Don't Forget Your Hi Viz!

The clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in, we're past Bonfire Night.....and there are people still wearing dark clothing to club sessions! 

You may be aware of the tragic fatal accident earlier this week in which two young Aldershot, Farnham and District runners were hit by a car. Please remember that every effort should be made to wear hi vis clothing or accessories to ensure you are visible when you're out running in the winter months, when visibility is not as good. 

Club sessions are of course run at your own risk, and you are responsible for your own safety, however we do recommend that people make the effort to wear hi vis for club sessions over the winter. This is to help ensure your safety and the safety of other pedestrians, cyclists, or road users who might not see you.

First Aid Training Opportunity

e asked a while ago if there were any existing first aiders in the club who would be willing to use their powers for good at club events - we did get some responses but not many for a club of 700 members! If you missed that note and would be happy to help out, please email us at info@ealingeagles.com. 

We are also looking to arrange a specific one day training course in first aid for sport, if there are enough people interested. If you fancy helping the club in this way, please drop us a line at info@ealingeagles.com. There will be limited spaces available, so you've got to be in it to win it! 

Weekly Training Sessions w/c 14th November

We continue this week with our winter routes. Please make sure you listen to the run leaders at the start of the club run sessions and remember to wear your hi vis apparel as it's now getting dark by the time we set off.

Check Facebook for further details on all our training sessions, or email info@ealingeagles.com if you have any queries.

Monday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Tuesday: 7.30pm Track and strength session at Osterley. Please check on Facebook for updates of session details closer to the day.

Wednesday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Thursday: 7.30pm Hills with Richard - please check Facebook for the details closer to the day. 

Sunday: 9am 10-mile informal club run setting off from Ealing Green. Please check Facebook to see whether this will go ahead/possible pacing groups, and please note there is no tail runner.

**This route can also easily be made into an 8-mile run by meeting the runners at the entrance to the park on South Ealing Road at approximately 9.10am**

Middlesex Cross Country Championships - 7th January 2017

We are now taking entries for the Middlesex Cross Country Championships on Saturday 7th January.

The race will take place at Hillingdon House Farm with Race HQ at Hillingdon Athletic Stadium, Gatting Way,Uxbridge, UB8 1ES – numbers are to be collected here and changing and refreshments will be available here.

Race details are as follows :-
1.00 p.m. Senior Womens Race – 8,000 Metres (approx) 
Competitors must be at least 20 years of age on 31st Aug 2016. 
1.45 p.m. Senior Mens Race – 12,000 Metres (approx) 
Competitors must be at least 20 years of age on 31st Aug 2016.

If you would like to run, please e-mail chair@ealingeagles.com by Sunday 18th December with the following information:
Full name
Address
Date of birth
EA number
Whether county qualification is by birth (B) or residency (R).

Residency qualification is obtained by having nine months continuous bona fide residence in the County immediately prior to the date of the race.

Southern Cross Country Championships - 25th January 2017

We are now taking entries for the Southern Cross Country Championships which are taking place on Saturday 28th January 2017 at Parliament Hill.

The Seniors timetable is:

12:40pm - Under 20 Women 6000 metres (Ages 17, 18 &19 on 31st Aug 2016)
1:30pm - Under 20 Men 8000 metres (Ages 17, 18 &19 on 31st Aug 2016)
2:05pm - Senior Women 8000 metres (Age 20 or over on 31st Aug 2016)
2:50pm - Senior Men 15000 metres (Age 20 or over on 31st Aug 2016)

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE - FOR SENIOR MEN ATHLETES, TIMES WILL STOP BEING COUNTED 90 MINUTES AFTER THE RACE START.

If you would like to run, please e-mail chair@ealingeagles.com by Sunday 11th December with the following information:
Full name
Date of birth
EA number

Weekly Training Sessions w/c 7th November

We continue this week with our winter routes. Please make sure you listen to the run leaders at the start of the club run sessions and remember to wear your hi vis apparel as it's now getting dark by the time we set off.

Check Facebook for further details on all our training sessions, or email info@ealingeagles.com if you have any queries.

Monday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Tuesday: 7.30pm Track and strength session at Osterley. Please check on Facebook for updates of session details closer to the day.

