Coach Greta 4th Ultra Trail Australia & team Rejoov

By Greta Truscott

"Finish line I’m coming for ya! Picking up the “pace" with a few km to go in the Pace UTA22 @ultratrailaustralia recently. Hammies, quads & butt are twice the size - pumping hard (& hurting) to cope with the demand of this relentless Blue Mts course. Trying to balance on the mud and rocks, concentrating on every step & happy to be out there. I’ve had some peeps ask me for a re-cap of the race so here’s a little report, but I’ll add to a blog soon.. I was happy with my race & 4th place female (1st in age group) as I paced pretty well. It was HARD the whole way and everything hurt from my feet to my face - #painface. I had been hydrating on tailwind in the 3 days pre-race, eating plenty of carbs in all my meals & getting to bed earlier. The race was delayed to about 10.30am but I had fuelled well across the morning with a bowl of porridge, banana, honey sandwich, tailwind & coffee. I had 3 endura raspberry gels during the race - 1 every 30mins and sipped on tailwind from my camelbak the whole way. I hadn't been able to do as much mileage as I’d have liked since 6 Foot Track in 2016 with the ankle - about 50-60k a week, but I had still been doing quality runs and on the tail end of a great Swim Run season. So my fitness & strength got me through. I had lost my voice with tonsillitis just days before the race so couldn’t ask questions, but it was brilliant to listen to the @paceathletic UTA Panel at the Nomad Brewary just 5 days earlier & was thrilled to be able to take part in the race. We encourage everyone to join in the lead up activities/panels & event next year. Thanks @aurora_images for the pic. #bluemountains#ultratrailaustralia #trailrunning #runners#community #runhappy #sharethetrails #tailwindnutrition  "

Pace UTA22 Coach Greta gunning it home for 4th place

It has been yet another huge weekend for Rejoovers across the Ultra Trail Australia events, SMH half marathon, Great ocean road events and the Big Swim from Bondi to Watsons Bay! But let's start with the UTA in the beautiful Blue Mountains.. Tracey Hind, Natalie Ward, Dave Stewart, Chris and Greta all loved the Pace 22k in its 2nd year with double the runners - approx 1200. Although grimacing at the time with the intense down hills and uphills & stairs it was a brilliant event. Congrats Juny Xi Yang on her debut 50k after overcoming sore knees, sickness, family health scare the spirit came out on top. And the same can be said for our Lisa Mintz who also battled her demons and finished the 100k and is now responding to her 100s of Facebook messages. We really hope Lisa & Juny feel lots of love and recover well and soak up all their tenacious achievements. 

Juny at the start of her 50k debut ultra - congrats Juny

well done natalie ward - online runner - on your uta 22k pb - great finish!!

Awesome effort tracey hind - online runner - love your work - uta 22k finish yay

sensational 100k under wraps lisa mintz you are one tough & determined lady!! 

UTA 22k before the race start - go Dave Stewart!! 

Coaches Chris & Greta Truscott at the start of the UTA Pace 22k event

Happy running everyone! 

Sydney 10k - Rejoov new club on the block

By Greta Truscott

Being a relatively newly affiliated club with Athletics NSW (since December 2016) we didn't envisage the unbelievable turn out at the Greater Bank RUN NSW Sydney 10k on Saturday 6th May a few months later! To see it all come into fruition on the day with a sensational, high spirited bunch, we were blown away.  The fiery orange men's and guava (pink) women's singlets (and still a few hot black singlets) all really stood out!  

Sensational, BRIGHT pic, WE NEED OUR sunglasses! Sorry for a few who missed the pic. Way to go team! Rejoov Runners TEAM results: 1st and 2nd in the men's 35-44 teams and 1st and 3rd in the women's 35-44 teams.

Athletics NSW - Simon Wolnizer, James Matthews, the Rejoovers, all the other fabulous clubs & runners all really lifted each other before, during and after the 10k and 5k races. Special thank you to coach Chris Truscott for bringing everyone together on the day for warm ups, giving out bibs and gear before the race, cheering everyone into the finish, interviewing runners and sharing videos and pics. 

Thanks coach CT!! 

We loved seeing everyone having a good time together and running their hardest. Many were ringing the PB bell! Great to see the jumping castle and other games like the big balls! The fun, festival atmosphere and the inspiration for all levels really is the way forward. Congratulations to everyone who got in and had a go and also to the admirable race winners and podium getters. 

Well done everyone on your pbs (about half the squad) and even if you didn't pb - we can see your huge efforts and guts and that's what matters!! PBs are a bonus but are bloody hard to come by! 

