News

Evening all,

Can someone tell me how is it already November?! Anyway, that means it’s the start of the talk about that big event starting with C…

…Cross Country! Oh and there may be a bit of Christmas chat too 😜

Here are this week’s key Alchester updates for you, which include a few deadlines that are this week, so please do read it all and carefully!

🏅Medal Monday 🏅

This weekend saw the return of Cross Country which was also the first race in the 2025/26 Club Championship. It saw a brilliant Alchester turnout by both those running and spectating as well as some fantastic cakes 🍰 Super running, supporting and baking all! 💪🙌👏

Do check out the posts on the Facebook page and Instagram for photos and if we missed you, do let me know and share your pics!

🥳🎉🍾 End of Season Party – Sign Up DEADLINE

It’s been great to see more people signing up in the last week, and we’re delighted to say we have secured some CRACKING raffle prizes for the draw that will take place on the night. But you’ve got to be there to be in with the chance of winning one!

The deadline for signing up and paying for the End of Season Party is the end of the day on Thursday 6th November – that’s THIS THURSDAY! The link is below.

As a reminder, here are the key details you need to know:
📅 Friday 21st November
📍 Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa
⏰ 7pm start
💰 £40 per person
🎉Welcome drink, 3 course dinner, awards, fun and games and more!
✍️ Add your name to this spreadsheet and follow all the details of how to pay and let us know if there’s anyone you’d particularly like to sit with

🏆🗳️ End of Season Awards Voting

The End of Season awards offer you, the members, the opportunity to have your say and to recognise your fellow members for their achievements this year. So, we’d love you all to have your say as to who wins, so please do vote! To help you choose who to vote for, here is a list of all the current members.

To vote, fill in this form by Saturday 8th November. The awards will be presented at the End of Season Party.

🏃‍♂️ 🕰️ Marathon Times for 2024/25 Club Championship

If you’ve run a marathon in the last year, were a member of the club at the time of running it, and would like your time added to the Club Championship, please add the details to this spreadsheet by Friday 7th November.

Some categories are still very close and your marathon time could make all the difference! Awards will be presented at the End of Season Party!

🗳️ 🏃‍♂️ London Marathon 2026 Place

Normally Alchester gets one place for the London Marathon that it can give to one of its members to make use of and this year is no different!

To qualify to be in with a chance of getting the club’s place, you need to:
1️⃣ Be a first claim member
2️⃣ Have competed in at least 3 Club Championship events this season
3️⃣ Have volunteered for the club at least once this season – this includes marshalling at the 5k, Cross Country, Mota-vation or parkrun takeover (or helping in some other way)
4️⃣ Have received a rejection email from this years London Marathon ballot

If you meet all of the above criteria and want to be in with the chance of taking up the club’s London Marathon place for 2026, please fill in this form. You then need to send your rejection email to social@alchester-runningclub.co.uk.

Please fill in the form and send us your rejection email by Wednesday 19th November otherwise your name will not be put into the draw.

The draw for the place will then be made at the End of Season Party.

❌ 🏞️ Cross Country Details

It was brilliant to see a good turnout of runners, spectators and cakes on display at the first race of the season at Cornbury on Sunday.

The next race is on Sunday 7th December in Swindon. If you weren’t able to run yesterday but can run in December, add your name to this sign-up sheet by 28th November.

After adding your name, please make payment of £16 to the club account (details below) with the reference of “XC-26 surname”.

Alchester Running Club
Sort code: 30-90-77
Account number: 00792184

We also need someone to volunteer to help marshal at the Swindon race. Please contact Alasdair Kerr or Simon Worfolk if you or a family member/friend are able to.

🥶🌳Winter Social Trail Run

On the fourth Sunday of every month, the National Trust organise a 10k trail run through the grounds of Stowe Gardens. The next one is on Sunday 23rd November and we’ve decided that we will use this as a club social run.

It’s free to run and according to the website it is fully booked, however, Tom Butler has been in touch and we are able to get some places. So, if you’re interested, let Tom know. You can find out more info about the run here.

This week’s Club Night Details

In terms of what’s going on at club nights this week, the details are as follows:

Tuesday 4th November
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Gavray Drive, the railway track end – here
🏃🏃‍♀️ The session planned for last week but didn’t up doing, which was: 1000m(60), 5x200m(30), 800m(60), 4x200m(30), 600m(60), 3x200m(30), 400m(30), 2x200m(30), 200m(30), 2x100m(30) – Total = 6000m. Recovery time in brackets. All will be explained on the night if you’re not sure!

