Arrangements for Junior Groups.
Meet 10:05am by Lakeside Cafe.
Come a few minutes earlier if you’re wanting to use the toilets before your run.
Children and parents – please wear appropriate clothing and shoes – it may rain and some of the footpaths may be a bit muddy.
Children – please tick your name on the “Attendance sheet” if you want your run to count towards your 25/50/100 medal.
Parents – please write your contact details on the “Emergency Contact sheet” if you won’t be running in the same group as your child.
Presentation of awards at 10:15.
We’ll divide up into between 2 and 4 groups depending on … how many turn up, how many leaders we have, etc.
The main route is marked in purple on the map and is 2 miles (3.2km).
Fastest group will set off first, slowest group last, so the groups don’t get mixed up.
The map shows a number of re-grouping points. These are for the members of a group to re-group, not for all the groups to merge together.
The route therefore consists of sections between re-grouping points. At the start of each section the group leader will decide whether the section will be a steady jog or a run to the next re-grouping point. The major factor deciding this is likely to be how many people and dogs are walking on the section.
However all but the fastest group will try to regroup at the northern end of the lake for be a group photo. From there
- Main group (middle speed) then continue on the purple route for a total of 3.2km
- Slightly slower group can take two short cuts marked in yellow (there may be another photo at the folly)
- Slowest/youngest group can run back to the cafe along the lakeside path (orange dotted line)
- Fastest group “C” group will extend the route to go round the top lake and past the Mansion, taking a longer route back to the cafe
Everyone comes back to the cafe for Valley Striders Relays “Cafe or Lake”.
If numbers are smallish we will keep groups 1/2/3 together until the first photo point.
All groups / all runners should follow the instructions of the leaders, including
- don’t overtake the leader unless permission has been given
- keep on the RIGHT hand side of the path (i.e. away from the edge of the lake)
- slow down for puddles
- slow down or stop for dogs
- slow down or stop for groups of walkers, particularly groups with young children and/or prams
- take care when passing fishermen (their rods may obstruct part of the path)
- don’t annoy swans
NB the weather forecast for Friday is that it won’t be rainy, windy or cold. This is good for running but also means the lakeside path is likely to be popular with families walking round the lake. This may mean that we have to keep close together for most of the lakeside path, but, don’t worry, there will be opportunities for a bit of speedy running when we’ve got to the end of the lakeside path.
Group 1/2/3 will be doing a “lifebelt” run round the lakeside. At each lifebelt we’ll stop and regroup. The leader will then decide whether the path to the next lifebelt will be a jog or a run (depending on the width of the path and “traffic”). If it’s a run then a leader will try to keep ahead of the children! When the children reach the next lifebelt, they should turn round and jog back to the rest of the group.
Please could as many parents as possible run – even if not in the same group as their children.
Please could non-running parents take it in turns to walk up to the field where the relays will be held to ensure that no-one steals the marker posts
Hope to see lots of you there. And to the rest, “Happy New Year” and hopefully see you on 5 January at Stockeld Park for the Peco race and on 7 January at Leos for the first V S training session for 2025.
I’ve listed those who said “very likely, likely or maybe”. But don’t worry if you’re not on the list, you can still come if you’re now available!
NB the “C” group (starred) may be making alternative arrangements – see WhatsApp
Niamh Archbold
Ella Ball
Sophia Ball
Aisha Benjamin
Olivia Benjamin
Milly Booth
Abigail Bottomley
Alex Burbidge
Imogen Burton *
Rafael Burton *
Gus Cawcutt *
Matilda Dark
Chloe Deak
Harry Durbin *
Evelyn Fordham
Ben Fowler
Sam Fowler
Seb Fowler
Leo Freer
Poppy Freer
Libby Frenneaux
Izzy Grosvenor
Thomas Grosvenor
Leo Guppy
Caitlyn Hartley
Joe Hawkes
Tilly Hawkes
Henry Kirwan
Nye Mason
Sophia Melara
Dahlia Mills
Dotty Mills
Søren Pailor
Ewan Reid *
Kirsten Reid
Kyle Reid
Isla Robinson
Leo Robinson
Ben Rollison
Seb Rollison
Elliot Rushgrove
Josh Salmon
Ella Shanks
Freddie Shanks
Lucy Sheen
Thomas Sheen
Alfie Thomas
Gus Thomas
Lola Thomas
James Walker *
Lucy Walker
Isla Waters
Isabelle Watt
Harry Whittaker *
James Whittaker *
Ruby Wilson
Esther Yansaneh
Ezzie Yansaneh
Zeekie Yansaneh
Leanna Zeidan