Coming Events: Feb & March 08

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

Date	Event
Sun 3^rd Feb 08	Dewsbury 10k. Fast, Flat PB course. NO on day entries. Race Full.
Sun 10^th Feb 08	Blackburn Winter Warmer 10k. Traffic Free (Witton Park),11am.
Sun 10^th Feb 08	Liversedge Half. Race Full.
Sun 24^th Feb 08	5th WYWL cross country hosted by Skipton AC. See below. All club needed to run.
Sun 2^nd March 08	Haweswater Half, Cumbria. 12 noon. Out & back, hilly challenging course.
Sun 2^nd March 08	Norton 9 (Nr Doncaster),11am, scenic, rural course.
Sun 9^th March 08	East Hull 20,10am, fast flat 20miler.
Sun 16^th March 08	Ackworth Half,10.30am.
Sun 16^th March 08	Spen 20. Hilly course usually with snow or giant hail stones but always popular with Idle AC!!
Sun 23^rd March 08	Guiseley Gallop (Approx) 10k.10.30am. Great local event.
Sun 30^th March	Wakefield 10k. 10am.
Sun 30^th March 08	Hornsea 1/3 Marathon,11am. Great for a seaside weekend!
Sun 30^th March 08	Burnley 10k, 11am.

Attendance Scheme/ Club races – 2008 details:

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. Each attendance at a “Club” designated race earns you 5 points (see below).

The Top 20 Club races for 2008, where points can be earned are as follows.

Date	Race Details	Comments.
March 16^th – Sun	Spen 20mile, 10am.
March 23^rd – Sun	Guiseley Gallop (Approx 10k)
March 30^th - Sun	Wakefield 10k.
April – Tues 1^st	Bunny Run (1) 3miles, 7pm.
May – Sun 4th	Bluebell Trail 10. Multi Terrain.
May – Wed 7th	John Carr 5k, Esholt, 7.30pm. Fast, flat course.
June – Wed 7^th	Chevin Fell Race, AS, 3.5m/900’. 7.30pm.
June – Thurs	Bronte 5, 7.30pm. Hilly two lap course.	Date to be confirmed.
June – Sun	West Yorkshire Fire 5 2pm. Hilly & rural. Free food!!	Date to be confirmed.
June – Sun 15^th	Castle Howard 10k.
June – Wed	Otley 10. 7.30pm.	Date to be confirmed.
July – Wed	Stirton Fell Race. BS. 5.5m/1200’. 7.30pm.	Date to be confirmed.
July –Sun 29^th	Pudsey 10k, 10.45.
Sept – Sun	Yorkshireman Marathon or Half, 10am.	Date to be confirmed.
Sept – Sun 14^th	Wetherby 10k.
Sept – Sun	Horsforth 10k, 10am.	Date to be confirmed.
Oct –Sun	Withins Skyline Fell Race, BM, 5m/800’ 11.30am.	Date to be confirmed.
Oct – Sun	Holmfirth 15mile. 10.30am.	Date to be confirmed.
Nov – Sun	Guy Fawkes 10mile 10.30am.	Date to be confirmed.
Nov - Sun	Abbey Dash 10k, 9.30am.	Date to be confirmed.

Fell Races 2008: Feb to end March 08.

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.

FRA Website: www.fellrunner.org.uk

SAT FEB 9^th WADSWORTH HALF TROG. BM. 10 am. 9m/1500’ from the Old Town Cricket Club, Hebden Bridge. £6, closing date: 2^nd Feb. No entries on day. Website: www.cvfr.co.uk

SAT FEB 9^th WADSWORTH TROG. BL. 10.10 am. 20m/4000’ from the Old Town Cricket Club, Hebden Bridge. £6, closing date: 2^nd Feb. No entries on day. Website: www.cvfr.co.uk Full body cover, map, compass, whistle and emergency food must be carried for either events above. No kit, no run.

