Subject: V S Weekly Update - Harewood report, Leos bonfire, Tuesday training incl fell session, Spring marathons

Sent: 02 November 2012 09:07

Harewood Race Report

Thank you to everyone who helped on Sunday!  I think there were nearly 100 of you.  We got some good reports from the runners.

The 10 mile route away from Emmerdale and also back to Emmerdale was very muddy and I was expecting a few injuries and/or retirements, but the only casualties reported to me were a poorly sheep (the St John people wouldn’t treat it) and broken spokes on the St John man’s bike (he was rescued by the St John 4 by 4).  The 2 mile and 5 mile routes were hilly, we got some reports from the runners about that too!

Numbers of finishers were – 2 mile 125 (up 36 from last year), 5 mile 107 (up 39), 10 mile 363 (down 27).  We hope to have raised over £2,500 to be shared between Lineham Farm and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

For those of you who marshalled but didn’t get bottles of beer, they’ll be available this Tuesday at Leos from 8:15pm.

Results of Striders members

2 mile

   Race                      School year         Pos in

    Pos                        Category          Category

      8  Callum    Parton       BSY9-10    13.36     4 

      9  Joe       Sherman      BSY5-6     13.41     2 

     15  Alex      Irvine       BSY7-8     14.11     5 

     38  Ben       Redshaw      BSY3-4     16.09     5 

     46  Ben       Dyal         BSY7-8     16.48    11 

     66  Finlay    Hunt         BSY3-4     18.19    11 

     81  Sarah     Brady        GSY3-4     19.55     4 

     85  Laura     Vogler       GSY3-4     20.14     6 

     89  Adam      Mills        BSY5-6     20.51     9 

     96  Abigail   Stoneman     GSY3-4     21.14     7 

    101  Ethan     Hunt         BSY9-10    21.30     8 

    105  Julian    Vogler       BSY1-2     22.07     8 

    112  Emily     Stoneman     GSY3-4     22.56     9 

    113  Sammy     Mills        BSY3-4     23.25    15

10 mile

      3  Dan       Fisher       Msen       60.58     3 

    133  Mike      Higgins      Msen       80.36    50 

Bonfire Night this Saturday

Leos have a huge bonfire and fireworks this Saturday starting 6:30pm, £2 per person or £5 for a family of 4.

All Valley Striders are welcome!

Pie and Peas next Tuesday (6 November)

Served at Leos from 8:30pm, email to [email protected] by Sunday 4^th at 10pm, saying whether you want meat pie or veggie bake, whether you want mushy peas or baked beans, whether you want apple pie.

Training

Almost back to normal.  Because it is the 1^st Tuesday in the month, there is also a club fell session (from Leeds Met), details from Simon Vallance below.  So to summarise

· Tuesday 6 November – Kathy’s beginners/improvers/juniors at Leos 6pm

· Tuesday 6 November – Holly’s intermediates (run by Grace) at Leos 7pm

· Tuesday 6 November – Club experienced runners at Leos 7pm for 3 by 10 mins at High Ashes

· Tuesday 6 November – Fell session meet at Leeds Met – details below

· Thursday 8 November – Club runners at Scott Hall 6:45pm

· Thursday 8 November – Kathy’s improvers/intermediates at Leos 6:45pm (check on website for meeting point)

NB always advisable to check the website in case of any late changes

Tuesday 6 November – fell runners training – from Simon Vallance

I am planning a night navigation event for the next fell training session.  It will be at the fixed orienteering course at Carnegie. 

People will need:

• a compass
• a head torch
• a stopwatch
• a copy of the course map from http://www.aire.org.uk/club/cluborg/BP080506_POC_controls.pdf

If people could be at the marked start point ready to start at 7pm at the latest so that we can be back in time for the pie and peas.

Also it would help if people could give me an idea of the sort of navigation experience they have so I can plan accordingly – I’m thinking of running a self-timed competition for the more proficient (pairs?) and a short brush up session for anyone wanting help but will adapt according to need.  Email me on [email protected] with your suggestions.

If it works, I’ll be looking at doing something similar on the fixed courses at Otley and Ilkley Moor over the winter months.

By the way, in case your omniscient web crawler hasn’t found us yet, the Micks Loftus and Wrench finished 22nd in the Elite category of the OMM, whilst I and my partner Neil finished 6 places higher http://www.theomm.com/event-series/omm/omm-2012/omm-2012-results.  Race reports to follow.

West Yorks XC

Next races Saturday 10 November at Nunroyd Park Guiseley.  If you’re not already entered, you’ve missed the cut-off, but still have time to enter the last two races (email me!)

