West Yorkshire Winter League - Bankhouse Valley
Sunday 8th Dec 2013
Host - Pudsey Pacers RC
Weather - Mild and cloudy
Good preparation is everything, regardless of the distance. Start as you mean to go on. And so, it was with error that I'd enjoyed a second consecutive night out with fine food, good company and a few alcoholic beverages. Above this, I'd also not slept and been up since 5ish. As I jogged down Scholebrook Lane at 9.55 doing well in this hard, sloppy race was not high on my aims - these were simply to finish and not be sick.
I passed nervous glances with Andrew 'Mighty' Byrom, Sandra Foster, 'Tony-mator' Mawson and Sara Demaine. All around me were the Lions of Stainland... I could've had an onion, beer-filled boff and taken about 8 out in one swoop; not very sporting though. And there was some fear that I might do more harm to myself! The usual instructions were given to the front runners and without incident we were off.
Within the first 50 metres all of us were splattered with brown, latte coloured wet mud. I must've felt ok as I even joked with some ladies that they had a bit of mud on their shoes... just in case they hadn't noticed. I also suggested to Mark 'Dances with Paws-on' that he'd need to take care of his glass ankles. I stretched the legs on the downhill section and went past Sara Demaine and the Mighty Byrom.
I ran behind the Tonymator and Mark Dixson up through Black Carr Woods. Soon, we passed Digger and Marley at the turn and we flew down the hazard filled route through mud, slop and streams. Grunter soon whizzed past in his customary style. Left at the big log then soon down through the water to big cheers of support from Phil and Carol. I placed myself behind Anna Brown from Queensbury at the stone stile and kept Grunter and the Tonymator in sight.
Along the track in the valley floor then sharp right at Scholebrook Lane down to the stream crossing. The water wasn't deep but as always the exit on the far side was a sticky, mudfest and foot placement care was needed. No falling here as there were cameras around! back along to the big log and some words of encouragements from Coach Hardtaker before crosiing the footbridge and into Black Carr Woods. I soon stopped for a fellrun shuffle and still had Grunter some 75 metres ahead. Suddenly, over the steep worst two Pacers went passed and then a deep wheezing noise that seemed familiar, if only in folklore... Jim Wheldon puffed past and offered brief motivation.
Past Digger for the second and final time I turned to look back along the line of runners behind - no sign of Sandra or the Mighty Byrom. I tried to make good pace down the steep slopes but keep enough in the tank for the final push up the hill. No places were lost until Scholebrook Lane and I only stopped to navaigate around a stationary horse rider. I shuffled up and round to the kennels then started the final push. I kept the Stainland vest ahead of me but couldn't make the ground. I glanced behind as the roars erupted on the corner of the Bankhouse. A last sprint to the finish and no overtaking. And no sick. Finish. Hurrah!
Postscript
Mud, mud and more mud. Smiles all round and glowing endorsements from other clubs. Although there a few reckless horsey fold who galloped through the lead runners and then shared heated exchanges with concerned marshals. Pah! Not great preparation from me, but i survived, wasn't sick and felt more human once I'd showered and enjoyed the best roast dinner at the Midnight Bell - what Sundays are made for, no?
07/12/2013
Parkrun poleaxe 2: Return of the Shipwreck...
Woodhouse Moor Parkrun
Sat 7th Dec 2013
Weather - Cold and dry (wet underfoot)
The morning after the Pudsey Pacer Christmas do the night before. This effort was never going to be a PB attempt, although I'd hoped to get close. Al Chapman, Sandra Foster, Mark Smith and Andrew Hardaker and I all shared some chat at the start line. The usual chaotic start soon witnessed all other Pacers around me heading off into the distance. I stayed with Mark for first 2kms. By then i wasn't sure if I was going be sick or need to stop at the toilets. The next kilometre was something of a blur and the last two were simply survival.
I walked back from the finish to cheer on David Owen, a few Harriers and Anne Akers from Eccleshill. I felt better for having done the race but 23.01 would be a full minute slower than the previous week. My mile splits were consistent at just over 7.45 and I couldn't have done anymore. So, I rewarded myself with a big chuffing latte and decided to forget about it!
Quite how Sandra managed to PB at 21 and a bit is beyond me... still drunk I reckon. Respect. Mind, as mark says when your paced by someone else it doesn't count.
