Date	Event
Sun 19^th Sept 04	North of England AA 10k Road Race Champs, Easingwold, CANCELLED.
Sun 19^th Sept 04	Mileta 10, 11am. A one lap course from Spenborough Track, Cleckheaton. Sports bag to first 250 finishers.
Sun 19^th Sept 04	Harrogate Theatre 10k, 10.30am.
Sun 26^th Sept 04	Kirkstall Abbey 10k, 10am. T –shirt, hilly course. Points race.
Sun 3^rd Oct 04	Horsforth 10k, 10am. Attendance Points race. Last year Idle AC were the biggest club. Can we be the biggest club in 2004??
Sun 10^th Oct 04	Harewood 10 mile trail race, 10.30am. A great event
Sun 10^th Oct 04	Scarborough 10 mile.
Sat 16^th Oct 04	Complete Runner cross country: - Bradford Grammar School. Details below. See Chris if you want to run.
Sun 17^th Oct 04	Bridlington Half marathon, 12 Noon. Points race.
Sun 17^th Oct 04	Bramham 5km and 10k, 10.30am. Braham Park (Nr Boston Spa). Roads, paths and farm tracks through the park All proceeds to breast cancer awareness month.
Sat 30^th Oct 04	Complete Runner cross country: - Hosted by Pudsey & Bramley. Details below. See Chris if you want to run.
Sun 31^st Oct 04	Holmfirth 15mile. 10.30am. Points race.
Sun 31^st Oct 04	Roundhay Romp 10k. Points race.
Sun 7^th Nov 04	Guy Fawkes10mile10.30am. See below.
Sun 14 Nov 04	1^st West Yorks Winter League cross country, 11am, Dewsbury. See below. All club required. Can you marshal?
Sat 20^th Nov 04	Complete Runner cross country: - Hosted by Ilkley Harriers. Details below. See Chris if you want to run.
Sun 28^th Nov 04	Leeds Abbey Dash. 9.30am. See below.

Attendance Scheme/ Club races – 2004 details:

Top twenty Club Races for 2004: Handicap/ Attendance Scheme - 8 out of 20 possible races to count. Please don’t forget to sign in the book each time you attend a club session (but only pay once per week) as each attendance at a club training session is worth 1 point and to be eligible for a trophy members must accumulate at least 30 attendance points during the year. Each attendance at a “Club” designated race earns you 5 points (see below). 50% of the required points must be achieved by attendance at training sessions.

Details of the Attendance Scheme up to the end of August are below.

Name	August									Aug	Aug
	3	5	10	12	17	19	24	26	31	Races	Totals
Adrian Trevelyan	1		1		1				1		4
Chris Booker							1		1		2
Chris Smith	1	1			1		1	1	1		6
Chris Stubbs	1			1	1	1			1		5
Dave Currie	1		1				1	1	1		5
David Dewhirst	1										1
David Lewis					1				1	1	3
David Reddish										1	1
Davina Smith						1				1	2
Dominic Hopson		1	1	1	1	1	1	1			7
Donna Edmonson							1		1		2
Douglas Briggs					1						1
Edward East			1					1			2
Elaine Trevelyan	1		1		1						3
Gary Naylor		1					1	1			3
Ian Fisher	1		1		1		1				4
Joanne Belcher	1	1	1					1	1		5
Joseph Marjoram					1						1
Kay Gambles			1	1	1	1	1			1	6
Lisa Flesher					1	1		1		1	4
Lisa Hall	1	1									2
Martin Burnside						1	1				2
Matthew Coles	1										1
Michael Masleczko	1				1	1	1			1	5
Peter Helliwell					1						1
Peter Vickers	1	1	1		1						4
Phil Routh	1			1	1						3
Richard Lyons				1	1	1	1	1			5
Simon Bellwood	1			1	1	1					4
Stephen Edwards	1		1			1		1			4
Steve Little										1	1
Suzanne Bairstow							1				1
Tony Blythe			1	1	1	1	1	1	1		7
Trevor Hooley	1										1
Vicki Hawker		1					1				2
Wilma Saville			1		1		1				3
	16	7	12	7	19	11	15	10	9	7	113

Well done to Tony and Dominic who are August’s Joint attendance winners. The Club races for 2004, where points can be earned, are as follows:

