Sent: 30 July 2009
00:10
Subject: V S Update - Lasagne, Barbecue,
Lasagne – Tuesday 4
August
Next
Tuesday is the first Tuesday of the month so it must be pie and peas, except
that it isn’t, it’s lasagne!!
Meat and
vegetarian versions available (each £3). Also optional apple pie with ice
cream (£1.50). Book by email by Sunday 2 August 10pm, or text (not
voicemail) to 0777 5898 558 by Monday 3 August 10am (note earlier cut-off
because of time for Tony to prepare)
Last year
there were 90 runners taking part, approximately equal numbers from Abbey
Runners and Valley Striders. There were 5 runners in each team, most teams
were 3 Abbeys and 2 Valleys or vice versa. The route was the 5¼ mile route
to Emmerdale and round Eccup Reservoir that we used for our Summer Handicap a
few weeks ago. There was a scoring system and there were some winners but
more importantly everyone enjoyed the barbecue back at
Leos.
We’re
repeating this on Tuesday 25 August. If you are going to run and/or you
want food at the barbecue, you will need to book by Thursday 20 August.
The early notice is required so we can arrange teams and Tony can buy
food. Cost of the barbecue is £6.50. There will be a veggie version
but this must be selected in advance!
Book by
email, saying whether or not you are running and whether or not you are eating
(if eating, also state carnivore or vegetarian).
We now
have 40 names so we’re well on the way to the 4 teams. We need at least 12
more to have a sufficient supply of reserves.
So, now’s
your final chance to come forward. Teams will be selected on Tuesday 4
August.
- If
you’re going to be a men’s A team runner or women’s A team runner, we need to
know now. It would be unfair to select someone for the A team and then for
you to come along and push them out of their place.
-
Similarly you “fast” vets, let me know now if you’re going to be
available.
- And if
you’re shy, now’s the time to put your name forward as a reserve. Even
though you might not be running you could get involved in one of the recce runs
and see what it’s about … then when you get the phone call at 5pm on Saturday 5
September it won’t be a surprise.
Blimey,
Alex Ferguson never has these problems. But there again, he and his
players get paid more money in a week than I get in a
year!
Last year
we were 1st ladies, 2nd vets, 3rd men.
Also we are the only club to have had 4 teams for the last 4 years. Please
sign up for Striders biggest team event of the year.
Please note that details of
lasagne orders,
Events
Diary
It’s the
Round
Hill fell race this Sunday.
It’s a joker round, you get Grand Prix points AND Fell Championship
points. Start time 11am, registration at Timble village hall just off the
“main” road from Otley to Blubberhouses. Gently undulating, nothing
severe, likely to be quite damp, so don’t wear your best road shoes, Ruth!
Note that the race start is about ¾ mile from the village hall so allow a few
extra minutes, Steve!
Here are
some dates for the next 10 weeks. More events are on http://valleystriders.org.uk/vsdates.htm
. Let me know if you know of good local events not on my
list.
Fell Race Report -
from Anthony Fryer
Can't make the next race at Round Hill
as doing Borrowdale the day before and Eirik is going to be there too for his
first Lakes race! Should be fun and hoping to get some hill legs before
Sedbergh.
Oldfeld Fell race this weekend gone and 4 striders made it out
for the Race. Steve taking the most points for the males and Caz being the only
female out there. Tony Haygarth in his first race of the year took the V60
prize. Great to see that Caz is running on the fells again!
Its looks like the champs could have the largest finishing
contingent for some time amongst the males of the club. Maybe there should be a
2nd and 3rd place? Or open and Vets? Who else wants to fight it out for Geoff’s
Tiger Balm collection?
Steve is right up there now in 2nd. Not far
behind Mick. I have pretty much written off my chances after a shocking display
at Wasdale reminding me how unfit I am over distance coming in over an hour
slower than last year, but all that could change.
In the womens,
no-one has yet to qualify although Xanthe and Sara only need one more to do so,
and there is still the possibility of Caz and Jane to still qualify.
Next race is Round Hill on the 2nd August. http://www.otleyac.co.uk/Round%20Hill%20Fell/RoundHill.htm
A chance to get some grand prix points as well as fell points. There are still a
few people that need a medium race to qualify and this is a nice easy one if the
weather has been nice. If not then expect a few boggy bits.
