Sent: 28 April 2010 00:21
Subject: V S Update - Parkrun, Rothwell, Recce run & lasagne, MVT, 3
Peaks, London, Sheffield
Saturday 1 May – Parkrun 5k
Final reminder that we’re trying to get lots of
Striders to this Saturday’s parkrun. If you’ve never run this event
before, you’ll need to register at www.parkrun.com
before Friday evening and download a barcode. Then just turn up on the
day and run!!!
Monday 3 May – Rothwell 10k
This is also the Abbey Valley Challenge Race. We
lead 3-1 in the series but things are not looking good at the moment as Abbey
have 40 runners registered and Valley only 28.
We have won in the past with 3 or 4 fewer runners but
if we have 12 less we have no chance.
But there are still opportunities to enter – either
online at www.ukresults.net where it
will cost £10 - or on the day at Rothwell Leisure Centre where it will cost
£15.
Just 6 or 7 of you to change your minds and enter and
we are in with a chance!
Tuesday 4 May – Meanwood Recce & Lasagne
Instead of normal Tuesday training session, meet at
Leos at 6:45 for a steady run of 7 miles on the route we’ll be using for our
Meanwood Valley Trail Race.
We’ll run the first 1½ miles together and then can
split into 2 or 3 groups according to speed. Anyone wanting an even
shorter route could just run to the Ring Road and back (about 5 miles total).
Afterwards, lasagne, book to [email protected] by 10am
Monday at the very latest (preferably by 10pm Sunday), saying whether meat or vegetarian
lasagne and whether you want apple pie & ice cream for afters.
Saturday 15 May - Meanwood Trail Race
We still need 30 marshals. Email me [email protected] if you can help.
Thank you to the 39 on the list already
We also need a few more marshals for the Leeds Half
Marathon on Sunday 9 May and also for the Yorkshire Vets race at Leos on
Tuesday 22 June.
Sunday 16 May afternoon – Pecolympics & Barbecue at Leos
This is not organised by Striders so anyone thinking
of going will not be roped in to marshal.
Various sporting events and a barbecue – if you want
to go and you want a meal, please email me before Friday 7 May, earlier if
possible.
Max obituary in Runners World
Lewis Balfour spotted it and was first to email me
I thought
you might like to know, maybe to put in a VS update, that there's a short
obituary of Max Jones in the new issue of Runners World, on page 32.
Three Peaks Race
Mick Loftus
4:00:04 83.7
Simon Vallance 4:05:02 82.0
Eirik Stangnes 4:16:35 78.3
Simon Redshaw 4:20:03 77.2
Aled Greenhalgh 4:21:10 76.9
Mick Wrench
4:25:10 75.7
Ian Sanderson 4:50:37 69.1
Amanda Seims 5:04:06
76.2
Nick Barnes
5:29:38 60.9
Steve Webb emailed
I had an
interesting time watching the whole field come through at the top of
Whernside. It was a perfect day for a gentle run in the dales (my route
from Barbon took in Crag Hill and Great Coumb and the return journey was via
Gragareth) but I didn't envy them having to race it.
Well done
to all the VS participants. Geoff turned up looking like he'd lost a
heated argument with the terrain; blood all over his face and legs. I
have some photos, but due to the steepness of the slope and the hands-and-knees
ascending technique being deployed most of the runners look like competitors in
the national "find the contact lens" championship.
Bob writes
Running her first
1067 Kevin McMullan
2:59:24 100
1159 Jerry
Watson
3:00:42 98
1699 Eric
Green
3:08:17 95
4118 Liz
Wood
3:28:32 93
4764 Patrick Barrett 3:32:18
90
4816 John Batchelor
3:32:42 88
6233
6448 Sue
12173 Joe
Hanney
4:05:00 80
Did anyone else run? The search facility on the
website missed lots of the above when I searched for “Valley” or “Striders”
Report from Kevin McMullan
This year’s marathon outcome was far more in line with
what I wanted to achieve, but failed abysmally to do so, last year.
This is despite the fact that I was beset with more problems
in this years preparations compared to last which limited my ability to race or
indeed train quickly from early Feb through most of March due to a small tear
in a muscle at the bottom of my ribs.
