Twilight Track Races Agency 10,000m WHAC Hoodies For Sale The Debate Over Super Shoes Otairi Station Mountain Bike and Trail Run Junior Interclub Entries Remutaka Rail Trail Run & Walk Upcoming Events
First Up
There were a few ringers in the colourful, costumed Round the Vines fun run this year with several WHAC runners making a weekend of it over in Martinborough. Congratulations to Magnus Monahan, who won the half marathon, and Paul Hewitson, who was third (that’s according to the website, which just lists the top three without times). Willie Gunn gets a special mention for reportedly running in an all-pink kit. The Twilight Track Races return to Newtown Park next week. These are a series of fun, informal midweek track meets run by Wellington Scottish and Athletics Wellington, and are open to anybody who is an Athletics Wellington member. More details below. This month’s Honest 10K is coming up in just over a week and the club is still looking for volunteers and pacers. If you can help out, please contact Paul Hewitson kiwiquaker@xtra.co.nz or Dave Carrigan taxingefox@gmail.com. Poppy Healy is working on a sports science project and is looking for a few volunteers to do some VO2 testing. If you are interested, you can contact Poppy at poppyhealy9877@gmail.com For future newsletter items or suggestions, please email Nick Perry: nickgbperry@gmail.com
Competitors wear their game faces in Round the Vines. Jade Cvetkov Photography
Twilight Track Races
From Wellington Scottish Dates: 15 November to 28 February Location: Newtown Park track Get involved in a series of fun, friendly, informal midweek track meetings at Newtown Park, run by Wellington Scottish and Athletics Wellington. These races are open to anyone who is a registered Athletics Wellington member. It’s a supportive environment and newcomers to track are really welcome. There will be four or five events per meet – a couple of sprints (100m,200m), one or two middle distance (600m to 1500m) and a 3000m or 5000m. The first event is 6:30 p.m. (finished by 7:30 p.m.).
We’re are always looking for volunteers to help with entries, starting duties and post event pack down.
Entry Information
$8 entry fee per meet
Entries close at midday on the day of the event – no late entries permitted.
The Wellington 10,000m Festival is the most popular set of 10,000m races in New Zealand. For the last five years, this has been a night of PBs for athletes of all speeds — 40 percent of athletes finished with a new best time.
As always, we will host a number of 10,000m races, and all will have packs of many different speeds to drag you to your new PB. Races are open to men and women of all age grades.
Schedule:
5:30 p.m. Mixed Community 10,000m B Race
6:45 p.m. Mixed Community 10,000m A Race
7:30 p.m. Women’s U20 5,000m
8:00 p.m. Elite Men’s 10,000m (NZ Championship) proudly sponsored by Te Ahumairangi Investment Management
We are planning to place another order for hoodies. Prices are confirmed as quoted below:
Children’s sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 – $60 each (add an additional $10 if you want your name printed on the back). Please note that the children’s sizes do not have a draw cord (it’s a health and safety thing).
Adults’ sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XLarge, 2XL, 3XL – $64 each (add an additional $10 if you want your name printed at the back). Note that they are a large fit so consider getting a size smaller if you prefer it fitting, or if unsure, try one of the many that are walking around! Also see the sizing chart below. If interested, please email your details to Bertram Manz: membership@whac.org.nz
The Debate Over Super Shoes
From CNN
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clofvaowj000r47qo9hvegdxy@published” style=”line-height: 200%;text-align: left;margin: 10px 0;padding: 0;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #656565;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 12px;”>Perhaps the most intense rivalry in distance running currently isn’t between two of the world’s top athletes, although it is being played out at major marathon races across the globe.
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clofvaunk00033b6idshcu0qr@published” style=”line-height: 200%;text-align: left;margin: 10px 0;padding: 0;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #656565;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 12px;”>When Ethiopian Tigst Assefa crossed the finish line of the Berlin Marathon six weeks ago in an astonishing two hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds – eviscerating the previous best time by more than two minutes – the bounds of possibility in women’s running over 26.2 miles were suddenly being adjusted.
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clofvaunk00043b6i4yc8nbuq@published” style=”line-height: 200%;text-align: left;margin: 10px 0;padding: 0;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #656565;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 12px;”>It was a ground-breaking victory not only for the Assefa, but also for Adidas – the company responsible for the sleek, platformed shoes on her feet.
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clofvaunk00053b6ihklgjblu@published” style=”line-height: 200%;text-align: left;margin: 10px 0;padding: 0;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #656565;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 12px;”>“Tigist Assefa … we are so proud of you!” CEO Bjørn Gulden later posted on Instagram.