Seems a few
people might be doing Sedbergh (23 August), so does anyone fancy sorting out
some car sharing? Email me at [email protected] if you need a
lift or are willing to drive? It is the furthest of the champ races but is a
great race so well worth the journey.
Northern 6 stage –
from Jerry Watson
I spend a fair bit of time at the Carnegie track nowadays and
heard that the above two relays are to be held on the Leeds Met campus there,
traffic free, on Sat Sept 26th. Changeover will be on the track,
men will be doing 2 laps for a total of around 5k. I'm not sure of the
plans for the ladies course yet.
I know the men haven't done it in my time (and I'm not
eligible for Valley anyway) but the ladies certainly did it when it was
held in
Depending on the individuals in the team, the ladies could
surprise a few of the big clubs.
Results
Golden
11 Striders from
Mars 51.37
Jeremy Ladyman 16.08
Hayley Nancolas 18:25
Graham Needham 17.04
12 Real Ale
Drinkers 52.32
Eirik Stangnes 16.59
Matt Allen 16.38
John Wallace 18.55
16 Team
EDG
53.30
Dan Murray 18.03
Greg Skerrett 18.28
Elika Tasker 16.59
41 LMS (VS)
63.29
Hazel Adams 24.25
Rob Anderson 18.58
Rob Hamilton 20.06
50 Striders
Outsiders 73.06
Lucy Carey 26.06
Jake Towler 27.52
Tim Towler 19.12
52 Nearly Theres
75.06
Carole Towler 23.42
And
2 friends
Yorkshire Wolds Half
44 Eric
Green
92:14
This is the
last-but-one race in the Black Sheep series. Ruth is well clear in her age
group and 8th woman overall with just the Wetherby 10k to
run.
42 Eric
Green
45:16
77
Parkrun 94
5k
Congratulations to Gwil who recorded
his second win in as many weeks!
1 Gwil
Thomas
17:16
9 James
Tarran 19:17
10 Joel
Giddings 19:23
15 Ian
Rosser
19:35
Rombalds
Romp
There were
just over 150 runners for the final race in Abbey’s 25 year celebrations.
This was such a success that they may repeat it next year.
16 Eirik
Stangnes 51:45
20 Rob
Bumstead 53:27
35 Caz
Farrow 55:44 1st
F35
38 Tahir
Akhtar 56:49
51 Rob
Anderson 58:52 (first race as a
Strider)
67 Alistair
Smyth 61:01
77
97 Sue
135
Hazel Adams 81:09 (first race as
a Strider)
Moonraker 10k
166
Lou Gilchrist 53:29
25 Kevin
McMullan 36:33 (3rd M40 probably no
prize)
62 Jane
Halloran 39:39 (3rd F35 probably no
prize)
71 Alison
Bogie 40:07 (Chapel
A)
267
509
Meryll Cripps 59:13 (first race as a
Strider)
530
606
ran
Pudsey 10k Multi
Terrain
13 Dan
Fisher
38:59
66 Eric
Green
46:00
83 Mark
Hunter
47:09
157
Mick Tinker
51:27
158
Nick Wallhead 51:30 (first race as a
Strider)
The Challenge Roth
Triathlon - from Ingo Zoller
Some might remember that I took up triathlon a few years ago.
Now a clubmate nagged me for almost a whole year to enter the challenge Roth
2009. Rumours had it that this year should be his final year with long distance
triathlon races, and he wanted to celebrate this at one of the world’s biggest
triathlon festivals. OK, so when entries for 2009 opened in July 2008 I probably
made the critical mistake, and sent in my entry for 2009.
What followed was a long winter with lots of rain, ice,
indoor training, long bike rides in persistent rain, lots of wet and mucky
running and cycling gear, lots of hours in the swimming pool. In May then
finally the triathlon season started with a good performance at the Gemünden
triathlon (1000m swim, 36.5km cycle ride, 10km run), followed in June by Moret
(2.1km swim, 83km cycle, 20km run) and Erding (1.5km swim, 48.5km cycle, 10km
run). Both 10k's were finished in 40min, the 20k inside 90min.
