Club News

Club pack run/walk, Alex Moore, Sat 7 July, 1:45
A little quiet period after the Wellington Marathon and last week's trip to Taupo, but it's all on at the end of the month as we host the Wellington cross country champs.  More on that below and a Taupo report further down.

Wellington Centre Cross Country, Grenada, Sunday 24 July
This will be a big day out, with the Kids Cross Country Champs in the morning running into the seniors races in the afternoon.  Full details of the race programme can be found on the Wellington Centre's site http://athleticswellington.org.nz/News/wellington-cross-country-champs-course-maps-and-race-times , but there are things to do before the day itself...

• Megan our treasurer sent around an email last week that explains all the ways you can help.  Dig it out if it got lost in your inbox, but the main thing is to put your name down on the Helper's Roster:  https://goo.gl/QnjhBj    Plenty of choice as to what you can help with, and if there is anything extra you want to do, drop Megan a line at treasurer@olympicharriers.org.nz and she will sort you out.
• Rob and Juan are in on it too.  They have a working bee planned for this Sunday 8 July 2-4pm at Grenada.  Nothing too strenuous, just checking over some of the off road portions, so bring a spade, hand saw or weed-eater if you have one. 

News briefs...

• 5k/10k Walking Races - Mackays Crossing - Sat 9 July.  Couldn't find too much detail on these... but for more information contact: thelonsdales@paradise.net.nz
• The Masters 8km is the Sunday after next (17th).  A multi lap course on the roads behind the club and they take a pretty liberal definition of what a master is. http://www.olympicharriers.nz/calendar/event.php?id=2799
• Sarah Riceman let slip she is dancing in the upcoming production of Sister Act which will be on at the Opera House mid to late September.  Anyone want to think about a possible group booking?  We will check back with you in a week or so.
• The Council is taking submissions on developing walking tracks - most notably from Kaukau to Spicer Forest (which is a bit beyond the turn-off to the Grand Memorial).  Send in your own submission here http://wellington.govt.nz/have-your-say/public-inputs/consultations/open/open-space-access-plan  and if you feel strongly send the main ideas to Tony or Rob so we can pull together an overview from the club.  You may also want to see what another group sees as important: http://www.wmtbc.org.nz/news/4102291.  It closes off mid next week so get on to it!

 

A report of sorts from the North Island Cross Country Champs...
Stories, memories and traditions. They share similarities, and yet are different. Generally stories get more embroidered year after year, although remembering who was involved and whether you were hero or villain gets harder.  Traditions are easier – we do almost the same as last time, but then why did we start doing that in the first place?   Little changes creep in, keeping the truth current and convenient for the time and company where it is remembered.

There are many things I remember right now about the weekend we just spent in Taupo. 

Plenty of stories about injuries, rivalries, past glories, and shared confidences.  Around the tables at the dinner people of all ages leant forward, laughed, and swapped, and grew those stories. 

For me senses drive memories.  It was pretty cold, but it was also warm sitting in the Otumuheke stream talking about future plans more than the past.  The sight of Mike charging for the line will take a while to forget, as will the taste of Meredith’s coffee.   This year I’ll particularly remember the sound of bouncy kids from WHAC celebrating taking “our” trophy; not because we lost it but because our own bouncy kids weren’t there. 

Buying ice cream on the way home is a fine tradition, and given another few years the gumboot throw at Taihape might get there too.  We don’t always know why a tradition starts.  Take the Grand Memorial – a great race with mini traditions within it, but what was it really all about?  It turns out Trent has wondered that too, and perhaps one day we will find out more. 

In twenty years time those recollections will have changed.  Some things just stick in your memory though.  The Huka Falls, where groups of Sunday runners from near and far stopped in the frosty air for a photo, are forever linked for some with Renee Melanie Chignall.  Ronald Hugh Jorgenson and Arthur Allan Thomas are lodged in the cranial folds too.  Bad guys seem to have three names but those wearing white hats like Neil Armstrong and Ed Hillary just have two.  Why is that? 

Perhaps Rob -- one name, like the Queen and other family -- would say “It’s just a thing.”

 

Next Runs
Sat 9 July: Club walk/run
Sat 9 July: 5/10k walking races at Mackays Crossing
Sat 16 July Club Day
Sun 17 July: Masters 8km road race (hosted by Olympic)
Sun 24 July Wellington Cross Country Champs, Grenada, Olympic are hosting this year

Mark these on the calendar
Around Rarotonga Race, 22-28 September: Talk to Miles for more details or google to learn more.   
The National Road Relay, Saturday 1 October, Rotorua