SAT MARCH 1^st NOON STONE FELL RACE. AM. 12 noon. 9m/2300’ from Top Brisk Inn, Lumbutts, Todmorden. £4 on day. Website: www.todharriers.co.uk

SUN MARCH 2^nd HARTCLIFF HILL CHARITY RACE.BS. 12 noon, 2.5m/500’ from Langsett Barn on A616. Donation of at least £5 (Yorks Air Ambulance & Wharfedale Hill & Rescue. Website: www.pfrac.fsnet.co.uk

SAT MARCH 8^th. HALF TOUR OF PENDLE. AM. 11am. 9m/2250’ from Barley, Near Burnley. £2.50 to organiser by 3^rd March.. Website: www.clayton-le-moors-harriers.co.uk

SUN MARCH 9^th. IAN ROBERTS FELL RACE. BM. 11.00pm 7m/1000’ from Marsden Cricket Club. £4 on day. Website: www.holmfirthharriers.com

SAT MARCH 15^th. WUTHERING HIKE (Haworth Hobble). BL. 8am. 33m/4400’ from Haworth Community Centre. £20 teams of 2 or £11 solo. Entry on official entry form. Full kit to be carried. Bring mug for drinks en route. Hot meal at finish, showers/changing. No litter to be dropped. Website: www.kcac.co.uk

SAT MARCH 15^th WINDMILLS WHIZZ. BM. 11.30am. 7m/800’ from Ogden Reservoir, Causeway Foot. £5 on day. Website: www.ogdenwater.freeserve.co.uk

SAT MARCH 29^th MIDGLEY MOOR RACE. AS. 11am. 5m/1250’ from Booth Cricket Club, Booth, Halifax. £3.50 on day. Website: www.cvfr.co.uk

Race Results Various:

Brass Monkey Half Marathon 20/1/08

118 Simon Bellwood 1.26.51

273 Phil Joyner 1.35.57 Male CR

283 Chris Smith 1.36.16

327 Denise Frost 1.38.24 F50 CR

372 Steve Little 1.40.19 M50 CR

376 Tim Whitcombe 1.40.25 PB

623 Martin Burnside 1.52.06

631 Davina Smith 1.52.28

839 Hannah Peacock 2.05.21

938 Anna Lincoln 2.14.36

1015 ran

Yorks Vets Cross Country: Keighley, 13/1/08

Men 10k

93 Simon Bellwood 42.25

99 Dave Lewis 44.12

101 Chris Smith 44.29

Women 5k

31 Jo Belcher 27.11

58 Amnuay Scott 29.43

66 Clare Sweeney 30.38

84 Ana Lincoln 37.42

Stanbury Splash Fell Race, 27/1/08, 7m/12ft.

136 Phil Routh 62.02

211 Tony Blythe 69.13

251 Shaun Lennon 74.33

What 2008 has to offer Idle AC.

We will continue to build up the club in terms of the numbers, the ethos, and in the support and enthusiasm that we can all provide to one another. We will continue to offer weekly coached sessions on Tuesdays, offering hill and speed work. In addition we also offer additional monthly coached sessions on the 1^st Wednesday in every month (at 6.30pm). The Attendance and Club records Scheme (with a big choice of prizes!) continues. 10^th April sees our 2008 AGM.

We will continue to encourage members to race at a variety of distances, especially the races that form the 2008 club race listed events.

In addition to running events there will be ‘social’ events such as the WYWL Presentation evening in March hosted by Baildon Runners (details to be confirmed) & the annual Idle Beer Festival.

However the highlight of 2008 will be our hosting of the 4th Idle Trail race (date to be confirmed). We will need the whole club (plus family and friends) to make it a success so please ensure everyone is available. With the excellent feedback we received from last year’s event we hope to reach our race limit.

Finally, of course, we hope to be competing in the West Yorkshire Winter League. This is just a tiny (there’ll be loads more stuff!) number of things that Idle AC will be offering in 2008.

We will continue to keep members regularly updated at the club sessions, on our website (including Chris’s page), within the monthly Idle Gossip and within the monthly committee minutes. If you want something done or have ideas for things you want the club to do - see a committee member.

First Aid Recovery position…

Chris, Martin & Lisa are Idle AC’s qualified first Aiders. Following their recent courses St. John’s suggested that they pass on training on the recovery position to club members. This is simple to do but very effective and has saved lives. It is vital to ensure that an unconscious person is put in this position as it clears airways. This ensures that there is no chance of their tongue, or vomit, blocking their respiration. On Tuesday 5^th, Wednesday 6^th and Thursday 7^th Feb Chris, Lisa and/or Martin will demonstrate this vital technique after each of the training sessions. It will only take approx 5 minutes but could enable members to save a life. A handout will be given out after the demonstrations.

Annual General Meeting – Thursday 10^th April 08.

Idle AC’s sixth AGM will be held on Thursday 10^th 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 within the next few weeks. Please note that members must be at the AGM in order to vote for the committee nominations. Members are 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 at the latest as annual subs then need to be paid to England Athletics.

