Any Runners On Here??

[Richard A Thackeray]

Went out on Club-run last night, but just for a change went to the 18:30 run (generally slower), as I could get a lift there from Pat (I usually take her & Gail), & it was a head-torch run on unlit lanes.
There were 7 girls (well.... ages 25 to 50) & me

We'd run the unlit section, & the fastest 2 girls & myself were waiting at The Brown Cow for the others to catch up.
When they'd got to us, there was a muttering & glimpses cast in my direction, had I said something? (don't think so), done something?? (no)

I asked, but was told it wasn't anything & was to set off (had to before I got paranoid)

Louise told me that they'd been ogling my posterior & a couple of the girls had considered it superior to their own!

Needless to say I went to the back & only overtook on the unlit section - then maintaining a 50 yard lead

If nothing else, it boosted my ego for a while though, even if the rest of me's not worth looking at

 

[wanda2010]

I've not done any running since the beginning of last week. Had thought about heading out this morning but the rain has put me off. I'll try again on Sunday morning with the club. I've been cycling a lot though, does that count?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Out last night locally with one of the Club-members, I only covered just over 7 miles (including run to meet her & back home afterwards), quite a steady run as she's had a bad cold, so not breathing properly
Didn't want to say to here, but it was too slow for me,as I only broke a sweat on way to meet her/after leaving her)

I've not done any running since the beginning of last week. Had thought about heading out this morning but the rain has put me off. I'll try again on Sunday morning with the club. I've been cycling a lot though, does that count?

I managed to fit in about 2 hours on tthe bike in the afternoon, with a potter up the 'Roman Road' from Castleford, up to Aberford, then round Ulleskelf, Church Fenton, through Sherburn-in-Elmet, & Ledsham.


Then it's 2 races this holiday weekend (3 if you include - a hoped for - ParkRun, on Saturday)

1. Denby Dale Travellers 'Man v Bike' on Sunday 30th @ 11:00
http://denbydaletravellers.org.uk/ESW/Files/DENBY_DALE_TRAVELLERS_RUNNER_V_BIKE_2012.pdf

2. Woodentops 'Auld Lang Syne' on Monday 31st @ 11:00
http://woodentops.org.uk/index.php?topic=als&subtopic=home

I have also being asked if I want to got to the 'Giants Tooth' fell-race on Tuesday 1st, but seeing as I'm working a night-shift on Monday 22:00 - 07:00, I think that maybe a bit much??
http://fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?id=2513

 

[wanda2010]

You can do that race easy! A shot of strong coffee just before the start. Job done

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

You can do that race easy! A shot of strong coffee just before the start. Job done

Two problems..

1. I don't drink Coffee
2. SWMBO might not be too happy if I went

 

[wanda2010]

SWMBO roolz

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Went to the local ParkRun this morning, for only 3rd time in 80-odd events
Managed a reasonable 21:37 (self-timed at moment) & 18th.

Then it absolutely threw it down ('Cloud-burst' style!) within 2 minutes of my finishing, so I took the decision not to wait to watch my Club-mates finish & ran for the car

SWMBO roolz

True, they do!!

 

[wanda2010]

For the first time in about 2 weeks, I hit the road for a Sunday run. I didn't want to wait around for the club run at 10.30. It was very slow but I enjoyed it. My knees hurt a little, but that's to be expected given the time off . 5 miles in 49 mins.

Now off to stretch, have a small brekky then meet some club members for lunch!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Crikey!!!
The 'Man v Bike' was bloody hard going this year, managed not to get lost in the housing estate though, by dint of keeping close to the 3 runners ahead of me
Some of the fields were atrociously bad to cross, one ploughed field even clogged my Mud-Claws, & I've never had that happen anywhere before!!

Sadly the first cyclist home passed me with about a mile to go, but as the routes diverged again after he passed me, I was told he was only a minute or so in front of me
I was 4th runner, with (so I'm told) 1st/2nd being about 5 minutes ahead
The 3rd place was only a couple of hundred yards ahead at the most (we worked together for a lot of the race), but I just couldn't keep up with him on the last drag.


As far as I could figure out, the 5th runner was roughly 7 minutes adrift of me - have to wait for the official results though



Oh!, & the ParkRun was officially 18th/97 @ 21:38
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/pontefract/results/latestresults (race 84)

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

RE; 'Auld Lang Syne'

A horribly wet day, even the drive up there was almost in a cloud-burst, with sheet water on the M62 at points, & even worse on the final couple of roads from Leeming to Denholme.
Emma, who was following me, told me of the puddles that I was driving through, that then 'broke' over the roof of my car.

On arrival, looking over towards the 'way out', there was perhaps 200-300 yards visibility, with heavy rain & a strong wind.

