Errol Poole & Angelo Gaudiano
18 May Nick Hodson & Kylee Earl
25 May David Hood & Andrew Broburg
1 June Claire McCumber & Emma Marino
8 June Ron Verschuur & Collette Hoffman
15 June Mark Fairbairn & Ian Cornthwaite
22 June Paul Rollandin & Nicholas Talerico
29 June Stephen Renehan & Andrew Panayiotou
6 July Kate Cumming & Clinton Jolly
13 July Glenn Graham & Kathleen Kent
20 July Trent Kooyman & Owen Notting
27 July Jason Odlum & David Wirken
3 Aug Kylie Murray & Rose Croft
10 Aug Michelle Sawyer & Maree Graham
17 Aug Katelyn Rowe & Felicity Beasley
24 Aug Bjorn Luxmann & Paul Smith
31 Aug Tania Whitehead & Denise Twite
7 Sept David Barr & Josh Dalton
14 Sep Anthony Magali & Andrew Greenhill
21 Sep Gary Fox & Shane Gavin
28 Sept Liz Kenney & Matlida Lappin
5 Oct Newborough Track Duty TBC
12 Oct Samantha McGown & John Richards
IMPORTANT Harriers Dates
27 April Committee Meeting - TONIGHT
4 June 2023 - 56th Traralgon Marathon & Running Festival - 6 weeks
29 June AGM
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!
Congratulations to our AV Team for their fantastic turnout last weekend. There were some fantastic results and many new faces in the team, which bodes well going forward and for the rest of the season. Greg Semmler and Miles Verschuuer are doing a stellar job, and its wonderful to hear so many members enjoying their participation at this level. As mentioned, this is the strongest representation the club has ever had at AV level. A great achievement to all involved.
I had a meeting with the De Grandi Winery during the week, to discuss details for our upcoming Marathon. The new owners are exceptionally supportive of this event and we look forward to another top day organised by the Harriers. We are going to need many hands to ensure the day runs smoothly. If you have some time to help, please come and see me.
In particular, we need teams to help with spot prizes, water stations, runner’s aid station delivery, bib distribution, course marking, sign placements, community liason and the start/finish hub. Many hands make lighter work for the committee.
It’s a big event, and with the RD stepping down only a couple of months out from the event, the onus has fallen on members and the committee to ensure the day is a success.
As I’ve said before, a healthy club requires new energy, new ideas and a little helping of selflessness to keep it going. If you haven’t yet, its time to think about taking on an important club role, such as becoming a Race Director or joining the committee. 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 flag.
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 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. (Also, good luck to Kaye for her knee operation. We wish you a speedy recovery and hope you get back to running soon).
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.
*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 with me and a great team. 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]).
Thought for the week: Our running shoes have magic in them. The power to transform a bad day into a good day; frustration into speed; self-doubt into confidence; chocolate cake into muscle!
Phill Mayer – President