Thursday 6th November
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Bicester Leisure Centre (meet in the car park round the back by the football pitches)
🏃‍♂️ Various pace groups will take in a variety of routes around the ring road aiming to get back at the same time
🔦🦺 Be seen, be safe. Now that the clocks have gone back, it is definitely worth considering what you wear to ensure that you’re visible but that you can also see on your runs, especially with the ring road light lottery. So do think about wearing hi visibility clothing and bringing torches for the foreseeable!

That’s all for now! Have a great week and hope to see you at some point.

Gleds

On behalf of the Alchester Committee

Evening all,

Hope you had a great weekend and have had a good start to the week! Here are this week’s key Alchester updates for you, of which there are quite a few (it’s that time of year), so please do read it all and carefully!

🏅Medal Monday 🏅

This weekend saw a small crew seek sunnier shores to run in but sadly found typically British conditions followed! Sorry about the weather but super running all 🙌👏

🏃‍♂️ Valencia Half Marathon – Emily Davenall, Antony Giles, Emma Rundall-Hadley, Laura Rundall-Hadley

Do check out the posts on the Facebook page and Instagram for photos and if we missed you, do let me know and share your pics!

🥳🎉🍾 End of Season Party – Sign Up DEADLINE

We need to provide the hotel with numbers 2 weeks before so the deadline for signing up and paying for the End of Season Party is the end of the day on Thursday 6th November – that’s a week on Thursday!

As a reminder, here are the key details you need to know:
📅 Friday 21st November
📍 Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa
⏰ 7pm start
💰 £40 per person
🎉Welcome drink, 3 course dinner, awards, fun and games and more!
✍️ Add your name to this spreadsheet and follow all the details of how to pay and let us know if there’s anyone you’d particularly like to sit with

🏆🗳️ End of Season Awards Voting
I sent out the details for the voting for our end of season awards on Friday which you’ve hopefully received and read.

Please read that email for all the finer details, but to vote, fill in this form by Saturday 8th November.

We’ve had about 15 votes so far and it would be great to have as many members as possible have their say, so please do vote!

🗳️ 🏃‍♂️ London Marathon 2026 Place
Normally Alchester gets one place for the London Marathon that it can give to one of its members to make use of and this year is no different!

To qualify to be in with a chance of getting the club’s place, you need to:
1️⃣ Be a first claim member
2️⃣ Have competed in at least 3 Club Championship events this season
3️⃣ Have volunteered for the club at least once this season – this includes marshalling at the 5k, Cross Country, Mota-vation or parkrun takeover (or helping in some other way)
4️⃣ Have received a rejection email from this years London Marathon ballot

If you meet all of the above criteria and want to be in with the chance of taking up the club’s London Marathon place for 2026, please fill in this form. You then need to send your rejection email to social@alchester-runningclub.co.uk.

Please fill in the form and send us your rejection email by Wednesday 19th November otherwise your name will not be put into the draw.

The draw for the place will then be made at the End of Season Party.

❌ 🏞️ Cross Country Details
The first Cross Country race of the season is this Sunday, 2nd November at Cornbury Park Estate! Bring it on!

Alasdair and Simon will be sending out all the details to those signed up this week, so do look out for the email!

If you’d like to, you can also join this WhatsApp group which we’ll also use to send all the updates in and is perfect for sorting lift sharing and sharing photos etc.

🥶🌳Winter Social Trail Run
On the fourth Sunday of every month, the National Trust organise a 10k trail run through the grounds of Stowe Gardens. The next one is on Sunday 23rd November and we’ve decided that we will use this as a club social run.

It’s free to run but there are limited places and you do have to book, so if you’re interested, you can find out more and book here.

Look out for more details and a link to a WhatsApp group in coming weeks.

This week’s Club Night Details
In terms of what’s going on at club nights this week, the details are as follows:

Tuesday 28th October
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Gavray Drive, the railway track end – here
🏃🏃‍♀️ 1000m(60), 5x200m(30), 800m(60), 4x200m(30), 600m(60), 3x200m(30), 400m(30), 2x200m(30), 200m(30), 2x100m(30) – Total = 6000m. Recovery time in brackets. All will be explained on the night if you’re not sure!