Date	Race Details	Comments.
January- Sun 25^th	Brass Monkey Half marathon, 10am.	18 Idle AC runners, many PB’s. Donna set a new Female club record with 1.35.14.
February - Sun 16^th	Liversedge Half Marathon, 12.00 noon.	10 Idle AC runners including 2 pbs.
March- Sun 7^th	Baildon Boundary Way Half, 10.30am.	15 Idle AC members for this tough off road half marathon.
March – Sun 14^th	Spen 20mile, 10am.	We had 8 members for this tough 20 mile road race, including Simon Bellwood who broke the club’s M40 record and Davina Smith who broke the F35 record.
April- Sun4^th	Wakefield 10k, 10am. Fast, flat course.	14 runners at this event including pb’s from the Wednesday group trio- Elaine, Jane, and Suzanne.
April- Tues 6^th	Bunny Run 1, 3 mile ‘Fell’ race, 7.00 pm.	11 Idle AC on this muddy course runners enticed to run by the chance of a free cream egg including birthday boy Dave Lewis.
April – Sun 11^th	Guiseley Gallop 10k, 10.30am.	We had 8 runners for this Easter Sunday run.
May - Wed –5^th	John Carr 5k, Esholt, 7.30pm. Fast, flat course. Good local event.	29 runners for this fast flat course. Ian set a new Male club record and finished in 2^nd place. Dave Lewis, Lisa Flesher and Laura Brook all set age club records.
May- Sun 9^th	Fountains Abbey 10mile. Part of Black sheep series.	11 Idle AC vests lined up for this race, the start of the Black Sheep Series. Chris Stubbs was close to the club record in 6^th position. There were pb’s from Amnuay and Pete V and from Lisa and Gary in their first 10mile races. Kay set a new F45 club record.
May- Sun 16th	Leeds Half Marathon, 10am.	We had 12 runners for this local event held in hot conditions. However there were still a few pb’s including Doug. Lisa and Gary ran well in their first half marathon.
June – Thurs 10^th June	Bronte 5, 7.30pm. Hilly two lap course.	19 runners, 3 club records broken and a Yorkshire vets trophy for Lisa Flesher who was 2^nd F35 in the Yorks Vets Championships.
June - Sun 20^th	Blackpool Half or Full Marathon, 9am. 2004 club race/weekend away.	We had 6 in the marathon which included Jo Belcher who set a new female club record in 3.44 and Vicki Hawker who ran her debut marathon. In the half three club records were broken: Doug Briggs 1.22 (male), Lisa Flesher 1.43 (F35) and Kay Gambles 1.44 (F45). 2^nd F35 team in BMAF championships – Lisa, Archie and Janet.
July18 – Sun	Pudsey 10k, 10.45am.	14 runners and two team prizes. 3^rd male team and 3^rd female team.
Sept 26– Sun	Kirkstall Abbey 10k. 10am.	Get your entries in.
Oct – Sun 3^rd	Horsforth 10k, 10am.	Ditto.
Oct- Sun 17^th	Bridlington Half marathon, 12 Noon.	Pretty flat but sometimes windy. Free use of leisure pool afterwards.
Oct–Sun 31st	Holmfirth 15mile. 10.30am.	Hilly 2 lap course.
Oct–Sun 31^st	Roundhay Romp 10k.
Nov- Sun 7^th	Guy Fawkes10mile10.30am.	Give completed entries to Martin.
Nov- Sun 28^th	Abbey Dash 10k, 9.30am.	Entry forms now available or enter online. See below.

Race results: Various races

West Down Scenic 10k – 8^th Aug 04 (whilst on holiday!!)

101 Martin Burnside 1.01.05 There were 168 runners.

Spofforth Gala 10k Trail race- Mon 30th Aug.

41 Edward East 46.51

60 Michael M 50.05

71 Gary Naylor 51.17 There were 154 runners.

Tholthorpe 10k- 5^th September 04

90 Pete Helliwell 43.30

248 Martin Burnside 55.19 There were 386 runners.

Temple Newsam 5 mile – 12^th September 04

96 David Dewhirst 41.50 pb. There were 164 runners.

Nottingham Marathon – 12^th September 04

Lisa Flesher 3.51.50 pb. New F35 club record.

This was Lisa’s debut marathon.

Nottingham Half Marathon – 12^th September 04

Martin Burnside 1.56 pb for this course.

Sutton 7 (York) – 12^th September 04

61 Kay Gambles 54.56. There were 141 runners.

Kay finished as 3^rd woman.

Ryedale 10 (Malton) – 12^th September 04

9^th Joe Marjoram 1.06.25

Please continue to make Davina/Chris/Martin aware if you have raced so we can record the results in the Gossip and on the website. If you have no official results please write the race details in the signing in book and we will try to obtain results.

London Marathon 2005 - Final reminder.

If you’d like to run the London Marathon on 17^th April 2005 you will need to enter using the official entry form that is within the official event magazine called Marathon News. These are now available in all good sports shops and we have a few copies at the club. The closing date is 22^nd October 2004.

If you have applied to run or have run the event in the last five years a copy of Marathon News will be sent to you automatically.
Check out the London Marathon Website for details: www.london-marathon.co.uk

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will receive a reply in early December 04. Anyone who is unsuccessful in their entry will be eligible for the draw for the club entry, which normally takes place at the Christmas Do. Idle AC will have at least 2 club entries.

In addition members gain an automatic place under the ‘good for your age’ system. If within the last 18 months you have run between 2.45 and 3.00 (men aged 18-40) or sub 3.15 (men aged 41-59), you qualify automatically, and must fill in a different form. Women aged 18-49 need to have run between 3.15and 3.45 in 2003 or 2004 to qualify automatically.

Great North Run

We have a number of runners in the Great North Run on 25^th September, three of whom are running their first half marathon- Suzanne, Wilma and Elaine. Those running from the Wednesday group have really worked hard for this race, peaking with a 14 mile training run on Sunday 12^th September.

Look out for the Idle vests (and Scooby Doo, Alias Pete Helliwell) on TV.

Coming Races:

Horsforth 10k is a local 10k race which members are invited to run on Sunday 3^rd October. Last year we were the largest club with 24 members (25 if you count Davina who was heavily pregnant at the time and who came last!). This year we hope to have even more runners. In addition it would be a good event for the newer members to run.

Advance warning: The 2005 Brass Monkey Half marathon will be on Sunday 23^rd Jan 05 at 10am. Entry forms are now available at the club and although this seems a long way off please get entries in immediately as the race is always oversubscribed and the 2004 event was full by October 03!). This is a fast, flat, pb course!!

Fell Races: Sept-End November 04.

If you like the idea of fell running and would like to have a go please speak to Chris.

All fell races are given a grade indicating length and difficulty. Difficulty is indicated by:

A, no less than 250 feet climb per mile, not more than 20% on roads, at least 1 mile in length (NASTY);

B, not less than 125 feet climb per mile, not more than 30% on roads (FAIRLY NASTY);

C, not less than 100 feet of climb per mile, not more than 40% on roads and contain genuine fell terrain (NOT VERY NASTY).

