BNAC - Newsletter

May 2012

Whatever May arise this month…we know Comrades is on the 3 June….. Just as the runners begin to taper the Walkers commence their training in earnest. Oh what a vicious circle we live in!

Upcoming Club Events during the month of May and June

Wednesday 9 May: Fourth in the series of our Club Talks – Nutritional preparation for your big event and Tapering demystified – presented by Alta Kloppers and Rian van Schalkwyk

Saturday 12 May: The final ‘Norman’s Hills’ session of the season, starting at 6:00 from Bedfordview Virgin Active; this will be followed by the ‘Last Supper’….or should we say ‘Last Breakfast’ at Bedfordview Doppio Zero (just off Skeene Boulevard); please bring your wallets and plenty of deodorant!

Saturday 19 May: van Rooyen/Sarel Cillier Hill Repeats. All meet at the club at 6:00.

Sunday 20 May: Chairman’s Run. Meet at the club at 7:00. Paul will serve breakfast in the club gardens after the run. Family members all invited. No need to bringEno’s Paul has proved to be quite a dab hand in the kitchen!

Wednesday 23 May: The Final Countdown– last talk in the preparation for Comrades presented by Norman Milne. Not to be missed.

Sunday 27 May: Comrades Breakfast. Friends, family and supporters are cordially invited to the breakfast. All Comrades entrants to meet at the Benoni Country Club at 7:00 for a short run before breakfast.. (Details to follow later in the letter)

Sunday 27 May: Comrades Church Service; 18:00 at the Northfield Methodist Church

Tuesday 29 May: Muffin Run – 5:00 from the Club

Wednesday 30 May: Pub Run at 17:45

Sunday 3 June: Comrades

Monday 4 June: Celebratory Breakfast; 9:00 Wilson’s Wharf Durban

Friday 15 June: Aches and Pains Party; Main club House at 19:00

Jerusalem Jogger

This month the trophy is presented to Annatjie Smith, a comrades novice, for her tenacity, perseverance and success!

Rian’s Run

Thank you to Club Friends, Family Members and Spouses who assisted on the day and an extra special ‘Thank You’ to Rian and Hestie van Wyk and Jeremy Croxley. A very successful event which saw eighty five participants! Left over food was most welcomingly accepted by the Salvation Army .

A word of thanks from Derek Wright:

“Due to variety of reasons I have missed Rian’s run over the past few years.   This year I was thankfully able to take part, although running up Pretoria Rd back into Benoni, I don’t think I was completely thankful at that point!      However what struck me about the whole day was the superb organisation that went into this magnificent and important training event.       As Club members we may tend to become quire blasé about the things that are organised for us – each brilliant event; one after another!  

But back to this event.  From the moment this Run is on the radar, we receive regular updates about what is happening.   We arrive on the morning and receive an inspired welcome from the man himself – Rian,  and we take note of the all the Helping Vehicles and their drivers + assistants and realise they are all giving up most of their public holiday just to cater for our needs.    We take off from the Club and each 5 km’s (negotiated down to 3km’s in the last 10 km’s!), we are made to feel special and like heroes as we gorge on the plentiful snacks laid on.      We progress throughout the day with varying degrees of success and for those who want to live to fight another day, without any fuss they are whipped back to the Club.  For those who progress to the full 54 (okay – 52), we become a close knit group, suffering yet achieving mightily together.    We drag ourselves back up Brodigan to the Club and we see our gazebos and welcoming “committee” who once again make us feel like heroes for completing this tough assignment.     After a wonderful lunch and many drinks later and an afternoon spent with close running friends, the Gazebos are packed away as we approach nightfall.     And the diehards continue even after that!

And sure, you can regard it as “just another training run”.   Chalk it up in the log book.      But for me personally, it means a lot more than that.     Way more in fact.    

Not easy to thank everyone, because I’m not even sure who was all involved.  But to all the Drivers of the vehicles (in our case Hugh who very kindly stopped every 3km’s when we needed him the most), to Croxie and his continued and generous sponsorship, as well as Paul and Shane, to Rian for all his enthusiasm shown beforehand and during the day, to Estie (and Neels?)  for organising lunch, and to the many others who did so much to make it a fantastic day for the Club, a big thank you.    

Well done Rian + team, we really appreciate it.”

Comrades:

Comrades Tables:

The Club would like to host a minimum of three refreshment tables at this year’s Comrades. If you are able to assist please contact Paul (Paul.M' This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Table 1: Host - Erica Leppan: 30kms into the race at Cato Ridge.

Table 2: Host - required; suggested placement Cowie’s hill.

Table 3: Host John and Dianne Snyders: approximately 54/55 kms into the race or 32 km to , entrance into Hillcrest after Botha’s Hill, Downside and Montrose.

