Week commencing 27 May 2019

Training this week : on Bank Holiday Monday, 10k-ish easy or fartlek. A lot of people are away, so as usual on Bank Holidays, it’s open to us to make an alternative arrangement if we like. On Wednesday, on track for warmup, drills, agility/balance/co-ordination, and 200m intervals. Normal track fee applies. No props required for agility/balance/co-ordination work. If the weather’s bad, or if we don’t get an easy/fartlek session in on Monday, the plan will change.

Training at the weekend : If not racing, should consider a distance session. Maybe on Friday ?

Racing at the weekend : On Saturday at 12:30, the annual Moulton 5 mile race in Moulton, Suffolk, counting for the Enfield League. More details and entry form here. On Sunday at Horspath track, provisionally at 12:40, the BMAF 10000m track championship race. You will need to have entered by now, and if you have, you will be told the confirmed time of the event.

Congratulations to Steve Uttley and Noel, Oxfordshire champions over 3000m ! And to Judy and Noel (again), SCVAC champions in their age groups over the same distance! Full results of Saturday’s race are on Power of 10.

Week commencing 20 May 2019

Training this week : on Monday, 8k easy as a warmdown for the SCVAC League races, see below. The races are expected to finish around 7:10. On Wednesday, threshold work on laps of the estate.

Training at the weekend : Hopefully everyone is racing ! But if not, should consider a distance session. Maybe on Friday ?

Racing at the weekend : On Saturday at 12:45 at Tilsley Park, a 3000m race that functions as both the SCVAC T&F Championship race and the annual Oxfordshire Championships and Open race. For the SCVAC Championship, you will need to have entered by now. For the Oxfordshire Championships and Open, see the separate post here.

Racing during the week : on Monday at Tilsley Park, 2000m races in the SCVAC League Western Division. To enter, you need to be nominated by a team in the League, or you compete as a guest in which case you need to arrive at least 30 minutes early to get a guest number. Early arrival is of course recommended anyway, to be sure you get a good warmup. Men’s race at 18:30, women’s at 18:50.

Congratulations to the British teams for excellent performances in the European Race Walking Cup in Alytus, Lithuania at the weekend. The men’s 20k team took silver ! A key milestone for British race walking !

Oxfordshire 3000m Championships and Open, Tilsley Park, Saturday 25 May

The 3000m race as part of the Oxfordshire Championships will take place during the Southern Veterans AC Championships fixture on Saturday 25 May at Tilsley Park, Abingdon. Many thanks to Kay and Arthur for agreeing to accommodate us in their race after the cancellation of this year’s Town v Gown fixture.

As in the past the race will be open to guests. We’re not aware of any other county treating this race as a County Championship, but it might still be arranged if desired.

The race is timetabled for 12:30 pm (not 12:45 as previously advertised).

Entry form, for all entrants for the County Championships and Open, here. Please complete and return as soon as possible! Payment on the day is fine, up to 12:00. The Championship and Open will be contested alongside the SCVAC 3000m championships race – to be eligible for the SCVAC titles, you will need to have entered by now.

Tilsley Park of course has full parking, changing and shower facilities. We invite all race participants to join us for a pleasant rural warmdown over 8km, or shorter warmdowns in the town, and sustenance and refreshment in the very pleasant Flowing Well, Sunningwell, a couple of k from the track, open for food and drink all afternoon. Another post-race option is of course, spectating or officiating at the other SCVAC championship events !

Week commencing 13 May 2019

Training this week : on Monday, fartlek session of up to 10-11k. On Wednesday, on track for drills, agility/balance/co-ordination, and sprints. Normal track fee applies. If you have one, please bring an exercise mat for the agility/balance/co-ordination work. Good weather is forecast but if it ends up too bad for track work we’ll do threshold work on laps of the estate.

Training at the weekend : Should consider a distance session. Is Friday OK with anyone ?

Racing at the weekend : None within reasonable travelling distance.

Racing during the week : on Wednesday at 6:30 pm, a Sussex Masters League open 2k race at Eastbourne.

Oxfordshire County Championships and Open race : We’ve had to make changes following the cancellation of the Town v Gown match on 29 May. We’re currently hoping to have the championships at 12:45 at Tilsley Park on Saturday 25 May, combined with the SCVAC championship race. This is OK with the meeting organisers, we just have to square it with the County. Watch this space !

International : On Saturday, the European Race Walking Cup takes place in Alytus, Lithuania, with a strong British team. No details yet on any live streaming : racing will take place from 6 am to about 4:15 pm UK time. Event website here.

Week commencing Bank Holiday Monday 2019

Training this week : on Monday, fartlek session of up to 10-11k, for anyone who’s not off doing something else. (Tilsley Park is open from 5pm to 9pm.) On Wednesday, on track for drills, agility/balance/co-ordination, and sprints. Normal track fee applies. If you have one, please bring an exercise mat for the agility/balance/co-ordination work. Again some rain is forecast for Wednesday so if the weather is too bad for track work we’ll do threshold work on laps of the estate.

