Sunday 5 April – Guiseley Gallop

 

I’m still looking for someone to hand out MVT entry forms at the Guiseley Gallop, please email me if you can help.

 

Note that the Guiseley Gallop is the second race in the Leeds Race Series.  The series now has nearly 200 entries but “only” 17 of these are from Valley Striders. Last year two Striders finished on the podium, will this be repeated in 2015?  See www.leedsathletics.net and follow the links for Leeds Race Series and also see the Facebook group page www.facebook.com/groups/leedsraceseries .  The Series is free to enter.

 

Tuesday 7 April – Training, Meanwood Recce, MVT meeting and Food

 

Juniors and beginners/improvers at 6pm will start with a warm-up and then a 1 mile run round the junior route for the Meanwood Trail Race.  Note that walkers and very slow runners will be asked to take a short cut after half a mile.

 

We have 2 groups on the Meanwood Trail route, meet PROMPT at 7pm

·         Meanwood Trail Recce fast group – run full route of MVT race (just over 7 miles)

·         Meanwood Trail Recce intermediate group – run route of MVT race but omitting section in Meanwood Park (just over 5 miles)

 

For those not keen on off-road running, I suggest a session at Eccup reservoir.  There may be a fell session, please the VS Fell Runners Facebook group.

 

Two sittings for lasagne – please book by 10pm Sunday 5 April

·         early sessions followed by lasagne at 7:15pm book at earlyfood@valleystriders.org.uk choosing meat or veggie lasagne (£3.50) and whether you want apple pie (£1.50). 

·         later sessions followed by lasagne at 8:30pm book at food@valleystriders.org.uk choosing meat or veggie lasagne (£3.50) and whether you want apple pie (£1.50).

 

Also a progress update on MVT at 8:30pm.   The main meeting for MVT marshals and team leaders will be 14 April.

 

Note that on 14 April there will be more recces of MVT.  The intermediates will miss out the loop of route round Leos and therefore will have time to do the full loop of Meanwood Park

 

We’d like as many marshals as possible to run at least one of these recces.

 

3^rd to 6^th April – Extra discount at Up&Running Headingley

 

Dear Club Secretary

 

Please find attached an offer that is exclusive for running club members.  We wonder if you would be either willing to email it out to them or put it on your Facebook page.

 

It's really important to us that we are able to support our local running clubs in the best way we can - so over the Easter weekend, we are offering 20% discount to running club members who shop with us over this period; 3rd – 6th April. 

 

Whether they are training for a race, after that elusive PB or are just looking for an offer, this double club discount should help them.  

 

Just one thing to note, it's a good idea to bring in club/EA/UKA id, as this offer isn't open to everyone – it's just for club members.

 

If you are able to spread the word to your membership that would be great.  

 

Hope to see you over Easter

Kind regards

James Druce

Store Manager

Up&Running Headingley

 

Membership benefits – Bodyline

 

Leeds City Council are now offering 15% discount on 12 month Bodyline memberships to all Valley Striders Members – runners, cyclists and triathletes. Click this link for more info. on what a membership gets you. To get the discount you will need to show your England Athletics Card or VSCC membership card.  Or if you have neither, take a screen snapshot of www.valleystriders.org.uk/vsmemreg.htm (but be sure your name shows “Paid” not “Due”!!)

 

RACE ADVERTS

 

Tigers Todger - 7 pm Wednesday 6th May

 

Subject: Totley AC:  Tigers Todger - 7 pm Wednesday 6th May - Race Series 2015 - only £4 for pre-entrants

Dear Club Secretary or Contact

 

We’d be really grateful if you could forward this email and attachment to your members.

It give details of our 2015 Race Series – with some amazing OMM prizes as well as our own more consumable ones!

NB It’s only a fiver to enter for the Series – and we’ve held our individual race fees as low as possible!

 

Full details and entry forms for our next race – the Tigers Todger - are at this link:  http://www.totleyac.org.uk/

Please note that runners can pre-enter for our next race – the Tigers Todger – and all the others. It can save time queuing – and is cheaper!

 

With our best wishes for a happy, healthy and injury-free Easter.