Length is indicated by: L, 12 miles or more; M, 6 miles and over but less than 12 miles; S, under 6 miles.

SAT SEPT 4^th MOUNT SKIP FELL RACE. BS. 3pm. 4.5m/1000’ from the gala field, Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge. £3 on day – includes entry into gala. Website: www.cvfr.co.uk

SUN SEPT 5^th BRADLEY FAMILY DAY FELL RUN. BS. 4.35 pm. 3.5m/750’ from the Playing Fields, Bradley, near Skipton. £2 on day.

WED SEPT 8^th ILKLEY INCLINE. CS. 7pm. 1 mile/560’ from the junction of Wells Road and Keighley Road, Ilkley. £1.50 on night. No toilet facilities. Uphill only, tarmac road, then track.

SAT SEPT 11^th. BRISCOE’S BREWERY FESTIVAL FELL RACE. AS. 3pm. 3 miles/900’ from Danefield Park, East Chevin Road, Otley. £3 on day - includes pint of beer. Entrants required to drink a pint of Briscoe’s beer to finish the race. Bottle of beer to all finishers. “Do” at “Cheerful Chilli” opposite race venue in the evening.

SAT SEPT 11^th ERRINGDEN MOOR FELL RACE. BM. 12 noon. 8m/1900’ from Mytholmroyd Community Centre. £3 on day. Experience required. Local knowledge an advantage. Course partially marked.

SUN SEPT 12^th YORKSHIREMAN OFF -ROAD MARATHON. CL. 10am. 26.3 miles/3065’ from Westfield Lodge, Penistone Hill, Moorside Lane, Oxenhope. £8 individuals or £15 teams of two to organiser by Sept 6th. Refreshments on route, hot meal at finish. Website: www.keighleyandcraven.co.uk

SUN SEPT 12^th HALF YORKSHIREMAN. BL. 10am. 13 miles/1750’ from Westfield Lodge, Penistone Hill, Moorside Lane, Oxenhope. £8 to organiser by Sept 6^th. Reccy run may be useful. Refreshments on route, hot meal at finish. Website: www.keighleyandcraven.co.uk

SUN OCT 10^th BRONTE WAY. BM. 11am. 8m/1150’ from Wycoller. £5 to organiser by Sept 24^th or enter on day. Point to Point race from Wycoller to Haworth. Beer to every finisher. Pre-entries guaranteed coach to start from Haworth, leaving at 10am. Website: www.keighleyandcraven.co.uk

SAT OCT 24^th WITHINS SKYLINE. BM. 11.30am. 7mile/1000’ from Penistone Hill Country Park, Haworth. £3 on day. All finishers receive a Cadbury’s “Curly Wurly”. Free coffee & biscuits.

SUN OCT 31^ST RACE YOU TO THE SUMMIT. CS. 11.30am. 4m/800’ from the Summit Inn on the A6033 Todmorden Road, Summit, Near Littleborough. £3 on day. Local knowledge an advantage. Course partially marked. Website: www.ogdenwater.freeserve.co.uk

SAT NOV 6^TH SHEPHERDS SKYLINE. BM. 2pm.6.25m/1150’ from the Shepherds Rest Inn, Lumbutts Road, Todmorden. £3 on day. Website: www.todharriers.co.uk

SAT NOV 13^th 1^st GREAT WHERNSIDE FELL RACE. AS. 11am. 4m/1555’ from the Kettlewell campsite. £4 on day. Local knowledge an advantage.

SUN NOV 14^th KELBROOK FELL RACE. BS. 12noon. 3.5m/800’ from Kelbrook Village Hall. £3 on day. All proceeds to Candlelighters childrens cancer charity. Tea and coffee from 9.30am. Pie & peas lunch for £1. Website: www.kellbrookfellrace.ukgo.com.

SUN NOV 28^th RIVOCK EDGE FELL RACE. BM. 11am. 10m/1500’ from Silsden Park, Sildsen Nr Keighley. £4 on day.

IT IS VITAL THAT IF YOU BEGIN A FELL RACE AND THEN PULL OUT, YOU MUST INFORM THE ORGANISER AT ONCE. OTHERWISE EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL BE DEPLOYED TO FIND YOU ON THE FELL.

EVEN IN SUMMER BRING FULL WATERPROOF BODY COVER – YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO CARRY IT.

Note: A full list of local fell races for 2004 is available at the club or via the website. Chris also has a copy of the FRA calendar.

Leeds Abbey Dash: Sun 28^th November 04.

In 2004 The Leeds Abbey Dash is going to be bigger and better than ever before! To meet demands the organisers, Help the Aged, we have increased the number of runners to 4,000 and this year a chip timing system will be used so runners can find out their precise time.

This is an ideal course for those pursuing a personal best or doing their first run at this distance.

How to Enter:

Entry forms are available at the club.

To save costs on postage you can apply online. You can also download an application form (pdf) on the website.
If you prefer, a form is available from the events team by post – please call Anita Connolly on 020 7239 1922 or email us at events@helptheaged.org.uk.
The entry fee is £10 for affiliated club runners and £11 for unaffiliated runners. Cheques should be made payable to Help the Aged and entry forms posted to: Help the Aged Leeds Abbey Dash, Ground Floor East, Clarkson House, Rhodaus Town, Canterbury CT1 2RD.

The closing date for entries is Monday 1^st November or earlier if the entry limit is reached. Sign up quick – places go fast and last year we were hugely over-subscribed!

