The Alan Marsh Column
Almost unbelievably we are already at the half way stage of the cross country season. Five fixtures down with five to go plus an extra mini league in February.
We managed to muster 28 senior and young athletes at Corby on Saturday which was 9 more than at Kettering last year but regrettably our young athlete numbers were down (see http://www.northmidsxcleague. co.uk/ for results). Well done to Freddie Hessian, Harry Foster and Matt Williams for keeping us in with a shout of the U15 Boys Championship.
We hope you are all saving yourselves for the Mini League (U11 to U15) at the Grove Leisure Centre Newark this Sunday 16 th at 11.00. Just turn up at 10.00 with a club vest and you are guaranteed a run. Please contact Fiona or Richard via the contacts page if you would like more details.
Our aims for the second half of the season are :
· To increase our participation rate
· To enjoy our running
· To win medals
We are very pleased to say that there are now over 70 names in our young athletes cross country squad and 50 athletes have already competed at least on one occasion for Notts AC this year. That still leaves 20 of you to wear the club colours this autumn. So don't be shy you will all be very welcome. We don't expect you to compete in every race but a target of say 4 out of 10 in the season would be good. We are very pleased to see that four athletes have been ever present so far Paddy Clark, Freddie Hessian, Philip Waring and Matt Williams. Each round of Mini League and North Mids counts as one fixture although some of you may wish to run in both leagues.
With gradual progression and with the good fortune of keeping clear of injuries - running can be for life - Ken and Pat Allen were both competing for us on Saturday in the V60s age category. There was even a rare appearance from your North Mids YA Team Manager if Alan can do it anyone can !
We are already having a successful season as a club but there are more medals round the corner. Our senior men's team stand a very good chance of securing the National Cross Country title for the first time in our 80 years of existence on 21 st February in London. This will be a massive achievement for a small' club. We are looking into running a bus for this event. It's the first four to count in the young athletes' teams so it would be good to have a team in each age group and at least 24 of you to support our club. There are no restrictions however to club entries so if all 15 of our U15 boys wish to run they can.
But first the County XC Championships on 10 th January 2009 at Berry Hill Park Mansfield. The entry form is attached. There are no team entries this time so you can enter as individuals or let Richard know for U11 entries or let Alan know for other age groups and we will then send in a club entry. The closing date is Weds 10 th December.
Thought for the day
..The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of people's lives the hours spent running.
