NewsletterAutumn 2014 Edition

Founded by Caitlin Limmer 2012

SPONSORED ANDSUPPORTED BY

The Turks Head 10k - It was hotter than predicted but WOW what a day it was! So many highlights for me; the start of the race seeing your faces smiling up at me, the fantastic trumpet fanfare, remembering Mary with balloons, being inspired by Russell Cook (3 marathons for 3 transplants), it was a “shoot me now” moment.

As ever I wanted the race to continue to draw our running/ non running community together. Life is too short not to say hello to that face you see every day running/walking and I hope this race and our club plays a part in making peoples life more bonded, even if its only for a day.

The race sold out, but without my HUGE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS our race would be nothing. The kindness bestowed on me/my runners and the endless hard work that was shown on the day leaves me speechless.

The club continues to grow, in a friendly, organic way, I want it to always be word of mouth, I want people to run with us because they feel that The BeaRCat Running Club is right. We are a little bit different, not better, not worse, just different to other running clubs.

My life is incredibly lucky, every Sunday/Wednesday I come home on a complete high, and daily reading of your euphoric Facebook posts when you have achieved something you never thought you could. Every session I think to myself “there won’t be many today as; the clocks have gone forward, it is 30 degrees outside, everyone is on holiday, everyone is doing a race today, it is the end of term” and every bloomin’ Sunday I chuckle at myself, I am always wrong.

Private highlights of mine recently include having the pleasure of meeting Paul Sinton-Hewitt – the Founder of Parkrun. From my brief encounter with him, I took humility, warmth, encouragement and a continued humble passion for what he has done, that was a very special moment for me. Might I remind you he was awarded a CBE in June. Seeing Hugh Brasher, Head of the London Marathon, running in MY race. I hope you don’t read this as sucking up to these people, it is so not that it is just a sheer disbelief that these people would want to be part of something I am involved in. Even writing this I am shaking my head wondering how this has happened! I know how it has happened …YOU.

This newsletter will come to you all on our 10 hour BeaRCat Challenge Day which celebrates our 2nd Birthday. I hope from 8am to 6pm to have a BeaRCat on the road and in return you will receive a little pressie to remember our day and how much we have achieved together.

Fullers and The Turks Head continues to support my every mad idea. They never say no, they are just wonderful, opening up early, dealing with our mess after, and having to listen to the mad ramblings of us runners!

The next 12 months for me are the same as the previous in my goals for the club – determination to keep this warmth, encouragement, support as strong and constant as it is. Encouraging children and changing perceptions of what the words “running club” mean. Somewhere down the line those words have created a mist of fear, I hope The BeaRCats play a role in dispelling this myth.

Caitlin LimmerFounder of The BeaRCat Running Club

WELCOME

Follow the BeaRCats...

AChiEvEMEnts EvEnts FOR 14:1503 That’s torn it… the trials and

tribulations of an injured runner! Written by John Reece

04 Scenes from a Post Sunday Run Turks Head Saloon Bar

Written by City Runner

05 Q&As

06 Trials and Tribulations Written by Sarah Mayo

07 The BeaRCats at our 2nd Turks Head 10km Fun Run

08 The BeaRCats at our 2nd Turks Head 10km Fun Run

09 The BeaRCats at our 2nd Turks Head 10km Fun Run

10 Why I run? Featuring Rob Duddy, Romit Basu and Tessa Pihlens

11 Did you keep kewl this summer? Written by Our Sponsor

June

Parkrun - Gareths’ 50th

Turks Head 10km Fun Run - Well done to all runners whether a BeaRCat or not!

Parkrun - Mel reaching her 100th

Triffic Trail 10km - Alun and Gareth

City Mile - Roger

Harry Hawkes 10m - Laura

July

Adidas Thunder Run - Gareth competing in a 24hr relay event, completed 5 x 10km laps (50km/30miles)

Parkrun - Roger and Susans’ 50th

Richmond 10km series - Sean and Jim

Shock Absorber (women only) Triathlon - Sprint - Lisa

Liddes-Verbier 29km Trail Run - Sarah

The Wedding Day 7km Run - There are a few BeaRCats took part in this local event.

