By Rob Cockings

I realise that very often when you talk to runners about coaching they’re happy to be told what it can do for them as an athlete, but they do not consider it something that they would actually do themselves. I can fully appreciate why, as runners we all want to strive to do the best in our sport, and to take up coaching can be perceived as a hindrance to our training efforts. But without a good base of coaching at a club it can prove difficult to offer varied and purposeful training.

Presently at our own club we are fortunate enough to have a great team of seven LiRFs (Leaders in Running Fitness), including Adrian Tyas who is currently working to achieve the excellent new Coach in Running Fitness qualification, which is the equivalent to a Level 2/3 Coach qualification and myself with the old generic Level 2 Coach qualification. We also have our ex Head Coach, Kev Harding available in the summer for grass ‘track sessions’ and for supplying bespoke training programmes for members.

On the face of it this doesn’t seem bad at all, but for us to keep our club attractive to potential new members and compete with other sports and running clubs in the county, and to ensure we can provide our established members with a varied and worthwhile training environment, we need to bolster our Coach/Leader team with another two coaches and at least three LiRFs. This will improve coaching good practice, spread the training workload and help to fill gaps in training provision when sickness and work commitments reduce our Coach/Leader team levels and also importantly allow Coaches and Leaders to train on club nights  - “We’re runners too!”

So if you’ve had any thoughts at all on taking up coaching or becoming a Leader in Running Fitness, please really consider doing so, as you can become part of a team that has already made a really positive contribution to the health of the club and you really can make a difference. It won’t cost you anything but time, as the club will pay for any coaching courses we send you on and you’ll be guaranteed the full support of your Coach/Leader team.

For more details on becoming a Coach or LiRF, please contact me at rcockings@cornwall.gov.uk / 07971827436 – Thank you.

Rob

Article taken from the TRC February Newsletter compiled by Claire Longman. If you have any news, things to sell, etc email Claire with the details!

There will also be a new members group run (45 minutes) and Andy and Nick would like to meet with the group after the run for any feedback.

A foundation/improvers group will be organised at the club depending on preferences.

L- R: Emma Stepto (CAC), Anne Luke (ECH), Isobel Wykes and Naomi Tier (CAC)

This Sunday our Isobel joined CAC’s Emma Stepto and Naomi Tier, and ECH’s Anne Luke, donning a Cornwall vest to fight off the Devon competition in the Peninsular Challenge at this year’s Plymouth Hoe 10 (Thanks to CAC for the ‘borrowed’ photo!). Both the men and ladies’ teams put in fine performances taking a double victory for the first time.

Izzy wasn’t bowled over by her race time of 1:04:05, 30 seconds off her Storm Force time earlier this month, but being directed the wrong way didn’t help matters. This seems like a recurring issue – remember the spiral stair case fiasco last year? (Read Hana’s 2011 report.) Izzy came in 55th overall (of 483 finishers), 7th female and 4th in her category – impressive in anyone’s books! Big congratulations go to Izzy for being part of the winning Cornish team!

Dave Brown also put in a fine performance for TRC achieving 198th overall in 1:17:45 and 64/116 in his category.

Results

Open Competition

Men

1. 0:52:33 ANTELL,Shaun, Bristol & West AC, SM
2. 0:52:48 JENKIN, Mark, Bideford A.A.C., SM
3. 0:52:59 NASH, Dan, East Cornwall Harriers, SM

Women

1. 0:57:51 STEPTO, Emma,Cornwall Athletic Club, FV40
2. 1:01:05 TIER, Naomi, Cornwall Athletic Club, SF
3. 1:01:34 WILKINSON, Amy, Tamar Trotters, SF

Overall Results

Plymouth Hoe 10, 2012 results .xls file

TRC Results

Buying new running shoes?

Many runners, whether beginning or experienced, will at some stage consider getting their gait analysed to ensure they are running in the right type of shoe.

Having started running to a lesser extent in 2004 and just buying a pair of shoes that I thought were the right size I eventually had a static pad gait test at the London Marathon exhibition in 2009 having decided to run regularly and race occasionally.  I thought I over pronated and so had been running in stability shoes. I did the static Pad test where you run placing each foot in turn onto a pad connected to a computer that assesses how you place your foot. Result? == another pair of stability shoes.

In 2011 I had the same test done again. Result?== another pair of stability shoes.

I prefer to train off road where possible and so much of my running is actually in trail shoes which tend to be neutral in the main. This may prove to be a good thing.

