Back to Witham

14 September 2025 - By Karen Flowers

Hi All,

This week we return to Witham to start our Autumn/ Winter training season.

We have had a lot of runners join WRC during our pub season and as such I thought I should take the opportunity to remind our long standing members and let our new members know how our autumn/ winter season works and about our running etiquette as the night draws in.

Our Tuesday runs are still at 7pm and we meet at either Maltings Academy or Rickstones Academy – alternating each month. We start this week in Rickstones and will remain here until the end of September, our first run in October will start from Maltings Academy and so on.

On the last Tuesday of each month (starting from October) we run from a Witham based pub – normally either Rivenhall Oaks Golf Club or The Saxon Arms, to try and change things up a bit as well as a chance to stay for a drink and/ or something to eat afterwards.

We have 10 risk assessed routes around Witham – which, like our pub runs, will be available for download or print prior to Tuesday.

Running Etiquette

My aim is always that every runner that runs with us, runs safely.

Last year we had several minor accidents, which is never great! Thankfully none of them were too serious, but this year I would be very relieved to see us all come back from our runs safely and in one piece.

So how do we make this happen?

  1. Hi-Viz is now compulsory – all runners need to wear either a head torch or chest torch. No Hi-Viz will mean that you cant run.
  2. All pace groups have a pace leader.
  3. Each group should have at least one runner with a mobile.
  4. Pace leader must know the route.
  5. Pace leaders need to ensure that the correct pace is kept at all times.
  6. Pace leaders need to ensure turn backs are done so that there are never runners left behind.
  7. If runners feel they need to slow down and join a group behind them – the pace leader needs to manage that process.
  8. Runners wanting to take a shorter route to go back to the venue, cannot run on their own and must have another runner from their group run with them.
  9. Runners should not run in the road unless deemed safe by the pace leader, pavements should always be the first choice.
  10. Runners should always yield to pedestrians and communicate that with the pace group.
  11. Runners should not cross roads unless deemed safe by the pace leader and the group should cross together.
  12. Any accident that occurs needs to be reported to one of our Welfare Officers on your return. A form will be sent to you to complete so that we can report it to EA.
  13. All Coaches have first aid bags in their cars so any minor cuts/ abrasions can be dealt with back at the venue.

All routes have been risk assessed, but as I am sure you are all aware, the state of the roads and pavements need a lot to be desired. As such, great care should be taken whilst running at night. If however, whilst running a route, you think a part of the route needs assessing, please let either a member of the committee or coaching team know.

Traffic!!! In the last year the traffic around Witham has increased substantially and as such we really need to be careful whilst running around town at night. We cant always assume a car will stop at a zebra crossing, or stop, if you cross the road, so we need to be careful. Stop and assess the situation before crossing.

Thanks and lets have fun and BE SAFE!!!

Karen

 

 

 

 

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