Contents

Coming Events: February, March & April. 2

Attendance Scheme/ Club races – 2006 details: 2

Race results: Various races. 6

Fell Races: Feb to end April 06. 8

West Yorkshire Winter League 2005/6 season. 10

WYWL Presentation Night: Fri 10th March 06. 11

The Vets Bill 11

Annual General Meeting – Thursday 6th April 06. 12

New Members. 12

Black Sheep Brewery Race Series 2006. 12

Keswick to Barrow event: Saturday 6th May 06. 13

Congratulations….. 14

…..and Celebrations! 15

From The Coach…... 16

 

Coming Events: February, March & April.

Events in bold indicate a ‘club’ event which members are encouraged to run.

Date

Event

Sun 26th Feb 06

Huddersfield 10k 11.15 am.

Fri 10th March 06

WYWL Presentation Night, hosted by Stainland Lions.

Sat 11th March 06

Dentdale Run, 14.3 miles, Dent, Cumbria. 1pm.

Sun 12th March 06

Spen 20. 10am. A must for those running Spring marathons!!

Sun 19th March 06

South Leeds Stadium 5 mile.10.30am.

Sun 19th March 06

East Hull 20. 10am. Fast flat course.

Sun 1st April 06

Coniston 14. 11am. Scenic route around the lake.

Sun 2nd April 06

Baildon Boundary Way. Race full. Great local event.

Sun 2nd April 06

Ackworth Half, 10.30am. Yorks Half marathon Champs.

Sat 8th April 06

Meanwood Valley trail, 10.30am. Approx 7.5miles.

Sun 16th April 06

Guiseley Gallop, multi terrain, approx 10k, 10.30am. 

Sun 30th April 06

Rothwell 10k, 10am start. Yorks vets champs event.

Attendance Scheme/ Club races – 2006 details:

Top 25 Club Races for 2005: Handicap/ Attendance Scheme - 10 out of 25 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. 

Name

January

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan

 

3

5

10

12

17

19

24

26

31

Totals

Adrian Trevelyan

1

1

1

1

 

1

1

1

1

8

Alison Garlick

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

4

Amnuay Scott

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Amy Wright

1

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

1

4

Andrew Moakler

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

2

Anna Lincoln

1

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

1

4

Chris Booker

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

1

Chris Smith

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

9

Chris Stubbs

 

 

1

 

1

1

 

1

1

5

David Lewis

1

 

1

 

1

 

 

1

 

4

Davina Smith

1

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

1

5

Dominic Hopson

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Gary Naylor

1

1

1

1

 

1

 

 

1

6

Hayley Atkinson-Windsor

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

9

Ian Fisher

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Joanne Belcher

 

1

1

 

1

1

 

 

1

5

Judith Metcalf

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

2

Julie Parker

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

1

Kay Gambles

 

 

 

1

1

1

1

1

1

6

Lisa Hall

 

1

 

1

1

1

 

1

1

6

Martin Burnside

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

9

Michael Masleczko

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Peter Hilliard

1

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

1

4

Peter Vickers

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

2

Phil Routh

1

1

1

 

1

1

1

1

1

8

Richard Lyons

1

1

1

1

 

1

1

1

1

8

Simon Bellwood

1

1

 

1

1

1

1

1

1

8

Simon Blackburn

 

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

8

Stephen Wolstenhulme

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

3

Steve Little

 

 

1

1

 

1

 

1

1

5

Tony Blythe

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

9

Warren Fletcher

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

2

 

18

15

16

13

18

16

17

15

23

151

We have 4 Attendance winners for January: Chris Smith, Tony, Hayley &  Martin.

The Club races for 2006, where points can be earned, are as follows:

Date

Race Details

Comments.

February 12th  Sun

Liversedge Half Marathon, 12.00 noon.

5 Idle vests at the Liversedge Half. Jo was 5th woman, Laura 2nd F45 and Jo, Laura & Lisa got the team prize.

March 12th   – Sun

Spen 20mile, 10am.  

 

April- Sun 2nd

Baildon Boundary Way Half, 10.30am.

 

May – Wed 3rd

John Carr 5k, Esholt, 7.30pm. Fast, flat course.

Club race 2006

May 3rd - Wed

Hare & Hounds Fell Race, Lothersdale. 3.6m/690’. BS.