18^th February 2012 I spend time with Andy Trudgian (Personal Best Running Store at Carlyon Bay) and have an extensive gait analysis actually running properly on a treadmill with the whole foot strike affair carefully filmed and very clearly examined and explained. You can clearly see how you run.

Result?== I am in fact a neutral forefoot striker and should not be in stability road shoes but in fact neutral ones.

The two different tests were like chalk and cheese. The time and care taken over the filmed analysis seemed to make the pad test pale into insignificance.

I needed a new pair of shoes anyway. So the 30 minutes taken was free, I was not sold the most expensive shoes available and I was also given a discount for being a Truro runner.

Firstly I suggest anyone wanting their gait analysed uses this method wherever they choose.

Secondly, I thoroughly recommend Andy Trudgian and Personal Best Running in Carlyon Bay, St Austell for a fabulous service (click on the image below to go to their website).

Andy

Isobel Wykes - superstar!!!

Isobel Wykes consistently takes prizes at everything she enters and has recently been selected to represent Cornwall in this year’s Peninsular Challenge.

The challenge is between Cornwall and Devon At the Plymouth Hoe 10 mile race on 19th February and Izzy will be part of the 4 woman team, which requires 3 to score. Other members of the ladies team include Emma Stepto of CAC, Naomi Tier also of CAC and Anne Luke of TT. The men’s team consists of Dan Alsop STA,  Dan Nash ECH, Peter LeGrice MBH,  Noel Kindon CAC , Colin Snook CAC,  Justin Thomas CAC.

No doubt our very talented Izzy will make Cornwall, and of course TRC, proud – we wish her a fantastic race and will be supporting her all the way!

Description

The Marathon is held in conjunction with The St Austell Half Marathon, which is part of the Multi-Terrain Race Series.

The course will be challenging, rugged and very scenic, skirting disued and currently operational clay pits, and will reach Hensbarrow Downs, which is the highest point in Mid-Cornwall. The views will be stunning.”

There will be a 5 hour 30 minute time limit, but all finishers will be credited with an official time.

The use of Ipods, MP3 players etc, will not be permitted.

The race is organised by St Austell Running Club.

Entry fee

£12.00 Affiliated, £14.00 Unaffiliated, + £2.00 to register on the day

Booking a place

Download the pdf entry form and return as instructed on the form: entry form 2012

Enquiries

Race Enquiries: pauldbullock@btinternet.com or 01726 61462

Hope to see you there

We discussed it at the committee meeting last night and decided that as we have a great (active!) Facebook group, which is open to anyone to join, we could do without the (inactive) forum .

You may wonder what difference it makes if it’s there or not, but unfortunately, even if we don’t use it, it still needs monitoring for spam so it’s never ‘work-free’.

So come on over to our Fb group and have a chat – there are over 65 members who share running news, help each other out with queries (Garmin help anyone?!), invite members to events (races, social, etc), post photos, whatever you want to talk about!

Stephie

The Greater Manchester Marathon – Sunday 29th April
If you have not been successful in the ballot for the London Marathon, this is a great alternative, without the price tag!

The Great Manchester Run – Sunday 20th May
The most popular 10Km run in Europe!

The Great North Run – Sunday 16th September
Arguably the biggest half marathon event in the world!

How do you take part?

Instead of charging runners to take part in these events, we ask for a £60 refundable deposit cheque.
The cheque is only needed to cover the cost of your place if are not able to run, or cannot raise your sponsorship target. It is not cashed or banked until that point.

There is a different sponsorship target for each run, but as ever we will supply our participants with:

• A KidsCan Vest to run and train in – T-shirt for GMR
• A JustGiving online sponsor website
• Personalised sponsor forms

If you would prefer to make your own JustGiving page, please feel free.
If you know of anyone who is looking for a place in any of this year’s runs, please forward this e-mail to them.

If you would like to take part, please contact Chris direct:

• E-mail chris@kidscan.org.uk
• Tel – 0161 295 3864
• Website – http://www.kidscanevents.org.uk/running-events/

Workshop for Leaders and Coaches

Registration and breakfast starts from 09.30 with provision for extra half hour for Q+A session and clear-up by 11.30 am. Free to Network members and £5/£8 for non-members pending choice of Full English or Continental breakfast. Teas and coffees also provided.

Why not make a day of it. Drop your partner off in Truro and catch up with them later for Sunday lunch or a browse around the city!

Please contact Rob Cockings ASAP if you would like to attend the workshop. NB Although this workshop is intended for qualified Leaders and Coaches, you’d be more than welcome if you are considering becoming one, but please contact Rob first.