 

Steve Terry, Secretary, Totley AC

secretary@totleyac.org.uk

 

The Race Series for 2015 consists of:

•        Tigger Tor (10 miles):        Sunday 25th January: 11 am      NB    £7 pre-entry only

•        Tigers Todger (6 miles):    Wednesday 6th May:     7.00 pm      £4 pre-entry, £5.00 on day

•        Totley Moor (5.2 miles):    Tuesday 19th May:  7.30 pm      £4 pre-entry, £5.00 on day

•        Blackamoor (6.2 miles):    Thursday 25th  June:  7.30 pm   £4 pre-entry, £5.00 on day

•        Exterminator (16 miles):    Sunday 6th Sept:  10.30 am                   £5 pre-entry, £7.00 on day

 

Apperley Bridge Canter – 7:30 pm Thursday 28th May

 

Dear Club Secretary
 
Thanks for the support of your club in previous years to our annual race, the Apperley Bridge Canter . 
The entries for this years event are now open. We would really appreciate if you could forward this message to your club members.
 
The race is to take part on Thursday 28th of May at 7.30pm. The route is slightly different to other years but it still runs on the scenic area behind Woodhouse Grove School on mainly tracks and paths. It measures approximately 10km. The friendliness of marshalls, excellent organisation and unique memento will remain unchanged.
There will also be individual and team prizes.
You can enter by using the link:  https://bookitzone.com/phil_mcgeever_1/xh2FFX

We hope to see you there!

3 Lakes Classic – Saturday 20 June

 

Fellow runners.

 

We are hosting the 3 Lakes Classic Race again this year. ( Sometimes described as the 3 Cakes Classic!)

 

This is the eighth time this race has been organised. It is a multi- terrain race over 15 miles over a challenging and scenic course.

It is 80% off road with trail conditions for the most part and fully marshalled.

You will run around Rother Valley lakes, Treeton and Ulley with truly splendid views.

There are 6 drinks stations at various intervals along the course.

There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female runners and 1st men and lady veteran

( Any person winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize not eligible for veteran prize).

At the Start / Finish there is free tea and coffee with a cake tent at the end.

 

I would be grateful if could pass this information to your members.

 

More information can be found via the link http://www.killamarshkestrels.co.uk/3LC2015/3LakesClassic2015.html

 

RACE REPORTS

 

World Best ? for Lou Gilchrist

 

A couple of weeks after her 82^nd birthday, Lou Gilchrist set what is believed to be a world best for her age for 5k at Heaton Park parkrun with a time of 28:57

 

Northern 6-stage Relay from Louise Cazan

 

On Saturday 28 March, I, along with a team of plucky Striders - Hannah Corne, Pascale Fotherby, Kim Threadgall Spence and Sam Harris - led by team captain Myra Jones, braved the biblical weather conditions on the M62 to head to the Northern Road Relay Championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool. 

 

We arrived to find ourselves amongst world-class athletes - Susan Partridge, Laura Weightman, Heather Sellars and Emma Clayton to name a few. Undeterred by this, the blustery conditions, the adrenalin-fuelled bustling in the starting pens and the fact that none of us were entirely sure how long the legs would be - the published distances each being different to the two (again different) distances announced over the tannoy before the race - we set about the task in hand.

 

Everyone made a sterling effort and we were absolutely delighted to learn as we arrived back in Leeds that we had finished 16th out of 55 teams! We were in fact promoted to 15th at one stage due to another team's disqualification but this has since been reversed. The confusion didn't end there. I also understand that, in the men's 12-stage race, Liverpool Harriers, who were leading with little more than a mile to go, surrendered their lead when their last leg athlete inexplicably ran off course leaving Leeds City to take the double on the day. 

 

As a first-timer, I will look back on the day as a great experience and would encourage others to participate in future events. Thanks to Myra and Bob for organising, to Pascale for her nerves of steel whilst driving us in horrendous conditions, to Hannah for keeping the Twitter and Facebook followers up to speed and to everyone who gave support and kind comments. 