 

May – Sun 7th

Leeds Half Marathon, 10am.

Entry forms available at the club.

May -Sun 14th

Ripon 10m. Part of Black Sheep series.

 

May – Sun 28th

Melmerby 10k. Part of Black sheep series.

 

June- Sat 3rd

Kirkby Malzeard 10k. Part of Black sheep series.

 

June  8th – Thurs   

Bronte 5, 7.30pm. Hilly two lap course.

 

June- TBA Thurs 

Apperley Bridge Canter race. 7.30pm. Approx 10k.

 

June TBA –Sun

Harewood House 10k

 

June – Sat 24th  

Eldwick  Gala Fell Race.3m/300’

 

July 1st – Sat 

Burn Valley Half. Part of Black Sheep series. 2pm.

 

July 1st – Sat

Carr Lane Challenge. 5 mile trail race.

 

July 12th – Wed 

Stirton Fell race. BS, 7.30pm. 5.5 miles/1200’.

 

 

Aug 12th – Sat

Arncliffe 4 mile Road race at 1.30pm and/or 1.8m fell race (443’) AS, 3pm.

 

Aug 28th  –Mon

Spofforth 10k Trail. 1.30pm.

 

Aug TBA- Sat

Burnsall 10m road race and/or 1.5 m fell race.

 

Sept 10th- Sun

Robin Hood Full & Half marathons, Nottingham 10.05am

 

Oct TBA– Sun   

Horsforth 10k, 10am.

 

Oct 15th -Sun

Bridlington Half marathon, 12 Noon.

 

Oct – Sun 29th

Holmfirth 15mile. 10.30am.

 

Nov TBA– Sun

Guy Fawkes 10mile 10.30am.

 

Nov TBA Sun

Abbey Dash 10k, 9.30am.

 

Race results: Various races

We had 15 runners at the Brass Monkey Half marathon at York on Sunday 22nd January 06. Congratulations to Ian Fisher who won the race and set a new course record with his time of 1.06.09. Simon Bellwood set a new M45 club record with his PB time of 1.22.48, whilst Laura Brook smashed the F45 record with her time of 1.41.39. There were also pb's for Simon Blackburn and Alison Garlick. Many others were close to their PB times. The results were:  

 

93    Simon Bellwood       1.22.48    PB M45 club record

145   Chris Smith             1.26.54

173   Adrian Trevelyan      1.28.21

241   Simon Blackburn      1.32.18  PB

246   Steve Little             1.32.34

264   Richard Lyons         1.33.23

281   Dominic Hopson                 1.34.08

286   Jo Belcher               1.34.25

452   Laura Brook            1.41.39    F45 Club record.

477   Gary Naylor                        1.42.54

595   Davina Smith                      1.47.24

602   Alison Garlick                     1.48.22  PB

606   Lisa Hall                            1.48.48

701   Kay Gambles                      1.53.32

760   Anna Lincoln                      1.57.01

 

There were 980 runners.    

   

Stanbury Splash Fell race, 22nd Jan 06: 7miles, 1200ft.

 

61    Chris Stubbs    52.44

155   Dave Lewis       61.11

166   Phil Routh        62.08

188   Tony Blythe      63.51

 

There were 290 runners. 

 

Dewsbury 10k 5/2/06

 

522    Martin Burnside    48.21 pb

615    Amy Wright          51.06

648    Tracey Stoneman  51.44 pb

755    David Dewhirst      54.42

853    Janet Burnside      58.57

 

There were 955 runners

Yorks Vets Cross Country Championships - Bramley.

 

Women - Approx 5k

 

41    Laura Brook    22.59

47    Kay Gambles  23.20

72    Anna Lincoln   30.05             There were 73 runners

 

Men - Approx 10k

 

91    Pete Helliwell        40.12

100  Steve Little            42.09

103  Richard Raistrick   42.48

113  Peter Vickers        47.07        There were 118 runners

 

Rombalds Stride 25 mile Challenge race Sat 6th Feb

 

Chris Smith    3hr 20mins

Laura Brook & Jo Belcher 5hr 20mins.

 

Liversedge Half Marathon: 12th Feb 06.

Simon Bellwood     1.26.35

Jo Belcher              1.38.17 5th woman

Laura Brook           1.46.46           2nd F45

Lisa Hall                 1.46.47 pb

Martin Burnside      1.51.45  

 

 

Fell Races: Feb to end April 06.                                

