Weekly Updates Saturday 18th July

Plans For Week Commencing Monday 3rd August For Track Re Opening:

The club has established a covid-19 sub committee that is currently compiling a Swansea Harriers covid-19 return to training document that incorporates policy and procedures, Swansea university guidance and much more ready for Monday 3rd August. This document is changing every couple of days as we try to keep up with regularly changing guidelines. We will publish the final version on the club website for you on Saturday 1st August, in case Welsh Government make any further significant changes in the next two weeks, which would make the document out of date.

Swansea Harriers want to make sure that all our coaches have the opportunity to use the track during August, but note that for the first week as a test run, to support the university track staff team, the coaching ratios are likely be as low as 2:1. The ratio will then increase week by week up to whatever the guidance for maximum track capacity is at that time. We repeat our thanks to the senior endurance group at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays that have agreed to stay off track for the month of August to help enable the rest of the coaches to have more access and we are very grateful for this. For the month of August, athletes that are not part of a coach led group e.g. self coached will be able to pre book track times prior to 5pm Monday to Thursday and Fridays afternoon/evening and day time Saturdays direct with Swansea University, this booking system will be clarified on this website on 1st August too.

There will be a covid-19 officer(s) patrolling the track on club nights to help ensure and support coaches that all covid-19 protocols are being adhered to, ensuring the safety, health and well being of all our members, particularly in case of track and trace. If you would like to assist the club in being one of the compliance team please get in touch.

Athletes must only attend a club session upon direct invitation from their coach and must confirm their attendance not less than 24 hours before the session is due to commence.  This is to ensure that the limited track allocation of users is used to its fullest extent. Unfortunately coaches will have some tough decisions on who to coach, if, and it is likely the coaching ratios are very low initially. Social distancing means The club and university cannot permit just turning up, as we will exceed the maximum track capacity.

It has also been agreed by the club trustees/committee, to help us control university maximum track capacity numbers during August and maybe beyond, that only paid up, and therefore insured members can use the facilities, this will also assist coaches in deciding who is able to be coached. You can print a membership renewal form here 2020-2021 Membership Application for New Members & Renewals.pdf

Virtual 10km Challenge August:

The I Beat Iwan Thomas challenge is a virtual 10K race that will take place over the month of August, Entry costs just £8 and includes a commemorative finishers medal, access to the live results platform and training advice from Run 4 Wales. There’s certainly an incentive to run as fast as you can – as Healthspan will donate £5 to the R4W Charitable Foundation, which supports grassroots sports and community projects such as the Welsh Schools Athletics Association, for every runner who manages to beat Iwan who ran 10K in 48:16 in Barry Island in 2018 and 48:58 in Porthcawl last year. For decades many Swansea Harriers have had the honour of representing Welsh Schools V England V Scotland V Ireland on and off track too, and hundreds each year participate in the schools competition pathway. This is a very worthwhile cause indeed! We have plenty of members who are capable of running sub 48 minutes for 10km that could beat Iwan for a fiver! Please enter online here.

Webinars on this week and a bit:

Welsh Athletics have coaching webinars on this link for; Mountain running, Javelin, Nutrition part 2 and more. Don’t worry if you miss them or any previous webinars, you can watch them all back on the Welsh Athletics You Tube channel.

England Athletics have coaching webinars on this link for endurance, 200m, throws and pole vault. Only licenced coaches can watch these back if you missed these or any previous webinars, by using your URN to login on athletics hub.