2008 marathons

For those not doing London marathon on 13th April 08, here are a selection of other Spring marathons that are on offer:

March 23^rd Dumfries, Scotland. www.dumfriesrunningclub.org.uk

April 6^th Bungay Black Dog Marathon, Suffolk. Two lap town/rural course. A long way to go but good for a weekend away. Well organised. www.bungay-marathon.co.uk

April 13^th London – Jo, Davina, Ammie, Hannah & Ana will be there!.

April 27^th: Shakespeare, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warks. 2 lap course. Well supported. www.shakespearemarathon.org.uk

April 27^th: Blackpool. www.blackpoolmarathon.com

May 5^th: Belfast Marathon: Possible to fly over for the day! www.belfastcitymarathon.com

May 18^th: Brathay Windermere. 1 lap, undulating course with outstanding Lake District scenery. www.brathay.org.uk

Check out the runners world &/or ukresults.com website for more details.

Bunny Runs 2008

4 individual races on successive Tuesday evenings, 2008 dates are:
1 April 7.00pm, 8 April 7.15pm, 15 April 7.30pm, 22 April 7.30pm followed by the Bunny Relays on the 29th April 7.30pm
All from Dimples Lane Quarry. Registration at the Old Sun Hotel, Haworth, W. Yorks (GR 026372), 5 mins. from start.
Individual Bunny Runs: CS. 3m/300'. £2 on night only
Dave & Eileen Woodhead have been involved with organising fell races for many years: the Bunny Runs, Withins Skyline, The Stoop, Auld Lang Syne, Stanbury Splash, and others too. Visit: www.woodentops.org.uk

West Yorkshire Winter League 2007/8 season

This is the main league that we encourage members of Idle AC to run.

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 (great bash).

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 final fixture for 2007/8 is confirmed as follows:

Date Host club Venue

5. Feb 24^th, 11am. Skipton Skipton, usually Aireville

Park, opposite the railway station.

Full details will be circulated to club members prior to the event.

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 in March 07. Further details will be circulated prior to each event. This year’s presentation night (March 08) will be hosted by Baildon Runners (Details to follow nearer the time).

Reflexology

Reflexology is a form of 'alternative' or 'complementary' medicine and involves a method of treatment using massage to reflex areas found in the feet and the hands. Most commonly, the feet are used as the areas to be treated.

In the feet, there are reflex areas corresponding to all the parts of the body and these areas are arranged in such a way as to form a map of the body in the feet with the right foot corresponding to the right side of the body and the left foot corresponding to the left side of the body. By having the whole body represented in the feet, the method offers a means of treating the whole body and of treating the body as a whole. This latter point is an important factor of a natural therapy and allows not only symptoms to be treated but also the causes of symptoms. Reflexology does not claim to be a 'cure-all' but numerous different disorders have been successfully treated by this method. These disorders include: Tension & Stress, backache, Headache/Migraine, Sciatica, Hormonal imbalances, breathing disorders, digestive disorders, circulatory problems and relaxation.

Treatment:

When first visiting, a detailed medical history will be taken. The patient will then be seated and will be asked to remove the shoes and socks. An initial examination of the feet will take place before commencing with the precise massage movement. This involves the application of a firm pressure using the side and end of the thumb. In some instances, the fingers will also be employed.

All areas on both feet will be massaged. Areas corresponding to parts of the body, which are out of balance, will feel uncomfortable or tender when massaged and the degree of tenderness will indicate the degree of imbalance. The sensitivity of the feet varies from person to person and the correct pressure will be applied in order to interpret the tenderness felt. The massage should not be very uncomfortable to even the most sensitive of feet. The full treatment session will last approximately three-quarters of an hour and at the end of a session the feet should feel warm and the patient relaxed. The number of treatment sessions required will vary depending on the condition being treated.

Following treatment, it is sometimes possible that the eliminating systems of the body become more active in order to rid the body of unwanted toxic matter. It is advised to drink plenty of water after each session. Reflexology is a particularly pleasant means of treatment and a means of maintaining the body in good health.

Idle AC Reflexologies:

We are really lucky that we have a qualified reflexologist within our club - Carmel Beswick (Reflexology For All). Carmel, is based at Farsley Phyiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 20 Town Lane, Farsley. The price is £25 per session.

If anyone at the club wants more info Davina has a number of Carmel’s business cards, including her mobile & email address.

Degree Congrats…..

