This week’s run is Gilmour Giddy 5k.
Park at the club, start and finish at the club.
Duty: Stephen Renehan & Andrew Panayiotou.
CM: Marika Reilly, Susan Poole & Desley Tulloch.
Check the course on Plotaroute https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1894088
*CLUB AGM AFTER THE RUN – ALL CLUB MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AND NOMINATE FOR A POSITION ON THE COMMITTEE, AND AT LEAST HAVE A SAY IN WHO YOU WANT TO LEAD THE CLUB FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
The Ray & Doris Run at Wirilda Park on the weekend was another top club event. It was mostly members who turned up despite the cold start. A solid field in the 23k encouraged each other across the distance and there were many smiles at the end, in spite of the challenging hills and conditions. The 10k saw young champion Dempsey Podmore lead home the field. I had the pleasure of being in a team with Ron Verschuur, Callie Cook and Ree Graham. Congratulations to Greg Semmler and Miles Verschuuer, and all the fantastic volunteers for organising a great day.
The Marathon acquittal meeting last Thursday was productive, positive and proactive. The event more than covered costs, turning a profit meaning that we could give donations to Gippsland Plains Rail Trail, Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe and Traralgon South Scouts to contribute to all these community organisations and the wonderful work they do. Of course there’s also money to give back to the club, cover outgoings and continue with the member benefits we all enjoy. Contributing to the AV team, providing members with free club events and great social activities and discount merchandise is a great start. Huge thanks again to Andrew Legge, Pete Sanders, Danelle Wright, Ann Bomers, Clinton Jolly, Trent Kooyman and Molly Irvine, who made the 2023 Marathon a success, along with all members who contributed, helped out, supported and ran.
Next week’s run is Meadow Park Drive 6k. Duty: Kate Cumming & Clinton Jolly. CM: Dave Mann.
Last week I was surprised and a little embarrassed to find out that I’d been nominated and shortlisted for a national award, The Chemist Warehouse Athletics Australia, Athletics Community Hero. Apparently there were hundreds of nominations and somehow I made a shortlist of 7 national finalists. I certainly do not do what I do for awards, and it is quite humbling to even be nominated, let alone being named a finalist.
My initial reaction was probably the desire to ignore it and pretend it was some sort of bad joke, but upon further thinking, my approach is that this is great for our club. To be acknowledged and on the radar for a national award by our peak governing body is actually an honour, and a reflection of all the work that the executive, committee, and members have put in to making the Traralgon Harriers such an excellent club.
I am of the belief that awards and recognition such as this, for one person, is problematic, because there is always a team of people that make something a success. Although one person may drive things or have a vision, nothing can be achieved alone, without support, without other’s talents and time and energy. So thank you to everyone in the club for buying-in to what I knew this club could be. Thank you to Ann Bomers and the other 2 individuals who nominated me, for the kind words and unnecessary accolade. As I said, it’s humbling, but I appreciate the acknowledgement. The worthy winner was announced Monday, Atnas Maeko from the NT.
Coming up on July 29th is the mid-year presentation night, which will be held at the Traralgon Bowls Club. All members are invited and encouraged to attend a fun club evening. Presentations will be made for the Summer Championship top 10 and a few other awards. There will be bare foot bowls, supper, drinks and another opportunity to mix socially with fellow club members. We’re asking everyone to RSVP via Eventbrite. Members are free and guests are $20. Bowling from 6:30pm. Presentations from 8pm.
As I’ve mentioned, a healthy club requires new energy, new ideas and a little helping of selflessness to keep it going. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to think about taking on an important club role, such as becoming a Race Director or joining the committee. The commitment isn’t that cumbersome, and it’s actually quite enjoyable working with great people for the benefit of the club. Of course you’ll be supported if you take on an RD role.
After much prompting and encouragement, I have decided to put my hand up for the role President for one more year, if the general club membership wants me, and if there isn’t someone else ready to have a go. As no one has approached me to discuss stepping into this important leadership role, I will be looking to pass the baton to someone over the next year, who hopefully wants to shadow me and make the handover less stressful for everyone. It is essential we have a smooth transition and secession plan for the sake of the club, and to support the next leader of this great organisation. I look at this next year as an opportunity to enjoy the position and step back a bit, as a strong committee and some wonderfully dedicated and talented people take more of the responsibility.
I know we will have a strong returning general membership and there have been several expressions of interest from prospective new committee members, which is fantastic, and will just strengthen the club further for the benefit of all members at all levels.
The social aspect of this club is unique and a genuinely wonderful thing to be a part of. Thank you to all members who make the effort to be inclusive, to welcome new runners, to encourage each other and be supportive. You never know how you’re making someone else feel just by encouraging them and cheering them on, remembering their name and smiling. It’s not a hard thing to do but it could change someone’s day.
We have 5 starting groups for Thursday runs. This saves congestion on footpaths at the start, and a mass of runners on roads in town. Club Handicapper Andrew Legge has grouped members into fair handicaps based on times (check the table in this newsletter or on FB). 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
Winter Season Rules
-Self Timing (please give time to duty member after you’ve finished the course).
-New Runners Always Welcome (2 free runs before membership).
-ALL RUNNERS MUST WEAR THE CLUB-APPROVED REFLECTIVE VEST. Guests and forgetful members will be issued a loaner to be returned. All new financial members receive a vest as part of their membership (over $55 value). 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.
-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 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!
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Please be aware of cars if you’re running on the road. We do not have right-of-way. We’ve had a few close calls recently, and the last thing we want to see is a member getting injured due to negligence and not paying attention because they’re “in the zone”. This is not an allocation of fault or blame, just a fact that we need to be aware of. Please be careful, pay attention and look after yourselves when running on the road. Time should not be your major focus, your safety should be. Unfortunately, there are a lot of foolish drivers on the road, and also people who are hostile towards runners for a multitude of reasons. As a club we should not contribute to this negative perception by being foolish or inconsiderate ourselves. Every time we do a Thursday run on the road during winter, we are representing the club, and taking a calculated personal risk, so make sure you mitigate the risks and remain aware.
Run on footpaths if possible, but if you run on the road, stick to the right hand side gutter, so you can see oncoming traffic and move onto the nature strip if required.
*All members please check the 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).
*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 Magaldi & Andrew Greenhill
21 Sep Gary Fox & Shane Gavin
28 Sept Liz Kenney & Matilda Lappin
5 Oct Newborough Track Duty TBC
12 Oct Samantha McGown & John Richards
*IMPORTANT Harriers Dates
29 June - AGM ALL MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
29 July Mid-year Presentations, Traralgon Bowls Club – RSVP via Eventbrite
August Date TBC Memorial Run (12k & 6K road events)
5 Oct Newborough Track
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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 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. Winter in town runs must be marked with white chalk with large arrows.
Course Markers are to get marking chalk 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) we may cancel the Thursday run, but traditionally, Thursday Harriers is run in spite of 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.
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 after work ..
*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 editor Twitey works hard each week to ensure that it is interesting, informative and relevant. Many members enjoy reading of others adventures and inspirational journeys, so don’t be shy to share and shoot your articles, thoughts and running snippets through. Twitey will be away for a few weeks and Glenn Crawford is steeping into the NL Editor’s chair. Send your notes to [email protected]
Thought for the week: In whatever you do in life, if you believe it’ll work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you don’t believe it’ll work out, you’ll see obstacles.
See you all at the AGM!
Phill Mayer – President