 

16   Valley Striders AC     2:05:32

        Hannah Corne     (15) 29:55

        Pascale Fotherby (25) 17:23

        Kim Spence       (17) 14:39

        Myra Jones       (15) 29:26

        Samantha Harris  (14) 17:21

        Louise Cazan     (16) 16:48

 

Myra was 22^nd fastest and Hannah 28^th fastest of the 120 runners on the long leg, Kim was ranked 26^th, Lou 98^th, Sam 125^th and Pascale 128^th in the 232 runners on the short leg.

 

Wakefield 10k (from Carmel Barker)

 

Hi Bob, first "out of retirement" race yesterday and already looking for the next!  Cold damp start but big smile at finish....quite pleased with time with no proper training , just me and my dog!  Need to get back to some Tuesday sessions now. Thought would see plenty of Striders but didn’t see any one!

Carmel=

 

Hi Carmel, there were 3 other Striders there, here are the results

    25 Simon Midwood    36:56  36:51

   220 Carmel Barker    44:49  44:47

   277 Hayley Nancolas  46:17  45:41

   783 Steph Gledhill   54:58  54:20

Certainly not as many as in 2008 when Wakefield 10k was the venue of the Valley Striders vs Abbey Runners challenge and we had 54 runners there!

 

Fell Running – from John Marsham

 

A busy couple of w/e’s: Heptonstall and Edale, though not quite as many finished Edale planned to start it. There’s a reason that Heptonstall tends to be in the Fell Champs rather than Edale! Three Peaks is next…

 

Heptonstall Fell Race 2015: 15.4 mile, Climb: 3170 ft (Mick Loftus)

This race has a bit of everything; a very short bit of road running, steep up and downs, boggy open moorland, easy runnable grassland, slow climbs, long descending tracks, twisty woodland trails and just to spice things up a bit there is an optional wall run (that is running along the top of a stone wall rather than opting for wading through the swamp on either side). 

Seven Striders lined up with the rest for the customary blessing from the local vicar and then we set off in beautiful spring weather.  The moors had dried out considerably since the week before at the Haworth Hobble ensuring fast times at the head of the race. 

Slightly down the field Ross led the Striders home closely followed by Steve. Ronan completed his first senior FRA 'Long B' fell race having turned 18 in the Autumn. 

At the finish, the vicar was on hand to minister to the weary, with piles of flapjacks and lashings of hot drinks all round. 

1  Ben Mounsey Calder Valley Fell Runners M 1:47:15

35  Ross Bibby Valley Striders M 2:18:03
38  Steve Webb Valley Striders V50 2:18:50
39  Sally Fawcett Dark Peak Fell Runners L 2:19:06
55  Mick Loftus Valley Striders V40 2:22:09
60  Simon Vallance Valley Striders V40 2:23:27
67  Clive Bandy Valley Striders M 2:25:31
115  Robert Bumstead Valley Striders V40 2:42:56
141  Ronan Loftus Valley Striders M 2:51:00

227 Ran

Edale Skyline, Sunday 29 March 2015: 21.1 miles, 1373m / 4505ft (John Marsham)

 

Eight fell runners sitting in the pub

Eight fell runners sitting in the pub

But one fell runner is bored of too much mud (and so is off to the Sahara)

Seven fell runners sitting in the pub

 

Seven fell runners sitting warm at home

Seven fell runners sitting warm at home

But three fell runners feet/knees/ankles make them moan (and don’t like the rain)

Four fell runners sitting warm at home

 

Four fell runners starting off the race

Four fell runners starting off the race

But one fell runner, falls off the required pace (and gets timed out)

Three fell runners continuing the race

 

Three fell runners running in the rain

Three fell runners running in the rain

But one fell runner’s ankle’s causing pain

Two fell runners make it home again

 

Edale Skyline is always tough, 21miles of hills, with some fast tracks, bogs & rocks. It’s famous for variable weather: shorts & t-shirts one year and snow the next. This year we had rain, with some drizzle, cloud and sleet thrown in for good measure. Together with the high winds this definitely made for ‘Type-II’ fun. .  “Only one” of Edale Mountain Rescues three call-outs on the day was for the race (for a hypothermic runner), a reminder that standard FRA kit is the minimum.

