Welcome to the Christmas DPR newsletter – our last of the year. The next newsletter will be in mid-January, so there’s a bit more than usual to cover as we look into next year.
We hope you’ve all enjoyed running with us in 2023, and are sure – whatever your pace or mileage – all members have achievements to look back on with pride in a strong year for the club. Thank you to everyone for your participation. Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in 2024!
Christmas running schedule
The schedule for Tuesday club runs over Christmas is as below. But if you would like to do a social run around Dulwich over the festive period, do post on Facebook or the DPR Sunday Whatsapp group, and you may well find others keen to join!
Tuesday 26 December – no club run
Tuesday 2 January – club social run
Tuesday 9 January – Dulwich Dash (see below).
Cross Country
A reminder that cross-country resumes in January. We are back in the Surrey League at Oxshott Woods on 13 January; the men’s race starts at 12pm, and the women’s at 2pm. There are regular trains from Clapham Junction to Oxshott train station, which is 2 minutes walk from the start.
If not already involved, then please join the respective WhatsApp cross country group to let your captain know your availability.
On 27 January we are also running at the South of England Cross Country Championships at Beckenham Place Park. We need to submit our entries today, so please tell David ASAP if you’re interested in running and are yet to let him know. The club is subsidising the cost of entry so that it only costs £5 per runner.
Tadworth 10
Can’t wait until 13 Jan to get your racing fix? Come and join us at the Tadworth 10 on 7 January. There are 10 mile and 10k options over a multi-terrain route (trail shoes recommended). The start is at 11.30am and the race is very accessible by train.
More details are available here.
Thursday sessions
For January and February 2024 we’re back on the track and we’ll be working on speed over longer distances. This is ideal for the early weeks of a Spring marathon schedule, for anyone planning a Spring Half, and of course for general training towards a comfortably faster club run! Added in for free is the mental endurance training required for running in the dark, albeit by the light of the silvery moon! (And with a bit of luck a couple of portable lights!). And of course regular training is the best way to see improvement, so dig out your light coloured kit and put ‘Improvers’ in your diary for Thursday evenings in 2024!
As usual you need to have been regularly running 10+ miles/16k a week to take part in the Thursday sessions. If you are keen to join or would like to know more, or if you’re not quite there and would like to chat about a plan to progress your running so you can be ready for future sessions, please get in touch with Susan.
There’s also a new WhatsApp Group on the DPR community which is aimed at current Improvers to advise venue changes, message that some one is late, can’t come etc, while minimising general chitchat or other messages. Programme info will continue to come by email from Susan.
If any club member would like help with race schedules, or coaching tips for general running please ask Susan.
Edinburgh – May 2024
A reminder to let James know if you are interested in joining the club trip to Edinburgh in May 2024 for the Edinburgh Marathon Weekend (24-27 May). Potential races include 5k / 10k / half-marathon and marathon. More detail is in the December newsletter, or email James.
January Presentation – Fab & Fast & Fit at 40+
An advance preview of our next talk coming up on Tuesday 30 January – a presentation by Rowan Foggit on what you need to do to stay fit at 40+. Topics include:
Parkrun Ladder
The parkrun ladder continues over Christmas – so keep running and scoring points to climb up the leaderboard. Only one point separates the top 3 on the current standings here after 6 weeks!
As above, the 2024 Dulwich Dash competition restarts on 9 January – 7.30pm at the Rosebery Gate of Dulwich Park.