Wednesday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Thursday: 7.30pm Hills with Richard - please check Facebook for the details closer to the day. 

Sunday: 9am 10-mile informal club run setting off from Ealing Green. Please check Facebook to see whether this will go ahead/possible pacing groups, and please note there is no tail runner.

**This route can also easily be made into an 8-mile run by meeting the runners at the entrance to the park on South Ealing Road at approximately 9.10am**

Snowdonia Marathon - In Which Jess (spoiler alert) Actually Runs a Marathon by Jess Hood

Yes, reader, I ran the damn thing.

The eagle eyed amongst you (pun intended) may notice that this blog is missing a week. I actually started writing it, but to be honest it was just another week of physio, test runs, adventures in cross training, and general indecisiveness. Not that this isn't a massively important part of this marathon build up, it's just harder to write up interestingly, and I just don't quite get round to it. Sorry 'bout that.

And so we reached week 18, which seemed a very long time after that first meeting with Coach Mark, and certainly not how I hoped to be feeling - still not sure whether or not I would be running it.

Had a pre-physio test run which went horrendously - hip was sore, felt massively hard work AND my healing Buddha charm made a break for freedom and fell off my wrist. Tried to comfort myself with the experience that all runs in the week before a race are shit, but it wasn't doing anything for my confidence. Was finding it hard to even feel excited about the weekend because I just didn't know what I should do. Was even trying to run a marathon a bad idea? Would I damage myself further and rule myself out of running for the rest of the year? Might it actually all be okay?

Left work early on Thursday for final physio, armed with a card filled with amazingly kind words and encouragement. Physio went well and Kieran told me that if I wanted to run it, then it should be fine. Was told to keep up the glute exercises in any spare moment I had, and that whilst it would probably flare up afterwards, I should just keep doing what I had been doing.

Even with the green light, I wasn't sure, but the time had come to make a decision. Whilst Mark had said that we could go to Wales and it would be absolutely fine if I decided on the day itself that I didn't think I should run it, I knew that if I went then I would at least start. And if I started, I would probably finish whatever happened. If the worst happened, I knew my parents would be at halfway so I would be able to get a lift back to HQ rather than having to wait for the sweeper bus. The taxi was booked. Bags were packed. Decision was finally made.

Arrived in Wales on Friday morning and headed to race HQ in Llanberis to collect my number, and do some obligatory posing with the trophy. Lunched in a cafe where they had run out of pretty much everything (busiest weekend of their year!) but I was able to get a rather yummy toasted sandwich.

Bus driver back to Bangor was brilliant and seemed to know everyone he passed along the route, and don't mind causing blockages and traffic jams to stop to talk to them. #sowelsh. He was also very fluid with the location of bus stops, which worked to our advantage in the end.

Spent the rest of the afternoon "relaxing" at the hotel (sitting still is not my forte) whilst Mark went to see if there was anywhere to get a decent pre-marathon meal in Bangor. Turns out, there was not, so he bought supplies for a carpet picnic - pastas, bread, houmous, and a repeat of last year's secret weapon, the Pot Noodle.

Headed back to my room to do some yoga, stretching and foam rolling, and to get everything ready for the next day.

Now, Snowdonia has a very respectable start time of 10.30am, but out of habit I felt the need to set my race day alarm very early. With good reason as it turns out, as there always seems to be so much to do. Made our way to breakfast where I wished I'd practiced eating hot food before running because, damn, those hash browns looked good. Settled for cereal, which was on top of the porridge & banana I'd already had in my room. Spotted a couple of other runners, including one lady who came over to say hello. If I haven't said it already, I bloody love the running community.

Taxi to HQ was unsurprisingly much quicker than the bus had been, despite the traffic jam which the driver said was "the first I've ever seen in Llanberis."

Unlike last year the weather was clear, so settled myself outside whilst Mark went to check where he needed to go to get up to mile 22. Within ten minutes of arriving I had tripped over my own bag and been trodden on whilst pigeon-ing. It was going well.

Whilst I was waiting, Sarah Mack off of the Ealing Eagles found me. Her boyfriend Tom was going to be cycling round the course supporting, and her dad and Mark both planned to hike up the mountain to support us up the toughest part of the course. Leaving them to discuss this, Sarah and I  went off for a last toilet visit before we all made our way to the start line.

