Sent: 16 September 2009 00:21
Subject: V S Update - Last chance to enter, XC dates, Marathon and other
results and reports, and more
Last Chance to Enter
Club
Handicap
– next Tuesday, 22 September. You don’t need to enter in advance
but if you want food, you do need to book in advance. Choose meat pie or
veg. bake, mushy peas or baked beans, apple pie (optional). Book by email
by Sunday 10pm or by text 0777 5898 558 by Monday 2pm. Please meet by the
Res at 6:45 PROMPT. First runner will start shortly before 7pm.
Lists for
all of these are at www.valleystriders.org.uk/vslists.htm
PLEASE CHECK THAT YOUR NAME APPEARS, I DON’T WANT TO MISS ANYONE.
Harewood Marshals
There were
about 30 Striders on tonight’s recce run, and seven of them volunteered for
marshalling on 4 October, this makes 45 so just 25 more needed now. We
are raising money for Lineham Farm and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. A
well-marshalled event will bring runners back next year. Please help if
you can and email me as soon as possible so that I can set up the list of who’s
doing what. List of marshals and requested positions at www.valleystriders.org.uk/vslists.htm
Best wishes to…
Chloe and
Jeremy, getting married this Friday in Lytham St.Annes.
Autumn/Winter Cross
Country Dates
Here’s a
full list of events for which Striders are eligible (although you have to be
over 35 to run the
Sun
11 Oct WYXC at
Sun
1 Nov WYXC at Adel Leeds
Sun
8 Nov PECO provisional
Sat
21 Nov WYXC at
Sat/Sun
5/6 Dec WYXC
Sun
13 or 20 Dec PECO provisional
Sat
9 Jan
Sun
10 Jan PECO provisional
Sat
23 Jan Northern XC at
Sun
7 Feb PECO provisional
Sat
13 or 20 Feb YVXC provisional
Sat
27 Feb Nat XC at
Sun
7 Mar PECO provisional
One event
missing is the National XC Relays; I’ll try and find out when they’re on.
Harlow Carr 5k
Scramble
I think it
was nearer 4½k as the 15 year old winner took 15:48 to run the undulating
off-road route. There were 105 runners.
Valley
Striders provided the timing, recording, and results service. Thanks to
Ian Sanderson, Sara Goward, Lucy Carey, Ed Carey, Niamh Carey, Steve Cripps,
Peter Lambert and Joyce Lambert.
Marathons and other
Results
Fleetwood
marathon
Panos
won the race!! See Jeremy’s report below
1 Panos Aristotelous 2:38:02
5 Gwil Thomas
2:51:27
10 Jeremy Ladyman 3:03:38
14 Eric Green
3:07:08
115
Chloe
2961
Rachael Nevins 5:18:14
7557
ran
850
Kirsty
Yorkshireman
off-road marathon (Grand Prix & Fell Championship)
GP Pts
13 Mick Loftus 3:46:19
100
25 Joel Giddings 4:00:32
98
27 Ian Sanderson 4:03:01
95
45 Simon Redshaw 4:21:31
93
61 Aled Greenhalgh 4:36:50 90
62 Nick Barnes 4:40:34
88
63 John Wallace 4:41:02
85
89 Geoff Webster 5:06:03
83
114 Sara Dyer
5:51:03 80
We’ll have
the Fell Championship final table for you very soon.
Yorkshireman
off-road half marathon
121
160
Dinesh Kaulgud 2:38:21
Wetherby
10k
14 Rob De’Giovanni 36:06
56 Steve Tighe 39:38
131
164
Sue
Wolverhampton
16 Eric Green 3:03:07 (1st
M50)
Marathons and other
Race Reports
Guernsey
On Sunday
30th August I had the pleasure of competing in the first Guernsey Marathon in
17 years, taking place in the centenary of the Marathon Club of Guernsey.
Registration
was the day before the race, so having stepped off my late arriving plane I
sped straight to the Footes Lane Athletics Stadium, the start and finish point
for the race. Registration turned out to be a couple of tressle tables by the
side of the running track; fortunately the weather was fine! – too fine really
as it was hot and sunny, and forecast to be the same for race day. I collected
my number and learned that on entering the stadium we would have to do a lap of
the track before reaching the finish line, worrying given my anticipated state
by then.
