NOTICES A message/plug from Irish Running Tours: My name is Paul Fallon and I am the managing director of Irish Running Tours, Ltd. We specialize in bringing people to Ireland to run, either casually or to participate in races. Our motto is 'Live it, Run it, Love it!' and to that end, we want our visitors to enjoy the famous social aspect of Ireland. Let's face it, there's no point in the run if you can't have the fun! Some of our tours are geared towards the Dublin Marathon. Please take a moment to check out our website and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. If you email us your address we will forward a brochure. Your chance to help in running research Matthew Cole and Richard Miller are a pair of MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition students at Loughborough University conducting a study into the influence of carbohydrate supplementation on 1 hour running performance. They seek experienced, high-level, male, running participants to visit the University laboratory on 4 occasions during the study. In exchange for your time the study can provide all participants with accurate fitness parameters such as: running economy, aerobic fitness (VO2 max), stride length, body composition, maximum heart rate, oxygen uptake at submaximal speeds and a full nutritional analysis. Please see the attached participant information sheet for more details. Matthew Cole and Richard Miller. MSc. Sport and Exercise Nutrition School of Sport and Exercise Sciences Loughborough University Annual Club Awards 2005 John Baldwin writes: This is the time of year when we ask you to vote for three members of the club that you think have deserved some special recognition during the last twelve months. The categories are Clubman and Club Woman of the year and also the Marathon runner of the year. But how do you choose? In the case of the Clubman and Club Woman awards you might take into consideration their running ability - races won or finishes in high positions. It might be someone who has made great progress in their running - from jogger to club standard or made a comeback after a long lay-off because of illness or injury for instance. (The lists of Beaumont finishers on Results page might help your decision). Then again you might want to vote for someone who has really encouraged you in your running or helped to make club life more enjoyable for you - always beaten you to the bar for a round of drinks perhaps! You may like to consider someone who works for the club behind the scene in administration or team management for example. In the Marathon Award we ask you to make a choice between those who have completed marathons in the last year. Their finishing times may not necessarily be the deciding factor. It could be the number of times they have run marathons - their debut or their hundredth - perhaps a personal best or the amount of money raised for charity etc. Members that I know of who have run marathons and beyond this year are: Steve Ellis, Noel Fowler, Debbie Marsden, Ian Murdey, Lorraine Sperry and Natalie Sperry. I have sent a voting slip to every member. If you haven't received one please speak to me (on a club evening) , email the club or contact a committee member so that you can register your vote before Thursday 8th December Awards will be presented at the Club Nibbles Evening (New Parks Leisure Centre) on Monday 19th December. Plastic Bottle Hazard Many people may be unaware of poisoning by re-using plastic bottles Some of you may be in the habit of re-using your disposable mineral water bottles, keeping them in your car or at work. Not a good idea. In a nutshell the plastic (called polyethylene terephthalate or PET) used in these bottles contains a potentially carcinogenic element (something called diethylhydroxylamine or DEHA). The bottles are safe for one-time use only; if you must keep them longer, it should be no more than a few days, a week maximum. Keep them away from heat as well. Repeated washing and rinsing can cause the plastic to break down and the carcinogens (cancer-causing chemical agents) can leach into the water that you are drinking. Better to invest in water bottles that are really meant for multiple use. This is not something that we should be scrimping on. Those of you with family - please advise them too, especially children. (From a Health and Safety notice received by a club member at his workplace)