I still wasn't sure how this was going to go, and whether I'd even make it further than the first few miles, but I'd written 5/10/15/20 mile split times for a 4'25 finish on my arm and figured I may as well start with this in mind and see what happened. Sarah said she wanted to try to stay with me for as long as possible, but I suspected it might not end like that. Just after 10.30am, we were off.

After the last few tester runs I'd expected the first few miles to be a bit tricky and uncomfortable, but actually everything felt okay. Bit stiff, but okay. Despite us doing many, many of the same races, Sarah and I had actually never run together. I'm generally a bit of a lone runner, so having a buddy was different and exciting and would definitely help later on. We hit the first ascent and made it to the top strong. At 5 miles I could check on how we were doing compared to my 4'25 finish splits - 90 seconds down, but that had been mostly uphill. So far, so on target.

From Pen Y Pass, it's a glorious downhill. Clouds were low so couldn't really see anything. I dropped a gel and a few minutes later a guy ran past us and gave it back to me. I love tis race. I love where it goes off road and you have to really concentrate on your footing. Hip was still feeling good, but I was careful not to lead with my right foot and put extra pressure on it. Miles were passing so fast and I was still feeing strong.

A check at 10 miles showed we were now 3 minutes ahead of target time. I opened a gel and managed to spray it all over myself, and spent pretty much the next 16 miles of water stations trying to wash it off. Sarah was feeling hungry so we shared a Nakd bar.

My parents were at Beddgelert which is just before halfway, where they had the Marmite sandwich I requested. Last year I'd asked for Jaffa Cakes, but this year I knew something savoury would be better. My mother had delightfully cut it into quarters so I took two and Sarah took two. A lady a few minutes up the course asked "Do you have a sandwich?!" Bonus of experience.

From this point, we hit our second ascent. I had previously claimed I didn't remember this hill, but now I'm not sure how this was possible. After a great first half it was starting to feel quite hard work. After losing massive amounts of boyfriend points for disappearing (loo break apparently) Tom was turning up regularly on the bike which was nice in breaking things up.

Time check at 15 miles showed we were almost bang on time for a 4'25 finish. I knew difficult times were ahead, but by this point I thought that a PB might be in the bag.

At 17 miles, Sarah commented that it sounded like a really big number. It really does. It sounds like you should be near the end when you actually have 9 miles to go. My hip joint  wasn't hurting, but the outside of both hips, IT bands and glutes were starting to tighten up. I was struggling, but running with Sarah was keeping me going, probably faster than I would have been otherwise.

It was around this time Sarah also pointed out, "Is it just me, or is everyone else walking?" Yes they were. Perhaps there was a memo we missed as we kept trudging on.

Waunfawr was busy and I managed to get up on the pavement and then worry about how to get down again. It was like being on a cliff. Made the turn into the last great ascent where we had both agreed to power walk up.

Ironically, I had been looking forward to this point so I could finally get a quick rest before the last few miles. I don't think I realised how little I had left. At a run I had managed to match pace with Sarah, but at a walk it suddenly seemed so much harder. Watching her disappear out of sight was so hard and I knew the last few miles were going to be tough as fuck. For the last few miles I'd been feeling pretty nauseas and it wasn't getting any better. Each step felt like my foot was being nailed to the floor.

Mark was at mile 23 ish where he walked alongside me and made me keep my head up and my chest open to breathe properly. 99% of my body and brain was screaming at me to stop, but the last 1% was reminding me that even if I sat down right there (as I wanted so much) I'd still have to get back somehow.

Starring role on S4C. Looking like I'm about to vomit.

The worst part of this was seeing my average pace slipping and watching my potential 4'25 finish disappear. It's so easy to reflect and say I  should have just pushed on, but at the time I had nothing left. Made it to the top and then when I was finally grateful that the downhill had started, my right knee started hurting. Awesome.

I have to say that the camaraderie at this point of the race was a amazing and despite feeling crap I was so grateful for every kind word received. But the knee was pretty much the nail in the coffin and my watch was already showing my previous time with over a mile to go. I would have cried, but I didn't have the energy.