Arriving
early I found myself chatting to Kate from Baildon Runners, on her 40 something
marathon, and various members of the
The race
itself was one lap, starting in the middle of the island before heading south
in circuitous fashion past the airport, then west before descending to the
coast and following the coastline pretty well all the way round to Guernseys
2nd town, St Sampsons, in the north east, before cutting back inland to finish
back at the stadium. This was a good route, what hills there were coming in the
first 6 miles, and the route thereafter being pretty flat, apart from the bendy
descent to the coast at 8 miles where the wheelchair entrant fell off (he did right
himself and finish). Despite being entirely run on roads open to traffic this
wasn’t a problem at all – the roads on Guernsey are so narrow, and not all of
them have pavements, that cars are used to slowing down to move past obstacles.
Even when driving behind those of us who had resorted to walking there were no
complaints, and more than a few were shouting encouragement when they
eventually were able to get past. Conditions were good with it being overcast
with a light wind, and not too warm – ideal in fact. Drinks stops every 5K
handing out water and energy drinks were well organized and
staffed.
As for my
race, this was a race of two halves with first being good and the second awful.
My preparations were disrupted by illness the week before the race and I think
this caught up with me; having reached half way a little under 1.43 my energy
left me and I completed the second half in 1.58 for an overall time of 3.40.41.
Only 6 minutes outside my PB but I had been hoping for better – next year I
suppose!
Best bit,
despite my misgivings, was the track finish; on entering the stadium the crowd
were exhorted over the tannoy to ‘raise a cheer for John Wallace as he enters
the final lap’, which they duly did – it was a marvellous morale booster and
spurred me on to outsprint(!) the 100 club runner and relay runner that entered
the stadium just behind me. Final position 37th of 164 finishers (from 200
starters – a 20% drop out rate – wow) my picture, avec Striders shirt, on the
BBC local news and a listing under leading finishers in the local rag (that
won’t happen again!).
Overall a
super event; over 100 people from overseas (that includes mainland
Pontefract
10k (from
On bit of
a high at moment as ran my first race yesterday in 12 months(excluding LCW last
week) and got round without too much pain and suffering,opted for the shorter
distance and Striderless race so no pressure to kill myself!
Noticed few serious ladies warming up so sat in my car as long as
poss and kept out of the way then headed for loo
queue! Didn't wear a watch and decided to go steady in first half
and see what happened in second.
Really good course and great support, got lots of encouragment as was surrounded
by men all the way (one witty male shouted a gender testing joke in my
direction and I assured him I was definitely all woman, he laughed
and agreed and that's last I saw of him!)
Anyway I came away with another trophy, very posh sports bottle, pink kag
in a bag, free membership at fitness first, t shirt, chocolate bar and big
banana, and photod by official photographer, not a bad mornings work!! I
was 1st F45 but got prizes for finishing 3rd lady overall. Not sure what my
exact time was but obviously slower than I was last year. Onwards and
upwards and will be back to the Tuesday sessions next week to
get some speed back in the old legs.
I would definitely recommend this race, few steady inclines, few downhills and
great long descent to the finish in the park, and great prizes.
Fleetwood
Marathon (from Jeremy Ladyman)
I don't
think a day has gone by over the past four months when I haven't thought about
the Fleetwood marathon, and now, the day after the race, I find myself
composing a race report and thinking about what marathon I should do next.
There
were four Striders who lined up alongside me for the inaugural Fleetwood
marathon- Eric, Chloe, Panos and Gwil. The wind can be pretty strong in
this part of the world, as Chloe and I had found out in training a couple of
times. Gales coming in from the
It was my
first marathon and so I didn't really have a considered plan other than follow
Tracey's advice about taking on gels and water at regular intervals, and
aim to go through half way at around 5 minutes slower than my half
marathon PB. On three miles I thought that this whole marathon lark would be a
breeze. I was running well within myself, slower than my usual training runs,
and still going ahead of schedule.
