Knole Cross-country transport

[Steve King]

Hi guys -

Is anyone heading to the Knole Park cross-country this week with a spare seat or two in the car?  (I know our team is much depleted with many regular members doing Beachy Head the day before.)
01843 572910 is my number - or please leave me a message here in the forum if you are able to help.
Thanks, Steve

[Steve King]

I'm all sorted now for Sunday, so please disregard initial request!
Steve

[Ed Heardman]

glad you've sorted a llift for tomorrow - have a good run those heading over to Sevenoaks!

[John Cooper]

Great to see so many men at the Knole Park Cross Country however it was disappointing that Thanet did not have a team of 10 to count due to the lack of ladies. It was great to see Gaynor running again for the Club however she was our only lady runner. I am aware that some of our ladies were recovering from the Beachy Head Marathon and a couple were on holiday but where were the rest? Where was the ladies captain and what efforts did she make to ensure that Thanet Roadrunners had a team. With a membership the size of ours surely it is not too much trouble to get 3 ladies to compete in the cross countries!

[Sharon Foster]

Well done to those who did run.  John I don't think you can hold the ladies captain responsible for a lack of ladies though!  The cross country has been publicised at every club run I've been on lately, it has been on the website and I know people have been asked but you can't force people to run - everyone has busy lives and its all about what is a priority for you.  If people want to do them they will - its as simple as that.

[Debbie Hatt]

I also strongly agree with Sharon.  Whilst I have tried to attend as many cross countries, relays & other races it just doesn't always fit in with personal plans.  Ed is extremely good at reminding people on the website about up and coming races and therefore generally everyone is aware of them.  I personally had been away for the week without our children and therefore felt that travelling to Sevenoaks just wasn't a priority for me and relaxing with the children was.  I will always take part when I can but sometimes there are other things that come first.

[Jackie Lee]

I do wonder how many of the "slower" group Monday night ladies were aware of this.......for a lot of them this is the distance / speed they like to belt round and the XC would be a change of scene if nothing else and a chance to test themselves a bit

I may well have missed the monday night XC announcements as I always arrive at the last minute or perhaps Steve's bellowing is just plain louder than Sarah's as I certainly don't miss the announcements about socialising!!

Perhaps some ladies may be more interested in more local races which don't take them away from the house for as long?  Some of the series are quite a trek away

[John Cooper]

Sharon and Debbie, i don't think i blamed the ladies captain for the lack of ladies running at Knole Park. I was just making the point that i was surprised that the ladies captain herself was not there to represent the club. I fully appreciate that we all have busy lives and some things are more important than running in certain events, however it is my opinion that it is disappointing that a club the size of TRAC can not field full teams at these events. My comments were not written to offend anyone, just merely my views.

[Nigel Ross-Hunt]

 
I have been a member of TRAC for a few years now and can probably say for all of us that we love running. May it be running in races, training nights or simply dressing up in silly costumes and running round town. The rewards have bee emmense, look at the Beachy weekend, unbelievable, a fabulous weekend. I have not taken up a specicific role within the club as I know sometimes things in my life come first and i wouldnt be able to give 100% to it. But i do what i can when I can.
At my work it works quite well where we have an assistant in some of the key areas of responsibility to take the pressure off colleagues. Its another person to help organise such things and another point of contact for people. So for example.... We could propose we had a vice captain for the Ladies and Mens Team. Its somebody else who might be able help, but feel taking on full responsibility is too much. We stand A better chance of making our club one of the best if we all worked together rather than some of the negative things I read on here.     

[Mark Ashmore]

Its worth noting John that the ladies captain has a marathon this weekend and quite rightly would not want to risk running a competative cross country the week before and risking injury and ruining months of training.

[Mark Foster]

bugger you beat me to it Mark.

John I fully understand your frustration especially after you made it to the cross country even after completing Beachy head the day before (YOU MAD FOOL YOU). 

But I do think you were a tad harsh on our ladies captain who like most of us holds down a full time job has a familly to support and is an athlete herself.  With the exception of certain mad fools in the club (me and you included) most people taper before a marathon so as Mark said she would probably not be looking to run competively the week before.

I am sure that you did not mean to offend anyone and your views are of course always welcome.

[John Cooper]

Mark i undrstand your comments and accept the reasons the ladies captain may not have been there to run, as the mens captain was not. The mens captain did however arrange for somebody to cover him and ensured that we had a mens team. Thanks for doing that Steve and injury permitting i will be available for most of the cross country races except 15/01/12 as i have already entered the Winter Tanners Marathon.

[Debbie Hatt]

Hi John, don't want this to keep going back and forth but felt I had to any one more thing for the record!  Sarah can only get cover and representation at the cross country if there are ladies willing to run, and unfortunately this time around there wasn't.  She has spoken to several ladies who have confirmed they will take part in the cross countries but unfortunately, either due to Beachy or other commitments couldn't make last Sunday.  I think Nigel has proposed quite a good idea and perhaps this could be discussed at the next meeting.  Other than that there is really very little else anyone could do