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clofvaunk00063b6izgpi2h5i@published” style=”line-height: 200%;text-align: left;margin: 10px 0;padding: 0;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #656565;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 12px;”>Fast-forward two weeks, however, and a rival brand was also toasting a world record. Enter Kelvin Kiptum, a 23-year-old Kenyan sporting orange and red-tinted Nikes laced over bright pink socks at the Chicago Marathon.
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clofvaunk00073b6ijqff4xrg@published” style=”line-height: 200%;text-align: left;margin: 10px 0;padding: 0;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #656565;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 12px;”>Kiptum, in just his third ever marathon, finished in a time of two hours and 35 seconds – 34 seconds faster than the old world record held by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge, who is widely considered to be the greatest distance runner of all time.
The two records in quick succession heightened the debate about how carbon-plated shoes – commonly referred to as “super shoes” – are rapidly changing the distance-running landscape. Today, they are worn by virtually all elite marathon runners, both for racing and for training, and by many casual runners, too.
Otairi Station is a hill country sheep and beef farm in the Turakina Valley, Hunterville. The Station has been owned and run by generations of the Duncan family since its purchase from local Iwi and subsequent development from bush over 150 years ago. Today the farm is home to a team of farmers, working hard to produce quality beef, lamb and manuka honey. \ The 19km distance from the front gate to the back paddock with formed tracks encompassing the property make it the ideal location to host such an event on a private property. Race Options:
40km Trail Run
40km E-Bike
40km MTB
20km Trail Run/Walk
20km E-Bike
20km MTB
5km Trail Run/Walk
For more information, go to the Facebook page here
Junior Interclub Entries
Entries are open for the Junior Interclub competition. Please note that for the 2023/24 season there is a new entry system and fee. This fee is $20 for the full season of six meets, reducing to $14 for entry after Christmas (we have only two Junior Interclub in the New Year). To register in the interclub competition please click on the link below: (Note YOU MUST be a financial member of an athletics club to register). Click here
Season Calendar below. Please note there is a separate entry for the Colgate Games and Wellington Junior Athletic Champs Interclub 2: Sunday 19th November at Sports Bowl Masterton Interclub 3: Sunday 3rd December, Newtown Park Interclub 4: Sunday 17th December, Newtown Park North Island Colgate Games: Friday 5th to Sunday 7th January at Mt Smart Stadium Auckland, South Island Colgate Games: Friday 12th to Sunday 14th January at the historic Caledonian Sports Ground Dunedin. Lower Hut Medal Day: Monday 22nd January – Hutt Rec Ground Ribbon Day: 6th February, Aorangi Domain, Paraparaumu Interclub 5: Sunday 11th February, Newtown Park Interclub 6: Sunday 25th February, Newtown Park Wellington Junior Champs: Day 1 Sunday 3rd March Newtown Park Wellington Junior Champs: Day 2 Sunday 10th March Newtown Park Sunday 25th March Reserve day for Wellington Junior Champs
Remutaka Rail Trail Run & Walk
From the organisers
21km – 14km – 7km Saturday 11 November 2023
This is a fun run & walk on the Remutaka Rail Trail through the Remutaka Ranges. We start at 254m above sea level and cruise up a shallow gradient (<1 in 40) all the way to the turn around near the summit. This is a scenic and historic route that is a jewel in the Wellington region. The steep, bush clad valley, the river below, tunnels, bridges and plenty of sweaty people make for a great morning out. This course can easily be negotiated by any modestly fit person. All distances are predominantly on hard packed gravel track. Water is supplied throughout the course and there will also be a coffee cart near the Kart Club clubroom.
11th Remutaka Rail Trail Run & Walk, Upper Hutt 18th Agency 10,000 Festival, Newtown Park 19th (Sun) Honest 10K, Whale Tail sculpture near Freyberg Pool
DECEMBER
17th (Sun) Honest 10K, Whale Tail sculpture near Freyberg Pool
WHAC Board Information
If you have ideas for the club or any questions, please contact a board member or the secretary, Richard Swan (secretary@whac.org.nz). Your board members are: John Barrance, Richard Swan, Frank Evett, Paul Hewitson, Julie Richards, Gordon Clarke, Georgina Wedge, Bertram Manz, Vickie Humphries, Seth Campbell, Todd Krieble, Nathan Tse, Callum Stewart, and Graeme Morrison.