Since the
half marathon followed a similar course to the marathon for 10 miles and was
set off at the same time, it wasn't until the split when I realised there were
quite a few marathon runners in front of me. Panos had charged out of the
blocks, and he was out of sight 3 minutes into the race. I wished Gwil well as
he left me at about half a mile from the start. The split meant we
followed a long stretch of the seafront and there were a series of heads
bobbing in the distance. I was still feeling comfortable maintaining my early
pace and slowly but surely caught a couple of guys who had started to flag.
Looping round to the housing estates at 16 miles, I caught up with some
half marathon stragglers as we followed the same course for a few miles, but by
18 miles there were no marathon runners in sight.
Someone
from the crowd shouted to me that I was 14th as I passed the marathon HQ (c.
mile 18) for the second lap, and that the Striders were on for the team prize.
Within a mile I was 11th. two runners called it a day, and I overtook another
who was ailing. By mile 20 I had slipped past two more, but was being closed
down by one runner in particular (who overtook me on 23 miles), but there was
also the threat of Eric who I could see as we double backed on ourselves
at the end of Fleetwood's promenade.
I started
slowing at mile 21, and by mile 23 I was struggling. I had thought I would slip
under 3 hours comfortably when I reached 18 miles, but for the final
few miles I concentrated on just completing the course. I staggered over the
line in 3 hours 3 mins 38 seconds exhausted. I think I got my race tactics
about right, drank lots at each water stations and took gels regularly (though
the last one was stickily smeared across my face).
Panos,
Gwil and Andy May (from Abbey Runners) welcomed me across the line. All had
been there for some time, and having recovered their composure, seemed bemused
why I was in such a state. Eric was just behind me, and Chloe a little while
afterwards but first lady Strider home in what her first marathon as well. All
seemed well pleased with their runs.
Sadly it
turned out that there was no team prize on offer. If one was available,
Panos (1st), Gwil (5th), me (10th) and Eric (14th) would have won it whether
you needed 3 or 4 counters. That said, Panos won a wonderful coffee maker,
and Gwil and I were given a bottle of red wine (polished off soon after the
race in my case) for our PBs. Gwil narrowly missed out on an electric whisk
(for 2nd place) or a toasted sandwich maker (for 3rd place).
More on the Charlie
Spedding evening
Note that
if you order the book, there is a space for comments - put that you are a
Strider and you may get your book signed by the Club President.
From
Stuart StJohn (out of the woodwork)
Now then
Bob, long-time no-speak on my part, but hope all is well with you & the
Club. 'Charlie is my Darling' goes the song & he was certainly ours.
September 24th 1985 was that glorious evening that we - 66 of us - all said we
had run with Charlie Spedding (& stuffed him!). He was chosen to be our
President because of his gutsy L.A. Olympic Marathon run in 1984 when he
attempted to put it up Carlos Lopez @ 17 miles & nearly succeeded, boy it
seems like yesterday; was it a Pole that finished in silver to leave our hero
with bronze?. We all had a great night & kept fond memories, hence the
likes of Steve 'O', Martyn & Paul with their emails; Charlie then spent the
night @ Chez Leggo so not much sleep there you can bet once Chris gets talking
running! Would you believe I even had Charlie pay his 20p, it's in the Black
Book I've just checked! Mind you he did have a shower. Take care &
lots of love to all that know me. Stuart.
From
Tony Haygarth
Just a
thought about the "Charlie Spedding" evening. As well as being
memorable because of running with a world class athlete other than Paul
Furness, this is the only occasion from that era that I recall staying together
as a training group on a Tuesday evening. Normally they were "eyeballs
out" from start to finish and took as much out of you as a 10 mile race.
We ran some fast times because of this but new members were few and far
between....I wonder why! Tony. (my moustache was the best.)
Running
I am in the process of setting up running tours to my villa
in
Initial tours will be at a big discount to try it out, get
some running images, and give feedback.
The best pics can be seen on www.ownersdirect.co.uk
Property ref.....CY1967
Contact Martyn [email protected]
for more details