Congratulations Bruce Lambert on his 10k pb 34.09 which was so extra sweet after a very crampy Canberra marathon just 4 weeks before. 

Thanks Athletics NSW - David Tarbotton, Amelia Hansen, Jessica Drake, Brent Hayward & James Matthews for all your support and Simon Wolnizer for your fabulous emceeing and call outs to Rejoov. Everyone said how this was such a buzz. Simon awesomely ran the 10k in 35min before the race proceedings, paced by Sydney Strider Dave Criniti who then went on to race himself in 31mins!! 

Husband & wife Pete & Melanie Truscott - what a great pair! 

Thank you to our incredibly supportive and amazing sponsor Himanshu Dua, ICG, Internal Consulting Group www.internalconsulting.com - everyone were wearing the New Balance singlets with pride. 

Himanshu (Munch) Dua our amazing ICG Internal Consulting Group sponsor! 

Fiona McDonald and her daughter Grace having a fun family morning out. 

Long time rejoover Matt Wacher's (42yrs old) shares his account on his way to a 37.21 (1min25sec pb) in the Sydney 10k: "The warm up and the vibe with so many Rejoovers was awesome, everyone excited! At the start I just took ten deep breaths with my eyes closed, I had been training really strong so was confident I could meet my target time. I went out steady keeping people I knew in my sights, for a moment I was stuck behind the group surrounding the 40 min pacer but a gap opened and I was through. Straight into a rhythm. I don't wear a watch when I race so really just run by how I'm feeling. I was feeling pretty good so just tried to push it a little at the 2k making sure I stuck myself behind runners going forward. Formed a bit of a pack with some guys from there and hung in there. Kept trying to focus and push if concentration was lost. I was hurting at 8km, my head was telling me my knee was sore and I knew I had to hold on to the group of guys I was with or I wouldn't push out the final couple of KMs so I really dug in. The support amongst the rejoovers during the race was fantastic, at 8.5k I got a call out "go rejoov" from the crowd, which was a big lift. At 9k I could hear the times of the people finishing in the stadium and knew I'd smash my PB. I pushed on and whilst on the track the speaker was giving rejoov a big wrap so that gave me a lift. I thought of Greta pushing me along at those Tuesday track sessions and held it together for a strong 300m finish on the track, 37.21, 1 minute 25 second PB. Smashed it and was stoked".

High fives Matt Wacher, Maya Borthwick & Adam Ballesty on your pbs. Fantastic to see Anne Cumming there too one of our longest Rejoovers. Congrats Maya for individual bronze in the 35-44 age group.

Here's our Rejoov - Athletics NSW runner & sister club HURT squad runner - Jeet Aich's uplifting race report after coming back from a badly rolled ankle in the 5000m Champs back in Feb and to finish back on that same track today in the Sydney 10k!:  
"It was enjoyable to make my comeback in the Rejoov colours.  Had no expectations going into the race, just wanted to see where I am at and finish unscathed at the same venue where I injured myself in February.  Ended up running the whole race with fellow Rejoov runner Chris Strom (also a Hurts runner & Zoolander) and was delighted to see him PB.  As for me, I managed to run a controlled race and was really encouraged with my 35:50.  Hopefully I can use this as a launch pad for the rest of the season".

The lads warming up. Great to have you back post-injury Jeet. 

The OFFICIAL results: http://nswathletics.org.au/Results/2017-greater-bank-sydney10

Rejoov Runners team results: 1st and 2nd in the men's 35-44 teams and 1st and 3rd in the women's 35-44. Congrats to Maya for individual bronze in the 35-44 age group.

Athletics NSW members who attended the Sydney 10 in alphabetical order of surname:

Kate Agnew 43.53

Jeet Aich 35.50 see race report 

Adam Ballesty pb 40.55 

John Bartlett 32.05 fastest rejoover 

Maya Borthwick pb 38.34 & bronze in the 40-44 age group 

Angus Boyd 34.55

Olivia Burton close to pb 51.33

Grace Cannavo 49.29

Kelly Coulston pb 46.38

Anne Cumming 57.33 

Jenny Doak 43.27

Jerome Dupuy 35.26

Malcolm Eadie pb 36.43 (trouble chip - result yet to be added officially so can affect the teams)

Monika Graham 51.30 & 5k too

Jesse Hanna pb 5k 18.52

Toby Hedgeland 33.17 dead heat with CT what a finish!! 

Andrew Heyden 33.38

Hayley Kain pb 41.57 & bronze in the 35-39 age group 

Bruce Lambert pb 34.09 a 10k & 5k pb!! 

Susan MacCallum 3min pb 52.26

Lesley Mason fell in the 10k shoulder had to be patched up and then did the 5k event! 28.03 pb!!  