Funds raised from the Leeds Abbey Dash will contribute towards projects in the more deprived areas of Leeds that work with older people. One million UK citizens over 65 feel acutely isolated in their own homes. Help the Aged SeniorMobility campaign helps to combat this by providing vehicles and equipment to local groups; enabling older people to get out and about within their community; to go to the shops, enjoy day trips and meet up with friends. This race is the final race in the 2004 Attendance Scheme and we hope for a large Idle AC turnout.

West Yorkshire Winter League 2004/5 season

The League meeting took place on for Friday 3^rd September. At this meeting the dates and venues of the 5 West Yorkshire Winter League cross country events were arranged. This is the main league that we encourage members of Idle AC to run. Last year, our second year in the League, was a huge success with 23-32 members at each race. Last year we were able to show that despite our small size we are capable of achieving a great deal. Indeed we finished as overall runners up in the League. In addition the women’s team had a late surge at the final event at Skipton to take the women’s team trophy ahead of bigger more established clubs. In addition we had the following individual trophy winners:

Ian Fisher – 1^st man, Doug Briggs –5^th man.

Donna Edmondson –2^nd woman, Jo Belcher – 4^th Woman, Amnuay Scott-1^st F35 and Kay Gambles – 1^st F45.

In addition the League has two very special trophies, which are presented to the most improved male and female runner who has completed all 5 events. The most improved male runner receives the Dave Turpin Memorial Trophy and the most improved female runner receives the Paul Dowson Memorial Trophy. Through these trophies we remember two well known league competitors who both died suddenly, indeed within days of each other, during the 1999 -2000 season. Last season Kay Gambles collected the Paul Dowson trophy whilst Edward East won the Dave Turpin memorial trophy.

This will be Idle AC’s third year in the WYWL and it’s important that as a club we all try to commit to running in all 5 fixtures if at all possible as these are TEAM events. Last year we proved that we could field a fairly strong team when the whole club runs. This year we have many more members who will be a real asset in these events. Please all take the opportunity to ask the Committee (and other members) any questions about the WYWL, particularly if you are new to cross country running. The League, whilst competitive, is friendly and encouraging to all levels.

To count for individual awards you must complete all five events, and your scores will be added together. At the end of each race each individual is given a tag which denotes their points scored in the race. This works as follows: The first male runner gets 200 points, second gets 199, third gets 198 and so on. The first female runner gets 100 points, second gets 99, third gets 98 and so on. So in addition to the team positions, individual results are available after each event and individual and category winners are presented with individual trophies at the Presentation Evening held at the end of the season (11^th March 05 at Idle Working Men’s Club).

There are 8 clubs that form the WYWL: Idle A.C, Pudsey Pacers, Skipton A.C., Leeds & Bradford Tri, Dewsbury Road Runners, Baildon Runners, Stainland Lions and St.Bede’s. The fixtures for 2004/5 are confirmed as follows:

1 14^th Nov 04 hosted by Dewsbury Road Runners. 11.00 am

2 5^th Dec 04 hosted by Idle AC- Festive event with optional fancy dress and silly hat competition. 11 am.

3 16^th Jan 05 hosted by St.Bede’s, 11 am.

4 30^th Jan 05 hosted by Pudsey Pacers, 11am.

5 27^th Feb 05 hosted by Skipton AC, 11am.

Whilst the League does offer individual trophy positions, its primary objective is team competition. The five team scores are added together to decide the following team trophies:

1^st Combined Team, 2^nd Combined Team, 3^rd Combined Team.

1^st Male Team.

1^st Female team.

1^st Vets Team (combination of male/females).

A club team is the first seven men to cross the line(which must include 2 vets), and the first three women (including 1 vet), in each event.

The vets team is the 2 male and the one female counting vets added together.

Different runners may score in different races - it’s just first past the post on the day.

The first Combined Team can enter the National Cross Country Final and the 2^nd Combined Team can enter the Plate Race at the National Final which will take place at Nottingham on 20^th March 05. Further details will be circulated prior to each event.

Any questions please speak to Chris as he is not only Secretary of the WYWL but he is the only runner to have run all 60 consecutive races in the past 12 years (Davina has only run 58!).

Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League.

Whilst we would encourage ALL members to run the West Yorkshire Winter League, those who prefer off road running might like to take part in the Complete Runner as additional races.

The club has been invited to take part in this league and as the dates (4 Saturdays) won’t clash with our main West York’s Winter League dates it was decided that we would enter the league so that members had the opportunity to enter. The fixtures are: 16^th Oct - Bradford Grammar School, 30^th Oct – Pudsey & Bramley, 20^th November-Ilkley Harriers, 4^th December – Wakefield Harriers. The women’s race is 5-5.5km at approx 1.45pm and the men’s race is 9-9.5km at approx 2.15pm. Chris will enter teams and members will be able to run by collecting a number from Chris and paying £2 per runner per race. Please let Chris know if you are interested in running any/all of the races.

3^rd Annual Sewage Works Surprise Club Handicap Race: Sunday 19^th December at 10am.

As members may be aware December 02 saw the start of a yearly tradition for Idle AC – the annual Sewage Works Surprise club handicap race! The race is open to all members and will be run as a 4 mile Handicap race from the Stansfield Arms Pub at Apperley Bridge, starting at 10am on Sunday 19^th December 04. There is a special annual trophy for the winner, which was won last year by Michael Masleczko.

Congratulations…….

Congratulations to Glen and Amanda Pinkney who are expecting their first baby next year. This will mean a 5^th baby for the ‘Idle Babes’ club!! Who will be next!!

New Members

This month we welcome 1 new member – Dianne Draper. Diane is a regular at the Wednesday night group who is relatively new to running yet seems to be quickly becoming addicted. We know that Diane will fit in well at Idle AC as she found out about the club from a poster in the Symposium!

