November highlights

A few of the events to look out for in November

The clocks have gone back and the evenings are drawing in – autumn is truly here again, and with it the 2014 end of triathlon season social on Saturday 1 November. If you have competed in triathlon or supported a triathlon event this year, or are considering taking part in a tri in the future, come along to Finch's. Also taking place on 1 November are the penultimate club handicap of 2014; and a Serpie men’s team will be competing at the English cross country relays in Mansfield. On Sunday 2 November there should be a good Serpie turnout at the New York marathon and there will probably be a few running the Marlow half marathon.

On Monday 3 November, club entries will open for the SEAA Masters cross country championships; then on Friday 7 November, Serpie Christmas Party tickets should be going on sale. Keep an eye on emails, news on our website and the Serpie Facebook page for details of both.

The second ATW Met League cross country will take place at Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage on Saturday 8 November. 87 Serpies took part in the first Met League races and it would be great to have an even larger turnout for this next one – we would especially welcome our Serpie juniors along to join in the cross country fun. Also on Saturday is the autumn Ballbuster duathlon at Box Hill, while on Sunday there’s the Grand Union Canal half marathon and, in probably warmer climes, the Marathon des Alpes Maritimes.

The first of this season’s cross country events at Parliament Hill is the London xc championships on Saturday 15 November. Only those of you who pre-entered (and entries are now closed!) will be able to run, but for those not running, this is a great course to spectate at and the organisers always appreciate a few Serpie marshals. The group of Serpies heading to the Brooks Brighton 10k on Sunday 16 November will be hoping to make the most of the fast, flat seafront course.

On Monday 17 November the club’s committee will be holding their next committee meeting in the club room at the Seymour Centre. Any members who would an item to be added to the evening’s agenda can contact the appropriate Committee member before the meeting. Also on 17 November Serpie entries will open for the Southern xc champs, which take place on 24 January in Brighton. There will be a ‘Nutrition for Active Women’ session in the Seymour Centre after the club runs on Wednesday 19 November.

The next (pre-entry only) cross country championship – the North London xc champs - will take place at the infamous Alexandra Palace course on Saturday 22 November, which is also the closing date for Serpie entries to the SEAA Masters cross country championships.

Grovelands Park in Southgate is the venue for our club’s ‘home’ Sunday League cross country match on Sunday 23 November. Serpie marshals, helpers, course markers and, of course runners are all very welcome. On the same day it’s the Bath Hilly Half, described on the organisers’ website as an "amazing race, amazing views, amazing marshals, amazing mud, amazing hills, pretty amazing really".

On Monday 24 November there will be the first in a series of seminars aimed at those training for a spring marathon. All places for this first seminar have been filled, but keep an eye open for details of future seminars and how to sign up. The November Last Friday of the Month 5k will be on Friday 28 November, then over the last weekend of November, there are events to please cross country, trail and road runners alike. Firstly, on Saturday 29 November, there’s the Fraternity & Sorority Cups, in which men and women race together over a cross country course in Trent Park. The Fraternity Cup, first awarded by Hampstead Harriers way back 1933, has yet to be won by Serpentine; and, although the Sorority Cup was only added in 2005, again Serpentine have not yet featured as the winning team. It would be great to change this in 2014! The final chance this year to take part in one of the popular Sri Chinmoy series of races in Battersea Park is at the Sri Chinmoy 10k, also on Saturday 29 November. And for the hardy, mud-loving trail runners amongst you, there is the Gatliff Marathon on Sunday 30 November, with 50km, 35km and 20k options following routes through rural countryside using footpaths and tracks. Also on Sunday 30 November there will be sizeable groups of Serpies running at the Florence marathon and the San Sebastian marathon.

Looking forward to early December, Friday 5 December is the last date to get entries in for the Southern cross country championships; the last handicap of 2014 will be on Saturday 6 December; and the third in this season’s Sunday cross country league races will be on Sunday 7 December in Watford.

Also to look out for during November will be details of how to apply for a club place at the London marathon – keep an eye on emails, news on the club’s website and the Serpie Facebook page for more details..

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

Sally Hodge
communications@serpentine.org.uk

Submitted: 30 October 2014

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