 

The first couple of hours over Whin Hill across the valley and over Mam Tor were OK – I wasn’t even wearing my waterproof. Then the weather set in. Luckily I was in a little group of four, including the leading women, who guided me through the bogs and we could all haul each other out of the bottomless peat when needed. I managed to hang onto them as they led us through a sneaky short cut over peat hags and down a stream and out onto the stony path. By this stage I was getting cold. I’d pulled my waterproof on, which helped, but the wind was relentless. What should have been a tail wind to blow you home became a head-wind as you wound your way around the steep valley that cut into the plateau. I, like most others I think, was running more because it was the quickest way home than because it was a race. It was certainly the worst weather I’d ever raced in. One last check-point on the edge of the plateau (with some dedicated marshalls fighting the wind, which threatened to blow their tent away) before the rocky descent to the valley, the finish, and the seemingly long walk to the village hall (really about 10 mins). Pie, peas and tea seemed to sort people out, although a few were shivering for a long time. I met Steve in the hall; he’d retired as his long-standing ankle injury was playing up (and he had done 55 miles the w/e before!). Sarah  was timed out. Amanda soon joined us. Having made it round. The four Striders that never started were probably glad they didn’t. Quote of the day though has to be a reply to the FRA’s facebook post of “If you did the Edale skyline over weekend. What did you learn?”, “I think what i learned most is that fell runners are on the whole a super bunch of people and it made me very happy to see people helping one another out.”

 

1 Nicholas Barber 2:52:51  Pennine F R

42 Sally Fawcett 3:37:54  Dark Peak

49 John Marsham 3:42:16

177 Amanda Seims 4:40:48

294 started, 242 finished, 52 DNF or timed out

 

Hardmoors 55 Ultra Race Saturday 21 March – from Steve Dixon

 

55 miles from Guisborugh to Helmsley with 2700 metres of ascent.

 

It's a stunning route along the well marked Cleveland Way on a mixture of moorland tracks and stony trails.  It's well organised and with good support from friendly marshals.

Preceded by a period of dry weather the trails were dry and there was a welcome absence of mud! Another added bonus was the chilly but northerly wind giving us a helpful tail wind for much  the route. Pb's were the norm!

 

It starts with a stiff climb out of Guisborough to reach the first checkpoint at Highcliff Nab, quickly followed by the 2nd CP on Roseberry Topping. After a brief descent via Kildale the route climbs slowly across desolate moorland to Bloworth Crossing. Then follows what is/are for me the highlight(s) - a switchback traversing Hasty Bank, Wainstones, Cringle Moor and Carlton Bank before eventually dropping down into Osmotherly and 32 miles covered. 

 

I arrived there in a little over 6 hours and in the low 90's position-wise and in retrospect was a little too 'quick'. It was hard to leave the warm and cosy village hall and even harder to maintain any semblance of running on the long tortuous climb up onto Black Hambledon. For those who had paced themselves wisely there was the prospect of running on good tracks with little change in height and with a strong tail wind for about 10 miles to reach the White Horse on Sutton Bank. I should have been flying! Instead it was damage limitation as I started to slip through the field with alternating walking and running. Light was fading fast as I reached the CP in the WH car park and I was determined to make as much distance as possible before the head torch was switched on. Another 30 minutes and I'd climbed back onto Sutton Bank, crossed the A170 and passed Hambleton before darkness was complete and the torch was switched onto its brightest setting. I was relieved to be on the home straight, albeit 8 miles or so of tricky navigation in the dark. It's very reassuring to be able to spot the faint glimmer of torches in front of you but fatal to follow blindly as I was soon to realise. I was passed by someone running strongly. He ignored my friendly salutation but no matter and he and his torch light faded into the distance. Soon after I came upon one of those tricky navigational points -the runner in front had ignored that too! It would have been tempting not to have shouted out the error but he was still within earshot and shout I did. 

 

Over the rise of the final hill and the welcoming lights of Helmsley come into view below and just a mile of running to the finish in the Town Hall.