Christmas Do 2004

Please keep the evening of Friday 10^th December free as we have booked a room at Idle Working Men’s Club for our Christmas Do. This year it will be a buffet, disco and another bumper raffle – please start saving any suitable (or unsuitable!) raffle prizes to give to Kay nearer the time. Further details to follow.

Guy Fawkes 10: Sunday 7^th November. 10.30am.

We now have entry forms for this popular 10 mile hilly course which has the first and last miles on forest trail bridleways from the historic village of Ripley. Please return all completed forms to Martin as he works for CODA Financial intelligence who are one of the sponsors.

Isle of Man Weekend.

I knew it was going to be an interesting weekend when I realised what day we were to travel to the Isle of Man. Friday 13^th (August). Not that I’m superstitious or anything like that, but accompanying me on the trip was Michael, Pat, Pete H, Suzanne and Edward. Jo was to join us later on Saturday.

And so Friday 13^th started with a traffic jam on the M62, will we get to the airport in time? Erm yes and on time too! It’s nice to see other people drive like me, Michael.

At the airport we checked in with our luggage. Mine had to go through a separate Airport Security Scanner. Will they find the little bags of white powder inside! It was alright for Michael, his bags of white powder had already gone through the conventional baggage system and wouldn’t be noticed. It should be noted at this point that the bags of powder was our electrolyte for the marathon, well mine was, not sure about Michael’s!

Which gate do we depart from, Gate 13. Groans came from the group. Even more groans came when we saw the size of the plane we were to fly in. Cosy is probably the only word to describe it. Time to board. First onto the bus for the long, tiring journey to the plane, which took the whole of 2 minutes. I asked for a return ticket but for some reason the request was ignored. We took to the seats near the back of the plane, then realised that some of us weren’t actually at the back at all but in the middle. The plane holds just 19 people, including the pilot and co-pilot. It soon becomes apparent that we are the largest party on board, all 6 of us.

Not all the seats are taken up. When we did a quick count there were 13 people flying. It’s that number again. We did another count hoping we had lost someone. No, still 13. Do we really need a co-pilot? Pete looks out of the window and advises there are loose rivets on the right wing. Michael looks out his side and is shocked that no rivets are in the left wing. 2 Old ladies in front of Pete & Suzanne are looking nervously at each other. The engines have started and we move off for taxi to runway, when suddenly a loud bang is heard from behind.

Edward jumps nervously, Pat shouts & I’m startled. Has Friday 13^th come true. No it’s Michael slapping the back of Edward's chair! We all go quite for a while, whilst Pat gets Michael back under control. “The pilots name is Mal,” said Pete. What? “It says so on the cockpit display in red letters Mal…. Function” The old ladies were starting to get used to us as they started to give nervous giggles.

Michael noticed how the cabin of the plane looked somewhat like a submarine. “Don’t tell the pilot, he might DIVE, DIVE, DIVE” He did. The plane started to descend. Looking through the cockpit we could see the runway. Soon we were landing. “Quick run” came a shout from Pete’s direction. Laughter finally came from the old ladies; they won’t forget us in a hurry. We got off the plane straight onto a bus. 30 seconds ride this time.

We checked into the hotel. All, except Edward, were on the top floor out of the way of everyone else. They obviously heard of our plane journey. Time for food. We had a wander around Douglas and opted for a traditional Isle of Man take away from …. a kebab shop. Whilst eating in at the takeaway! Michael was enjoying the ambiance of the place, for when a piece of music started from the hi-fi he sang “SEXY”. We were highly delighted at his rendition of the song except for the fact that that was not the song being played. However, it didn’t stop us all joining in with the wrong song. The shop staff were delighted, when we left.

With bellies full we headed back to the hotel via the prom and the beach. Big mistake. Edward decided he wasn’t content with walking along the beach. So he started tossing into the sea. When we saw what he was doing Pete, Michael and I joined in. Suzanne and Pat stood and watched for a while, until they were bored seeing the stones skimming across the waves in to the night. Eager to impress the lasses, Pete and Edward started a competition. Who can throw the furthest. The competition started at the shoreline, throwing a stone into the sea, and they gradually moved back along the beach to the prom. Edward started to flag and finally gave in. Pete though got far back, to the road, and was still hitting the sea with the stones. We finally retired to the hotel, where Edward & Pete contemplated on whether Pete could hit the sea from Pat and Michael’s hotel window, whilst the rest of us bunked down on their bed watching some of the Olympics.

The following morning saw us with a good old-fashion traditional cooked breakfast. Just what’s needed the day before a marathon. The day was spent travelling on the antiquated electric railway to the top of Snaefell, highest mountain on Isle of Man. It was a bit misty at the top. We had a cuppa then travelled back down to Laxey to see the wheel. Our Idle AC t-shirts were recognised by an elderly couple. They knew where Idle was! Great, fame at last. They come from Baildon! We saw the wheel, raided the gift shop and went to the pub. We had to get fluids down us, we were doing a race the following day. The rest of the day went fairly quietly. Text received from Jo, she’s on her way to Isle of Man, text sent back “got on wrong plane now in Paris” As everyone knows Jo you can guess the reply.

Back in Douglas we met up with Jo for a meal at an Italian restaurant. Before getting to the restaurant Edward managed to pick up a new girlfriend. Now, unfortunately, he seemed to pick the wrong type of lass, as she seemed a bit board to me and a bit “easy” on their first meeting.

