Meet 10am by Lakeside Cafe.
Parents – please run if you are able – it is definitely not necessary for you to be as fast as your children. We hope that the majority of parents will run round the lake, a few as group leaders and the rest as “sweepers” for the groups. If you are able to volunteer as a leader, please let me know.
Children and parents – please wear appropriate clothing and shoes. The first half of the session is round the lake and it may be a bit muddy (was nearly dry on Saturday morning) – it is not suitable for football boots. The second half of the session is on grass and likely to be slippery – it is not suitable for running shoes with no grip.
Christmas hats recommended!
NB the Lakeside car park is pay-by-phone but the roadside prior to the car park is free.
Toilets are open from 10:00 – come early or on time if you’re wanting to use the toilets before your run.
Children – please tick your name on the “Attendance sheet” to ensure your run counts towards your 25/50/100 medals or 200 trophy.
Parents – please write your contact details on the “Emergency Contact sheet” if you won’t be running in the same group as your child (this includes if you’re staying by the Lakeside Cafe).
At 10:10, we will be presenting several awards including our 6-monthly “Participation” cups and “Performance” trophies.
We intend to start running at 10:15; this will start with a lap of the lake. When we have all returned to the Cafe area we will be doing “Cafe or Lake” relays on the grassy field near to the Cafe.
We’ll divide up into between 3 and 5 groups depending on … how many turn up, how many leaders we have, etc.
The main route is marked in purple on the map and is 2 miles (3.2km).
Fastest group will set off first, slowest group last, so the groups don’t get mixed up.
The map shows a number of re-grouping points. These are for the members of a group to re-group, not for all the groups to merge together.
The route therefore consists of sections between re-grouping points. At the start of each section the group leader will decide whether the section will be a steady jog or a run to the next re-grouping point. The major factor deciding this is likely to be how many people and dogs are walking on the section.
However all but the fastest group will wait at the northern end of the lake for a group photo.
From there
- Main group (middle speed) then continue on the purple route for a total of 3.2km
- Slightly slower group can take two short cuts marked in yellow (there may be another photo at the folly)
- Slowest/youngest group can run back to the cafe along the lakeside path (orange dotted line)
- Fastest group can extend the route to go round the top lake and past the Mansion, taking a longer route back to the cafe
Everyone comes back to the cafe for Valley Striders Relays “Cafe or Lake”.
If numbers are smallish we will keep groups 1/2/3 together until the first photo point.
More information about the groups running round the lake. All groups / all runners should follow the instructions of the leaders, including
- don’t overtake the leader unless permission has been given
- keep on the RIGHT hand side of the path (i.e. away from the edge of the lake)
- slow down for puddles
- slow down or stop for dogs
- slow down or stop for groups of walkers, particularly groups with young children and/or prams
- take care when passing fishermen (their rods may obstruct part of the path)
- don’t annoy swans
The weather forecast for Tuesday is that it will be dry and a light breeze but cold. This is good for running at this time of year as long as you wear an extra layer.
But it is also good for families to be out walking. This may mean that we have to keep close together for most of the lakeside path, but, don’t worry, there will be opportunities for a bit of speedy running when we’ve got to the end of the lakeside path.
The regrouping points round the lake will be the lifebelts. At each lifebelt we’ll stop and regroup. The leader will then decide whether the path to the next lifebelt will be a jog or a run (depending on the width of the path and “traffic”). If it’s a run then a leader will try to keep ahead of the children! When the children reach the next lifebelt, they should turn round and jog back to the rest of the group.
For safety, we will need as many parents as possible to run please – even if not in the same group as their children.
And please could non-running parents take it in turns to walk up to the field where the relays will be held to ensure that no-one steals the marker posts
Hope to see lots of you there. And to the rest, “Happy New Year” and hopefully see you on 4 January at West Park for the Peco race and on 6 January at Leos for the first V S training session for 2026.
I’ve listed those who said “very likely, likely or maybe”. But don’t worry if you’re not on the list, you can still come if you’re now available!
NB the “C” group may be making alternative arrangements – see WhatsApp
Lucy Allman
Niamh Archbold
Ella Ball
Sophia Ball
Tilly Beardsworth
Alice Bonner
Milly Booth
Abigail Bottomley
Oliver Breedon
Kirsten Brown
Alex Burbidge
Esmé Clark
Elodie Dawson
Chloe Deak
Sebby Forster
Ben Fowler
Sam Fowler
Seb Fowler
Harry Francis
Dahla Gilroy
Izzy Grosvenor
Thomas Grosvenor
Leo Guppy
Rowan Hammond
Caitlyn Hartley
Joe Hawkes
Tilly Hawkes
Caleb Keene
Grace Keene
Evie Kendell
Molly Kendell
Kitty Kirkley
Henry Kirwan
Arlo Kosciukiewicz
William Kosciukiewicz
Nina Lake
Trystan Mann
Zachary Mann
Sophia Melara
Dahlia Mills
Dotty Mills
Søren Pailor
Laurie Phillips
Alex Player
Margot Player
Alfie Rees
Fred Rees
Gwen Rees
Kirsten Reid
Kyle Reid
Isla Robinson
Leo Robinson
Seb Robson
Josh Salmon
Reuben Salmon
Ella Shanks
Freddie Shanks
Nicky Shatwell
Lucy Sheen
Connie Steere
Jonah Steere
Seth Steere
Solomon Steere
Dylan Talbot
Caitlin Upmalis
Arthur Venning
Mary Venning
Natalie Ward
Isabelle Watt
Evan Wilson
Ruby Wilson
Erin Winter
Barney Woodger
Levi Woodger
Photo from last year
