HPH Chair’s Update & Harrier of the Month for January 2021

In a bit of a dull start to the year, Hyde Park Harriers across the world have been running on our own, but together virtually, in a number of challenges set by our members. It’s great to have a group of virtual friends in a time like this – so thanks, to all of you, for keeping us all together, looked after, motivated, entertained… and, often, laughing/smiling.

As something to look forward to as the days get longer and the snow might eventually stop, we invite you to please save the date for the annual HPH Awards Do, the second ever held virtually. This will be held on the 10th April via zoom and will include a number of our regular awards such as the Rolf Neugebauer Photography Award, the Sue Smith Silly story award. You can still get your votes in for winners of the Chair’s, Presidents and Ain’t No Barriers awards in at this link – votes for Sue and Rolf’s awards can be submitted to the committee.

Without further ado, here are your winners of HOTM for January: Grace Roberts and Matt Armstrong! Well done to you both.

Matt Armstrong was nominated for a number of reasons: primarily for the motivation he has for running, and for the way he has helped our very own committee member Phil with his own motivation this month. Phil and Matt have been seen out (via Strava!) running regularly together at 6am on long runs, covering great distances and with some fabulous views. Matt has covered quite the distance in January, and we all think he’s a fantastic inspiration. Well done Matt.

January’s female winner is the lady herself: Grace Roberts! Despite living in Belfast away from family and friends over the past year, Grace has kept herself a firm member of Hyde Park Harriers, helping us keep active in our brains and bodies. This month, however, Grace has received her nomination for her fantastic running progress! Following a bit of an injury, Grace has come back to running with a renewed gusto and, this month, as part of her 21 minute run has earned herself a very shiny new 5km PB. Well done Grace, all that hard work and fantastic attitude to your training has paid off.

We’d love to give a special mention to all of this month’s nominations as below:
• Graeme Miles – He’s not been doing a lot of running but still his efforts in the HPH Tri ZRS have been improving week on week for the last few months. Plus he’s never missed a race. Ever!

• Amy Young, Paul Sawyer, Debbie Brown and Paul Ramsden for being motivational and fantastic 21 minute race captains and keeping us all accountable for getting out there and running and building such a good team spirit.

• Anne Akers for her amazing weekly arty challenges, brightening up our dark January with some fantastic creative ideas to really show off the talents of our group!

• Cat McGuire for her commitment and consistency in the 21 minute challenge so far. Cat has not only motivated herself, but also her ‘bump’ to get out every week and get ever so slightly further almost every week. Well done Cat – good job.

Finally, as always, keep an eye out on the weekly bulletin emails and in the Facebook group for more information about virtual races, competitions and quizzes to keep us all busy until we can see one another for a run again. If you have any ideas for a quiz or challenge, please get in touch with the committee by emailing hello@hydeparkharriers.co.uk or messaging one of us directly on facebook. You know who we are. But if you don’t, you can find out here. Our next meeting is on the 7th March – make sure you get in touch with any agenda points.

Don’t forget you can submit any future HPH of the Month nominations at this link.