RACE DETAILS

13th Meanwood Valley Trail Race

Under U.K. Athletics Rules - U.K. Athletics Licence 10572

Saturday 17th May 2008 - 10.30 a.m.

from Leodiensian Club ("Old Leos"), Crag Lane, off King Lane, Alwoodley, LS17 5PR

YOUR RACE NUMBER

Thank you for your entry for the race - please find your number enclosed.

If you are unable to run,

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR NUMBER TO SOMEONE ELSE,

as this might cause incorrect allocation of prizes,

and could cause confusion if an accident or emergency were to occur.

ABOUT THE RACE

The Meanwood Valley Trail is a footpath from Woodhouse Moor near Leeds City Centre to Golden Acre Park at Bramhope. This path forms the first 7 miles of the Dales Way long distance footpath from Leeds to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Our Trail Race starts and finishes at the Old Leo's Club, just 300 yards off the Meanwood Valley Trail. The course is a single lap of approximately 7.5 miles mainly on footpaths with some grassland. There is just one 100 yard stretch of road, run twice, which enables us to make the only road crossing on our route. Yet at the southernmost point we are less than 3 miles from Leeds City Centre!

Due to the road section and a section of tarmac path, the route is unsuitable for spikes. But some of the footpaths are stony and/or muddy. Depending on the amount of rain in the weeks before the race, runners should choose between fell or trail running shoes with long rubber studs or studded road-running shoes - previous experience is that fell/trail shoes are more likely to be better!

In our first year, 1996, we had 95 finishers. This had risen to nearly 200 by 1999. From 2000 to 2007 we have averaged 300 finishers with a peak of 356 last year. We hope to have more than 300 this year.

"RULES OF THE PATHS": Please note that some of the race is on public footpaths and bridlepaths and although we will be putting up notices to give advance warning of our event, walkers and horseriders have equal right to use these paths. Marshals will ask walkers/riders to keep to the left - runners should keep left when meeting walkers and overtake on the right when coming up behind walkers.

AIREDALE TRIPLE TRAIL: Meanwood is the third in a 3 race series, the other races being:

LINEHAM FARM CHILDREN'S CENTRE: All profits from the race are being donated to Lineham Farm, which, each year, gives over 1000 deserving local children a unique, rewarding and memorable holiday in the country. Over the last 8 years we have raised over £6500. Please contact us if you would like further details of the charity or would like to raise money for them.

Promoted by Valley Striders

Course designer, Geoff Webster, and the rest of the Valley Striders Race Support Team hope you enjoy the course and the event - Good Luck!

For further information, please contact Bob Jackson on Leeds 289-2830, or visit the race website: http://www.valleystriders.org.uk/trail.htm