Thursday 30th October
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Bicester Leisure Centre (meet in the car park round the back by the football pitches)
🏃‍♂️ Various pace groups will take in a variety of routes around the ring road aiming to get back at the same time
🔦🦺 Be seen, be safe. Now that the clocks have gone back, it is definitely worth considering what you wear to ensure that you’re visible but that you can also see on your runs, especially with the ring road light lottery. So do think about wearing hi visibility clothing and bringing torches for the foreseeable!

That’s all for now! Have a great week and hope to see you at some point.

Gleds

On behalf of the Alchester Committee

Evening all,

Hope you had a great weekend and have had a good start to the week! Here are this week’s key Alchester updates for you, of which there are quite a few reminders, so please do read it all and carefully!

🏅Medal Monday 🏅

This weekend saw members compete in a variety of events as the rain returned. Superb running all 🙌👏

🏃‍♂️ Abingdon Marathon – Ian Hunter

🏃 AJ Bell Great South Run – Emily Davenall, Debbie Gilbert, Antony Giles, Vicky Smith

🏃‍♂️ Blackpit Brewery 10k – Katharine Earley, Richard Francis, Colin Hornby (🥈), James Wright (🥉)

🏃‍♀️ The Cabbage Patch 10 – Chris Melbourne

Do check out the posts on the Facebook page and Instagram for photos and if we missed you, do let me know and share your pics!

🏆🥇 Performance of the Year nominations

This is your last chance to nominate club members for the Performance of the Year award – nominations close at the end of today!

As a reminder, this is a nomination for a single performance that is worthy of recognition since 1st November 2024 and could be for undertaking an endurance event or for running a quick time or club record.

Submit your nominations here.

🥳🎉🍾 End of Season Party

As promised, read on for more details of our end of season party, which is on Friday 21st November – we can’t wait!

We are delighted to now bring you your official invitation – the key details you need to know are:
📍 Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa
⏰ 7pm start
💰 £40 per person
🎉Welcome drink, 3 course dinner, awards, fun and games and more!

The evening is open to all members and their family and friends. Previous members are also very welcome as well, so if you’re in contact with anyone who previously ran with us, feel free to invite them.

We have tried to keep the cost as low as possible and, as outlined when you renewed or became a member, some of your membership fees have gone towards subsiding the cost of the end of season party.

To secure your place, please do these 4 things:
1️⃣ Add your name and the names of anyone who is coming with you to this spreadsheet, 1 person per row, along with any dietary requirements

2️⃣ Make payment to our bank account for all those you’re booking for with the reference “SURNAME PARTY25” – the details are:

Alchester Running Club
00792184
309077

3️⃣ Once payment has been made, mark the Paid? column for your name(s) with Yes so that we know you’ve paid

4️⃣ Email social@alchester-runningclub.co.uk with the names of anyone who you’d like to be seated with

Confirmation of attendance will only be upon receipt of payment.

🏆🗳️ End of Season Awards Voting
After nominations close for the Performance of the Year at the end of tonight, we will send an email later this week with a link to voting for the end of season awards, so do look out for it. We’d love all members to have their say, so please cast your votes by the deadline.

🏃‍♂️📱Join us on Strava
Given Strava’s new feature which shows on your feed if you’ve participated in a Strava activity/event, we’ve started putting our club nights/runs on Strava. We won’t be using this Strava group and these events as a way of communicating with members but feel this could be a good way to get more exposure for the club (as non members can see the event/activity you’ve been part of), so would recommend that you join the club group on Strava if you haven’t already – click here to join.

🅿️🏃‍♀️☕️ Post parkrun social
On Saturday 25th October (this Saturday), a few of us will be going to Esquires after Bicester parkrun for a coffee (and maybe breakfast) and if you’re able to join us, it would be great to see a good number of you down there whether or not you’re able to run parkrun! Hope to see you there.

🏃🏫 Oxford Half Marathon
After a brilliant Alchester representation and enjoyable experience for most at the Oxford Half Marathon last week, we thought it worthwhile recommending you sign up for it for 2026! It’s on 11th October and is already 80% full, so you may have to act fast. We may well look at the possibility of having a meet up before/after too. Find out more info and enter here.

This week’s Club Night Details
In terms of what’s going on at club nights this week, the details are as follows:

Tuesday 20th October
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Gavray Drive, the railway track end – here
🏃🏃‍♀️ Mile reps. All will be explained on the night if you’re not sure!

Thursday 22nd October
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Bicester Leisure Centre (meet in the car park round the back by the football pitches)
🏃‍♂️ Various pace groups will take in a variety of routes around the ring road aiming to get back at the same time
🔦🦺 Be seen, be safe. As the nights are drawing in, it is worth thinking about what you wear to ensure that you’re visible but that you can also see on your runs, especially with the ring road light lottery. So do think about wearing hi visibility clothing and bringing torches in the coming weeks!