Literally hobbled down the mountain knowing that it wasn't worth potentially damaging myself further. I was grateful enough about the hip not being a bitch to appreciate this.

Crossed the finish line, not quite so as gloriously as last year, but never so happy as to have bloody finished.

Claimed my water and foil blanket and spotted a dog in a jumper. Feeling a bit delicate, I decided that saying hi to this dog would make me feel 100% better. Asked her mum if it would be okay to say hello, which quickly lead to staffie snogs.  She then told me that lovely Carla was an ex Battersea dog who was very excitedly waiting for her new dad to finish. Love her :)

Made my way back to HQ to collect my bags where I found Sarah waiting for her massage. She hadn't quite made our target either, but still finished in an incredible 4'27.  We're both targeting sub 4 next year so I really hope this race helped us both on that journey. Surely nothing can be that hard.

So, the big question - no regrets?

Mark messaged me after the race saying he hoped I wasn't disappointed. I'm not and I am. On the one hand, I spent the last 5 weeks not sure if I would even start this race. Several times during these weeks I was 100% certain that I wouldn't. To decide not to start would not only be an easy option, but also a sensible one. I definitely wouldn't damage myself any further and I could have happily continued healing.

But it would have been such an anticlimax.

I'm glad I started and I'm ecstatic that I finished. The only disappointment comes from spending a large part of the race thinking that I might actually get a PB out of it, which would have been the greatest of comebacks, only to watch that slip away in the space of 4 miles.

Much like childbirth (I imagine), memories of the pain and struggles during races quickly slip away. Just a few months ago I finished Maidenhead Half in 1:55:03 and was initially delighted at running a PB in spite of a tough last few miles. Within an hour I was kicking myself for not getting sub 1:55.  As a group, runners are rarely satisfied.

Six weeks ago, a finish time of 4:45 wouldn't have seemed worth getting out of bed for. Three weeks ago I couldn't even imagine starting. It might not be the time I hoped for, but it represents a determination to not give up.

No regrets?

Absolutely not.

Revision to Winter Club Run Routes

Following feedback from members, we have decided to amend the club run route. 

The vast majority of comments expressed a preference for a return to a route along the North Circular Road due to the better lighting and feeling more visible / safer. 

We still hold concerns about the crossings at Ealing Green and the car park into the Broadway Centre plus the narrow, dark section when you turned right at the end of The Grove onto The Common towards Warwick Road and this revised route avoids these points. 

The route starts as we do now heading down St Mary's Road as far the zebra crossing by The Castle / University of West London. We then cross over and head down Warwick Road.

Warwick Road is wider, better lit and has less trees (and therefore tree routes) than most of the other roads and whilst there are currently works taking place these should be completed in the next 6 / 8 weeks. 

When you reach The Grange pub at the junction with The Common, the route is the same as the old short / long routes. 

Please see below a link to the new, long, route if you are not sure on the directions above (this may need to be pasted into your browser, there is also a picture of the route at the bottom of this post).

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1422244713

We accept that there will be some people who may not be 100% happy with this route but given the feedback I have received from members we feel this is the best solution. 

Members of the committee have the run the route, start from Ealing Green at 7:30pm, to check the lighting / pavement conditions and felt there were no issues. 

This new route will be used from Monday 31st October. 

London Marathon Club Ballot Places Confirmed!

As affiliates of England Athletics, Ealing Eagles receives a number of places for the Virgin Money London Marathon (VMLM) each year. It has been confirmed that we will have 4 places available for the 2017 event. These places are available to members via a club ballot.

As a reminder, members who wish to enter the club ballot for places in April 2017 must meet following criteria at the time of the ballot (Dec 2016):

• Be a fully-paid member of the Ealing Eagles Running Club since the start of the membership year of the ballot (1st May 2016)
• Be an England Athletics member (for those who run with more than one club, you must have been a first-claim member with the Ealing Eagles from 1st May 2016)
• Have been a member for at least 12 months as at 30th November 2016
• Have been entered and rejected from the public ballot (proof of rejection required)
• Have not won a VMLM place via the Ealing Eagles club ballot in the last three yearly ballots
• Are not eligible for a Good for Age entry, which can be guaranteed directly with the VMLM organisers
• Did not run in the previous years VMLM (i.e. 2016)

This year, we are trialling a points system relating to being an active participant of the club. Below are the categories which you can earn points in. You can earn points from any or all of these, we only ask that you volunteer at least twice.