Please note that many races require that competitors carry waterproof clothing, map and compass for the competitor’s safety. Failure to comply with a race organiser's requirements will mean that you will be barred from taking part in the race. Competitors should arrive at races prepared to carry any or all of the following equipment: Windproof whole body cover, other body cover appropriate to the conditions, map and compass suitable for navigating the course, whistle, emergency food (long races). This equipment is mandatory at all Cat A Long and Medium races.

 

If this is the first time you have considered fell racing select a race distance well under the distance you normally run on the road.

If you retire during a race you MUST notify the officials at the finish. 

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.

 

SUN FEB 26th ILKLEY MOOR FELL RACE. AS. 11.30am. 5m/1260’ from Wells Road, Ilkley. £3 on day. Website: www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk

 

SAT MARCH 4th NOON STONE FELL RACE. AM. 12 noon. 9m/2300’ from Brisk Inn, Lumbutts, Todmorden. £3.50 on day. Website: www.todharriers.co.uk

 

SAT MARCH 11th. HALF TOUR OF PENDLE. AM. 11am. 9m/2250’ from Barley Village, near Burnley. £2.50 to organiser by 4th March. Website: www.clayton-le-moors-harriers.co.uk

 

SUN MARCH 12th.  IAN ROBERTS FELL RACE. BM. 11.00pm 7m from Marsden Cricket Club. £3 on day. Website: www.holmfirthharriers.com

 

SAT MARCH 11th. WUTHERING HIKE (Haworth Hobble). BL. 8am. 31m/4400’ from Westfield Lodge, Moorside Lane, Oxenhope. £18 teams of 2 or £10 solo. Entry on official entry form. Full kit to be carried. Bring mug for drinks en route. Hot meal at finish, showers/changing. Website: www.kcac.co.uk

 

SAT MARCH 11th TINA HORN MEMORIAL “WINDMILL WIZZ”  BM. 11.30 am. 6 miles/800’ from Ogden Reservoir, Causeway Foot, off A629 Halifax-Keighley Road. £4 on day.  Website: www.halifaxharriers.co.uk

 

SAT MARCH 25th MIDGLEY MOOR FELL RACE. AS. 11am. 5m/1250’ from Booth Cricket Club, Booth, Halifax. £3.50 on day. Website: www.cvfr.co.uk

 

SAT APRIL 1st  PENDLE FELL RACE. AS. 2pm. 4.5m/1500’ from Barley Village Hall, Barley, near Bunley, Lancs. £3 on day.  Refreshments in village hall. Website: www.clayton-le-moors-harriers.co.uk

 

SAT APRIL 8th FLOWER SCAR. AS. 11am 4m/1400’ from Hare & Hounds pub, Burney Road, Todmorden, Lancs. £3 on day. Website: www.todharriers.co.uk 

 

SAT APRIL 8th WARDLE SKYLINE. BM. 2pm. 7m/1000’ from Wardle Square, Ramsden Rd, Wardle, Rochdale, off A58 Rochdale-Halifax Rd. £3 on day. Details: Nigel Allen, 01706 371373.  

 

SUN APRIL 9th GISBOROUGH MOORS RACE. BL. 11am. 12.5m/2600’from Guisborough Rugby Club. £8.50 to organiser or £9.50 on day. Website: www.nym.ac

 

SUN APRIL 30th 52nd THREE PEAKS RACE. AL.10am. 24m/4500’ from the Playing fields, Horton in Ribblesdale. £8.Must pre-enter. Visit website for details: www.threepeaksrace.org.uk  

 

West Yorkshire Winter League 2005/6 season

The fourth event at Baildon saw 29 runners from Idle AC.  Ian Fisher won the race, Donna Edmondson-Booker claimed third for the women, while new girl Hayley was 7th. At the final event at Stainland, Idle hung on to 4th place, even with a depleted team and the challenge of a deep and fast flowing river to overcome.  Ian won his fifth event in a row.  There were notable performances from Adrian and Richard Lyons, both with hugely improved positions. Donna Edmondson-Booker takes league 3rd, and Simon Bellwood league 3rd M40.

 

So that’s it for another year!  Well done to everyone who took part and had a go.  I’ve done seventy in a row now – I think I’ll retire at 100! – Chris.

