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Merry Christmas & Goodbye 2023

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So... here it is, Merry Christmas and everybody was having fun on our last run of 2023!
 
We had members out and about in festive dress for a nice chilled final run of the year that lead us into neighbouring East Hagbourne and back to Boundary Park for something completely new; a fireside chat (complete mince pies with real fake fireplace!).
 
Rich and some of our more experienced members took the time to talk through their experiences of running longer distance races including how they find it best to train and prepare ahead of a race, what sort of things you should look out for and expect during races and how to keep up motivation afterwards so those good habits don't stop at the finish line.
 
It's been another incredible year for the Harwell Harriers and here are just some of the things we are most proud of:
  • Rich and Lisa have joined our amazing coaching team
  • We have been a fore-runner in working with England Athletics around new Health & Safety policy
  • Our fantastic Connor McGurk finished 2nd in the Oxfordshire Grand Prix
  • New members have joined us - we love meeting new people ❤️
  • We introduced new socials every first Thursday of the month
  • In March we did our first ever foodbank run
  • Our members continued volunteering at various community events and parkruns
  • We've also been working away to improve documentation and processes within the committee - less admin = more running!

Finally we would like to say a big thankyou to all our members for their continued support, our coaching and run leading team for all the time the give to make sure each session is the best it can be and all of our committee for keeping the club running seamlessly.

We really hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and a new year and we will see you again on the 2nd of January for our first club run of 2024 and probably our second day of hangover from new year's eve!

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

Community Matters

DidcotWellness

We are here in Didcot's Civic hall helping to promote walking and running in general to anyone interested in making a positive change to their health. 

Local health centres and charities have pulled together local organisations, charities and clubs to talk about all aspects of health whether that is guide dogs for the blind or yoga there are all sorts of people passing out good vibes and good advice to the local community and we are proud to be part of that.

Our little table is shared with Didcot Runners, Didcot Parkrun and a 5k your way against cancer group. We are all here to simply promote the health benefits of walking and running and the mental health benefits that come with running - especially in a group.

Let's work together to get healthier and happier!

XC 2023 Starting This Weekend

News Xc23

Mud glorious mud!

Remember being at school and having to do cross country runs and it was the worst thing ever? Well, good news! you were totally wrong.

The Oxfordshire Cross Country League is about to start this weekend and we absolutely love it. Sure, there's mud... there's a lot of mud but it's really great fun day out.

We get a bunch of harriers together, put up a tent grab some cake and some tea/coffee then go for a play in the mud like care free children!

The great thing about the cross country - like our hill training sessions - is that you truly feel like a champ for completing it and you'll have all the support from the rest of the the Harriers XC team. What's even better is that you don't really have to worry about your race times if you don't want to. Treat this as a team fun run is all we ask so what do you have to lose (apart from maybe the odd shoe in some mud!).

Above & Beyond

 FirstAid2023

Did you know we are one of the first clubs within the UK who are affiliated with England Atheltics who have provided a first aid course for our run leaders?

We are lucky enough to have our very own NHS certified first aid trainer who has not only given us a fantastic training course but has even helped EA shape their first aid policies by providing her wisdom and experience.

Our first aid course has taken us through common issues that might arise from running through to initial CPR esponse and some initial experience with Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) that are dotted in and around the local villages and towns.

So whilst we hope we never have to use these skills, you are in good hands with the Harwell Harriers.

Congratulations beginners group 2023!

 Beginners2023

We did it! The 2023 begginer and return to running programme has been completed!

We would love to give a massive shout out to each and every one of our fabulous beginners and return to running group in 2023. We really hope this has set you up to achieve whatever your goals are this year and would love to see all of you as full time members of the club but hey! no pressure.

Even if you feel like you've wanted to go further, wanted to go faster or if you feel like it's been all aboard the strugglebus each week, ultimately, we hope you've had fun along the way - we know we have!

I think this group may have been the most successful year yet and let's face it, you've had to battle some really apocalyptic weather along the way so give yourselves a pat on the back and feel proud of yourselves because you got out there and you did it when others were cosied up watching Britain's favourtie shipping ports or some other garbage on TV.

We had over half of the starters complete their 5k graduation parkrun on March the 4th with similar amounts turning up for our training sesion and club run over the next 2 weeks and finally on to the big club run graduation yesterday (and cheeky post run social) yesterday.

Thank you also to the amazing Harriers who turned up each week to support and encourage the beginners you have all been more than fabulous and couldn't have made it without you all. ?