The Hurt - Roger and Emma

Elmbridge 10km - Leigh and Becky

JPM Chase Challenge - Ian

August

Lanhydroc Parkrun - Mel and Alun

National Capital 10km Run - Rob

Nuts Challenge (7km obstacle course) - Sarah M, Sarah B, Kerry, Graham, Claire, Adrian, John R and Gareth

10 mile Charity Run - Kerry

Ironman UK Half - Jayson

Rubicon Middle Distance Triathlon - (1.2m swim in muddy water, 56m bike and a half marathon) - John R

Newmarket Duathlon - (3m run, 15m bike and another 3m run) - Leigh

September

Tring’s 10m time trial - setting a new PB on the bike - Leigh

Great North Run - Mel, Alun and Gareth

River Relay - Roger, Emma and John C

Ealing Half - There are a few BeaRCats participating in this event

London Duathlon - Leigh

Ironman Wales - Jayson

in this EditiOn

2 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

08:30HC HALF

MARATHON

08:25SUNDAY

18:45WEDNESDAYFor more information visit

www.bearcatrunningclub.com

09:00PARKRUN

For more information visitwww.parkrun.org.uk

Congratulations to Mel Thomason completing her 100th ParkRun

and for the 2nd year in a row,getting the most points.

For regular updatesplease check your emails,the BRC Facebook page

and Website.

Bedfont Lakes • Bushy ParkCrane Park • Old Deer Park

Richmond Park

CLUB DAYS2014

10:00PERIVALE 5

For more information visitwww.activetrainingworld.co.uk/events/2014/12/07/perivale_5

For more information visitwww.hamptoncourthalf.com

07DECEMBER

2014

10:00SURREY

SPITFIRE 20

For more information visitwww.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/

event/Spitfire201234

29MARCH2015

22FEBRUARY

2015

09:00BRIGHTON HALF

MARATHON

For more information visitwww.brightonhalfmarathon.com

22FEBRUARY

2015

09:30SURREY

TEMPEST 10

For more information visitwww.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/

event/Tempest101234

29MARCH2015

00EVERY

SATURDAY

INFOTURKS HEAD

INFO

Dunsfold Aerodrome, famous for being the Top Gear test track,is the venue for this 20 miler.

A great event to build into your Marathon training schedule.

Key: Dates Event Info

Editor in Chief:Caitlin Limmer

Articles: Contributed by BeaRCat members

Designer: Gareth M. Coombs

Big apologies to members if you are missed from the achievements section, we are an ever growing community and it is so hard to remember when you are all achieving brilliant things.

The BeaRCat Newsletter is available 3 times a year in PDF format; Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Your comments and feedback for the Newsletter are greatly appreciated and anything else associated with The BeaRCat Running Club. If you would like to contribute to future editions, please email your articles, pics, news, your achievements or anything else you would like to share with the BeaRCats to Caitlin caitlinrun@gmail.com or Gareth garethmcoombs@gmail.com

The BeaRCat Running Club founded 2012.

3 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

thAt’s tORn it…Written by John Reece

The trials and tribulations of an injured runner!

Somewhat ruefully I must admit, as I enter my 51st year, that I’m beginning to associate “snap, crackle and pop” with the sounds likely to emanate from various parts of my body instead of a popular breakfast cereal.

If “Running Nirvana” remains a place where no matter how far or how fast I run the body flows like liquid motion, effortless and ache free – that seems to be a place that has moved further from my grasp, particularly over the last few months!

My proverbial rabbit’s foot – a couple of glucosamine tablets a day - seems to have about as much effect on my joints as my daily fish oil tablet has had on my memory (I write while trying to remember where I’ve left my specs). And that’s not even taking into account the articles I’ve read pointing out potential dangers of supplements – ho hum!

During my recent spell on the injury sideline, while the various practitioners I consulted (physiotherapists and chiropractors) weren’t noticeably scratching their heads pondering my various aches and pains, I certainly feel little the wiser about exactly what has been the root cause of certain problems or the best way of dealing with them.

Clearly we all have our own very individual predisposition to injury and it also seems there is an equally wide range of ways we deal with even just the possibility of “snap crackle and pop”.

I get the sense that one potential danger is that injury or potential injury can be too much of an inhibitor, unnecessarily limiting our running ambitions or leading some to give up on running altogether. A memory that has helpfully popped into my mind (thanks fish oil!) is that before I took up running a couple of years ago my early morning ventures down a flight of stairs were probably more creaky (and I’m talking knees here!) than they are now! Does this mean that running has helped my knees? I would be cautious to say for certain, but at the very least I can say there has been no noticeable deterioration in the last two years of running regularly.