Training at the weekend : Should consider a distance session. Is Friday OK with anyone ?

Racing at the weekend : Kent, Essex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and possibly other counties are having their T&F 3000m Championships this weekend – you will need to be qualified and you will probably need to have entered by now.

Racing today : Hampshire and Hertfordshire are having their track 3000m County Championships today. Plus, a 5 mile race at Pednor near Chesham, at 5pm, on a hilly course. This is the Buckinghamshire 5 mile Championship race, also part of the Enfield League and the Pednor Challenge (best combined time over the walking race at 5 pm and the running race over the same course at 7.)

Oxfordshire County Championships : The championships for most events are this weekend. For the 3000m walk, we are expecting the date to be 29 May. (Full confirmation usually only happens a couple of weeks ahead.)

Week commencing 28 May 2018

Training during the week :  on Bank Holiday Monday, an easy session ahead of Wednesday’s  County Championship race. Not clear whether Tilsley Park is open – if not, park in Hanson Road and meet outside. On Wednesday, no session.

Training at the weekend : Should resume longer sessions, if not racing. Any suggestions?

Racing during the week : At 7:40 on Wednesday, of course, it’s the Oxfordshire County Championship and Open 3000m race at the Sir Roger Bannister Stadium, Iffley Road. Entries for the County Championship have now closed, entries for the Open close half an hour before the event, but if you haven’t already done so, please let us know your intention to race via the entry form here. As ever, parking at the venue will be difficult so contact us if you need tips, and we can go somewhere local for refreshment / sustenance after the race. (Friends and supporters may be interested in the Open 5000m running races that precede the walk, and limited guest spots are available in the main Town v Gown T&F events – contact us if you’re interested.)

Racing at the weekend :  On Saturday at 12:30, the ever-popular 5 mile race at Moulton, Suffolk, counting for the Enfield League. Details in the current Enfield Walker. On Sunday, the BMAF 10000m track championship at Horspath, Oxford, provisionally timetabled for 12:40 – but if you haven’t already done so you will need to enter TODAY (27th), here.

Closing dates : Today for the BMAF 10000m, see above.

Week commencing 21 May 2018

Congratulations to Noel, 2 gold medals at the European Masters 20k Championships in Alicante at the weekend !

Training during the week :  on both Monday and Wednesday we’ll schedule easy walks for those recovering from injury, races or breaks from training. Plus technical sessions on the track on offer, for anyone who wants one. Normal track fee will apply.

Training at the weekend : Should do a longer session if not racing, let’s discuss what is appropriate.

Racing during the week : None known.

Racing at the weekend :  On Saturday, a 3000m race in the Southern Counties Veterans AC Championships at Ashford, Kent, but you should have entered by now.

Closing dates : Entries for the Town v Gown 3000m race close on Wednesday, to be considered for the  Oxfordshire Championship. Open entries close on the day. Details here.

Oxfordshire 3000m Championships and Open, Iffley Road, Wednesday 30 May

It has now been confirmed that as we thought, the 3000m race as part of the Oxfordshire Championships will take place as in the past, as part of the Town v Gown fixture on Wednesday 30 May at the Sir Roger Bannister Stadium, Iffley Road.

As in the past the race will be open to guests, to extend to all the opportunity to compete at this historic venue. We’re not aware of any other county treating this race as a County Championship, but it might still be arranged if desired.

The race is timetabled for 7:40 pm, a little later than in the past, and there are also opportunities for anyone who wants to run 5000m.

Entry form, for all entrants, here. The organiser has a prior commitment at Alicante in May, so there may be a period when emails are not answered immediately!

Parking near the stadium will be no easier this year than in previous years : if you need it, contact the Oxfordshire race walking community for advice on travel and parking.

Week commencing 7 May 2018

Training during the week :  on Monday, up to 10k-ish easy or fartlek at the usual time. Tilsley Park is open in the evening. The option of using the daytime to start some heat acclimatisation could be considered, any interest ? On Wednesday, threshold session on laps of the estate. Plus beginners’ sessions on the track, if required.

Training at the weekend : Should do a distance session, but those going to Alicante should be tapering down. Any suggestions ?

Racing during the week : Today there are the Bank Holiday fixtures notified last week, at Stevenage and Chesham.

Racing at the weekend :  No open events as everyone is busy with County Championships. There are closed 3000m walks in the Hampshire and Essex events at Portsmouth and Chelmsford respectively.

Our own County Championships – the date of 30 May seems to be firming up. I’ve seen no official announcement or timetable yet, but I have seen an appeal for officials and an entry in the Oxford University Athletics Club website for the Town v Gown event.

Oxfordshire Track and Field Championships 2018

The date has been set for the main championships weekend, and it’s 12/13 May. Details and entry form here. There is no mention of a walking event, but there is no mention of ANY event longer than 1500m, so probably we can expect a further announcement.