Sat 7th Dec 2013
Weather - Cold and dry (wet underfoot)
The morning after the Pudsey Pacer Christmas do the night before. This effort was never going to be a PB attempt, although I'd hoped to get close. Al Chapman, Sandra Foster, Mark Smith and Andrew Hardaker and I all shared some chat at the start line. The usual chaotic start soon witnessed all other Pacers around me heading off into the distance. I stayed with Mark for first 2kms. By then i wasn't sure if I was going be sick or need to stop at the toilets. The next kilometre was something of a blur and the last two were simply survival.
I walked back from the finish to cheer on David Owen, a few Harriers and Anne Akers from Eccleshill. I felt better for having done the race but 23.01 would be a full minute slower than the previous week. My mile splits were consistent at just over 7.45 and I couldn't have done anymore. So, I rewarded myself with a big chuffing latte and decided to forget about it!
Quite how Sandra managed to PB at 21 and a bit is beyond me... still drunk I reckon. Respect. Mind, as mark says when your paced by someone else it doesn't count.
30/11/2013
Parkrun poleaxe...
Woodhouse Moor Parkrun
Sat 30th Nov 2013
Weather - cloudy and calm
Race report to follow... inc Mark Smith, Sandra Foster and Coach Andrew Hardaker
Sat 30th Nov 2013
Weather - cloudy and calm
Race report to follow... inc Mark Smith, Sandra Foster and Coach Andrew Hardaker
24/11/2013
Same mud, different crowd...
PECO Cross Country - Temple Newsam
Sunday 24th November 2013
Host - Kippax Harriers (assist St Theresa's AC)
Weather - Cloudy, drizzle and light breeze
Race report to follow...
Sunday 24th November 2013
Host - Kippax Harriers (assist St Theresa's AC)
Weather - Cloudy, drizzle and light breeze
Race report to follow...
10/11/2013
In the end, all roads lead to Spen..
YVAA Spenborough
Sunday 10th November 2013
Host - Spenborough AC
Weather - Cold and sunny
Race report to follow... includes Mark Smith, Sandra Foster, Lucy Armstrong and Tony Mawson
Sunday 10th November 2013
Host - Spenborough AC
Weather - Cold and sunny
Race report to follow... includes Mark Smith, Sandra Foster, Lucy Armstrong and Tony Mawson
02/11/2013
Shepherding along the skyline...
Shepherd's Skyline Fell Race
Sat 2nd Nov 2013
Climb - 350m / 1148ft (6.2m)
Category - BS
Host - Todmorden Harriers
Weather - Windy and grey (belting rain at finish...)
I've heard other describe fell races as informally organised chaos. No truer a description would be applied to the Shepherd's Skyline, From the anxious parking on Lumbutts Lane to the frenzy of activity inside the pub at registration. Then there were individuals hunting in car boots for taped seamed jackets and others nervously waiting in the car park for a spare portaloo.
The wind bustled the runners at the start areas across the road. Flags were bent double, the officials' tent was bellowing to and fro and I would guess hardly anyone could hear the race organiser's final verbal instructions. Thankfully, there was no sign of the forecasted heavy rain. The skies were dark, mind.
The start - as always - was uphill and followed a claggy track that narrowed after approximately three-quarters of a mile. All runnable, though. I jockeyed for position with otehrs and noted fellow Pacer Caroline Clarke roughly 10 places ahead. Near to the saddle ridge the track narrowed to a footpath and became rocky and technical in places. The field was broken down into single file here and all the early jostling was over. The only challenge from now on would be the strong wind.
The wind was firmly behind along the saddle that was undulating with only a few sharp ups and one steep down; here, I managed to go right of the path on to soft grass and I gained at least 6 places. I spotted P&Bs Caroline Harding just ahead and thought I was fairing ok. I wouldn't again see her on the race. Half a mile short of Stoodley Pike the previous boggy sections gave way to rocky outcrops that needed careful attention. I'm told the views down the Calder Valley were stunning; unfortunately I only had brief glimpses.
I passed Caroline Clarke just short of Stoodley Pike as we fell off the cliff down to London Road. I descended quickly and more safely than those around me that were falling and squealing. London Road was wet and hard underfoot that made my legs go a bit wobbly after the soft terrain on the top and then the sharp descent. Shortly, we were back on climbing duties, up through the reeds and over bogs back towards the saddle ridge. I had no energy to run continuously and had to adopt the fellrunners shuffle. Caroline Clarke and quite a few others gained time and passed me here. A few welcome supporters short of the ridge spurred us on.