At the other side of the spectrum there is the potential danger of pushing yourself too hard, sticking too strictly to a certain aim when the body is doing all it can to send the message – “give me relief!”

Generally in matters of life I often reach the conclusion that trying to find the middle path is for the best but in running terms I have often found the “middle ground” to be occupied by the “brain gremlins”. One lot of gremlins will be telling me that I’m pushing too hard and really should ease off only for the other lot to pipe up that I’m being an indolent slouch and need to speed up!

Where do I find myself sitting in all of this? I think I’m probably more inclined to push myself hard though there are plenty of gremlins willing to give an alternative view! Hopefully, with age comes at least a little wisdom and though I have somehow set myself up to run in four half marathons and the Cabbage Patch 10 over the course of five weeks in September and October (“madness” I can hear a few gremlins muttering), I am firmly telling myself to compromise by just training for the distance this time and not for a personal best!

Other words of wisdom?

• IthinkI’velearnedthehardway not to have too many running aims and ambitions at one time that potentially conflict with one another. Going flat out to beat my half marathon PB three weeks before running in the London Marathon probably wasn’t my wisest move (though certain gremlins remind me that my subsequent injury came one week after the half marathon, not during it).

• Anotherthingisdealingwiththoseperiods of frustration when injury does get in the way of running. One piece of advice I received in my post London Marathon injury phase was to take up Pilates. I can’t say yet if this has improved the balance of my running but at least when I couldn’t run it kept me engaged with something that I felt would eventually benefit my running.

•Dealingwithareturnfrominjury.Almost as bad as injury is a feeling I’ve felt a few times over the years when I’ve resumed running after injury and it seems like I’ve gone back years in terms of what I’m able to do. Experience has taught me that with a little patience this will sort itself out – I think it’s a case of accepting that the first few runs are going to be pretty hard work and believing, usually with justification, that things will become easier!

I close with very best wishes to all BeaRCats who are currently injured, a cautionary “go easy on yourself” to all those recently returned from injury and a good luck to the rest in the hope you avoid injury!

After a typically uplifting Sunday BeaRCat Running Club run, picture the scene in the bar area of the Turks Head, with tea, coffee and water flowing liberally, as a collection of BeaRCat black top wearing runners consider what they want to achieve in the next year. Look closely and you can probably see a goal that relates to you!

“I want to do a sprint triathlon said a young BeaRCub and I want to do a Sub 22.30 5k at Crane Park run as well. Then I want to round off the year with a Sub 1.50 half marathon”. “Steady on” said the Great Ginger BeaRCat (“GGBC”), “let’s make sure that you keep fit, healthy and injury free, some people have grand designs and some just want to motivate others. If you build up to your goals you will be doing a marathon in sub 4 hours and a half marathon in sub 1.45 before you know it.”

The Novice Faster ladies were discussing tone up and a general improve fitness approach to their running as they eschewed the chance for sugar in their tea and turned down a GGBC cake! “All I want is to be a comfortable 8.30 minute mile runner said one, overheard by Running Super Grandad who promptly raised the bar a little with his annual “4 half Marathons in 4 weeks and to average 1.50 over the four, followed by Cabbage Patch at

1h 20 minutes”. And ... just for good measure “I will have a go at Paris in April under 4 hours!”

“Well, like Phil Daniels in his rendition of Parklife, running gives me an enormous sense of well being” said BeaRCat Dodger eating a biscuit with jam in it and one of Caitlin’s flapjack squares, “I don’t need no more fast times me, I just want to incorporate running as part of me everyday life, know what I mean ... oh and cycling!

Sunderland fan and “Top Clubman” turned around from setting out his shirt for his next race; he had counted out the four safety pins and placed two electrolytes side by side with the labels in the right direction. The number was neatly ironed and his running gels were tucked neatly in his belt. He promptly announced that he would be doing Royal Parks, London, Ealing, Brighton (sub 3.45) and the famous “not quite a Marathon of the North”. For good measure he would be climbing Mount Snowdon and Mount Kilimanjaro; Mount Everest would have to wait until 2016. “Anyone want to join me?” said an eager looking Top Clubman as he clicked submit on another race application.