 

Overall Team Results after 5th Event at Stainland 19.2.06

Men

 

 

Vets

 

Pudsey

6549

 

Dewsbury

2375

LBT

6402

 

LBT

2318

Dewsbury

6228

 

Pudsey

2268

Idle A C

5908

 

Idle A C

2075

Stainland

5833

 

Stainland

2041

St.Bede's

5221

 

St.Bede's

2017

Baildon

5168

 

Baildon

1669

Skipton

3170

 

Skipton

1556

Women

 

 

Overall

 

Dewsbury

1477

 

Pudsey

7812

LBT

1395

 

LBT

7801

Stainland

1349

 

Dewsbury

7705

Idle A C

1330

 

Idle A C

7238

Pudsey

1263

 

Stainland

7182

Baildon

1214

 

Baildon

6382

St.Bede's

994

 

St.Bede's

6215

Skipton

628

 

Skipton

3798

 

 

WYWL Presentation Night: Fri 10th March 06

The 2006 WYWL presentation night, hosted by Stainland Lions, takes place on Friday 10th March at Old Brodleians Rugby Club.

 

Directions: M62, Junction 26, follow A58 to Halifax. After 6k turn right at Hipperholme traffic lights. Continue up the hill for 800m. Old Brodleians is on the left after the Shell petrol station.

 

The fun starts at 8pm and includes the presentation of all the team & individual trophies, curry buffet, raffle and disco for £7 per person (cash or cheques payable to West Yorkshire Winter League). See poster on the club notice board. Write your name on the list at the club by end Feb if you are going or let Chris & Davina know.

The Vets Bill

Firstly congratulations to Lisa Flesher and Peter Helliwell for winning trophies for 3rd F35 at the Yorkshire Vets 5K championship race and 2nd M40 at the 15 mile Yorkshire Vets championship race in 2005. Club records have continued to fall in this year’s Brass Monkey for Laura Brook and Simon Bellwood in the O/45 categories and Simon Blackburn with a PB.

 

The Yorkshire Vets races kick off this year on the 5th of February with the Cross Country Championships in Leeds where Idle AC will be fielding a team of 8 runners.

The 12th of February sees the start of the Grand Prix races at Esholt, the GP are a series of 10 races throughout the year, mostly off road about 5 - 6 miles long where your best six results are recorded. I recommend people try some of these events, as they are low key, mostly local and very friendly. You don't need to be a superstar to be competitive as there are different age categories and the key is to compete in as many as possible to gain your maximum points.

 

For this year the Men's age to be eligible for a Vet has been lowered to 35 from 40, the Women age will remain at 35. This was brought about at the 45th IAAF Congress held in Helsinki in August 2005, here they voted that the Male Vet's (master) age limit be moved to 35 from 40. There was some discussion and a vote taken with many arguing that a number of male athletes are still in their “active” career at that age (35). However the motion was carried and now our national and local organisations have to follow suit.

 

When I started running in the early 80's my impression of Vet runners were wizened, bandy legged old guys who before starting their run always used an elixir like muscle rub, the recipe a Colonel Saunders like secret, which had been handed down through the male generations for the last 200 years.

However after speaking about the Vets age reduction to Ian Fisher, who is now a Vet, before the start of the Brass Monkey.  I've come to the conclusion that much like teachers and policemen the Vet runners are now definitely looking younger.

 

Finally, I think you should take your inspiration where you can find it. Listening recently to Madonna's latest release half way through the song the lyrics say, " Those who run have the most fun". Who am I to contradict a superstar. - Steve  

 

Annual General Meeting – Thursday 6th April 06.

Idle AC’s fourth AGM will be held on Thursday 6th April at 7.15pm at the Cricket Club.  This is your big chance to air your views on the club’s present and future policy and activities.  Please note that there will be no club training on this date. An agenda will be available to all members by late March and members are now invited to submit any agenda items to any committee member no later than Monday 13th March.  Members are also reminded that subs will be collected (£15) at the AGM when a membership form will need to be completed. 

It would be appreciated if all subs could be paid by the beginning of May.

New Members

This month we welcome 1 new member - Carmel Beswick– Carmel is a regular to Wednesday nights and is a friend of Diana and Wilma.

Black Sheep Brewery Race Series 2006.

