If we thought it couldn’t get any hotter last month we were certainly wrong, with extreme weather warnings and advise to stay cool it wasn’t looking good for going running! Although our evening runs were postponed, hopefully to resume in September, members still try to get out and run in the mornings. Several members on Saturday go out early to try to avoid the heat; some have started training for up and coming races in the autumn. They always post any runs on WCR Facebook page. However, there is still a number of West Coast Runners (WCR) who will be doing the schedule run from T42 on Poseidon Avenue currently commencing at 7.30am. We particularly enjoy meeting runners who are holidaying in Cyprus who are always very welcome to run with us while they are here. We tend to run shorter distances during the summer months when the temperatures and humidity are high. Our schedules can be found on our Facebook page or contact Di on 97761015 or Gerry on 99926291 for further information.
17th Annual Kathikas Fun Walk/Run:
We were disappointed to hear that the Kathikas Fun Walk/Run was cancelled, but to our delight the organisers managed to get a last minute sponsor so it went ahead as usual. It was unfortunate that there wasn’t the numbers as in previous years, but WCRs were out in force, even though it is an early start of 6am. The race took place on Sunday 2 August from Kathikas village and finishes at Agios Georgios. The following members took part in the event, Karen Bedford, Christine Bell, Neil Bithell, Karen Brand, Suzie Burke, Viv Couldrey, Sarah Holden, Rita Leyland, Jo Parry, Ruth Poole, Claire Rinkes, Louise Robinson-Georgiou and Gerry Rock.
Suzie loves this run and she has written a personal account, Suzie states, “I think this is my 4th year and there is something about the Kathikas fun run/walk that calls me, it might hark back to my youth when I used to love to run the Pennines. May be as its downhill most of the way until you get to the Goat Farm and the dreaded hill, you think you have got to the top and it gets even steeper! Once over that obstacle it’s downhill to white river beach through some stunning scenery, passing a pretty white church. Unfortunately, I only managed to get to white river beach before my ankle decided to take a holiday. So I ended being driven back to the finish point at the coffee shop at Agios Georgios Harbour. Why I enjoy it so much I’m not really sure, it cannot be the early start I hate those! The distance is hard for me as well it’s my ever longest run/walk, 14.5km. I think it’s the fresh air, the views and the greenery, as well as the company. Good for the soul. Roll on next year.”
Although, it was hard going in the heat and humidity everyone enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to doing it all again in 2027. Well done Suzie, your efforts enabled you to complete 12Km.
Member Profile:
I am pleased to include a profile on Jean who has enjoyed many years of running; this is a brief account of her remarkable achievements over the years. Jean is a relative new comer to WCR club.
Jean states, “Having been brought up in Zimbabwe, sport was an integral part of schooling where I discovered a love for all sports especially athletics, hockey and tennis and continued to play hockey for many years after leaving school. I married in 1978 and soon after my husband and I moved to Durban South Africa. So why did I start running. It was 1980 and my husband, Bob was watching The Comrades Marathon, an Ultra-Marathon of between 88kms and 90kms between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, when his friend bet him R100 that he would never complete it. Bearing in mind this amount equated to nearly half my salary in 1980 and there was no way he could lose, so I started training with him. We had 9 months to get ready, but first had to run a qualifying standard marathon in 4:30 hours as the cut off time for Comrades was 11 hours (the finishing time has since been extended). With our qualifying marathons achieved we were ready to tackle the “UP” run 9 months later after our very first ever very short run! The elevation from Durban to the end is 1700m with many mean hills. I ran in 10:01 and Bob ran in 10:31 and his mate was at the end with a Get Well card and the R100!! By now I was hooked on running and I subsequently got my time down to 8:14 hours and completed 5 Comrades and many Marathons. My best marathon time was 3:04 which I achieved at the South African Inter Provincial Marathon Championships. I also ran several other Ultra Marathons, two Oceans in Cape Town a distance of 56kms, the Chatsworth Ultra Marathon 52kms and also a race of 53kms from Bergville to Ladysmith in 4:09 in which I was first lady. In between these races I also completed many Half Marathons, but I did prefer the longer distances.
After coming to Cyprus nearly 2 years ago I was running along the promenade when one of the ladies, “in red” asked me if I wanted to join their club (WCR) – as they say, “the rest is history” running with a great bunch of friendly people always makes the “miles shorter”! And so for the last 46 years running has been part of my life and having been fortunate to run almost all over the world, I feel lucky. All you need is a pair of shoes and the outdoors and you’ll be amazed at all the wonderful people you meet while “treading tar”.
West Coast Walkers
Don’t forget we also have our walking group that meets every Monday morning. West Coast Walkers are looking forward to going on tour to Protaras for a weekend in October. They intend to walk along the board walk in different directions over the 2 days. They are already thinking ahead to 2027 where they are considering going to Europe for a short walking break. There will be plenty of photographs of the Protaras weekend and others to see on the Facebook page. You are more than welcome to come along to the walks whatever your ability, young and the not so young! There is something for everyone to enjoy. Please see the West Coast Walkers Facebook page for meeting points and start time.