• Tail Run (1pt each, max of 5pts) - It is the tailrunners responsibility that their tailrun is recorded on the website and to contact the committee to request that the schedule is updated if they step in at the last minute
• Volunteer at Ealing Eagles Sessions/Events (1pt each, min 2pts, max 10pts) - For example Ealing Eagles 10km, 10/20 mile training runs, beginners groups, leading or assisting at coaching sessions, Summer League, XC, etc.
• Compete in Summer League, XC Sunday or Met League (1pt each, max 5pts)
• Compete in Club Championship Events (1pt each, max 5pts) - Excluding Summer League and XC Sunday or Met Leagues
• Compete as an Ealing Eagle wearing the club vest in any other race (1pt each, max 5 points) - Excluding parkrun

For the 2017 ballot, the qualifying period is 1st May - 30 November 2016, therefore a minimum of 8pts (including 2 volunteer points) is required to qualify.

For the 2018 ballot, the qualifying period is 1st December 2016 - 30 November 2017 and a minimum of 15pts (including 2 volunteer points) will be required.

Members must also agree to the following in advance of winning a ballot place:

• Pay the VMLM entry fee
• Continue to be an active participant in the club training sessions, especially the longer Sunday runs throughout the period leading up to race day
• Write a short news article or blog for the club website every 2 weeks during the marathon training and once after the race
• Wear an Ealing Eagles vest on race day (high-fives to the cheer squad are optional)

EALING EAGLES CLUB BALLOT ENTRY FOR VMLM 2017 CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY 1st DECEMBER 2016

Weekly Training Sessions w/c 31st October 2016

We continue this week with our winter routes. Please make sure you listen to the run leaders at the start of the club run sessions and remember to wear your hi vis apparel as it's now getting dark by the time we set off.

Check Facebook for further details on all our training sessions, or email info@ealingeagles.com if you have any queries.

Monday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Tuesday: 7.30pm Track and strength session at Osterley. Please check on Facebook for updates of session details closer to the day.

Wednesday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Thursday: 7.30pm Track with Richard - please check Facebook for the details closer to the day. 

Sunday: 9am 10-mile informal club run setting off from Ealing Green. Please check Facebook to see whether this will go ahead/possible pacing groups, and please note there is no tail runner.

**This route can also easily be made into an 8-mile run by meeting the runners at the entrance to the park on South Ealing Road at approximately 9.10am**

Met League Claybury - by Frankie Snell (age 13)

I went to Claybury to run my second cross country race since joining The Eagles Juniors.  

The weather was hot for a cross country race so the ground was quite dry but I still wore my spikes. It was just me racing out the Eagles in the U15 youth race. I know quite a few ESM runners from school and others friends, so I was having a laugh with one of them then the gun went off. It was crowded as we ran down the hill, many people cheering us all on. We had to do two laps of the course which meant going up the big hill twice.

One of the lads from ESM followed me around the last race and pipped me to the finish which I wasn’t going to let happen again this time. I took it steady and made my plan to get ahead of the ESM lad. A few boys had to walk the hill but I managed to take it slow and keep running up and that is when I made my get away from my friend. I passed Mum (Lisa), Jennifer and Paul (taking photos) getting a few cheers and up another small hill back round to the start to do it all again. I remember two Eagles cheering me on and giving advice for the hill but I wasn’t sure who they were. Mum didn’t know who it was either when I told her.

I was getting tired as I passed the start knowing the hill was coming up again but remembered I had to keep my friend behind me. I managed to run at a steady pace up the hill again and flew down the hill. Coming down the hill was the best bit and it wasn’t far to go now to finish. I came into the finish feeling quite tired and my legs were aching but I didn’t let the ESM lad beat me.