Fiona McDonald 1.03.06

Scott O'Connor 32.29 3rd fastest rejoover & awesome result first race back post injury 

Anne-maree O'Mara 53.33

Adam Page pb 40.51

Ainslie Page 58.14

Eoin Reville 35.44 happy to run with Strommie & see him pb

Nick Roberts 32.27 (2nd fastest rejoover)

Aisling Ruane 43.07

Chris Strom pb 35.42

Emma Trehy 2nd fastest ever time 55.17

Chris Truscott 33.17 battling a groin injury 

Pete Truscott 38.50

Matt Wacher 1.25sec pb 37.21 & see race report below 

Rob Wilson 90sec pb 36.16 after a solid training stint with Strommie 

Plus non-members of Aths NSW - in alphabetical order: 

Himanshu Dua ICG sponsor 37.53

Floriana Dua 45.22

Samantha Feeley 49.34 huge 9min pb

Desie Joanides (member of Bankstown) 56.04

Rachel Kay pb 41.53

Claire Marston 46.10

Lucy Stranger pb 41.46

Larissa Williams pb 51.05

Tracy Williams 58.17

Kate Agnew, Hayley Kain & Lucy Stranger - awesome runs girls! 

John Bartlett 32.05, Scott O'Connor 32.29, Nick Roberts 32.27 - Hurt squad and Rejoov is very proud to have them run for Rejoov Runners  

Our fastest rejoover of the day John Bartlett 32.05 (far left) & CT 33.17  

Andy Heyden covers all distances from 5k to 100k - what a legend and superb running today! 

Rejoov has 50 Athletics NSW members including 1 junior member, the gorgeous 9 year old Maggie Highnam. We would love to have a few more juniors as well as more adults to continue the buzz through the Winter and into the Summer. We are working with Athletics NSW to make cross country and track events more fun and enticing for everyone. So please everyone, feel most welcome to come on board and we welcome all feedback. We want the track to be filled with runners and for our running buddies to be trackside cheering us on. That really helped me back in February doing the 5000m track when I was hurting and striving to do my best. You can register via this link for $80 for the Winter and if you ran the Sydney 10k as a non-member you can email Athletics NSW to take $40 off your registration: https://memberdesq.onesporttechnology.com/3159

Scott O'Connor super swift come back to racing

Lesley did the 5k and Monika did the 10k and the 5k - great runs ladies!! Love your fighting spirit! 

Hayley Kain pb and bronze medal for 35-39 age group onya HK!! 

Adam Ballesty PB 40.48 go AB!! 

'Marathon Monday' Boston by Rachael Honeywood 2017

'Marathon Monday' Boston Marathon 17th April 2017

By Rachael Honeywood - Rejoover, Mother and fundraiser for "Running for Premature Babies".

"I had a bad nights sleep, I blamed the fancy Italian I ate the night before but more likely the pre-race nerves. As the race didn't start until late morning, my wave was off at 10.50am, I ate a porridge breakie said good bye to Tom and headed down to Boston common at 8am to catch an American school bus which drove us out 42km west to the athletics village and start. 

I sat next to a girl who was running for a charity and with both of us having verbal diarrhea the 50 min bus ride whizzed by. We eventually drove until Hopkinton where the nerves kicked in. 

Leaving the bus and walking into the athletics village was weird with lots of people lying down inside a huge white tent trying to keep out if the sun, waiting for their wave to be called and no one was chatting. I sat down inside, did some stretching and tried to stay calm. 

A 20min wait for the loo, chatting to Americans in the queue about race tips and tactics to bear in mind when running the hills. Finally my wave was called and I made my way to the start line, 1/2km down the road. 

The organisation was amazing. I was in corral one of the third wave which was great as it meant I was about 10 people from the front. 

The 10 mins it took for the gun to go took ages... I made small talk to a couple of people around me including a woman who last year won the 65 age group! Then finally the gun was off. 

Rachael running with all her heart for Running for Premmie Babies and a 5min PB in 3.24.40

I followed the advice I was given by plenty of past runners to take the downhill easy and got comfortably into my pace by 2km. I hoped to sit on 4.45-50 for the race and the first 10km was easy to do so. There were a few other women around me who were also running about the same pace which was good to see, as the Boston Marathon doesn't have pacers so it was down to my watch for how I was going. 

The crowds were out from the start handing out cups of water, icy poles and oranges. I spent the first few Kms giving high fives to the kids on the route and thinking about my two who were in LA with my parents. However I knew I couldn't sustain that for 42kms so soon took to a thumbs up or wave. 

My 5 and 10km times were good and I was happy with my average pace. 