The ridge was a battle. A difficult mix of severe winds and soft terrain sapped all energy from us runners. I looked up (only briefly for fear of loosing a contact lens or worse, an eyeball...) to see many of the runners who'd passed me on the previous climb slowly coming back to me. This gave some crumbs of comfort. I ploughed on, gritted teeth and used strength over technique. A few stream crossings were safely navigated and with one-mile to go, just as we left the saddle, I again caught up with Caroline Clarke and three other runners. I descended with some agility, but probably more ignorance; disengage brain and focus on strong stride and footfalls. I soon passed three including Caroline and concentrated on a fast finish. Dr LD and Jazz cheered me down near to a short rocky drop that I had to leap from as had failed to calculate the need to slow down.
After passing the final runner from Pennine I strode confidently through the finish line, into the organiser's tent and was handed a lollipop! I shared congratulations with runners around me, including Young Arthur's son, Simon and Caroline who finished a minute later. The rain soon began to belt it down so we promptly sought necessary refuge with a pint in the Shepherd Inn.
Sat 2nd Nov 2013
Climb - 350m / 1148ft (6.2m)
Category - BS
Host - Todmorden Harriers
Weather - Windy and grey (belting rain at finish...)
I've heard other describe fell races as informally organised chaos. No truer a description would be applied to the Shepherd's Skyline, From the anxious parking on Lumbutts Lane to the frenzy of activity inside the pub at registration. Then there were individuals hunting in car boots for taped seamed jackets and others nervously waiting in the car park for a spare portaloo.
The wind bustled the runners at the start areas across the road. Flags were bent double, the officials' tent was bellowing to and fro and I would guess hardly anyone could hear the race organiser's final verbal instructions. Thankfully, there was no sign of the forecasted heavy rain. The skies were dark, mind.
The start - as always - was uphill and followed a claggy track that narrowed after approximately three-quarters of a mile. All runnable, though. I jockeyed for position with otehrs and noted fellow Pacer Caroline Clarke roughly 10 places ahead. Near to the saddle ridge the track narrowed to a footpath and became rocky and technical in places. The field was broken down into single file here and all the early jostling was over. The only challenge from now on would be the strong wind.
The wind was firmly behind along the saddle that was undulating with only a few sharp ups and one steep down; here, I managed to go right of the path on to soft grass and I gained at least 6 places. I spotted P&Bs Caroline Harding just ahead and thought I was fairing ok. I wouldn't again see her on the race. Half a mile short of Stoodley Pike the previous boggy sections gave way to rocky outcrops that needed careful attention. I'm told the views down the Calder Valley were stunning; unfortunately I only had brief glimpses.
I passed Caroline Clarke just short of Stoodley Pike as we fell off the cliff down to London Road. I descended quickly and more safely than those around me that were falling and squealing. London Road was wet and hard underfoot that made my legs go a bit wobbly after the soft terrain on the top and then the sharp descent. Shortly, we were back on climbing duties, up through the reeds and over bogs back towards the saddle ridge. I had no energy to run continuously and had to adopt the fellrunners shuffle. Caroline Clarke and quite a few others gained time and passed me here. A few welcome supporters short of the ridge spurred us on.
The ridge was a battle. A difficult mix of severe winds and soft terrain sapped all energy from us runners. I looked up (only briefly for fear of loosing a contact lens or worse, an eyeball...) to see many of the runners who'd passed me on the previous climb slowly coming back to me. This gave some crumbs of comfort. I ploughed on, gritted teeth and used strength over technique. A few stream crossings were safely navigated and with one-mile to go, just as we left the saddle, I again caught up with Caroline Clarke and three other runners. I descended with some agility, but probably more ignorance; disengage brain and focus on strong stride and footfalls. I soon passed three including Caroline and concentrated on a fast finish. Dr LD and Jazz cheered me down near to a short rocky drop that I had to leap from as had failed to calculate the need to slow down.
After passing the final runner from Pennine I strode confidently through the finish line, into the organiser's tent and was handed a lollipop! I shared congratulations with runners around me, including Young Arthur's son, Simon and Caroline who finished a minute later. The rain soon began to belt it down so we promptly sought necessary refuge with a pint in the Shepherd Inn.
27/10/2013
Show me the (Bronte) Way through hail and grey...
Bronte Way Fell Race
Sunday 27th October
Host - Keighley & Craven AC
Weather - Cloudy, one biblical hail shower and windy
Not many races are linear so this was in the race diary very early. While others were sipping Guinness and dancing with leprechauns in Dublin, my good lady and I would be off out over the moors; running from Lancashire into Yorkshire no less. We huddled with others at the scene of the Yorkshireman finish outside the primary school in Howarth on Rawdon Lane. A short sharp mini bus shuttle to Wycoller Country Park then we scuttled down a slippy grassy lane to the barn where registration and the start would take place.