Idle AC (especially all her friends from the Wednesday Group!!!) offers congratulations to Carmel Beswick as she has just obtained a 2:1 Honours Degree in Psychology. Carmel has continued to work full time and study part time for her degree, in addition to her family & other commitments (such as running!!). Well done Carmel.

London Marathon 2008: Sun 13^th April 07

We drew 2 names from the 3 rejections in the London Marathon draw at the Christmas party. The lucky winners are. Amnuay Scott and Davina Smith. They join Hannah Peacock, Jo Belcher & Ana Lincoln on the start line (A bit of a girly weekend!). Good luck to all who are running.

PS The Spen 20 is on 16^th March. Despite the tough course with snowy weather Idle AC are usually out in force as it’s ideal marathon training.

London Marathon 2008: BLISS charity.

As you know I’m running London on 13^th April. This year I’ve decided to try and raise some money for my favourite charity – BLISS, the Premature Baby charity (see www.bliss.org.uk). I have paper sponsorship forms but in addition I’ve set up a Just giving webpage at: www.justgiving.com/davinasmith1

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: BLISS will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

My twins, Joseph & Katie, were born 6 weeks premature on in October 2003. I observed first hand the support the BLISS was able to give. Joe & Katie spent 6 weeks in the SCBU in Bradford. It was through the support of BLISS that we were able to deal with the roller coaster of emotions that we felt.

I will be celebrating my 42nd birthday when I run the London Marathon on 13th April. This will be my 22nd marathon and it will be great to 'give something back' to such a wonderful and deserving charity.

Hopefully Joe & Katie (now very lively 4 year olds!!) will watch their mum on TV!

Thanks so much for your support! – Davina.

Thursday Nights Run for All

We started our first ‘Run for All’ (first Thursday of each month) on Thursday 4^th Oct and it’s continued to prove to be a huge success. We tend to all stay together as a group with lots of running back for the front end runners and a pace that would be suitable for ANY member. Please continue to all come along as it’s a night when we encourage members of all abilities to attend the club (7pm). The next Run for All Night is on Thursday February 08!

Yorkshire Vets Races 2008.

Idle AC will be once again affiliating the club to the Yorkshire Veterans Athletic Association (YVAA) in early 08. The first grand prix race of 2008 will be held on Sunday 3^rd Feb at Horsforth at 10am. After the race there will be the prize presentation for 2007 and the AGM.

Grand Prix Race 2. Meltham: Sun 23^rd March at 10am.

Meltham Community Sports Centre. Mostly off road on tracks & fields with some long climbs & descents. Approx 6 miles.

More details to follow when full year fixtures have been finalised.

From the Coach…

I thought Davina had bought a running magazine when I saw the glossy cover and the positive and proactive headlines shouting at me. I was mistaken – it was a copy of “Zest”, a women’s magazine. She did later buy a “Runners’ World”, and I was startled by the similarity of the covers. The lightly clad women on each cover adopted slightly different poses, but many of the headlines were quite simply interchangeable. This indicated to me a change in lifestyle in two directions towards a common centre ground. Of course a “niche” magazine like RW wants to keep its appeal as broad as possible, so will demand attention from anyone broadly interested in fitness. Yet it appears to have left something behind in the quest for more mainstream readership – some of the credibility and emphasis within the sport for clubs and club runners. On the other hand it now seems normal for a mainstream magazine to discuss health and fitness as a major and expanding lifestyle choice.

I recently discussed with Davina the demographic of our club. She pointed out that we may differ from other clubs in that our membership contains a high proportion of “professional” people, and those whom I would describe as having “time critical” occupations and thus lifestyles. By that I mean that for them running is dovetailed into a very busy life as a chosen lifestyle option, but it has to be a casualty when the pressure is on. To some extent I had to concur – we ourselves suffer from compromise regularly!

I was attempting to find answers of course to my questions about how despite the fact that we have a huge amount of talent at the club, we have not recently been able to demonstrate that in team events. I hold my hands up and admit the possibility of a personal factor here – I have hardly worked hard to ensure my popularity at the club. Indeed there are people who would far rather pull out their own toenails than accompany me to a cross country race. Yet Davina only had to refer to Tuesday sessions – still hugely popular – to leave me again without a cogent answer.