“Oh Bloody hell”, said Gosport Girl “I just want to learn the area around Ham House so I stop getting lost”. Donny Boy piped up “I really want to do a sub 21 minute 5km parkrun,

a 10k in 45 minutes flat and another half marathon in 1.38!”. “You are almost as bad as Top Clubman” said GGBC “just make sure you keep running with more stretching and think about something a bit more achievable like run 2 half marathons under 2 hours you’re not as young as you used to be”! Donny Boy slumped over his coffee, deflated ... “Yes Boss”!

The Flying Lawyer was stretching out his latest injury, caused by running faster than DC comic hero “The Flash” and stated that he must “Get my mileage back up to 10 miles and run Richmond Half and Cabbage Patch in blistering unbelievable pace”. His young running buddy, “Duathlete” (more superhero than super athlete) had finished half an hour before everyone and already run home, hung up his cape and was ready to go cycling so was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Gosport Girl was continuing her relentless recruiting drive for Crane Park run ... “Yes you can practice running under 11 minutes per mile over 5km and then you can run the 2015 Cabbage patch in 10 minute miles!” she said to the Novice slower group, they looked disbelieving ... “9am on a Saturday morning isn’t too bad”, she said unconvincingly.

PTO...

4 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

sCEnEs FROM A POst sundAy Run tuRks hEAd sALOOn BAR Written by City Runner

/a2MilkUK @a2MilkUK

Yorkshire Boy appeared in the bar area with a pint of John Smiths (it’s only 10.00am) and his Leeds Rhinos running top and promptly announced he was targeting a September sub 1.50 half marathon and to keep beating his parkrun PB. He also mentioned that Mrs. Yorkshire Boy would not be joining us this week as she was running up Ilkley Moor ... again! “Keep Loving it!!” said GGBC in her best Keegan-like Yorkshire accent as she typed her 23rd email of the morning.

“Well I just want to be brave enough to wear shorts”, said a newbie “and perhaps I will when I am able to run 10k within a year”. “You’ll be doing 10k’s quicker than that but what happened to the Wednesday night run with a Hei Hing noodle bar visit?” said Techno Man as he adjusted the laces on his latest super technical running shoes that are lighter than a humming bird feather and asked Monsieur JM if he would do an ultra next week, “We must go to Miss Noodle Bar’s place more often” said Techno Man! Miss Noodle Bar could be seen nodding, muttering the words “No more discount for BeaRCats or I am ruined and I want to get Sally Scissors to run Cabbage 10!”

Dee Rail (anag.) turned away from another demonstration with the roller (fnaar fnaar) to announce she wanted to “do another 10 and increase speed and distance” as she wrote down the word “Cabbage” then crossed

it out. The sound of someone finding a strained glute on the roller drew her back to her rolling and stretching mission shouting “Now you have found it ... roll it and cry!”

Happy Conflicted Runner just wanted to “Run at my own pace happily whatever the pace may be on the day” and then promptly declared an interest in tougher tasks “Possibly a triathlon” she added joyously and confusingly!

“I’ve got no goals!” said Fernando Torres, who happened to be in the bar doing an interview! “You need to do some more running” said Spurs fan Super Running Grandad! Torres went back to his cerveza as he sat down on a bench in the corner.

New Hubby had just returned from honeymoon and he stated his aim to “Be healthy, maintain weight and fitness, get faster and stay in 32” trousers.” He added, “I also need to find a way to add a motor to that buggy for little JK Rolling which should give me even more time to respond to FB posts quicker than anybody else, especially JC-P, the current World Champion”.

As the flapjacks run out, the coffee runs dry and the BeaRCats filter out of the tavern doors, it is left to the barman to wrap it up with his goals. “I want to quit the fags, lose half a stone and join the BeaRCat Running Club to run once or twice a week”.

I’ll drink to that!!

Q Should I do strength training?

A Yes – the bare minimum to keep your knees and gluteus injury free; single leg squats, single leg toe touch, basic squats, planks also good. In an ideal world we should be doing a bit more than this minimum! It is not just about building muscle it is about keeping the bones strong, from the age of 0-35 our bones rebuild from 35 onwards they are being destroyed so doing some strength training helps slow down this process.

Q Why am I not getting any faster?

