Latest news

Happy new year everyone!

2024 saw a change around of our coaching staff and our committee within the space of a few months which threw everything into a bit of a spin but fresh faces bring fresh ideas.

In fact, we had an amazing 2024 here at the Harwell Harriers. It all started off with yet another briliant beginners and return to running course, we then started trialling an AI powered video analysis tool to improve running form, we had our first (official) summer party and closed out our summer with an incredible puzzle run at our annual clumps of fun event.

We didn't stop there either with new volunteers we have seen new routes starting to work their way into the rota including a spooky night time trail run along the ridgeway, an inaugural run-archery event hosted by the Harlequin bowmwn and we finished out the year with some brand new awards at our Christmas party to recognise outstanding member achievements.

On top of this our members have achieved amazing things throughout the year. We have had loads of people hit PBs in various distances, people doing their first ever half marathons, marathons and ultras. Members have also tackled quite fankly stupid challenges like completing as many loops as possible on a running track within 24 hours, completing a half marrathon for every month of the year and completing the UTMB ultra race.

We hope you also had an amazing year in fitness. Let's do it all again.

Running? With bows and arrows? What could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, absolutely nothing. Harwell Harriers were invited to join the Harlequin Bowmen in a rather unique sporting event called run archery which, as you might have guessed, involved running... and archery.

The premise is simple. Run 400 metres, shoot 6 arrows from a standing position, run 400 metres, shoot 6 arrows from a kneeling position and then run a final 400 metres. The catch is that you have four small targets to hit and for every target missed you hve to do a 60 metre penalty loop.

So what tactic do you go with? Shoot as fast as possible and lose time on the extra running loops or slow down, concentrate and lose time by trying to hit the targets?

It made for a really fun but surprisingly tiring event especialy as you are trying to run as fast as possible whilst also carrying your bow!

We are hoping to be back again next year with a larger contingent of harriers so if you see some of us pounding the pavements with a bow in hand dont worry - we haven't gone mad it's just practice for the next run archery event.

Ever thought about how you run might be causing you that niggle? Ever wondered if your form is holding you back from achieving that PB? Or have you ever just wondered "why do I never look graceful in photos of me running!?"

Well, we might be able to help out!

We've recently invested in a bit technology called Ochy that will analyse your running form and give you pointers as to where you might be able to improve from foot strike placement to arm swing to your head positioning it takes just minutes to provide a detailed analysis of your form.

The process is very simple; you get filmed running at a tempo pace from both sides and this gets uploaded to the app where our inevitable AI overlords pass judgement on us mere mortals! You get sent a detailed report that is unique to you with suggestions on exercises to improve on these areas.

The app also gives you a running style such as a cheetah if you are lucky and this has been great fun comparing and contrasting each others styles within the club.

So if you would like some detailed analysis on your running form you know which club you need to join: Harwell Harriers!

Our winter sessions are coming to an end which can only mean one thing: the welcome return of our Whittenham Clumps hill sessions!

These sessions are probably tougher than the winter hill sessions given the terrain and well let's face it they are like Marmite. Some people hate them (who actually likes running up hills anyway, regadless of location?!) yet some people love them because, let's face it, you feel like an absolute champ for completing  the steps of doom... at least you do after the oxygen returns to your lungs!

Come rain or shine the clumps sessions really do bless you with some incredible views across the Oxfordshire countryside that you simply cannot get at any of our other interval sessions including most of our club runs.

Let's hope for nicer weather than the 2023 season where it really did seem like the gods were trying to punish those of us who were tearing around the clumps. It must have been at least the first month's worth of sessions where we experienced torrential downpours that started at 7pm on the dot and ending at 8pm on the dot!

Since it's been raining every other hour for what seems like an eternity all our fingers and toes are crossed for a lovely summer set at the clumps but even if the gods unleash hell again we will still be there with a big smile on our faces so why not join us.