North West London YA League, Horsenden Hill XC - by Emily Page (age 12)

Naturally my body was really nervous, but mentally I was ready. Instead I was excited! It was freezing and I was shaking. When I started it was pouring heavily with rain. As I went round the first corner, my leg dropped into a small hole and I twisted my ankle. It wasn’t serious; instead it spurred me on to catch up with my friend. She had been lost in a sea of runners. I kept going then halfway through the rain got harder and I was shivering with cold. The supporters helped, especially my fellow Ealing Eagles. At some point, my head said “give up Em” but I couldn’t. It was an amazing feeling to finish. Overall, I found the race exciting and fun despite the weather being terrible. I can’t wait for the next one it can only get better!

Winter Club Run Route Feedback

We recently introduced a new winter club which has received a mixed response.

The committee will be discussing the matter at their next meeting and would like to canvass the views of members to assist with these discussions.

Just to give a bit of background, the route was changed, following suggestions from members, to cut out as much as possible of the North Circular Road, due to high levels of pollution. We also took into account safety concerns of people 'jumping the red man' at the crossing by Ealing Green, the crossing by the entrance / exit to Broadway Centre car park and people straying into the cycle path along the North Circular Road. We believe that these were justifiable reasons to amend the route.

The committee would like to hear the view of members so if you have any comments, either for or against the old or new route, please e-mail chair@ealingeagles.com by Monday 31st October. The committee will then discuss at the next meeting on Tuesday 1st November. In the meantime, to avoid confusion, we will continue to use the current, new route.

London Cross Country Championships - Saturday 19th November

Entries are now open for the London cross country champs being held on Parliament Hill on Saturday 19th November.

There are entry criteria that apply so please read the detail below in full BEFORE sending your entry in!

Race details

SATURDAY, 19th November 2016 at PARLIAMENT HILL, HAMPSTEAD HEATH, LONDON
SENIOR WOMEN, 6K, starting at 1.15pm
SENIOR MEN, 10K, starting at 2.00pm

Race entry criteria - please read before entering
To enter you MUST:
A) Be currently registered with England Athletics
Be at least 17 years or over on 1st September 2016
C) Be a first claim member
D) Meet one of the following criteria:
Have been born in the Greater London area*
OR
Have at least 1 year's bona fide residence in Greater London*
OR
Have at least 1 year's continuous full-time employment in Greater London*
OR
Have at least 1 year's full-time attendance at an educational establishment in Greater London*

Any runners that meet the full criteria can enter and the club will pay your entry fee for you, but you must enter in advance. NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY OR NUMBER SWAPPING!

To enter:
Please email chair@ealingeagles.com with the following information:
• Your name
• Your England Athletics registration number
• Your date of birth
• Your Greater London qualification with date e.g. I have lived in Greater London since 2005.
Please email by MONDAY 31ST OCTOBER at midnight. Any late entries will not be included.
Any questions, please email chair@ealingeagles.com

*Greater London as defined for this race
The following boroughs are all defined as Greater London for this race:
The City of London, The London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmithand Fulham, Harrow, Haringey, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston Upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond Upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and the City of Westminster.

Ongoing Tribeca Offer

After the successful Yoga for Runners trial at Tribeca Studios they have let us know that further classes will be continuing every consecutive Saturday for the foreseeable future - Saturday 22 October, Saturday 5th November and Saturday 19th November are all confirmed.

Any Eagles who did a trial class can receive 1 week for free when they buy any pack of classes. Simply call the studio on 02088100123 and mention the Ealing Eagles to redeem. Alternatively you can get in touch directly at sales@tribecastudios.co.uk for this offer.

So get booking if you want to get your stretch on! It's been noted that it's hard to search for the class in the studio website in some browsers, you can find it more easily by looking on the timetable section once you are logged in at www.tribecastudios.co.uk. 

Birthday Party & Raffle Tickets

The party you've all been waiting for is finally upon us! This Saturday is the Eagles birthday party at the Foresters - this is a ticketed event, so if you haven't bought tickets please don't turn up on the night! 

The Foresters are kindly going to give us 10% off of food on the night, so please do take advantage of that offer if you are feeling a bit peckish or haven't yet made dinner plans for the evening.

Also, please don't forget the BAKE OFF part of this event. Otherwise we wont have a birthday cake!!! We're aware that Mr. Ronan Moriarty has been quietly practicing his layering in the vain hope that he will retain his title of Eagles Master Baker. Please folks, lets try to knock him off his perch...