The Black Sheep Brewery Race Series is 6 separate running events organised by towns and villages in scenic North Yorkshire. The objective is to complete 5 out of 6 races, 3 x 10k's plus the 10 mile and 1/2 marathon. Runners who complete the required races will be awarded with a personalised plaque including their name, total time and position.
Category winners will be presented with Age Group Plaques plus prize vouchers.
Prizes and plaques will be awarded to the first five Male/Female runners overall, plus the first 3 in the following age groups:- MO/40, MO/45, MO/50, MO/55, MO/60, MO/65, - FO/35, FO/40, FO/45, FO/50, FO/55, FO/60, FO/65.
THE RACES
Ripon 10 mile: On Sunday May 14th, from Ripon Cricket Club.
Melmerby 10k: On Sunday May 28th, from the village of Melmerby.
Kirkby Malzeard: On Saturday June 3rd, from the village of Kirkby Malzeard.
Rainton 10k: On Sunday June 25th, from the village of Rainton.
Burn Valley Run: On Saturday July 1st, from the market town of Masham.
Burton Leonard 10k: On Sunday July 23rd, from the village of Burton Leonard.

All races can be entered individually as well as part of the series.  Entry forms available at the club but closing date (series) is 14th April 06 or when the series limit of 220 is reached. For news and results visit: www.blacksheeprunners.co.uk The Black Sheep series is highly recommended by members of Idle AC. Lots of the events involve fun runs for the children and are generally good days out.

Keswick to Barrow event: Saturday 6th May 06

The Keswick to Barrow Walk is a 40 mile sponsored stroll through some of the country’s finest landscapes. The route starts on the southern side of the Lake District town of Keswick and winds its way through some of the most beautiful scenery to the Victorian town of Barrow in Furness on the coast of the Irish Sea.  Some of my work colleagues did it last year & thoroughly enjoyed it.  I think it is something that could be done by members of Idle AC as a change from runs like the Blackpool event.  It’s a long way I know but you do not have to run it all, after all it’s classed as a “walk”.

It is essentially a “sponsored walk” but there is no minimum amount of sponsorship demanded & there is no entry fee!  The idea is that you get a team together of up to 10 people & between you raise some money for a given charity.  The size of the team isn’t important nor is the amount of cash raised.  There are checkpoints along the way with food & drinks available (at a small cost).  Alternatively we can have someone with a “support vehicle” with sandwiches & energy drinks etc if there’s interest & a willing driver amongst us.

As a guide, last year there were 1008 entries with the slowest time being 16hrs 40mins.  If you do manage to run it all you will get inside the top 50 with a time of around 6hrs 45mins.  The winning male last year did it in a time of 4hrs 42mins & the winning lady’s time was 5hrs 50mins.  I believe that Idle AC could attain some very good results & end up with a good team prize to boot.

For further info look at their excellent website at: http://www.keswick2barrow.co.uk/home.asp

As the race is on the Saturday you will need to be there very early or better still stay overnight in or near Keswick.  There’s a good camp site called Castlerigg Farm that charges £12 per night. Their details can be found on http://www.castleriggfarm.com/

I’m just trying to establish whether there’s any interest at this point so if anyone is remotely interested in “having a go” then drop an email to:- martin@idleac.co.uk

This is not a commitment to go but I would like a rough idea of numbers at this stage.

If anyone wants any further info & can’t find it on the website, then again drop me an email & I’ll find out for you – Martin.

There is definite interest in this event from club members. Please write your name on the notice board at the club if you are interested.

Congratulations…..

Congratulations to old friends of Idle AC (they were there at the formation of the club), Claire & Stefan Macina who have just become proud parents to Charlotte on 9th Feb, weighing 8lb 10oz. A baby sister for Isabel.

…..and Celebrations!

I write this in celebration of the miracle that, for the first time, I have stuck to my marathon training plan almost exactly for a whole two weeks and two days! Admittedly I started it at week four instead of week one and I switched to a lower mileage one at the last minute and I’ve been going to the Tuesday sessions and just adding a bit on to make them longer rather than doing the recommended ‘lactate threshold 9 miles with 4 miles 15k to half marathon race pace’ (?) - I just look at that and it doesn’t mean anything (the rest of the book makes even less thrilling reading so I will never find out what joy that session may bring). But no doubt whatever training I do it won’t make the slightest difference in twelve weeks time when the sun is beating down and I’ll be irritable as hell and I’ll probably get that sore knee which is annoyingly not quite bad enough to warrant dropping out even though I really want to.  Although it may not sound like it, this is in fact a time for dual celebration as this month marks the anniversary of me starting running and so I would now like to reflect on one misty February morning five years ago…..