A At the end of the day to get faster you need to do speed training to get speed rewards! Set yourself 6-8 weeks where you plan some proper speed work, intervals, fartlek, threshold, timed miles, Parkruns all help. Don’t do speed every time, mix up your training – and make sure you warm up properly before you add speed to your session. Happy to plan individual 8 week plans to make this happen! Just ask.

Q Why should I run with you?

A We will give you encouragement, motivation, inspiration, support through the friendships that you make, the emails you will receive and our fantastic Facebook. We will help you gain confidence but at the same time introduce you to a group of people who will look after you not compete against you.

5 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

Celebrating 10 yearsas a freelance graphic designer

GRAPHIC DESIGN & CREATIVE ARTWORKING

• Events & Signage• Typography• Repro

• Newsletters• Brochures• Posters• Leaflets - Flyers

• Stationery• Logo design• Artworking• Adverts

m 07930 229570 e GMCdesign@virginmedia.com

tRAiLs And tRiBuLAtiOnsWritten by Sarah Mayo

On Saturday I took part in the Liddes- Verbier 29km trail run in the Swiss Alps, the baby race of the Trail Verbier St-Bernard family.

In the lead up to the run, I’ve been following a 14 week training programme of around 500 miles, and definitely not enough hills! It was my friend Tori that first introduced me to trail running – when in 2012 and 2013 we took part in the Eco Trail de Paris and the Beaujolais Villages Trail together. With their combined ascents of 1,250m, this 29km at 1,498m altitude, with a climb of 2,500m+ was always going to be tougher...

The run consists of two big ascents, the first of which is higher than Snowdon (1,085m) and the second higher than Ben Nevis (1,344m)! And with fog and rain welcoming us at about 2,000m on both climbs it sadly meant we missed out on enjoying the stunning scenery of the St Bernard region.

The descents were pretty treacherous also – technical terrain made very muddy and slippy by a number of days of persistent rain. Given all of this, I was pretty pleased to arrive in Verbier in 6 hours 31 mins, in 127th place (27th in my category) and pick up my finisher’s t-shirt!

Throughout, I had a lot of time to think. When not trying to work out how long until the next check point or where to plant my next pole, I began thinking that trail running is a great metaphor for life. There are ups and downs, there are twists and turns, slips and tumbles, blood, sweat and tears, but there is always one constant...

The people around you, the people that help you through the tough times as well as the good times.

It’s these people that helped me complete this challenge, and my heart- felt gratitude goes out to them all:

1 My support crew of sister-in-law Miki and nieces Sana and Fumi – from the start at Liddes, to the half-way point at Lourtier, to the end in Verbier – it was such a welcoming sight to see their smiling faces supporting me come rain or shine! (And sorry Sana for “STILL talking about that silly run”!)

2 Organisers, supporters and fellow runners - races like this take so much organisation, especially in inclement weather as it was this past weekend. My thanks to all those supporters/volunteers who were out in force along the route shouting “Bravo” or “You crazy trail runners!” and my fellow runners who picked me up with words such as “Courage” when I paused to rest or literally picked me up when I slipped and fell.

3 The BeaRCat Running Club – I was proud to wear my BeaRCat running vest, promoting this great running club around the Swiss Alps! I’ve been a member since the end of last year, and this fab community has provided so much friendly support and sage advice over this short space of time.

4 Family and friends – a huge thanks to all my family and friends who have patiently been there for me over the last few months through-out all my training. For all your encouragement and lovely words of support, I’m forever grateful.

6 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

5 And finally, my brother Colin – as I said earlier, my event was only the baby distance and it is with awe that I write about my brother who completed the daddy of the races – a gruelling 105km route, over a 7,500m ascent, in an incredible time of 22 hours 38 minutes, finishing in a staggering 46th place (12th in his category). I thought of him a great deal throughout my race, having started 8 hours before me, and knowing that he would finish around 8 hours after me (at 3.30am). When the climbs were tough, the thought of Colin somewhere nearby in the mountains kept on driving me forward. What an achievement Col, I’m massively proud of you. (It’s also just occurred to me that ‘colline’ in French means ‘hill’ – very apt that he should be so at home in the hills!!)

My closing thought may seem clichéd but I can’t argue with it... We all run our own races in life... We can’t compare our chapter 37 to someone else’s chapter 40... So, whatever your goal or race be proud of what you achieve, and don’t forget it’s the people around you that are important. They are the greatest prize of all. And so it’s to them and you, that I wholeheartedly thank and dedicate this post.