That’s all for now! Have a great week and hope to see you at some point.

Gleds

On behalf of the Alchester Committee

Evening all,

Evening all,

Hope you had a great weekend and have had a good start to the week! Here are this week’s key Alchester updates for you, of which there are quite a few, so please do read it all and carefully!

🏅 Medal Monday 🏅

Whilst many took to parkrun on its 21st birthday, two members battled it out against storm Amy and dug deep to produce brilliant performances. Superb effort both 🙌👏

🏃‍♂️ Chester Marathon – Stuart Walford

🏃 Victoria Park Half Marathon – Jack Taylor

Do check out the posts on the Facebook page and Instagram for photos and if we missed you, do let me know and share your pics!

🏃‍♂️ 🏞️ Cross Country

The email with all the details for the Cross Country season were sent out on Friday by Team Managers Alasdair and Simon and it’s fantastic to see that 15 (12 men and 3 ladies) have signed up already!

The races are about 5 miles/8km long on courses over grass, mud, and hills in and around the local area. It’s an opportunity to compete both individually and as part of a team – 7 runners make up a men’s team and 3 runners make up a ladies team – and the challenge is just to beat the person in front of you!

As well as the actual running, it’s a great morning out catching up with lots of club members as well as enjoying cakes and hot drinks (after you’ve finished😉) in the club tent. We have some excellent bakers in the club, so if the races aren’t enough of a pull, we can assure the cakes are well worth coming for! This season we’re also hoping to arrange pub lunches/meet ups after the races when we can, so keep an eye out for more details.

It would be great to have a strong Alchester presence and representation at as many of the races as possible, and to have at least 2 or 3 men’s and ladies teams, so please do read and then act on the email if you’re interested.

If you’re keen to get involved, please add your name to this sign-up sheet by Friday 17th October.

♣️🏁 2025-26 Club Championship

We are delighted to say that the Club Championship for 2025-26 has been finalised!

The Championship is an annual competition between Alchester members and for 2025-26 it consists of 21 races that range from 5k to marathon distance, with most of them being road races but including some Cross Country races.

Please read the attached document for all the details on how it works, the rules and the races that make it up. If there are any questions, please do get in contact with me.

Club Championships 2025-26 FINAL

🏆🥇 Performance of the Year nominations

It’s that time of the year where we need you to nominate club members for the Performance of the Year award.

It’s difficult for us as a committee to know exactly what every member has run this year, so we need your help by nominating members (or yourself) for who you think deserves to be in the running for the Performance of the Year. This is a nomination for a single performance that is worthy of recognition since 1st November 2024 and could be for undertaking an endurance event or for running a quick time or club record.

Please make your nominations here by the end of the day on Monday 20th October.

🥳🍔🍷🕺 End of Season Party – SAVE THE DATE

If you haven’t already, please save the date for the end of season party which is Friday 21st November. We’d love to see as many of you as possible there to celebrate another brilliant year for Alchester RC!

More details to follow next week!

🗣️ Mota-vation 2025 feedback survey
Kidlington Running Club would like feedback on the 2025 Mota-vation Series and they are particularly keen to hear our thoughts on the new teams competition.

If you took part in the series and would like to, please fill in the feedback survey here by the end of Friday 10th October.

♣️🏁 Club Championship Races 2024-25
There’s just the 1 race left in the Club Championship for this season:

12th October – Buckingham 10k – enter here

This week’s Club Night Details
In terms of what’s going on at club nights this week, the details are as follows:

Tuesday 7th October
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Gavray Drive, the railway track end – here
🏃🏃‍♀️ 1x400m, 2x200m x 8 sets all with 30 secs recovery. All will be explained on the night if you’re not sure!

Thursday 9th October
⏰ 18:55 meet for a 19:00 start
📍 Bicester Leisure Centre (meet in the car park round the back by the football pitches)
🏃‍♂️ Various pace groups will take in a variety of routes around the ring road aiming to get back at the same time
🔦🦺 Be seen, be safe. As the nights are drawing in, it is worth thinking about what you wear to ensure that you’re visible but that you can also see on your runs, especially with the ring road light lottery. So do think about wearing hi visibility clothing and bringing torches in the coming weeks!

That’s all for now! Have a great week.

Gleds

On behalf of the Alchester Committee