Evening, athletes!
Welcome to this weeks update - some great performances to report and exciting events to look forward to including Tom Almond representing GB and NI in the 100Km world champs this coming weekend. .
I've re-included the Brockham Blast report as many of you did not see the report last week (ongoing technical challenges with our communications platform).
Seniors please note that we swich to the Road for Thursday evening's training session so make sure you join the WhatsApp group for start location.
Run Reigate takes place on Sunday, 20 September: If you're not running, it would be fantastic to have your help cheering on the hill (I know baked goods will be on offer). Get in touch with Linda Rodriguez or join the WhatsApp group shared on the Social chat if you're up for it. And not long after that... it's cross country season! We know the opening match is already in your calendars, obviously.
We also urgently need more volunteers for the XC in Priory Park on Saturday 10th October - full details of how to sign up are provided below.
Thanks and happy running,
The Newsletter Team
All Club News
Brockham Blast 5K: A great start for a new event (re-including as many did not see last week)
Friday evening marked the first‑ever Brockham Blast 5K, and it proved to be a really successful debut. The race sold out in advance, showing just how much enthusiasm there is for a new local 5K. Congratulations to our winners, who produced impressively quick times on the fast two‑lap course, and well done to every athlete who took part. Whether chasing a PB, enjoying a sociable run, or trying a 5K for the first time, the effort and positivity from all runners helped make the event feel special. It’s clear the course and format have real potential for future years.A big thank‑you to the volunteers from Reigate Priory AC and Dorking & Mole Valley AC. From marshalling and timekeeping to course set‑up and finish‑line support, your help ensured everything ran smoothly. Launching a new race takes teamwork, and your contribution was essential.
As we look ahead, we’d really value any feedback to help us plan and improve future editions. If you have thoughts or suggestions, please email
Volunteers needed! Saturday, 10 October
We're hosting the Women's Divisions 2 and 3 race, the Men's Div 2 race and Div3&4 races at the first of the Surrey League Cross Country races in Priory Park on Saturday, 10 October - and we need your help!
We’re looking for volunteers to make the event a real success - we'll need folks to collect from and return race equipment to Battlebridge, course set-up and breakdown, and marshal. And with our women's team racing in a different location, we could really use all the help we can get.
If you’re able to help, please fill out the volunteer form here. Your support will be hugely appreciated and will help us give runners a great Surrey XC League experience.
Couch to 5K
Our club Couch to 5K Programme starts on at 10:30am Saturday, 26 September with optional lead-in sessions on the two Saturdays prior. The programme is free for members of the club - perfect if you're just coming back to running - and if you'd be able to help out, please get in touch. Please pass on this message if you know anyone who may wish to join us. You can find full details of the programme on our website, and you can read all about our Saturday morning activities including the walking and running groups here. If you have any queries, email Paul at 
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Loveworks x Run Reigate
Local food security charity Loveworks is a charity partner of Run Reigate this year and they're looking for athletes to join their team. Sign up at Join Team Loveworks at Run Reigate 2026 if you're interested!
Run Reigate for I Choose Freedom!
I Choose Freedom is building a team of local runners to Run Reigate in support of our work with survivors of domestic abuse in Surrey. Every runner will help us continue this vital work across Surrey. If you feel up for the challenge, you can sign-up here. If you would like any further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to
Sarah Healy
It's with great sadness that we pass on the news that Sarah Healy, former club secretary and mother of previous RPAC juniors Lisa and Matthew Ferguson, died recently. Her funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, 22nd September at 10.30 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Redhill, RH1 1LF. Parking is available at the church. This will be followed by a burial at Nutfield Cemetery and Woodland Burial.
All are welcome to attend, but parking is limited at the cemetery and getting to graveside will be difficult for those with limited walking mobility. Refreshments will then be available back at the parish hall at St Joseph’s and all are invited to join. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, a charitable donation could be made in memory of Sarah to St Catherine’s Hospice, Pease Pottage.
Rita Diffley's funeral
Longtime club member Rita Diffley's funeral is to be held on Wednesday, 30 September at 10:30 at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Yorke Road.
Junior News
Parkrun PBs
Only one junior Park Run PB this week but a very good one. Calum Johns took 45 seconds of his previous best with a new PB of 18:41 and finished third overall on Saturday. Many congratulations Calum.
