This week’s run is Liddiard Road Primary School 6k.
Duty: Kylie Murray & Rose Croft. CM: Molly Irvine.
Park at the school or on the access lanes on either side of Liddiard Rd. Start and finish is at the front of the school.
Check the course on Plotaroute https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1952971
Next week’s run is Riverslea Blvd 5k.
Duty: Michelle Sawyer & Maree Graham. CM: Sep Marino.
COURSE MARKERS – In light of many getting lost, going the wrong direction and not seeing arrows recently, please refer to the Course Marking Notes, to refresh yourselves on what’s required for safety and making sure runners stay on course. Molly will have a copy to hand out this week. Thanks to Pete Sanders for helping to compile.
What a fantastic night was had at the Traralgon Bowls Club last Saturday for our Mid-year Presentation. Almost 80 members and guests attended to join in some social bowls, drinks, laughs and conversation, as well as doing our Summer Season (2022/23) presentations. It was another excellent opportunity to mix socially with fellow club members.
2022/23 Thursday Night Summer Champions.
1. Geoff Frances
2. Miles Verschuur
3. Phill Mayer
4. Liz Kenney
5. Gary Fox
6. Ron Verschuur
7. Andrew Legge
8. Kate Mayer
9. Zack Beasley
10. Stephen Mcleod
2022/23 Thursday Night Harriers Summer Juniors Awards (under 18yrs of age)
1. Miles Verschuur
2. Johnny Rosco
3. Dempsey Podmore
4. Lucy Magaldi
5. Ella Warner
6. Nelson Archibald
7. Walter Lappin
8. Josh Dalton
9. Louis Flowers
10. Darcy Tulloch
2022/23 Thursday Night Traralgon Summer Group 1 (Walkers) Awards
1. Belinda Heafield
2. Barry Higgins
3. Desmond Dalton
4. Michelle Colwell
5. Ian Heafield
Thanks again to Danelle W and Legge for all their work in organising another successful event, and also to Ann B, Tobi G and Trent K for their support on the night.
There were a few other acknowledgements on the night including The Quiet Achiever Awards which went to Marieka Reilly, Mark Fairbairn and Chris Van Unen, acknowledgements and thanks to Glenn Crawford (and the absent Ian Twite) for editing the club newsletter, thanks to Greg Semmler, Miles Verschuur and Callie Cook (Club AV Captains), Andrew Legge (VP and Club Handicapper) and Ann Bomers (Treasurer) for their continued tireless work in supporting and building the club.
President’s Awards went to Clinton Jolly, Danelle Wright and Giuseppe Marino for their amazing contributions to the club. It’s important to acknowledge people and make sure they know they are valued and appreciated for their time, ideas, talents and support, and these three are deserving of our thanks for helping to make the club better for all.
If you weren’t there, make sure you lock in the X’mas Bash and don’t miss next year. These are events not to skip.
The club has been asked to facilitate the cross country events for the The Victorian Teacher’s Games on Sunday 17th September at Glengarry. It should be a great day, with 5k and 10k events. It’s another feather in the cap for the club to be asked to run this event. We’ll be chasing some volunteers for the day. If you’re available and interested, please let me know.
Some exciting news for one of our young Harriers - Dempsey Podmore has been selected for the Victorian team to compete in the National Cross Country Championships in Canberra to be run in late August. He’ll be running in the 3km event. Dempsey finished 5th at the State School Sports then backed up with a top 15 finish at the All-Schools Championship at Bundoora Park. This is a huge achievement to be able to represent the state, and his hard work has paid off. The whole club is proud of his achievements and will be cheering him on.
There are 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!
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.
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 & Adam Van Baalen
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 & Mandy Ellis
IMPORTANT Harriers Dates
17 Sept Vic Teachers Games (Volunteers needed)
5 Oct Newborough Track Night
8 Oct Memorial Run (12k & 6K road events, Morwell)
3 Dec King & Queen of the Mountain (30k + Relay Teams, Mt. Tassie)
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]
