The Ulladulla RATS welcome guests, visitors and potential new members to join them for any of their runs. All standards are catered for. There is no initial fee, just go along and join in. You are not obliged to run the full distance and can turn back at any stage.  For further information: ring or text Lauri on 0438 44 55 73.

Last Sunday, May 21, Lake Conjola:

Numbers were down last Sunday, as several lady RATS runners headed to Sydney and Bob travelled to Victoria, all to complete in Half Marathons.

The remaining RATS met at the Lake Conjola Tennis Courts and did various versions of the loop through Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve. 

They ran through the bush and along the beach, on a lovely, cool and still, autumn morning.  Distances varied from 8km to 13km, depending on the specific route.

RATS in the Field, Sunday, May 21:

SMH Half Marathon (21.1km) - Sydney: Six female RATS made the trip to Sydney to compete in the SMH Half. 

This is run through the streets of Sydney, Darling Harbour and Pyrmont - and is quite a challenging hit-out, with a soul destroying hill, up from Lady Macquarie's Chair, past the Art Gallery, in the final 2 kilometres of the race.   It seems the course was also long, with most GPS watches recording around 22km. 

Great running by all the ladies - well done: Gay Shearman - 1.46.17 - 9th out of 306, in her age group (F50-59); Kim Waters - 1.54.41; Nicola Rabbett - 1.55.12; Aimee Randall 2.00.00; Jodie Toghill - 2.04.38; Maree Randall - 2.05.09.

Run the Gap (21.1km) - Hall's Gap, Grampians National Park:

The Sydney Half just didn't do it for Bob White.  He headed south and ran in one of the toughest trail runs he could find.  Despite that, he finished with the very creditable time of 2.48.52.

Local Running - Next Sunday - May 28:

Please meet at Narrawallee Inlet at 6.30am for the RATS annual club relays.  This is a 3.1km course, taking in some flat running, but with a couple of pinchy hills, just to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Teams will be sorted to try and make the event as even as possible.  Please arrive at 6.30am to have yourself entered into a team and to warm up.  

Regular Running Training:

Tuesday: 6am, meet at Narrawallee Inlet, for flat interval training, hill or stair work.  Suitable for beginners and serious athletes, distances from 1.7km.

Wednesday: 6am, meet at Macca’s car park, up to 10km.

Thursday: 5.30pm, meet at Mollymook Surf Club car park, about 7km.

Friday: 6am, meet at Mollymook Surf Club car park, up to 10km.

Saturday: 8am, Batemans Bay parkrun, 5km, is always on option.

Sunday: runs will generally start at 6.30am - Handicaps start at 7am.

For more information, see Ulladulla RATS on Facebook.