And remember - YOU CAN BUY RAFFLE TICKETS EVEN IF YOU WON'T BE AT THE PARTY! There are some truly fantastic raffle prizes on offer and so far only 20 or so people have bought tickets. We are a club of 600 plus.....come on guys, lets raise a bundle eh?

All the proceeds will go to CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, which is a brilliant charity that is very close to us all as Ealing Eagles.

You don't need to be at the birthday quiz to win big, there are tickets on sale in the kitshop on the Eagles website, and if you buy tickets you will be automatically entered into the big prize draw on the night. Tickets are £2 each, or 6 for £10. Bargain.

Prizes include, Brentford FC Tickets, Sessions at Move Clinics, Race places at EHM, The Olympic Park and The Eagles 10k, A Film Four box set, Tickets to the Boat Show, a Jo Pavey Signed Eagles vest, A David Ginola signed Spurs Shirt, Meals for Four at both the Foresters and The New Inn, ..........and there are still some great prizes left to be announced. I'm hearing signed books and EMS sessions are in the making.

Come on folk, as it stands you have a great chance of winning a prize, and you'll help raise loads of money for a truly great cause.

Weekly Training Sessions w/c 24th October

We continue this week with our winter routes. Please make sure you listen to the run leaders at the start of the club run sessions and remember to wear your hi vis apparel as it's now getting dark by the time we set off.

Check Facebook for further details on all our training sessions, or email info@ealingeagles.com if you have any queries.

Monday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Tuesday: 7.30pm Track session at Osterley. Please check on Facebook for updates of session details closer to the day.

Wednesday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Thursday: 7.30pm Hills with Richard - please check Facebook for the details closer to the day. 

Sunday: 9am 10-mile informal club run setting off from Ealing Green. Please check Facebook to see whether this will go ahead/possible pacing groups, and please note there is no tail runner.

**This route can also easily be made into an 8-mile run by meeting the runners at the entrance to the park on South Ealing Road at approximately 9.10am**

Weekly Training Sessions w/c 3rd October

We continue this week with our new winter routes. Please make sure you listen to the run leaders at the start of the club run sessions and remember to wear your hi vis apparel as it's now getting dark by the time we set off.

Check Facebook for further details on all our training sessions, or email info@ealingeagles.com if you have any queries.

Monday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Tuesday: 7.30pm Start of exciting new track sessions at Osterley! Please check on Facebook for updates of session details closer to the day.

Wednesday: 7.30pm Club run, using the winter routes. Meet at Ealing Green with the option of either 3.75 or 4.75-mile run routes. **Please note that due to fading light in the Autumn and Winter months we request that runners wear hi vis clothing**

Thursday: 7.30pm Track with Richard - please check Facebook for the details closer to the day. 

Sunday: 9am 10-mile informal club run setting off from Ealing Green. Please check Facebook to see whether this will go ahead/possible pacing groups, and please note there is no tail runner.

**This route can also easily be made into an 8-mile run by meeting the runners at the entrance to the park on South Ealing Road at approximately 9.10am**

Ealing Half Marathon - Thank You!

Sunday 25th September saw over 4,300 runners from all over the country and the world storm the streets of Ealing to run the 5th Ealing Half Marathon. 

It was a fantastic day as always, with the winner coming in with a time of 1:04:14 in a completely even split, and a huge flock of Eagles running some incredible times and reaching new milestones. 

All the posts on Facebook this week have really shown how much everyone enjoyed this amazing event and how much the hard work that goes into putting it on is appreciated - well done to all the runners and volunteers from the club and a massive THANK YOU to Kelvin and Sandra for letting us be part of the fun! 

We have already received a huge number of new member enquiries since you lot showed the town your Eagle Spirit on Sunday, so make sure you look out for some new faces in the coming weeks! 

Club Championships - Parkrun & Mile

We're well into the Club Championships now, and we have two potential points scoring races coming up. 

The first parkrun fixture is on Saturday 8th October, and we also have the first mile race on Saturday 5th November.

If you are planning to run either of these, please go to the Facebook event and sign up on the spreadsheets which Heidi has posted to each of the events.