John and Diane request that you indicate whether you would like them to pre-mix your mutie (powder supplement) with the liquid in their bags. PS - Good luck with the rest of your training.

Comrades Breakfast:

The breakfast will be held at the Benoni Country Club shortly after the 7:00 run; time will be allowed for the runners to have a shower etc.

Details regarding the breakfast:

1. Cost of the breakfast for friends, family and spouses – R120.
2. Price of the breakfast for Children – R72
3. Comrades Runners – BNAC will sponsor the breakfast
4. Please contact Madge and advise who will be attending and in what capacity eg runner, friend, child etc
5. Payment to be made by EFT
6. Please fax proof of payment to Madge

Supporters Top

Contact Michelle Pheiffer if you wish to purchase a Comrades Supporters Top. Cost is R260

2012 Official BNAC Comrades Kit

Each comrades Runner is to contribute R100 towards this year’s official Comrades Kit, the club will sponsor the balance.

Novices please take note of the following (also a reminder for the seasoned runners!):

-           Please bring your ‘Goodie Bags’ along to the breakfast. Each bag is to be marked with your Name, race number and anticipated time of arrival at the water table. Alta and Rian will provide some guidance as to what should be included in your goodie bag.

-           For those who indulge in a little flutter…..Betting money! This is so you can predict your own or a friend’s anticipated Comrades Completion time. Each ‘prediction’ placed will require a wager of R20.

Comrades Gossip

Here is your licence/invitation to reveal all…….and remember that a good reporter never reveals the source! Please share details with either Norman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Louise ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or myself Sharron ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Questions have been asked as to whether Janet Allen will be running this year’s comrades… it is suggested that Janet is questioned directly…..

Comrades Site

We have been allotted site 36 at the comrades Finish. A map will be on display at the breakfast. And Mike Kellett will take the Club Tent to Durban.

Club Kit:

A selection of clothing is available in the Office these include:

-           Shorts with club logo

-           Towels

-           Tracksuits

-           Casual Golf Shirts

Michelle has ordered BNAC Tog Bags:

1. Small/Medium – R130
2. Large – R160

Members are to wear correct club colours – Club Running vests, red shorts and/or Red cycling shorts. Members are encouraged to wear club colours ie red shirts after the completion of an event.

Classifieds:

Searching for a missing medal - The Alan Robb one from The Germiston Callies Legends Series.

 Reward offered for the only medal in the series that I am missing. The 2010 race honoured Alan Robb - I missed this race, but would love the medal for my collection.   DID YOU DO IT? .... and perhaps the medal is just lying somewhere unnoticed?  Please may I have it?  Callies have unfortunately none of that year left.  Contact Erica Leppan :082-895-6329. Thank You.

Sponsorship

Are you or your company able to provide sponsorship for the club Time Trials? Sponsorship may take the form of drinks, T Shirts, Gifts Vouchers… If you please contact Erica Leppan 082-895-6329

The Club would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave Paul for his support of the Club – Thank you

Club Training Times:

Running 

Tuesday and Friday mornings – 5:00 from the club

Tuesday evening time trials – 17:45 corner Kei and Wilge; the last time trial will be held on 22 May.

Wednesday morning – 5:00 corner of Joyce and Malherbe – Ossy’s walk with a purpose! New

Wednesday evenings – 17:45 from the club

Thursday Hill Repeats – 5: 00 Wilge

Thursday Hill Repeats – 17:45 corner Kei and Wilge

Saturday mornings – 6:00 Bedfordview Hills Session

Sunday Plot trot – 6:00 from the Club

A Ladies Group meets at the Club on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:45.

Walking 

Walkers meet at 17:30 on Wednesday evenings and 6:00 on Saturday mornings.

Development Runners

Any Member wishing to sponsor a Development Runner, please contact our Club Chairman, Paul. Donations may take any form for example entry for a race, lift to a meeting etc.

Members are encouraged to donate unused running gear to the Club. Donations can be made to Madge during club office hours.

Interesting Races

If you have any tales you wish to share we would love to hear from you.

How can we do things better?

The committee welcomes your suggestions. Our Club continues to exist because of you and the contributions made by its members. Please approach any of the Committee members if you have a suggestion to make.

Club Office Hours

The office is open on Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:30 and on Thursday morning from 12:00 to 15:30

Club Calendar:

Please note that this section does not contain all the running events it focuses on Club Events and traditional club races. It is also a living calendar – it will change as race dates become available.

If you would like an event to be listed please contact Sharron.

Please see web site for fuller calendar

Yours in Running

Benoni Northerns are winners, Benoni Northerns never bail