Alas some romances were not to be. Edward was most upset when the shop owner refused to let him take the girl out for a meal. Dejected, Edward shuffled along the prom behind us until we reached the restaurant we had not booked earlier. We ascended the stairs of which looked like a cheap Mario’s take away, through a doorway into a transformation never seen outside of the London posh eating area. Well that‘s what I thought it could be. Being underdressed in a normal shirt and jeans, was an understatement. Edward was grinning again, as he had followed up the stairs what could have been a piece of cloth with a curvy woman squeezed inside. (Is Suzanne reading this?) The place was full, for an hour at least. We went and found another restaurant more suited to our casual style. We sent Jo in first. It’s another amazing restaurant. We got a table for us all and great food. But the toilets weren’t in the restaurant! They were upstairs next to the hair and beauty salon. Strange place Douglas. The evening passed and it was time to relax and get ready for the race in the morning. Race? What race? Oh that one! God those steps at the hotel, 4 floors no lift. Don’t need a warm up.

Well at last the day had arrived. Spirits were high and tension was in the air for some. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why get up so early for a run or a race. 6am and virtually everyone is up. Quick breakfast & dumping of keys at reception. It’s off to meet Jo and our rendezvous with a bus at the ferry terminal 15-20 minutes walk away. The hotelier had convinced us 2 days ago it was a 5-minute walk! He lied, unless his style of walking was to his car. We got to the bus just in time, even though some people were strolling leisurely, gabbing at the back.

Half an hour later we were in Ramsey’s sports stadium. Numbers collected and nerves setting in, the marathon runners start their warm up by running to the loo. All too soon the time comes to make our way down to the prom for the start of the marathon. Photo’s taken, we get ready for the off. The press photographer asks us to make the start line look full by standing closer to the line. So small is the field we thought they would be asking the half marathoners to join in the photo. Media attention over with, the starter is giving the count down when dramatic events halts the start. A half marathon runner was standing on the front line about to go. “Excuse me sir but the half marathon doesn’t start for another half hour. But you are welcome to do the full marathon if you wish”. The runner quickly removes himself from the race with a look of horror on his face, and a round of applause from the rest of us. No he was not wearing an Idle AC vest.

We’re off. The sun has already broken through the clouds, it’s another warm day. The 3 of us set off together at a nice steady pace and soon have our photo taken by the press photographer. We settle into a steady 8-minute-ish pace. Jo is soon chatting and I am relaxing into the pace. Michael, a little nervous, was being quiet. It is understandable that Michael was already concentrating on his running; this was his first marathon after 15 years after all. We were soon hitting the sloping parts of the course and had already started chatting to some of the other runners in the race. We’re approx 8 – 9 mile into the race when one of the marshals shouts out to Jo she’s 3^rd woman through. That got us buzzing again. We steadily completed the first half of the race practically together. Jo was chatting up a fella 20 meters ahead of Michael and me. We had passed half way in less than 2 hours. I asked the half way marshals if the pubs were open yet. A startled “No!” came back. “I’ll go round again then.” Jo decided to “dump” the fella and moved on up to the lady in 2^nd place.

Shortly we witnessed Jo’s technique in beating down the opposition. After a few minutes chatting she left the 2^nd place lady in 3^rd by zooming off up the short hill and round the corner. Jo must have warmed up now she’s started racing. She had. Every time we turned a bend she was further and further away. I think Michael must have decided he had enough of my sense of humour, he advised me to go on and not stay with him. I took the hint and stepped up the pace a bit. Soon I was running by myself in open countryside. Occasionally other runners were seen.

I thought things were going quite well when suddenly, it came. It was the same problem I had earlier in the race. It had happened to Michael too. The problem of being too well hydrated. Do I stop, after 22 miles, and risk cramp when I start running again, or try and hold it for another 4 miles. I do the maths. It takes me to another mile before I decide on the answer. I can make it to the end without stopping. But it’ll be a close call. Soddit, I’m stopping before I get to the next village. Minutes later I’m back on the road again, no wonder I don’t get PB’s often in long races. Just 2 miles to go and I’ve gradually eased myself back into a steady pace. But the effects of stopping are starting to feel their way through my right calf. Don’t pack in now I’m nearly home. Frustration is setting in as well as cramp. I ease off the pace a bit. Ho look it’s the Isle of Man Film Studios – from the road it looks as though its 2 shed’s, but apparently quite a lot of British films are made there too. Concentrate.

“Welcome to Ramsey” a grateful sign, almost there. Jo will have finished ages ago. She must have done well must be 2^nd or at least 3^rdwoman home. Hope Michael is still going. It will be great to see him finish with a big smile on his face as to say “I can still do it”. I’m on the last hill, going downwards, I can see the last street corner, around which the home straight. I’ve caught up with the guy in front of me. He’s from the Birmingham area and is on his 96^th Marathon. But he’s struggling. He takes it a bit easier than me. Last corner, I see the football stadium. The pavement is busy, so is the road. I’m finishing style, straight down the middle of the road. The traffic stops for me. I turn left. I see the finish, Suzanne & Pat. I hear Edward “Push it”. 4 hours 1 minute. Last year I ran with less wee breaks and on my own, I got 4 hours exact. I knew I should have held on.

Time to relax and see what Pete and Edward did. Both said they had a good run, but no PB’s. Edward had spotted the St Johns Ambulance at the finish and nearly ran straight into the back. Suzanne mentions something about Jo coming in as 1^st lady. I don’t believe it. Jo comes down to me looking shocked. I don’t think she believes it herself.

10 minutes after I arrive Michael comes in looking a bit harassed and very red. The look on his face was not what I was expecting. He was not happy at all. Not much was being said, except for Michael stating never again. We all chilled at the side of the track. Getting fluids and foodstuff down our necks. Michael goes to get changed, still quiet. All those months of training and let downs, on not doing 2 marathons earlier in the year, has come to the feelings Michael was obviously having at the moment. He had certainly prepared himself for the race, so what had gone wrong? A quarter of an hour later “SEXY” Michael was back to his usual self. The immediate reply was Pete & Edwards version of the same song at the top of their voices.

