October highlights

A few of the events to look out for in October

On Wednesday 1 October there will be a T&F social evening to thank everyone who has taken part, officiated or helped at any of the track and field events over the 2014 season. The first Saturday in October will see our qualifying Serpie teams competing at the National 6 & 4 stage road relays in Sutton Coldfield, plus it's the date of the October handicap, where the competition for this year’s Tom Hogshead trophy is hotting up. On Sunday 5 October there’s the penultimate event in this year’s Triathlon London League: the London Fields Aquathlon. On the same day will be the popular and scenic Clarendon way marathon and relay, plus groups of Serpies are planning to run the Red Bull Steeplechase in Derbyshire and the Bournemouth marathon and half marathon.

This year’s cross country season kicks off on Wednesday 8 October with the Westminster primary and secondary schools cross country races in Regents Park. For anyone with some spare time on the day, helpers and a “hare” to lead the younger runners out on the course will be very welcome. Then the 2014-15 ATW Metropolitan League cross country gets underway at Claybury on Saturday 11 October. We had great Serpie turnouts for many of last season’s cross country fixtures and hope we can build on this in the upcoming season. You don’t need to be fast – everyone is welcome, including our juniors – and for this first race in the season trail shoes or road trainers should be fine if you haven’t tried cross country before. See here for more details.

Saturday 11 October is also the closing date to get your entries in for the North of the Thames cross country (which takes place later in the month). On Sunday 12 October, there’s bound to be a large Serpie contingent at the Royal Parks half marathon and ultra and a smaller group running the Chicago marathon; while for the juniors, there is the third Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Children’s Duathlon.

There are three road races which have traditionally been very popular with Serpies all on Sunday 19 October: the Abingdon marathon, Amsterdam marathon and Cabbage Patch 10.

The last weekend in October brings the chance for an 11-mile social trail run mostly on forest trails through Ashridge Park on Saturday 25 October. On the same day, there’s the combined North of the Thames / Liddiard cross country at Fryent Park, for those who have pre-entered only. The Sri Chinmoy races in Battersea Park have been growing in popularity with Serpentine members and a few are sure to be running the Sri Chinmoy 10-mile; and according the MyEvents at least four Serpies will be running the Beachy Head  marathon, also on 25 October.

On Sunday 26 October Serpentiine will welcome 175 athletes to the Jekyll and Hyde Park Hallowe'en Duathlon in Hyde Park. We need 100+ volunteers to be able to put on this event  Most volunteers are needed from 7am until approx 10am, so you can help and still have most of Sunday to do your own thing. You can sign up here. On the same day, the first Sunday league cross country race of the season will take place at Cheshunt. The Sunday League provides less experienced club members with an excellent introduction to cross country running and here is no need to register in advance to run. The autumn marathon season continues with both the Frankfurt and Greensand marathons taking place on the same day and the Dublin marathon on Monday 27 October.

The Last Friday of the Month 5k will be on Hallowe'en – Friday 31 October.

Looking ahead into November, the November handicap and English cross country relays will be on Saturday 1 November, with the end of season triathlon social in the evening of the same day and the New York marathon takes place on Sunday 2 November.

There's more information about lots of these events on the Serpie events planner.

Sally Hodge
communications@serpentine.org.uk

Submitted: 30 September 2014

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