 

……One misty February morning five years ago, my so-called friend Miriam and I got up early to have a go at running.  If you care to picture the scene: 7am, coldest place on Earth (Newcastle), the lofty stands of St James’ Park (we lived next door) glimpsed through the haze, bandstand in the park, cow field all frosty. I had never been running before, or even actually considered taking any exercise ever, and was (and still am) completely lacking in any natural sporting ability.  Miriam hadn’t done any in ages so, for demonstration purposes, we were accompanied by another friend Jamie who spent all his time running, masturbating and photocopying my lecture notes.  Really we were going because Miriam and Jamie fancied each other and I was just there as some kind of decoy. After much persuasion, and given a good shove by the recent revelation that I was about twelve and a half stone, I had decided it was probably worth a try.

 

Our route that morning became the one Miriam and I would do every weekday morning for the next couple of months.  We were rubbish.  It involved trying to run as far as we could (hey, we could do at least one or two hundred metres in one go), walking a while and repeating this over and over. Jamie gave up coming with us after a couple of days after complaining that we weren’t trying hard enough or getting a sweat on. The whole thing took us about twenty minutes and as each week passed we could make it a bit further before we had to take a break.  Then one day something amazing happened.  Miriam went home for the Easter holidays and I went out and managed to run the whole way round.  I then secretly started taking a slightly longer route and when Miriam returned she could no longer keep up with me and she didn’t ever really talk to me again after that.

 

Five marathons later I’m still pretty slow despite my attempts at training which seem depressingly futile at times.  However, at least I can run for miles and miles which I guess is a potentially useful attribute if all forms of regular transport are rendered useless in some kind of apocalyptic situation, assuming it is safe to go outside.  Maybe by trying to be consistent with my running I will get faster eventually but on the other hand it doesn’t really make any difference since even if I’m still running when I’m old I will still just be running in a circle. 

-Lisa

From The Coach…

It wasn’t such a bad Saturday afternoon.  Adrian and I had agreed on a steady ten or so, since it was the day before the Baildon Cross Country.  We kicked off from Apperley Bridge, and recced Steve’s recommendation for the improvement of the Idle Trail Race course.  Following his instructions, we were led up some steps from the Woodlands road to a wide tree lined track, which took us below Rawdon Golf Course.  I looked around me in astonishment at the massive improvement this would make.  Not only have the rocky descent down Spite and Malice, and the malicious farmer, been eliminated, but the course looks a whole lot more attractive as a proper trail race.  We finished up with a trot down past the John Carr start, and I remembered how this woodland path towards the sewage works is so littered with pungent bluebells in the best part of spring.

 

This is the darkness before the dawn.  The toughest time for the distance runner.  We have gone our longest without real light, without variation.  The club is busy with people seeking motivation, and those who can are busy trying to run during the day.  Those training for London are achieving massive feats – getting in the mileage in the dark – it’s all part of the challenge of the London.  And of course off-road running is at a premium – impossible except at weekends for most, apart from those unfortunate enough to follow Steve Little into the woods on a Wednesday Night, since he doesn’t seem to regard inky blackness as an impediment to the use of his chosen trail course.  So the winter trail runs have assumed greater significance – so much more enjoyable than the traffic infested efforts on Thursdays, though the Club members have stuck gamely to those, and helped me to extend the time out into a meaningful training session for most. 

 

All this would be fine, but for one development which I do not regard as entirely positive.  A couple of years ago, we would dish out the hot blackcurrant in the clubhouse, and come to an agreement about how far we had run.  We would apply logical criteria, bearing in mind unique features like terrain, weather conditions, likely training pace, and even how we felt.  It was a wonderfully inexact science, but one which would generally leave each runner satisfied with their effort, because it took into account our individual situations.

 

Contrast this with the GPS boys.  I say ‘boys’, because I haven’t yet met a woman who owns one of those wrist mounted calculators which uses satellite technology to inform us that we have not run twelve miles in one hour and thirty minutes, as we know in our hearts that we have, but in fact only 8.6.