The true fell running community huddled together at the start - vests from Trawden, Keighley, Bowland and Calder all massed at the start. And one lonely yellow Pudsey Pacer and purple Kirkstall Harrier. We set off along a muddy, stony track with a massive dog in the field of runners, barking with excitement. Well, I hoped it was excitement as I tried to overtake! The lane gradually rose up round and farm and towards a stone bridge with a tarmac track on the other side.
As I looked up a line of clourful vests snaked up and over the bridge then beyond on the track. This would be the last time for 10 minutes that I'd look up. The dark cloud that had been looming since the start suddenly emptied bullet-sized hail down on us. The wind also intensified. Every ice bullet was met with silent whimpers and ouches from all around. Not comfortable, but certainly drove me forward.
The tarmac track soon gave way to a heather sided track around a small reservoir. Then down a boggy valley with hazardous rocktops, slippy wooden stiles and knee deep bog holes that caught out a few. A sharp up and over the moor before grassy lanes led down to Stanbury Reservoir. Spectators cheers and clapped here from the comfort of their warm cars.
The route turned sharp right up a muddy lane and steeply on to the reverse section of leg 2 from the Bradford Millennium Way. The moortop was buffeted by strong headwinds as I edged past Queensbury and Saltaire runners. The tippy-tappy descent towards Bronte bridge was avoided by taking a wide route to the right; gained three places here. Some really enthusiastic support by KCAC ladies motivated us up towards the track back to Penistone Quarry.
I made some good time and felt strong as I drove forward below the car park, crossing the road and sharp downhill into Howarth. Then, a final push up the cobbles where hundreds cheered in every runner. I enjoyed the soup and roll. Dr LD also enjoyed the day although no soup for her at the finish as it had all been scooped - I bought her a beer instead and we chatted with some KCAC members with a cute whippet!.
Postscript
Everything about this race was warm, friendly and inclusive. Well, all except for the hail shower in the first 10 minutes, the knee deep bog traps and the steep climbs from Stanbury Reservoir. But all else was just great. Recommended to all!
Sunday 27th October
Host - Keighley & Craven AC
Weather - Cloudy, one biblical hail shower and windy
Not many races are linear so this was in the race diary very early. While others were sipping Guinness and dancing with leprechauns in Dublin, my good lady and I would be off out over the moors; running from Lancashire into Yorkshire no less. We huddled with others at the scene of the Yorkshireman finish outside the primary school in Howarth on Rawdon Lane. A short sharp mini bus shuttle to Wycoller Country Park then we scuttled down a slippy grassy lane to the barn where registration and the start would take place.
The true fell running community huddled together at the start - vests from Trawden, Keighley, Bowland and Calder all massed at the start. And one lonely yellow Pudsey Pacer and purple Kirkstall Harrier. We set off along a muddy, stony track with a massive dog in the field of runners, barking with excitement. Well, I hoped it was excitement as I tried to overtake! The lane gradually rose up round and farm and towards a stone bridge with a tarmac track on the other side.
As I looked up a line of clourful vests snaked up and over the bridge then beyond on the track. This would be the last time for 10 minutes that I'd look up. The dark cloud that had been looming since the start suddenly emptied bullet-sized hail down on us. The wind also intensified. Every ice bullet was met with silent whimpers and ouches from all around. Not comfortable, but certainly drove me forward.
The tarmac track soon gave way to a heather sided track around a small reservoir. Then down a boggy valley with hazardous rocktops, slippy wooden stiles and knee deep bog holes that caught out a few. A sharp up and over the moor before grassy lanes led down to Stanbury Reservoir. Spectators cheers and clapped here from the comfort of their warm cars.
The route turned sharp right up a muddy lane and steeply on to the reverse section of leg 2 from the Bradford Millennium Way. The moortop was buffeted by strong headwinds as I edged past Queensbury and Saltaire runners. The tippy-tappy descent towards Bronte bridge was avoided by taking a wide route to the right; gained three places here. Some really enthusiastic support by KCAC ladies motivated us up towards the track back to Penistone Quarry.
I made some good time and felt strong as I drove forward below the car park, crossing the road and sharp downhill into Howarth. Then, a final push up the cobbles where hundreds cheered in every runner. I enjoyed the soup and roll. Dr LD also enjoyed the day although no soup for her at the finish as it had all been scooped - I bought her a beer instead and we chatted with some KCAC members with a cute whippet!.
Postscript
Everything about this race was warm, friendly and inclusive. Well, all except for the hail shower in the first 10 minutes, the knee deep bog traps and the steep climbs from Stanbury Reservoir. But all else was just great. Recommended to all!
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