Santé!

THE 2NDTURKS HEAD 10KM

FUN RUN 2014

01

03

02

01 The A2 milk stand in the finishers village 02 Gareth, Jean-Michel and Fatima pre-race warm up 03 Finish line area 04 Back bikers; Lee, Nat and Ellie 05 Fun photo area 06 Trumpet fanfare from our very own Andre Canniere 07 Jackie and Phil 08 Sarah, Heidi and Lorraine 09 A happy Caitlin 10 Releasing of the balloons 11 Russell Cook – 3 marathons for 3 transplants 12 ... and we are off

7 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

05

06

08

10

11

12

07

04

09

12 Lisa 13 Mani 14 Jan and Julia 15 Jean-Michel 16 Jess 17 John 18 John 19 Kelly 20 Kerry 21 Michelle 22 Michael 23 Milton 24 Susan 25 Nicky and Sarah 26 Phil

18

15

12 13

17

14

21 23

25 26

19

8 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

24

20

22

16

THE 2NDTURKS HEAD 10KM

FUN RUN 2014

33

30

27 28

32

29

36 38

35

37

41

34

39

9 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

31

THE 2NDTURKS HEAD 10KM

FUN RUN 2014

27 Teresa 28 Sam 29 Natalie 30 Jackie and Susan 31 Sean 32 Justin 33 1st place goes to Justin 34 Natasha, Penny, Julia, Jan and Harriett 35 1st place female Jackie 36 Ian, Rebecca and Alex37 Becky, Rachel and Victoria 38 Ali, Moni and Mel 39 Jean-Michel, Lorraine, Sarah, Craig, Mani and Chris 40 Birthday girl with Edina and Moni in ginger wigs

Why i Run?

1 0 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N

The title should really be: why wouldn’t anyone run? I can’t believe it’s taken me 30 years to get into it!

When I first started dating my now husband, he was a major fitness fanatic - a triathlon and marathon man. One of those types. So, eager to show him I was Jessica Ennis in disguise and a must-have sporty girlfriend, I trotted off on some jogs with him up Primrose Hill. They nearly killed me and they also confirmed what I had always known – running is for freaks. I’d just have to accept it as a weird quirk; a hobby we would NOT share.

But, since having my two gorgeous girls, I’ve learnt to embrace my former nemesis. Running now gives me time to breathe (ok, gasp!) and think clearly. My husband and I now fight over who is going for a jog. Joining BeaRCats has taught me that I can run longer distances than I ever thought I’d be capable of, rather than to the nearest post box and back. And whilst I am still more Bridget Jones than Jessica Ennis in style, I’ve learnt to love this running malarkey.

Written by Tessa Pihlens

I came to running via injuries. Between 2007 and 2012, I couldn’t run to catch a bus; I could however, very easily catch a cold. Around May 2012, I found myself at the starting line of the Bushy Parkrun. Walking and running, I completed the 5K distance. I was hooked and set myself a target of 50 runs. Those who know me well know I did it for the free t-shirt!I run because of the little challenges running throws at me every time I step out. It starts at home, having to step out of the front door. I run because of the way my body moves as everything loosens up and the pain disappears. I like how my mind clears up as I run. The way I focus on just running. Enjoying the feeling of the wind, air and even the rain. I run for the sense of achievement, how good I feel after each run and what I learn about myself. I run because there is no such thing as a “bad” run. I run for the sense of community and warmth I get from the wonderful people I have met at the BeaRCats.

Most importantly – I run because I CAN.

Written by Romit Basu

The simple and initial answer is for health reasons, I was always very active having played many sports including Rugby, Judo and cycling but like many people life took over and my activity level went down and my weight went up until Diabetes decided to pay me a visit. The initial diagnoses was a shock but also a real wakeup call. The condition is potentially very serious but is controllable with a combination of methods including increasing your levels of exercise. I started to run, just short distances at first, less than 500m but over the past couple of years I have run in excess of 70 Parkruns, lost a lot of weight and have built up to running 10k. These levels of activity mean that my Diabetes is currently very well controlled. My targets for this year were a sub 60 minute 10K and to complete the Cabbage Patch 10, one of these has been achieved on several occasions, the other is still to come!

