Speaking of summer gone the very popular Friday summer pub runs have been very well attended with a record turn out at ‘The Local’ organised by Jenny and Neil. However, the food bill placed a large hole in club funds and the pub owner has retired to Barbados for the autumn. Thanks then also to Iain (Hop Pocket), Bob (The Elephant) and Joe (Queens Head and Rose and Crow), Jo (Cat & Custard) and Francis (The Rose) for excellent runs and Friday evening company. It was also good to see non-club members joining the throng and adding to the good cheer and club conviviality.

July saw the running of our own Mt Ephraim 10K race now billed as a ‘tour of the delightful Kent countryside’ to tactfully describe the rather hilly contours! It was generally acknowledged from the field that it was once again a well organised and very enjoyable event. Inside the newsletter Bob writes about the ‘French connection’ that is now a race feature and Tim, as Race Director, gives his view of proceedings at the sharp end.

The recent summer period also saw the annual August Le Touquet trip organised, once again, by Roy. This year’s trip was of special significance as it celebrated Roy’s 20^th consecutive run at Le Touquet and the occasion  is duly marked in the newsletter.

As autumn draws nearer the club AGM will be held at **7.00pm on Thursday 10^th November** at the village hall, Blean. There will not be the customary Thursday training that evening as it is expected that as many members as possible will come along to the AGM to hear and discuss club affairs (‘it’s not what your country can do for you’ etc). High on the agenda is to seek members views on a development plan covering future years. Suggestions for the plan include encouraging more members to become accredited as road running coach, seeking nominations as Race Director and looking at ways of usefully investing the clubs funds into further member benefits. Please make a note of the date and come along to contribute to important proposals to make your membership even more fulfilling.

Although we all spend a lot of time running it would be interesting to note the amount of time that we are injured and unable to run. From Ed’s experience of being injured (i.e. most of the time) it is easy to slip into seeing everything associated with an injury as glum and a real downer. Of course no one likes being injured but there can be  a positive mindset that will maintain motivation whilst the muscles, tendons or whatever heal. Read inside for the tips on ‘Injury, what injury’ to aid recovery  – and all with a smile.

Talking about injuries one of the most common parts of the body to react to training is the humble knee as it is calculated that every step we take whilst running is equivalent to the weight of 14 elephants. Well, if not exactly true (it may only be 12 elephants!) the point is that the knees take a massive force and largely without complaint. The humble knee is rather a clever piece of body kit as it is basically a hinge joint, allowing backwards and forwards motion, but it is also able to rotate slightly in on itself. The bending and straightening of the knee is controlled by the hamstring and quadriceps muscles at the back and front of the thigh bone respectively, and their size and position affects the angles the legs move at, and particularly the way that the patella (kneecap) moves. Our anatomy and the patterns of muscle use also determine the injuries that we might get. In celebration of the humble knee information on what can go wrong and how to strengthen the knee’s working parts is highlighted inside.

As ever it is recommended that professional advice be sought in the early stages of any kind of injury.

Other mouth watering articles in this issue include information about registering your race results (previously circulated by e-mail but well worth another airing) and a spotlight feature on Phil Wyard who is making a great impression with a series of recent PB’s. Tim still has time to run (outside of his Race Director duties) and reviews his run in the Fairlands Valley Marathon whilst Francis gives his special version of running the Heptonstall Fell race.

Of all the recent club achievements John Hartley’s bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats stands at the summit. But John is in danger of surpassing that achievement with his (and for the most past with Steve) almost completed walk from Dover to Cape Wrath. Read about this epic journey, the stages, the ecstasy and agony, and how John and Steve laid their plans. Well done both.

And finally, last but very much not least, following his announcement last year that 2011 would be his final year in office Marco reflects on his six years as Chairman. The Club has been very fortunate in having a stream of extremely capable Chairmen and Marco with his panache, outstanding good sense, expression of club values and commitment on all fronts has very definitely been no exception. There will be many other opportunities to express thanks to Marco (and to Heather) but let the Newsletter be the first to say THANK YOU for  a job superbly completed and for leaving the baton ready for the next incumbent – Ed

Download the full Harrier Autumn Newsletter now!

I should say that while I have written this article, praise should go to Marco for masterminding the logistics of accommodating such a large group of people.  Answers on a postcard as to how many times  Marco shuttled between Whitstable and Canterbury on the Saturday!

Marco, Phil Wyard, his wife Carolyn, myself and my family met Terese, President of the Reims Canterbury Twinning Association, and two of her colleagues at the newly restored Whitstable Castle Orangery on the Saturday for a cream tea before Marco took them off to Canterbury.  Phil and myself stayed on at the Castle in order to meet the contingent from Dainville who consisted of the Mairie, Francoise Rossignol, the Deputy Mairie – Philippe Quadrelle and his wife Caroline, together with their colleague Herve Havet, Daniel Capel, President of the event five Harriers ran in April (Foulees Dainvilloises), and his wife plus two of their colleagues from the town.

We then gave them a whistle stop tour of the town and harbour, taking in some shopping in Harbour Street, Squeeze Gut Alley and a drink outside the Old Neptune before escorting them to their accommodation at Canterbury Christchurch University’s Halls of Residence at Lanfranc in Northgate where the Reims party had also been billeted.  All of this was organised by Marco.

We then all attended an evening reception and BBQ at the Dominican Priory in St Peter’s Lane which was hosted by the Canterbury-Reims Twinning Association.  We finished the evening off with a visit to the Parrot pub in St Peter’s Lane where everyone enjoyed an English beer or two.

As already noted, 26 French runners completed the 10k course.  20 were from the L’Union newspaper group on the outskirts of Reims where numerous Harriers have in the past enjoyed champagne receptions as part of our annual visit to the city to take part in the ‘Reims a toute jambes’ 10k and half marathon events.  The families associated with L’Union have also provided Harriers with B&B facilities, saving us the cost of hotels.  Another 4 runners from the Reims Athletics Club – EFSRA – also completed the course,

placing 3^rd man and 3^rd woman overall, which was a fantastic result.  Harriers have also enjoyed beer and champagne receptions at the ‘Reims a toutes jambes’ Expo hosted by EFSRA at their stand.  The group supporting all of these runners have in the past been instrumental in arranging visits to champagne houses and producers and hosted evening meals for us in local restaurants.  2 runners from the town of Dainville completed the 10k included the Deputy Mairie.  Philippe and his family hosted Tony McParland and myself when we visited Dainville in April and laid on a fantastic evening meal for all of the visiting Harriers.

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a sumptuous buffet in the spectacular grounds of Mount Ephraim where we got our visitors to sample some Chapel Down Sparkling Wine which had kindly been provided by the Mount Ephraim 10k sponsors, Baileys Nissan of Canterbury.

Over the past couple of years, we have established really strong links between the towns of Reims and Dainville and both are ready to welcome larger numbers of Harriers to take part in their events in October and April respectively.  If you have never run abroad before, or only have experience of running the Le Touquet 10k, I would urge you to give one of these events a try.  The hospitality provided and the opportunity to establish links with kindred spirits a short distance away on the other side of the channel is a fantastic opportunity.  I am really proud that Canterbury Harriers have been able once again to reciprocate the fantastic hospitality we have experienced both in Reims and Dainville in recent years.   Long may it continue!   Allez, allez, allez!

Man on the Run is a 5k event for men and boys that has been devised to raise awareness of male cancers.  The event is in aid of Cancer Research UK and it is hoped that each runner will help to raise money for Cancer Research in preventing and curing cancer.

For more information visit the Man on the Run website.