Ebbisham Boys League - Coulsdon - Sunday 13th September
We only had a small team for the last track league match of the season but they managed some great results. Noah Fletcher won his 150m U12 race. Harry de'Ath achieved a new PB and ran the fastest 600m by an U12 RPAC boy this season and Zach Varah was well up the field in his 75m. PBs are normally rare at this end of the season due to an excess of holiday and lower than usual training but George Duncton defied the trend and rounded off a great season by being comfortably the quickest in the U16 boys 800m and achieving a new PB of 2:03.1
Junior Dates for the Diary
Surrey Cross Country Relays - Nonsuch Park - Saturday 19th September
Run Reigate - Sunday 20th September
Southern Road relays - Aldershot - Saturday 26th September
Surrey Cross Country League - Match 1 - Saturday 10th October - Wimbledon Common
Downs League Cross Country Match 1- Sunday 1st November - Epsom Downs
Surrey Cross Country League - Match 2 - Saturday 14th November - Beckenham Place Park
Surrey Junior Cross Country Relays
This annual winter season opener will take place at Nonsuch Park Cheam on Saturday 19th September. There are events for U12s /U14s/U16s and U18s. U12s are new school years 6 and 7. It would be great to have at least one boy and one girls team in each age group. The format is teams of three, with each runner completing a 3km lap. The U18s are first off at 11:15 and the U12s the last to go at 12:45. Please let Mike Gent know if your son/daughter is interested in running
Ebbisham Boys League, Match 4 - Coulsdon
The last match in this year's boys track league will be held at Coulsdon on Sunday, 13 September. There are events for U12s/U14s and U16s, and each athlete can do three individual events plus a relay. Please let Mike Gent know if your son would like to join the team. There is no cost to enter.
Seniors News
Thursday Evening Session - On Road
As the nights draw in the Thursday, sessions will be out on the road starting this week (17th Sept) . The calendar has been updated with the session and meet location. Athletes are reminded that, per our club code of conduct, they need to ensure they wear hi-viz and have a light of some form (usually head torch or body lights) when running club led road sessions at night.
K2 Sessions
There will be a Senior session at K2 this week on Tuesday 15th September.
The session will start at 7pm and last 60 minutes. There will also be a session at Battlebridge at 7pm on for anyone who can't make it to K2.
To stay informed on future K2 sessions and any updates to K2 sessions please join the What’s App group ‘K2 track sessions’ that is in the RPAC What's App community.
The dates for the future K2 sessions are listed below.
13th October
17th November
8th December
19th January 2027
9th February 2027
16th March 2027
Ginevra, Lara and Paul in Battersea for the Vets AC 5k
Ginevra Stoneley, Lara James, and Paul Walters all participated in a Vets AC 5k race in Battersea Park last Tuesday 8th September.
Ginevra paced Paul and Lara around the 5km, with tiredness in her legs from the previous few days including a 20 mile run on the Sunday.
Although it had been raining earlier in the day the conditions for the race were very good.
Ginevra finished in a chip time of 19:50.2, Paul with 19:52.7, and Lara in 20:05.9. The results can be seen here.
Tom Almond running for GB & NI in the 100km World Championships this Sunday 20 September
After coming 2nd in the 100km British Championships in Ireland last March, Tom will be representing GB & NI for the 2026 IAU 100km World Championships in Ames, Spain.
He has been training at altitude in the USA for the last five weeks to prepare for the event.
You can read about the team and more details of the event.
No pressure Tom, but we're looking forward to hearing about how you get on!
MABAC Hogsmill River: Sunday, 20 September
If you are not running or supporting Run Reigate, please turn out for this race if you can. This is a new venue for MABAC so I can't tell you too much about it - except that unlike other MABAC courses, this one will be flat. I believe the course is mostly run in gravel and includes one (or is it two?) laps of the track at the Harrier Centre in Ewell. There are more details on the MABAC website. There's no need to pre-register as we can sort out a race number on the day. If you have any questions please contact 
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Members News
It was a busy week for RPAC'ers racing ..... some notable outings ...
There were a few RPAC'ers at the Great North Run but cannot see all in the results - I do know that Lara James completed it with a super 1.34.27. - Result
Linda Rodriguez did the Richmond Marathon in an impressive 3:42:59 and was third in her age category - she did complain about not taking in Kew Gardens during first 10K but I guess was otherwise pre-occupied -Result.
And Barry Shields competed in the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon securing a 4:52 - great effort - Result
Kate Knight had a busy weekend - Moonlight walk on Friday evening. 10km. 2:19:08, followed by Thames path 50 km, 16:23:40 fantastic company along route. All after welcoming a new grandaughter on Thursday evening, What an exciting few days.
We also had a few runners take on the Big Half on Sunday -- well done to Katie Newton, John Masterson (pictured, thank you, John!), Kelly-Marie Mason, and Michael Smith!
Notes and reminders
Cross Country Dates
These are definitely in your diary by now: 10 October, 14 November, 16 January, and 13 February. The league also holds 6 March as a reserve date in case of bad weather - but this being cross country, the weather would have to be apocalyptically bad to use it!
Get in touch
If you participate in an event, email with your results by Sunday evening at the latest. And if there is anything else you'd like to see in the newsletter, get in touch - our email address is 
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