Everything was back to normal. We wait with intrepid anticipation to the presentation of the awards. The half marathon winners are 1^st. Jo needs to leave to catch her plane. Next were the Isle of Man Championships awards. Jo and travelling partners are getting desperate. The men’s categories, including the Vets was next. Someone doesn’t like Jo. She’s brought all her bags down to the front for a quick getaway. Finally the ladies awards. Presentation over Jo zooms off & we help ourselves to more food and drink. As with all good things it never lasts and it is time to get back on the bus to Douglas, then on to the airport. The plane is much larger than the one we came on. Michael decides not to try his chances with another prank, so the journey home was quiet but also tiring.

So ends another race in our heavy calendar for Idle A.C. Everyone has had a good time. And I didn’t lose anyone. What of next year? I’ve got a couple of requests already - Pete V

The Idle Web – September 2004

It’s now been three months since I launched the Idle AC Runners forum & chat areas on the website and I was asked by a club member only last week:-

“Could the forum be used for posting messages at when people are going for Sunday runs & where to meet up etc? Who’s going to a race at the weekends & has space in the car to take someone else.”

My reply was: - “this is exactly what the forum was designed for”.

With this in mind I thought it appropriate to reiterate the original instructions as the best area to place these sorts of questions is on the private, members’ only forum which requires a logon. There are currently only 5 members of the forums and that includes me.

The Forum consists of 4 main areas,

1. Announcements – For Committee members to post urgent or important messages for all to see. (The whole Internet will see them).

2. General Discussion forum - This is the main General Discussion area where everyone can post messages to each other. (Again the whole Internet will see them).

3. Idle AC members only forum. Login required to access this area.

4. Idle AC committee member’s forum. Only available to committee members.

It is not compulsory to obtain a login account to use the forum, that is how most of the users will work when posting messages to the general discussion forum. However you will need a login to enter the restricted areas.

Creating a login

When you click on the forum link you will see the “forum home page”. There is available a login & create account link. Please get into the habit of logging in to these forums, as you will be seen as a proper Idle AC user & not an anonymous login. This will help public users to identify us properly. To create the account, click the “create account” link & follow the on screen instructions.

Apply for group membership

To access the restricted forums you will have to “apply for membership” Click on the restricted group & log in. You will be prompted for an application. Fill out your email address & post the form. This will trigger an email to me so that I can firstly validate that you are an Idle AC member & then I can open up your account to access the forums.

Chat

There is a “Chat” option that I have also enabled. You can click on this link on the top of each forum. It will take you into a “Live Chat” area where you can see if anyone is online & chat with them live on the internet.

Please bear in mind that the general area is open to all of the internet so don’t post any personal information like phone numbers or meeting places for runs etc, use the member’s only forum. If you do post something that you decide is inappropriate to any of the forums, simply email me and I will remove or modify your posting.

If anyone has any further ideas for the website, I’m always happy to listen to suggestions. You can speak to me at the club on club nights or email me at: martin@idleac.co.uk

Keep on Browsing - Martin.

The Vets Bill

There’s a long list of races to report on since the last Vets Bill so I’ll list them out as follows:

14^th July Stirton Fell Race 4m/600ft

Tony Blythe 52:42, Phil Routh 63:25

18^th July Pudsey 10k

Chris Smith 44:35, Dave Lewis 45:25, Dexter Wright 47:52, Pete Helliwell 50:25, Davina Smith 54:10

Laura Brook 55:23, Phil Routh 56:53.

25^th July Burton Leonard 10k

Simon Bellwood 43:58, Steve Little 44:18, Richard Lyons 47:44, Michael Masleczko 48:32, Lisa Flesher 50:51, Davina Smith 51:12, Kay Gambles 51:26, Pete Helliwell 52:24, Amnuay Scott 52:38.

1^st August Harrogate 10k

Dave Lewis 43:12, Richard Lyons 44:38, Pete Helliwell 44:59, Dexter Wright 46:15, Laura Brook 48:23, Lisa Flesher 49:54.

5^th August Yorkshire Vet Grand Prix Race Pudsey

Simon Bellwood 36:19, Pete Helliwell 38:26, Dave Lewis 39:05, Michael Masleczko 40:17, Lisa Flesher 42:11, Kay Gambles 43:01, Phil Routh 43:32.

8^th August West Downs Scenic 10k

Martin Burnside 1:01:05.

15^th August Isle of Man Marathon

Michael Masleczko 4:11:50.

Isle of Man ½ Marathon

Pete Helliwell 1:46:36.

22^nd August Great Langdale ½ Marathon

Dave Lewis 1:46:02, Steve Little 1:51:56, Kay Gambles 2:05:42.

30^th August Spofforth 10k Trail Race

Michael Masleczko 50:05.

5^th September Tholthorpe 10k

Pete Helliwell 43:30, Martin Burnside 55:19.

The next Yorkshire Vets GP race is on 26^th September at Honley near Huddersfield. The race starts at Neiley Playing Fields in the centre of Honley at 11:00, it’s a multi terrain race and can only be described as “HILLY”.

Looking over the above results Idle AC seem to have some prolific racers at the moment with Pete Helliwell completing 6 races followed by Dave Lewis and Michael Masleczko with 4 races each.

Well done.

If you are taking a holiday in America next year why not include a race as well. You could try the Alaska Salmon Run marathon where you can eat what you beat or what about the Carrot Festival 5k in California where the same principle applies.

