This week we're doing the Newborough Track 5k Handicap. There will be 5 graded races. This is a great chance to do a PB, see how you’ve imporved over summer season, or just have a run on a different surface and experience the support of fellow club members. Hopefully we have a solid turnout and another top club night. Legge will be coordinating. Duty: Ian Heafield, Barry Higgins (David Barr), Belinda Heafield & Vicky Atkins.
This is the last run for the Thursday Summer Season, as we lead into the end of daylight saving and a new Winter Season. See the run schedule attached, along with the first duty roster. Full roster will be produced once new memberships are confirmed.
Next week is Park Lane 5k. First Thursday Winter Run of the season. Duty: Karen Graham & Catherine Leonard. CM: Chris Van Unen.
We still need 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.
Membership will be due for renewal in April, 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.
Over the next week we'll be launching our new club website, and phasing out the old one. Some excellent work by our member tech geniuses Dave Barr, Andrew Broberg 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.
Marathon entry is open and we already have a solid interest. 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 CFR on Sunday was again a wondferful day, and a great showcase of the club and what awesome members we have. As always with these events there are a heap of people to thank for helping to get the event up and running, and make sure it runs smoothly on the day. There’s a report separate to this, but a special thank you to Clinton Jolly for stepping up to learn the ropes as Assistant RD, and to Andrew Legge for coordinating the start team.
We again had our amazing prime sponsor DFP Recruitment, along with First National Real Estate Latrobe, Gold 1242, WINTV, Athlete’s Foot, Goodlife Physio and Latrobe City supporting the event.
Thank you to Danelle Wright and Tania Whitehead for stepping up to coordinate the Bib Distribution Team, with their many helpers, and big thanks to Kat Kent and Bjorn Luxman for their positive energy and work. So many members jumped in to help marshal for the kid’s run around the duck pond, so thanks to all of you.
Thanks to Mick Walker for managing the course signs and the traffic team, Rick Mann and his team of for coordinating the water station at Crinigan Rd, and to Molly Irvine and Kate Mayer for helping with medals and the presentation coordination.
Numbers were a bit down this year, and not through a lack of effort promoting. It seems to be the trend with many things post Covid, with a lot of clashes, competition for money and time, and various other factors impacting the traditional “fun run”. As a club and committee we’ll look at this going forward.
Last week’s dinner was postponed due to the venue notifying us Wednesday late afternoon that they’d double booked and couldn’t actually fit us in. The Bowls Club is usually a great venue and has served us well in the past and for many years, so we won’t hold it against them, we’ll just reschedule in a few weeks. Sorry for any inconvienience or confusiuon this many have caused. It was excellent that many members and friends still went and caught up for a meal elsewhere after the run.
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 it’s Thursday runs, the social / rec 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 at the moment.
But please note, it requires new energy, and new ideas to keep it going. If you haven’t yet, ts 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.
Winter Season Rules
We will be back to 2 groups and the walkers early start 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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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.
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 port).
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
30 Mar (Newborough Track) Ian Heafield, Barry Higgins, Belinda Heafield & Vicky Atkins
IMPORTANT Harriers Dates
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 TTRG 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: Everyone is always busy juggling their responsibilities, but make sure you’re busy with the good things in life, and make time for things that are important to you!
Phill Mayer – President