So it looked as if preparation
and pacing went quite well for the big day. I expected to be on the bike there
after about 1 hour 15 min, then ride for 5hours and 15 or 30 min, and then to
keep running for 3 hours 45 min or 4 hours, with a final time between 10 hours
15 (best case) and 10 hours 45 (more realistic).
Finally the big day arrived. Leaving home early on Saturday
morning I spent about 3 hours on the motorway to get to Roth, got the starting
numbers, timing chip and all the other stuff. Then over to the swim start and
transition zone 1 to check in the bike. The running kit needed to be checked in
as well, afterwards I had enough time to check out the bike course (by car - my
bike was checked in already, and it would not make sense to do a 50 mile bike
ride on the afternoon before the big day).
The next morning my alarm clock went off at 3 a.m. (you would
think I am crazy - I would do so, too!), and after a short breakfast I got ready
to go to the starting area. Arriving a bit early, seeing all the professionals
arrive, a final bike check, depositing the transition bag (including bike kit,
shoes and so), then watching the start of the first wave at 6:20. It was just
amazing! And now I had to prepare for my start at 07:10. This meant getting into
the wetsuit, handing in the kit for the finish area, visiting the dixi (not only
once or twice - three times out of sheer tension and pre-race nervosity!), then
entering the starting zone in the moment the first professionals got out of
water.
As soon as I had reached the starting line the gun went off,
and the calm water changed into a white-water zone. Nevertheless - the swim
course was easy: 1500m straight forward, then U-turn left, and straight for
1900m on the other side of the canal. Another U-turn, and then the final 400m to
the transition zone. Not much chance of getting lost here, is there?
Well, I got out of the water much quicker than expected,
somehow it just went well (1h and 5min). Also the transition onto the bike went
without problems (4.5 minutes, partly due to difficulties getting out of my
low-budget wetsuit), picking up a banana on the way, and then just head down and
ride... The course was fast, undulating, but no real difficulties. Three climbs
on each of the two laps where it made sense to get out of aero position, but for
most of the whole rest it was possible to remain in low-flying time-trial
position. With all the corners clearly marked the only difficulties were
ensuring that you eat and drink enough to keep hydrated and fuelled for the
following run and of course taking care that you either passed the competitor in
front of you quickly or kept far enough away to keep out of his slipstream. So
it was a nice, easy 180km (112miles!) time trial (easy? Honestly, it was fast,
but the legs found it quite easy compared with what was to follow!), and I got
off the bike after only 5h and 7min (averaging almost 22miles/hour!).
The second transition went even better than the first
one, leaving the transition zone after less than 2 minutes, and realizing I was
still wearing my bike top over the trisuit. So I left the bike top at the first
drink station, and then kept running, checking my running speed every kilometer
(too fast - too fast again) and trying to slow down. The pace would have been
right for a short 10 or 20km run, but not really for a marathon! Finally it
happened as expected, I was slowing down more than just a bit, the legs were
getting heavy and heavier, as everyone experienced who ever started a marathon
far too fast. But by then I was already on the second half, and my watch told me
that it would be impossible to finish outside the 10 hour mark! A time I thought
impossible at the start, and even now I could not believe what my watch kept
telling. So I kept running, ignored what my legs told me (stop! stop! enough! we
do not want anymore!), kept running, checking the time, running, enjoying the
crowds along the route, and at some point realized: that would be a finishing
time of below 9 hours 50 min! IMPOSSIBLE!
Approaching the finish, entering the arena, final bend on
the track, and - the video showed clearly that I looked on my watch in disbelief
for several seconds before celebrating - crossed the finish line after only 3
hours and 27 min after starting the run. Total time: 9 hours 46 min and 38
seconds, position 271 out of approx 2500 finishers, and 71st in my age group
(out of 458).
Regarding the top British competitors: Chrissie
Wellington recorded a phantastic world best time of 8 hours 31 min and 59
seconds, Graeme Stewart finished in 8:23:39, and fastest competitors from Leeds
were Helen MacVicker (11:09:16) and Nick Burdon (11:31:59).
Next
important race planned: WRMA long distance mountain running championship in
October...
Best regards from the continent, Ingo