In Arkansas you could try the Lung Run ½ marathon, the Sacred Heart 5k or even a 2-mile race called the Kidney Walk. My choice would be the Kick Butt 5k race in California City which runs around the airport perimeter. This race promotes the hazards of smoking, which is probably a good thing surrounded by aviation fuel.

- Steve Little

Dave’s story of the Olympics

The accent was thick, the phone line bad: We called X-Dream. You’ll find us just a few minutes from the main docks.

Unsure of what I'd heard, I asked again what the name of the hotel was: "X - Dream... X-Dream ," came the reply.

No hotel is called X-Dream. Certainly not one you'd ever admit to staying in. But I was getting past the point of caring. Jane and I were under starter's orders for an Olympic sprint: a two-day trip to Athens. We had resigned ourselves to sleeping rough because hotel rooms were so expensive. But just before we were due to fly out, I'd clicked across an ad on the internet for accommodation on the outskirts of Athens.

The more I thought about X-Dream the more I realised there was a logical explanation. There must be a Greek word that sounds like X-Dream, and it probably means Travelodge or Seaview or something like that. So I booked a room.

The night flight into Athens was fantastic. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and as the plane banked, the lights of the city twinkled below, and in the distance you could see the Olympic flame burning high above the main stadium. Just a few hours earlier it had been the stadium of dreams for Kelly Holmes who'd defied her critics to snatch Gold in the 800 metres. I wondered what dreams we would see made over the next 24 hours.

We arrived in a deserted airport in the dead of night. Within minutes we were on a bus and heading for Piraeus, the port of Athens... and X-Dream. I was sitting next to a Greek student who'd been studying in Manchester. I told him the name of the road where the hotel was and he said it was a two-minute walk from where the bus terminated. Things were going according to plan. Or they were...

As soon as I turned the corner off the main drag in Piraeus, I saw the hotel. In fact you couldn’t miss it. A giant neon sign hung down the side of the building.

It was then that I realised there’d been no misunderstanding... no breakdown in communication... no logical explanation. The hotel was called X-Dream. And just to underline the fact, the sign flickered on and off, sending a pulsating beam of gaudy colours up and down the street. It looked like a strip joint.

I whispered to Jane that I'd probably booked us into a brothel. My heart was sinking fast.

Left with no alternative, we walked into the reception. It was bright pink, with a large leopard-skin carpet. The walls were adorned with erotic paintings. The receptionist was wearing an outfit that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the beach volley ball court.

And it got more bizarre. Armed with our room key, we headed up into the building. By now the paintings had become murals: vast, never-ending paintings of couples taken from the Karma Sutra. At three in the morning it was all too much. It might have been so different if I’d concentrated more during Chris’s pyramid training session to boost endurance!

The biggest surprise was in the bedroom. It had a giant, circular bed. Around it, wall-to-wall mirrors.

At this point I think I’m meant to say that we made our excuses and left. But we didn’t. Call me shabby, but I rather liked X-Dream.

Early the next morning we were at the Olympic stadium to watch Dean Macey, Britain's injury -prone decathlete. What struck me was how intimate the whole Olympic experience can be. Sitting in front of us was the Macey family, eager to share their highs and lows with us. In the evening, at the start of the main athletics session, I was talking to the man in front of me: a fellow Brit, former decathlete and one-time training partner with Dean Macey.

It was a riveting night of athletics, and it again became the stadium of dreams. Kelly Holmes turned out to qualify for the semi-finals of the 1500 metres, Morocco’s El Guerrouj took Gold in the 1500 metres, the Kenyans made a clean sweep of the 3000 metres steeple chase and what must have been the highlight of the evening, the Russian women pole vaulters fought it out for Gold and Silver, with Yelena Isinbayeva setting new Olympic and World records. We rolled out of the stadium at 1am, after watching more than five and half hours of top athletics, and it cost just £25 each.

A few hours later we were on our way home. The British swimming team were on our flight back into Manchester (believe it or not they had to prepare for another competition at the end of August). We walked into the arrivals hall with them, to be greeted by a cacophony of flash bulbs, TV video cameras and cheering well wishers. It seemed a fitting end to an eventful couple of days.

My thoughts are now on Beijing in four years time, so I'll have to start saving. Unless, of course, I get some royalty payments from a film that I've heard is doing the rounds: Synchronised Diving - the Photo Finish (An X-Dream production).
- Dave Lewis

From the Coach…

As I sprinted along the promenade to the finish of the Grange over Sands 8 mile race some years ago, it was Terry Lonergan from the Complete Runner, I think, who shouted helpfully, “ You’re OK – there’s no-one behind!” What he didn’t realise was that I didn’t care. I’d had a great race, I felt fantastic, and with childlike exuberance I just opened up with everything I had, enjoying my return to the sleepy town where I had grown up, and which I had left as an 18 year old.

Give children a chance and they will run. Not for any other reason but for youthful joy and excitement in running. As we grow older we apparently lose this natural urge, though in truth it is our sedate adult society which does not allow it. I have seen the urge resurface briefly in adults, when for a moment inhibitions are lost. It tends to create a happy memory for those involved. On one big Skipton night out with a successful cross country team, the group got split into two in a busy pub. Knowing that we were to meet at the Royal Shepherd at 9pm, the two groups happened to approach the pub from opposite ends of the canal bank. Equidistant from the pub, when the two groups eyeballed each other, they spontaneously sprinted for the pub door, laughing at this simple rediscovered joy. Likewis

London Marathon 2005 - Final reminder.

Leeds Abbey Dash: Sun 28th November 04.

West Yorkshire Winter League 2004/5 season

Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League.

Isle of Man Weekend.

Leeds Abbey Dash: Sun 28^th November 04.