Kim Collison in 1st place got there 4 hours before me having smashed the course record by 30 minutes (7hrs 39mins). Charmaine Horsfall the First Lady was 3 hours in front having lowered her own record by 10 minutes (8hrs 39mins).

 

My time was 11hrs 36mins, 20 minutes slower than the year before but still managed to be first Vet 60.

 

Full results were not available at the time of writing but I'm hopeful that out of the 270 starters I was in the top half of the field.

 

Stokesley Duathlon

 

Main Race (5k run, 35k bike, 5k run)

  Pos  Name             N  Time  C Gender  Run1   T1    Cycle  T2    Run 2

    1  David Thomas      01:25:33  M   1                       0:30  16:35

   38  Steve Wilkins     01:37:17  M  37   16:52  1:28  59:22  0:48  18:45

   41  Jill Cliff        01:37:42  F   1   17:20  1:30  59:58  0:38  18:14

   45  Dan Murray        01:38:24  M  43   19:05  1:20  58:35  0:52  18:30

   59  Mike Furby        01:40:56  M  56   19:15  1:18  58:31  1:06  20:44

   66  Vernon Long       01:42:08  M  63   19:32  1:23  59:18  0:43  21:10

   75  Kim Spence        01:43:12  F   3   18:10  1:31  03:57  1:04  18:28

  105  Greg Skerrett     01:46:22  M  94   20:22  1:28  03:04  1:11  20:15

  109  Neil Holloway     01:46:57  M  98   18:46  1:29  07:01  0:44  18:55

  118  Ross Bibby        01:47:54  M 107   18:30  1:26  08:29  1:19  18:08

  146  Alison Campbell   01:51:19  F  13   19:34  1:21  08:37  1:22  20:23

  153  Anna Hobbs        01:52:15  F  14                            

  164  John Batchelor    01:53:30  M 146   19:25  1:19              

  193  Sophie Johnstone  01:57:05  F  20   21:18  1:32  10:39  1:06  22:28

  260  Paul Felton       02:18:37  M 220   28:07  2:21  18:06  2:01  27:58

  263  Richard Clough    02:20:36  M 222   28:17  2:47  22:23  1:01  26:06

  DNF  Dan Price                   M       19:06  1:24              

 

Novice Race (3k run, 17k bike, 3k run)

    1  Jake Duffy        00:57:34  M   1                       0:27  11:20

    4  Hannah Pinkney    01:00:40  F   1                       0:25  12:18

   33  Katherine Hogg    01:15:01  F  14   16:59  0:58  39:13  1:26  16:22

   54  Becky Murray      01:27:39  F  31   18:50  1:23  48:38  2:18  16:29

   69  Tanya Wilkins     01:43:02  F  40   22:12  2:18  53:17  2:10  23:03

 

Note that there is a separate club email for cycling specific news – contact cycling@valleystriders.org.uk if you’d like to receive this email.

 

Charity Request – Volunteers / Marshals for race on 16 May

 

Hi.

I am the Charity Executive at Radio Aire's charity, Cash for Kids. Each year we support thousands of children from birth to 18 years old who are sick, disabled, underprivileged or who simply need extra care and guidance. We do this by providing grants to individual children, other children’s charities, community groups, schools and health organisations. All of the money raised locally, stays local and helps children living in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

 

We have partnered with Color Me Rad, which is a 5k fun run at Harewood House on Saturday 16th May. If we can provide 80 volunteers to help "staff" the event we will receive a donation of £3,500 to our charity.

 

We are therefore contacting you to see if any of your running club members would like to volunteer with us on the day? It is 8am to 1pm, so will not take up a whole day. Jobs will vary on the day from; handing out water, registering runners/walkers, throwing paint and lots more!

 

Alternatively if anyone would like to take part in the fun run they can use code C4KLEEDS to get 10% off the registration fee.

 

If anyone would like to volunteer they can contact me at : lauren.scarth@radioaire.co.uk or telephone 0113 2835529

 

Kind Regards

 

Lauren Scarth

Charity Executive

0113 283 5529

Radio Aire, 51 Burley Road, Leeds, LS3 1LR