Autumn training in Newcastle began with a time trial over 5km starting just past the Harbour Inn and finishing at Burren Meadow. Rather than a handicap start, everyone set off together and there were some fast times with the first 9 all breaking 20 minutes and 20 running sub-22. The Prophet, who has declared himself 100% fit again, has described the times as a ‘quare good start’ and says he will be using the quantitative performance data gathered to design bespoke training plans for each individual, tailored to maximise their potential in the weeks ahead. When Jinksy asked him what that meant, he said he didn’t know!!!

Thanks to Danny O’Boyle for volunteering to manage the start and finish and to his able assistant Aidan Brown who recorded the finishers – a job well done lads as the results made sense and were easily understood. These times will be revisited and the challenge is to make improvements over the next few weeks before our next run over the same course.

Joe McCann from Newcastle AC and Nora Walsh from Murlough AC presented a cheque for £400 to Damien Russell from MYMY. The money was raised by donations from club members at their annual Christmas charity run in Castlewellan.