The first time I really started to feel the heat was around the 10km marker at Farmington however the crowds there were amazing and having my name on my shirt made such a difference as people were calling it out. I took a few bottles of water being handed out by the public and began to cool myself down pouring the water straight down my back and front. This made a world of difference! 

All those early morning sessions with the rejoov buddies and training all Summer in the heat

I decided that I would take on water at each mile as the sun was directly above and no shade could be found. A girl beside me made comment on the heat and how she had planned on doing a 3.20 but 3.25 was more likely so I knew it was tough going for many. However the tailwind at times was strong enough to feel and when the gust got behind me it was very refreshing. 

I made it to 1/2 and was feeling good. I had gone through in 1.41 and my average pace was what I hoped. I knew the hills were in the second part of the race but as I'd bagged some time I felt a PB was still possible. 

Just after 1/2 point the Wellesley college girls were out screaming and my god they made plenty of noise holding signs asking for kisses! 

The heat was starting to take effect on many runners and by 25km I was starting to pass people on the course from the wave ahead. I was thankful for my summer training and felt good. 

The Newton hill was the start of the hills. My pace dropped but I knew it was ok and would only last for 5 Kms of hills so wasn't too worried. Once again the crowds were what lifted me the number of people out on the streets was incredible and the emotions running through me were at times hard to contain. 

Rejoov Panther coffee catch ups post long runs 

'It's the journey which gets you to the destination' was a quote I heard on the tv the day before. Between 25-35kms I thought of my long runs with the panther pack- JMac pushing me on my last one, Pagey and our chat running down to the opera house and how my excitement about the race was certainly being matched today. DMac for running a whole 32kms with me when he'd only planned to do 20. Hayley who regularly joined me for the 2nd part of those long hot training runs even on a Friday am before school drop off as I was away for the weekend. AB for starting my motivation after my few months off. Maya and Matt who I was always chasing - I'm sure I've missed people but seriously it was these long runs which were more enjoyable than they should with running friends which helped as the going got tough! 

Heartbreak hill is nothing like the city to surf but I was so pleased I had done that run as apart of my training.. it was more like the footie stadium hill which we tend to do weekly so I was comfortable. Plus I was passing more and more people who were walking due to the heat. 

By now at every water station I grabbed multiple cups - two to throw over me and one to drink, a tip Greta had stressed to me during my summer training. My water bottle was just for when I needed a drink for taking on gu. As I honestly couldn't get enough water into me! 

The event prep - 10k Striders series at North Head early March where Rachael achieved her 10k pb

I had one ear phone in as needed my music to keep me focused and not overwhelmed with emotion and the next 5km were a blur! It was downhill and heading towards the city. I know people continued to yell out my name which made such a difference and as I began passing more and more people I was feeling strong. At this point I thought of Rach Birds and chasing after her on our tempo runs- thanks Rach you really helped me to regain some of my pace. 

As I hit the 40km mark my final burst of adrenaline kicked in. We had been to the red socks game the day before and as I passed over the small bridge beside the stadium I was lifted once again by huge numbers out on the course. I waved as many as I could and as a result my name was yelled out more and more! 

I knew Tom was waiting at the 41.5km point just before I turned down Boylston street and when I spotted him in the crowd it was such a great sight, he has certainly supported me through his journey and I'm so glad he was there cheering me on. 

Then it was head down for the final 800m. The crowd as you turn down Boylston went from 3 to 5 deep and my god I did feel like a super star. The roar was deafening and I tried to savour the moment as I made my way down the road soaking up the atmosphere as well as trying to get under 3.25. which I could see on the big clock. 

Crossing the finishing line I literally couldn't breathe... the emotion and sense of accomplishment was so overwhelming. With the aid of a lady in red I managed to compose myself and make my way to collect my medal. Having the person place it around my neck was everything and tears started to stream down my face. I'd done it! 

The buzz after the race was everywhere. People congratulated me as I passed them on the street, fellow runners smiled and congratulated each other. There were many who ran the race who did not reach the goals they had planned mainly due to the weather however my 3.24.40- a 5 min pb meant I wore my medal to dinner with huge pride. My race had gone to plan and I not only got a PB but also managed to soak up as much of the atmosphere along the course which those memories will stay with me for a very long time! 

Even writing this now as I fly back to LA I'm filled with emotion. 

Thanks so much Greta for being such a super coach- I followed the program pretty much to the tee but your weekly emails and messages of encouragement made it easier to do and having the Rejoov family meant the summer training was almost bearable. 

The buzz I have is amazing and I honestly don't know if I can run a marathon again at home... another major has to be on the cards!"

Rachael ski-ing with her family just days before her marathon!!