News

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3278086132

Race seven of the PCCCT is the second seven-kilometre event of the season. This week’s meeting place is West Beach at Burnie and members will race over an out-and back course to Cooee Point.

The terrain will be mostly flat encouraging some fast times which will also be helped by the increased fitness now being displayed by many runners.

It is not easy picking a winner as many different members have shown form at times.

However, John Badcock could be the one to pinch this. He has been thereabouts in most races and is known to be doing some great training. He would be a deserving winner.

First year runner, Graham Higgins, was a strong second last week after starting from the same mark as the winner who has now been rehandicapped. That makes Higgins an obvious strong chance.

Another first year runner, Catherine Bell, has been showing rapid improvement and finished a close sixth last week to record her best result to date. She will go close to winning with a similar effort.

Other runners in form who will be chances are Andreas Petersen, Ellen Burgess, Caroline Brett and Dallas van Rooyen.

New runners are welcome and must register for membership and enter by 9pm Friday.

The race will start at 9:30am while nominated time events will be held at 9:00.

If you are not feeling well, especially if you have cold/flu systems, on Sunday morning please don’t come to the run.

The meeting place is at the Berry Patch at Turners Beach which will be available for coffees/ice-creams and/or brunch after the race.

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 9:30am.

Welcome to new runners: and new nominated time members.

The course: Starting at the Berry Patch, run towards the river, almost to the train bridge, where you cross the railway line (care needed!) and enter the bush, following the path back to the left around the marshy area.

Please note: there are some muddy puddles in this section so consider wearing old footwear if you want to plough through them rather than go around. Please take care.

When you arrive at Lukin Street, turn right and then right again, into the bush. DON’T run down the grassy lane.

Follow the witch’s hats and path out onto the end of the Esplanade. Run on the river/beach side of the Esplanade eventually turning left past where the old service station used to be. Continue to Lethborg Avenue and turn right. The turn is about 200 metres along. Return exactly the same way as you ran out, again staying on the beach/river side of the Esplanade (so we don’t have to worry about the streets).

It will be well marked with witch’s hats and fingers.

Be careful of cars in the vicinity of La Mar Café.

Rod and Judith Priestly will be providing the voucher for the winner while the Berry Patch is giving us some vouchers for the random draw prizes. These will be presented following the race.

Please keep COVIDSafe distance between you and other runners, especially if you are following someone else. Please read our COVIDSafe plan if you haven’t done so. Thank you very much to our wonderful season sponsors which are all listed on our website.

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3237375865

The longest race of the season to date awaits runners this Sunday, when they head to the Berry Patch at Turners Beach for a seven-kilometre handicap.

All races so far in this delayed season have been five or six-kilometres and many runners will be looking forward to being able to race over a slightly longer distance.

The course is a flat, out-and-back one, mostly on sealed surfaces although there is a section on bush tracks to give some variety.

One runner who will be suited by the distance and terrain is Ulverstone athlete, Nick Young.

Young has been consistent, without standing out, so far this year with his best results being seventh and then fifth in the first two races. He won’t have to improve much on those performances to take the victory.

The hardest to beat is definitely Kendall Buckley who will be out to atone after second last week, while Shaun Batten is also knocking on the door.

Hayden Bishop is a backmarker who will be storming through the field and it would not surprise if he broke the tape.

Others to keep an eye on include Steve Powell and Terry Watson while first year runners Selina Crispin and Narelle Jacobs are showing improvement.

New runners are welcome and must register for membership and enter by 9pm Friday.

The race will start at 9:30am while nominated time events will be held at 9:00.

This course consists of four laps (1 large and 3 small) around the Romaine park area.  This should provide great viewing options for spectators allowing them to follow the race as it unfolds.

The race starts on the eastern side of the Romaine Creek dam opposite the carpark off Amanda Crescent.  For lap 1, runners then cross the dam wall and run around the dam in an anticlockwise direction following the main track for 600m.  At this point runners reach a T intersection and the lap turns right up the hill, following the main track for another 500m before reaching the turn around point and returning via the dirt track that branches off the main track.  The lap continues to follow the dirt track heading north down the park fence line for 1000 m, past the dam to another turn around point which re-joins the main track and heads back towards the start area.  Lap 2 begins once runners reach the dam wall.  Lap 2 continues along the same track as lap 1 until the T intersection.  At this point runners continue straight and follow the main track for 600m back to the start area.  Laps 3 and 4 are repeats of lap 2.  After completing lap 4 runners will cross the dam wall a final time and the finish chute is on the left of the track near the children’s playground and carpark.

Notes:

1. Parking is limited in the Romaine carpark.  Therefore, all competitors that are able, are requested to park in Blackwood Parade or Kingsley Avenue.  This is to ensure access to the park area for other users and club members who are travelling with people who have mobility issues and/or small children.
2. When warming up and moving towards the start area, people are reminded that runners may be starting their race.  As the main track narrows near the dam wall, please avoid interfering with runners already on course.  If possible, please approach the start area by walking in an anticlockwise direction around the dam.
3. Given the rain forecast for this weekend, parts of the course are likely to be damp and muddy underfoot.  However, there will not be any heavy mud sections.  Please choose your footwear accordingly.

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3213786961

The PCCCT is trialling a new course this week when it conducts Race 5 of this reduced season at Romaine Park Reserve, Burnie.

Numbers of race starters have been excellent and another large field of runners is expected for this 6km event which will be run on paths within the Reserve.

The quiet and scenic venue will make for pleasant running although undulating conditions could prove testing towards the finish.

One runner who will thrive on the course is Owen Thomas and there is no doubt he will prove very hard to beat.

Thomas has some good recent results, running eighth and ninth the last two weeks. He will not have to improve greatly on those efforts and looks well suited by the terrain.

The hardest to beat could be Aaron Robertson who was fifth over a similar course two weeks ago. He is another who seems to prefer non-sealed surfaces.

First year runner, Kendall Buckley, has returned some promising efforts and will win soon while Shaun Batten was a close second last week and will be looking to make amends.

Others to keep an eye on include Paul Birch, Hayden Bishop, Jono Price and Ellen Burgess.

New members are welcome and must register and enter by 9pm Friday.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:00.

Runners 12-, 13- and 14 years old may do their nominated time in the main (handicapped) event.