I managed to post an OK time at the
Post
Of course, on the Thursday after an easy run and 1
mile at marathon pace, the inevitable happened and the top of my right
hamstring felt very stiff - so much so that I was seriously worried that I
could not run on the Sunday.
My stress was compounded by work colleagues cheerily
telling me that “its going to be a hot one I see on Sunday”.
I rested Friday and spent Saturday going down to
Of course, race conditions turned out to be much
better than expected and this gave me more confidence that I could have a
decent run.
I had told myself 2 things: be disciplined in the
first few miles and stick to my planned race pace – which was 6.45 – and drink
gallons of water before and during.
Because I set off near the front, it was not much of
an issue getting into race pace or close to, in the initial mile which was 7
dead. No problems with the hamstring either so I was in good spirits.
Mile 2 was 6.26, followed by 6.17 (downhill) and, not
heeding Jerry’s advice to not continue at mile 3 tempo, 6.28 and 6.26.
So much for disciplined pacing.
However, I was drinking lots of water, and with a bit
of a breeze and overhead cloud, was confident the cramps from last year would
not recur.
Mile 6 was 6.47 and I was metronomic at this pace up
to 17.
Through 14 I felt very good - feet were
behaving, felt in control and legs were OK.
Then at 15 I felt an initial twinge of cramp in the
left hamstring. As it happened, it was just near a drinks station so in complete
panic mode, I drank the entire 500 mls bottle and tried to slow a touch for
fear of it becoming full blown cramp.
This appeared to work and I religiously from that
point onwards ensured I drank most of the subsequent water and lucozades –
which meant at some points drinking all the water then a few hundred yards
later taking on lucozade.
Anyway, all this was probably slowing me down a bit
but it was a necessary evil. As I progressed to and beyond 20, I kept getting a
little reminder that I was not far from potential oblivion as I received a
twinge of protest from either quad, calf or hamstring.
Whilst on for sub 3 hours, I did not dare entertain
that ultimate aim as I was convinced the legs would eventually break down. Just
a matter of when not if.
But the miles get passing and I was still running.
Admittedly slower – 21 was 7.06, followed by 7.10 then 7.17.
I was being passed by runners who manage to master the
art of equal splits but I did not let this bother me one iota – I was running
and although tired, began to believe I might just do it.
I told myself that once on Embankment, the crowds from
thereon in would be enough to get me to the finish.
As you exit the underpass there is an incline that
lifts you from subterranean gloom to the start of embankment where you are met
with a cacophony of cheering and encouragement. I recalled in my fatigue, last
year walking up that very slope, and this gave me additional impetus to keep
going.
Mile 25 is purgatory. Incredibly tired now, and whilst
you look ahead for the solace of Big Ben and mile 25 completion, this vista
eludes you for some time, and when it does hove into view it looks 3 miles
away.
However, the crowds on this section are incredible and
I plodded on at what felt like nothing more than a laboured shuffle. Last water
negotiated, I reached 25. mile was 7.40, time elapsed 2.50.34. 9.26 for a mile
and a quarter required – I knew now I would do this unless I had to pull up
because of a muscle seizing up.
Down Birdcage Walk and I kept going, feeling lifted
that I was so close to the finish, and running a little better than the last
mile. Spotted my son with just over half a mile to go and I managed a smile and
a wave.
There is a clock on the half mile to go marker. It
read 2.56.10. 3.50 for half a mile – 7.40 pace.
On and around the corner under the 385 yards to go
banner. On to the Mall. I could see the finishing timers – just – 200 yards
away in the low 2.59’s. I had 25 seconds in hand from the start so I knew I
would make it.
Despite this, I wanted to be sure. Everyone around me
– and there was a fair few of us – must have felt the same as we were all
breaking into a final dash to the line. Usain Bolt it wasn’t, but I managed to
push it over that last 200 yards and crossed in 2.59.50 – so 2.59.25.
Redemption for last year at last. Now, as I have
an automatic entry, but with 26 miles in my protesting legs, the question of
whether I want to be back next year will need to be answered … but not just
yet.
Sheffield Half
Three Striders ventured into
2316 Sally Wright 1:58:15
2486 Keith West
1:59:52
3098 Jane Sanders 2:07:29