I forgot to say in the last VSWU that the men’s team were 5^th and the women’s team 7^th.  Full results at http://www.westyorkshireathletics.org.uk/

Spring Marathons

From Iain Currie

Re other marathons. I have done Edinburgh 5 times to varying degrees of success;-) It is a centrally located start BUT the finish is down at Mussleburgh, so it is either an organised bus back, a walk up onto Mussleburgh high street to get one of the regular public services or a long walk to the station (1mile ish) and the trains only run hourly. I used the public bus and train, as I never got around to pre booking my tickets for the laid on buses (NB you need correct change for the bus, which they insist on). That was the negative bits out of the way, although I do believe that they changed the finish area which has taken away one of the main positives. The finish in the years I did it, were all in front of the grandstand on the racecourse, with great crowds and a guy who on the microphone who kept the crowds entertained. I believe this has now moved over the road into a field and not great for the spectators?

The course itself is very flat, with the majority of the first 4-5 miles being downhill to the coast at Portobello. Once on the coast path/road, the course heads out (past the finish at 9miles) to 18miles where the course goes around an old house and its grounds before coming back on the other side of the road to the finish. Ideal course for PB’s especially if the weather “behaves”. Only note of caution is that on 4 out of the 5 years I did it, the sun was “cracking the flags” and on a couple of the years at the end (and at the side of the roads towards the end) there were plenty of heat induced casualties! Apparently the weather was the same again this year….not what you would expect from Scotland in May! This was not due to the lack of water and Lucozade stops, which were plentiful, apart from the year when pallets had been “stolen” from the course overnight!!

NB as you will know this is written by a “middle of the pack” runner (varying between just under 3hrs 40mins to 4 hours), so many of the far quicker Strides may well have a completely different experience than that described above.

From your check list I think it would cross off many negatives of London:

- 200 mile train journey. Still got this!!

- queuing for hours at the Expo. They got rid of this

- standing on a train to the start. I always managed to stay within 5mins walk of the starting area

- walking a mile from the station to the start. As above

- having to put your kit on the bus half an hour before the start. I never needed to do this, as hotels were flexible about leaving kit with them until your returned after the event. Some years I stayed over after the event too

- weaving through crowds of runners and celebrities who have got places at the front. Start was always well organised and pretty much on ability level.

From Sue Sunderland

Marathons- I recommend Edinburgh - great support from the locals, lovely views of the coast and a well organised beginning and end.  The weather at the end of May can be warm though.  It was the hottest Sunday of the year this year!

From Steve Dixon

I ran the Cape Wrath Challenge a couple of years ago 2010.   I was up in the North West for the week prior to the marathon walking running and cycling so my time was nothing special. Durness and its surroundings is a very special part of Britain and not to be missed. It's not one for a PB though unlike the Edinburgh marathon a week later.   There's no mass start as your start time is dependent upon your estimated finish time.  This allows the control of runners across the estuary in the small ferry boat.

http://www.capewrathchallenge.co.uk/ABOUT_THE_CHALLENGE.html

There is a week long running programme and a decent campsite with a spectacular setting overlooking Sango Bay.

I ran Edinburgh Marathon the next year 2011 and was not impressed with the organisation although I understand they improved things for this year.

From the organiser of the Milton Keynes Marathon

No waiting for a ballot: Guaranteed entry if you enter now – no waiting to see if you have been accepted or disappointment to find out that you haven’t.  Book a place and start planning your training now!

No pressure to raise money: A proportion of the race entry fee is already allocated to the official event charity (MK Dons Sport & Education Trust).  Your guaranteed entry has no pressure to raise astronomical amounts of money although you are welcome to raise money for your chosen cause, we have plenty of suggestions on our Run for Charity page.

Unique bespoke training plans – get ahead of the rest: Training plans unique to the Milton Keynes race featuring specifically dated detailed training recommended for different levels of runners. There will also be training runs on the marathon course and workshops for your anticipated pace.  Our chief trainer will be Mark Kleanthous, who has a wealth of experience in coaching endurance athletes.  www.ironmate.co.uk

Access to the best expert advice and products: Our workshops, training runs and seminars will feature presentations, Q&A sessions, product sampling and spot prizes, all great aids to your race day preparation.  (There will be a small fee to book for these events).

A scenic green course – no concrete cows!:This is a 26.2 mile city marathon with a difference. With 4,500 acres of woodlands, lakesides, parks and landscaped areas within the city, Milton Keynes is the ideal venue for a Green Marathon.

No mind-destroying laps:  A single lap course with no significant inclines.

Plenty of crowd support – even if it rains!: ‘Big Marathon’ experience with entertainment en route to motivate you, excellent marshal support and crowds of enthusiastic spectators.  Comments from last year’s participants:  “some of the best marshalling I’ve ever seen”  “Despite the awful weather I would like to say a massive thank you to all marshalling staff and drink station staff who were vocal in their support. Thank you so much.”  “I was amazed at the support on the course”.

Stadium finish: You will have an unforgettable atmospheric finish in a modern 22,000 seater stadium.

Keep your supporters happy:  While they are waiting to cheer you into the stadium there is a Superhero Fun Run to keep the family entertained, access to stadium seating will be free on race day.

Click Here to Register for this Event www.mkmarathon.co.uk

From Ken Kaiser

There is possibly going to be a marathon in York next year. No idea of date yet. I'll let you know after I've measured it!