I started too far back, as I was talking to someone, so lost more than a hundred places (to a normal position) before even leaving the Quarry

Going up the first track was more like running up a stream bed, but as for the descent to the beck, that was evil - people were losing footings & slithering 300 yards downhil on their backs!!!
The stream was fast-flowing & mid-thigh at one point, but thankfully only about 5 yards across (usually just above ankle-deep)

Once we'd reached the open moorland, the wind was very apparant, as it blew mud/water into faces

Jonny Brownlee passed me heading in the opposite direction, at the point where the 'return leg' rejoined the outwards (a 'balloon race' - up the string, round the balloon, & back down the string)

It was almost surreal to be chasing Batman (or one of them) over the Moors, having overtaken the Tetley Huntsman not long before

Here's the start out of the Quarry (which had above ankle-deep water in places)



And, there's photos via the main page;
http://woodentops.org.uk/index.php?topic=als&subtopic=home

https://plus.google.com/photos/1104...7443848/albums/5828196651975641809?banner=pwa


Wonder Woman (Jann Smith; Ilkley Harriers) probably wanted her charactors super powers at this point
http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/ALS 2012/content/FV4Q2113_large.html


I just looked rather damp
http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/ALS 2012/content/FV4Q2154_large.html


The results were a foregone conclusion, 376 finishers;
Jonny Brownlee 1st @43:10
Me = 170th @ 1.04:35

 

[wanda2010]

Well. I don't normally make resolutions for a new year, but I'll have to rescind that after today's race.

I took part in the Surrey County XC champs this morning. Now I'm happy to be able to run so it was never about doing it in a great time and am more than happy that I finished, let alone that I didn't finish last (46.48).

I'm just surprised that I'm so tired after running 8k! I had more energy after the 7.5 miler I ran before the holiday season.

Training starts in earnest tomorrow. No more slacking

Anybody else back out on the trails/road? Richard, you are not included in that question

 

[MrJamie]

Just clicked the "watch thread" button, I seem to miss posts on here because its burried quite quickly Well done on your runs, surprised so many people dress up stupid on a tough fell run too

I've not been training at all really, ran a 6k last saturday just to try and keep it up. I got some horrible cold/flu thing around christmas, which had me feeling crappy although I managed to fight off the bulk of it quicker than those who I caught it from On the plus side as a result I actually managed to lose a couple of pounds over christmas by accident, because I didnt drink except christmas day itself and totally lost my appetite. I'm wondering if i should do the local half marathon in 2 months time, the distance shouldnt be a problem to train upto, but I really need to lose weight to get fast enough for it to feel worthwhile.

My motivation for running is weird, prior to going out I usually don't really feel like it, but once I get going I often extend the route and get home feeling great and my mood much improved. It would help if I wasn't significantly slower than I was a couple of years ago though.

 

[wanda2010]

Hi MrJamie

I'm significantly slower than I was too. I'm putting mine down to age (and probably insufficient training ).

I've not caught any of the winter lurgies so far and hope to escape completely. I didn't go overboard on the Christmas food and drink although I was riding a 24 mile daily round trip to feed my friend's cat during Xmas week, so that probably helped keep the weight stable.

Next weekend's XC race will be on Mitcham Common. Hopefully one week's training will help minimise any tiredness afterwards

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Just clicked the "watch thread" button, I seem to miss posts on here because its burried quite quickly Well done on your runs, surprised so many people dress up stupid on a tough fell run too

Thankyou, I did want to do better on the 'ALS', but with talking to old friends at the back, I got caught up coming out of the quarry & it wsa almost 'stop-start', & I must've lost roughly a minute in the first 200 yards
'Ditto' the costumes, although a lot of them didn't look so good afterwards, with the course (& weather!) conditions

I am back up there again, a fortnight today!, for one of my favourite races; the 'Stanbury Splash'
it's basically the same course, until the point where the 'ALS' peels off right to follow a flag-stoned path (& loops round the Trig Point @ SD978368)

http://woodentops.org.uk/index.php?topic=stanbury&subtopic=home

Could do with the stream being a bit shallower though (time lost for most people there too) for the 'Splash' (free Malt-Loaf at this one!!)


And, with regard to the 'Man v Bike', the cyclist who passed me is a friend of 25 years (or so) standing, so whilst I really wanted to beat him, I'm glad it was him who was the only cyclist to pass me........ as far as I know

Next weekend's XC race will be on Mitcham Common. Hopefully one week's training will help minimise any tiredness afterwards

Anybody else back out on the trails/road? Richard, you are not included in that question

Aww, why not!?!

I've also got a XC too next Sunday
Mine's at Bramley Falls Woods, just off one of the major roads between Leeds & Bradford (& above the Leeds - Liverpool Canal)
http://www.pecoxc.co.uk/pages/race3.html

Now, I'm off to get sorted, as it's the 'Club Winter Handicap' this morning
http://www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk/#/winter-handicap-2013/4572012406

I'm off at 10:39.28
I can beat my quoted mile pace, it's closer to 6;55, if I'm in reasonable form, but I do a have a slightly sore ankle so we'll see

 

[wanda2010]

@ Richard

I dragged myself out for a run and caught up with my clubmates. I managed 6.41 miles in 55 minutes but they will have done about 10 miles by the time they have finished. Stretch, shower and a late breakfast to follow