I have to return to my opener about the magazine covers to explain what is happening at some, though by no means all, running clubs. I always regarded running as infinitely superior to gyms or classes in terms of fitness, because clear goals and measures of achievement are available. Yet I believe it is more likely nowadays that the club member may see attendance at training as an end in itself, and a club race to be one commitment too many. Generally speaking, too, there are many, many more people involved in our sport, and quite clearly in open races, than will ever join clubs. Amazingly, UK Athletics, the governing body of the sport, responded with the idea of an affiliated “online running club” with all the financial advantages of club membership, i.e. cheaper race entries. It seemed likely to me that this would pull the rug from under clubs trying to recruit those unattached runners. They claimed that it would provide a link to clubs, but I argued vociferously against it at the regional forum of the Road Running Leadership Group. I believe that most people would stop at that point, with the online member not needing to join and certainly not needing to contribute to a traditional club.

To me then there is a new kind of person crossing the blurred boundary from general fitness to running- one whose lifestyle includes the regular practice of a simple physical activity. Many simply do not join clubs, but those who do may well alter the focus of clubs like ours. Is a running club a group of people who run, or a team with an identity in its competitive environment? I worry of course that my regular exhortations to members to compete in “team” events may well now be irrelevant, if we are no longer results driven. But I hope that is not really the case. Typically, I want to have the best of both worlds – I want us to be great traditionalists within the sport, but also to reflect and change with the times.

Between now and April I will ask these questions of members, since I do not want to expend huge effort pushing people where they don’t want to go. I sincerely hope that readers will make comment to me on any of the above factors, as we approach the AGM I really want the club to be able to respond and adapt, but Davina and I both recognise that part of that adaptation may include someone else taking the lead.

-Chris.

Current Men’s Club Records

Distance	Category	Name	Time
5 Km	Senior	Vacant
	M40	Simon Bellwood	18.30
	M45	David Lewis	18:40
	M50	Steve Little	21.09
5 Miles	Senior	Vacant
	M40	Chris Stubbs	31.06
	M45	Richard Lyons	33.22
	M50	Trevor Hooley	38.42
10 Km	Senior	Laurence Doddy	41.10
	M40	Chris Stubbs	36.25
	M45	Dave Lewis	38:57
	M50	Steve Little	46:28
10 Miles	Senior	Vacant
	M40	Chris Stubbs	1:05:14
	M45	Simon Bellwood	1:06:54
	M50	Steve Little	1:16:21
Half Marathon	Senior	Phil Joyner	1:35:57
	M40	Chris Smith	1:24:05
	M45	Simon Bellwood	1:22:48
	M50	Steve Little	1:40:19
15 Miles	Senior	Chris Stubbs	1:37:03
	M40	Simon Bellwood	1:43:58
	M45	Trevor Hooley	2:03:18
	M50	Vacant
20 Miles	Senior	Chris Smith	2:24:00
	M40	Simon Bellwood	2:17:26
	M45	Simon Bellwood	2:13:50
	M50	Vacant
Marathon	Senior	Chris Smith	3:04:12
	M40	Simon Bellwood	3:02:18
	M45	Simon Bellwood	3:07: 03
	M50	Trevor Hooley	4:15:08

Current Women’s Club Records

Distance	Category	Name	Time
5 Km	Senior	Vacant
	F35	Clare Sweeney	22:13
	F40	Davina Smith.	26:08
	F45	Kay Gambles	20.59
	F50	Ana Lincoln	27.01
5 Miles	Senior	Vacant
	F35	Amnuay Scott	40.06
	F45	Kay Gambles	40.03
	F50	Ana Lincoln	43.13
10 Km	Senior	Lisa Hall	49:06
	F35	Maria Furness	47:07
	F40	Amnuay Scott	46.55
	F45	Vacant
	F50	Denise Frost	43:15
10 Miles	Senior	Vacant
	F35	Amnuay Scott	1:23:29
	F45	Kay Gambles	1:16:50
	F50	Ana Lincoln	1.32.38
Half Marathon	Senior	Sarah Holness	1:59:08
	F35	Jo Belcher	1:43:29
	F40	Kay Gambles	1:51:00
	F45	Vacant
	F50	Denise Frost	1:38:24
15 Miles	Senior	Vacant
	F35	Julie Parker	2:29:59
	F40	Vacant
	F45	Vacant
	F50	Ana Lincoln	2:34:19
20 Miles	Senior	Joanne Belcher	2:37:11
	F35	Davina Smith	3:01:01
	F40	Kay Gambles	3:02:00
	F45	Vacant
	F50	Ana Lincoln	3.49.32
Marathon	Senior	Joanne Belcher	3:21:31
	F35	Joanne Belcher	3:44:00
	F40	Davina Smith	4:02:58
	F45	Vacant
	F50	Ana Lincoln	4.47.06