 

A week ago Adrian informed me that our ten mile run was only eight.  Yesterday we ran over Pennine moorland for three hours, and only achieved 18.6 miles, not the 20 he had hoped for.  Is the rumour that GPS systems cut corners when they go out of signal true?  Do they really take gradient into account?  Should we trust the information given to us by a distant computer, floating around in space somewhere near the moon? 

The inexact science is, I believe, far more exact in truth.  In short a mile run in training is a unit of effort, not of distance.  This must logically be the case since we would not expect to cover a 6 mile cross country course in the same time as the Wakefield 10k.  Which would you think took the most running effort?  Most would go for the 10k as the easier option.  Therefore a 42:30 10k is just that, but a 49 minute 6 mile cross country effort should be divided by the mile pace of the road event.  This gives a mile as a unit of effort, and the cross country race should thus be recorded in your training diary as a 7.  The weekly mileage you are recording then is a truer record of your achievement and progress. 

 

Applying this formula to the 3 hour run described earlier is straightforward.  The 10k mile time is inappropriate of course, but an equivalent recent road distance over time is.  The Nottingham Marathon gave me 3:20, or 7.63 minute mile pace.  Call it eight to be safe, and the answer comes out at a neat 22.5 miles.  And Adrian only wanted a 20!

 

As I struggled with the end of this article in the Symposium, Siobhan behind the bar enquired what I was doing.  I explained that I was trying to reach a conclusion and offer advice.  “Never eat yellow snow!” she offered as a contribution.  Our opportunities for eating any kind of snow are declining fast.  The Cross Country season has gone.  There may be a final flourish of winter, but the transient month of March awaits.  And when the clocks spring forward, we will gallop as one across the river and canal towards the roadless countryside, towards the new improved Idle Trail Race, and into long, warm days of achievement, of miles that we know we have covered in our hearts.

 

                                    - Chris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Men’s Club Records

 

Distance

Category

Name

Time

5 Km

Open

Joe Marjoram

17.08

M40

Simon Bellwood

18.30

M45

David Lewis

18:46

M50

Trevor Hooley

21.22

5 Miles

Open

Doug Briggs

29:43

M40

Chris Stubbs

31.06

M45

Richard Lyons

33.22

M50

Trevor Hooley

38.42

10 Km

Open

Douglas Briggs

36.13

M40

Chris Stubbs

38.32

M45

Dave Lewis

38:57

10 Miles

Open

Joe Marjoram

1:01:22

M40

Chris Stubbs

1:05:14

M45

Steve Little

1:08:54

M50

Trevor Hooley

1:20:04

Half Marathon

Open

Douglas Briggs

1:18:58

M40

Chris Smith

1:24:05

M45

Simon Bellwood

1:22:48

15 Miles

Open

Chris Stubbs

1:37:03

M40

Simon Bellwood

1:43:58

M45

Trevor Hooley

2:03:18

20 Miles

Open

Chris Smith

2:24:00

M40

Simon Bellwood

2:17:26

M45

Richard Lyons

2:34:51

Marathon

Open

Chris Smith

3:04:12

M40

Simon Bellwood

3:02:18

M45

Richard Lyons

3:36:15

M50

Trevor Hooley

4:15:08

 

 

 

 

Current Women’s Club Records

Distance

Category

Name

Time

5 Km

Open

Donna Edmondson

19:03

F40

Laura Brook

22.04

F45

Kay Gambles

20.59

5 Miles

Open

Donna Edmondson

34:57

F45

Kay Gambles

40.03

F50

Ana Lincoln

43.13

10 Km

Open

Donna Edmondson

42:33

F45

Kay Gambles

47:11

F50

Ana Lincoln

52:39

10 Miles

Open

Donna Edmondson

1:13:00

F45

Kay Gambles

1:16:50

F50

Ana Lincoln

1.32.38

Half Marathon

Open

Donna Edmondson

1:33:22

F40

Kay Gambles

1:51:00

F45

Laura Brook

1:41:39

F50

Ana Lincoln

1:53:27

15 Miles

Open

Donna Edmondson

1:50:54

F35

Amnuay Scott

2:00:43

20 Miles

Open

Joanne Belcher

3:01:18

F35

Davina Smith

3:01:01

F40

Kay Gambles

3:02:00

Marathon

Open

Joanne Belcher

3:37.15

F40

Kay Gambles

4:10:00

F45

Laura Brook

4:07:42