Why do I run now, for the “me time” the space to figure the day out and decompress or to plan future activities, although on occasion the simple act of placing one foot in front of the other is enough. Running is an individual thing no matter how far or fast, it is only you that will do it, that said since I have joined the BeaRCats I appreciate it can also be hugely social with camaraderie and friendships cemented with a common suffering! I will continue to run for my health, but now, more than I ever thought I would, for the sake of running itself.

Written by Rob Duddy

HyperKewl™ vests, head and neck garments are not only used for demanding sports, outdoor and recreational activities, but are also used by professionals in the construction and engineering sectors, as well as the emergency services and the military.

For more information about the HyperKewl™ system, please call James Russell on 020 8232 6218 or email james.russell@techniche-uk.com

As you’ll have seen at the Fun Run, the vests are extremely easy to use. You simply soak a vest in water for one to two minutes while the HyperKewl™ fabric absorbs and stores the necessary amount of water. You then gently squeeze out any excess water, wipe the surface dry and put the vest on, secure in the knowledge that the fabric has been specially engineered to store water without getting your clothing wet. The water is slowly released through evaporation, creating a cooling effect that keeps the wearer comfortable in even the most extreme temperatures.

Contact details:

Caitlin LimmerTel: 020 8607 9190 Email: caitlinrun@gmail.com

28 Winchester Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1LFTel: 020 8892 1972Email: turkshead@fullers.co.uk

www.turksheadtwickenham.co.uk

DirectionsBy CarWe are just off the A316 Chertsey Road, turning into St. Margaret’s Road and then Broadway Avenue (one way), you will find The Turks Head down Winchester Road.

Parking on Sunday mornings is free, you can park on yellow lines or in residential bays.

By BusThe H37 bus from Richmond/Hounslow also stops outside St. Margarets Station.

By TrainTurn left out of St. Margarets Station, walk or run past Tesco, and take the second left into Bridge Road. At the end the road turn right - you’ll see The Turks Head on the corner.

hOW tO gEt tO thE BEARCAt Running CLuB

Designed and Produced by G

areth Michael Coom

bs @ G

MCdesign

. 07

93

0 2

29

57

0

IIIIIIII

IIIIIIII

IIIIIIII

IIIIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIIIII

IIII

A316 Chertsey Rd

The Ave

A316

Twick

enha

m Brid

ge

A3004 S

t. Margaret’s R

d A3004 St. Margaret’s Rd

A3004 C

rown R

d

Brook Rd

St. Margaret’s Grove

Moor M

ead Rd

Godstone Rd

Kenley Rd

Hill View Rd

Sydney Rd

S. Western Rd

B

roadw

ay Ave

Ailsa R

d Cassilis Rd Nicol Cl

Heathc

ote R

d

The A

ve

St. Marg

aret

’s D

rive

St. George’s R

d

Westmorla

nd Cl

Cumberland Cl

Northcote Rd

Haliburton R

d

New

ry Rd

Ailsa Ave

Normanhurst Dr

Netherton Rd

Orchard Rd

The B

aro

ns

The Barons

Ke

lvin Dr

King’s Rd

Amyand

Park

Rd

Beaconsfield Rd

Bridle

Lane

Crow

n Yd

Baronsfield Rd

Hartington Rd

Napoleon Rd

Martineau Drive

Gordon Ave

Drummon

ds P

l

Winchester R

d

St. Peter’s Rd St. Peter’s Rd

Ranelagh Drive

Bridge Rd

did yOu kEEP kEWL this suMMER? Written by Our Sponsor

Remember those HyperKewl™ vests you admired at The Turks Head 10km Fun Run in June? Emblazoned with the words ‘Ask me why I’m super kewl’, they were being worn by runners from Octink, a leading producer of signage, graphics and decorated interiors for clients in retail and live events, as well as the commercial and residential property sectors.

The company is the sole distributor of HyperKewl™ products in the UK, and because so many BeaRCat club members said that they want to know more about the vests, we’re bringing you some more information.

Part of the TechNiche range, Hyper-Kewl™ products are manufactured using functional fabrics that help the body to maintain its level of performance under extreme conditions by providing cooling relief of between 6°C and 12°C below outside temperature. This makes them ideal for keeping cool while running or playing sport in high temperatures.

11 A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N