News Release                                                               31st August 2008

SANDERS AT SEAFORD

In a quiet weekend before racing really gets going again with the Garden City Ten next Sunday Fairlands Valley Spartans, MARK SANDERS completed the hilly Seaford Off Road Marathon in 5 hours 15 minutes.

Serpentine

And on JIM BROWN was once again at one of his favourite events – the last Friday in the month 5K race round the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London.  His 20 minutes 38 seconds was a small improvement on last month.  He was 89th out of the 211 finishers in warm, very humid, but still and overcast conditions.

New Start for Starters

Many of those running with the flag were from the Spartan Starter group.  The group had enormous success preparing people for the Stevenage “Race for Life.”  Now it’s been relaunched.  You can join in by meeting at the Marriotts School Gymnastics Centre at 7.30p.m. on Mondays and/or 7p.m. on Thursdays.  Just go along or get more information from www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the: 

•      Garden City Ten on Sunday 7th September.
•      Starter Group from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. on Monday 1st September
•      Grunty Fen Half Marathon on Sunday 14th September.
•      Spartans Track and Field Day on Saturday 20th September.
•      Biggleswade Open Graded events on Saturday 27th September.
•      Standalone 10K on Sunday 5th October.
•      Great Eastern Half Marathon on Sunday 12th October.
•      Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November.

Entries have already opened for the Stevenage Half Marathon and for the late Autumn series of evening 5K races in Stevenage.  See www.fvspartans.org.uk for details.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage?  Like running?  Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up!  The club has well over 100 members and encourages participation by all.  The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons. 

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  The club have moved to better, more modern facilities at the gymnastics centre Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN).  Meet them there at 7p.m.

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday and 7p.m. on Thursdays.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp.  Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m.  There are events to enter every Sunday.  Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session. 

Try a few sessions before joining.  Membership is only £20 per year.  Subscriptions should be sent to Fairlands Valley Spartans c/o Chris King 16 Redwing Close, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 9FE,  (07779 880 522).

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Chris King (07779 880 522) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509, Chris King (Secretary) 07779 880 522 (christine-king@orange-ftgroup.com)

www.fvspartans.org.uk