Six brave Team Nidd contenders…one monumental 26.2 mile marathon challenge.
Whatever your reasons for running a marathon, whatever time you aim for, the demands of the training, motivation and dedication needed to even make it to the start, let alone the finish line, show strength of character deserving of the coveted medal.
Our six inspirational souls travelled over to York to take on the challenge of the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon and battle through blood, sweat and tears (quite literally tears in some cases) to discover their marathon potential.
Was it worth it? Of course it was – take a look at the results and be proud:
Martin Lofthouse 3.13.07 (first marathon so a definite PB for Martin), Jamie Dilasser 3.23, Emma Dooley 3.34.10, Matt Wilkinson 3.31.29, Sam Fugill 3.43.27 and Nicky Walton, 4.49.03.
Amazing efforts all round.
Also in York for the Plusnet 10 mile, Nick Smith finished in 1.27, Michelle Dinsdale bagged herself another cracking new PB, 1.43, and it was a warm welcome back from a nasty ankle injury for Jane Hill, 1.54. We are all pleased to see you back running Jane. Well done all.
For those not racing in York, there were plenty of other opportunities to stretch those legs and get out and about for breath of fresh air, or even a lung busting 10k if you prefer!?!
The last of the road championships, the Richmond Castle 10k led the road-running Nidds around Richmond and beyond, apparently it had its own beer festival, so some well-earned refreshment to be had at the end.
Andy Todd was first home in 41.11, Paul Manning in 50.02, closely followed by Emma David 50.22, Jim Cook 51.29, Debbie Gibson 53.13, Jenny Manning 54.44 and Michelle Smith 62.35… I have a feeling I may be missing Mrs Easton’s result… I know she ran, nothing escapes me, except her time evidently.
For the fell runners amongst us, it was The 24th Withins Skyline at Haworth. Sarah Chalmers was heading over and I know fell running Phil wouldn’t have missed it for the world, though as I can’t seem to find a result anywhere he may well have taken the day off for the fun of it, I just don’t know!
Something I am sure about however, in parkrun land, the 5km fun continued this weekend.
At Harrogate, Andy Harris led Team Nidd home in a speedy 19.53, followed by Jonathan Easton with a fabulous new PB, 20.05. Steve (still a bit injured so taking it steady) Newton was next, 23.32. Next over the line was David Rushton in 25.27, Jim Cook 25.35, Natalia Lancosova 27.16 and Stuart Hatfield 28.29. Rebecca Ventress paced to perfection (almost) in 28.44, Anna Rosie (Junior) 29.41, Michelle Dinsdale 30.46 and Amanda Smith 35.34. Marvellous running around a misty Stray!
At Fountains Abbey, Andy Todd flew round in an impressive 18.59, followed by some (friendly) inter-family rivalry it would seem. Phil Robinson in 23.23, Alexander Robinson (Junior) 23.34 (a fantastic PB). Team Dilasser followed them home, Debbie in 26.32 and Jamie 26.36 (a pre-marathon leg turner I assume, well, whatever he did, it worked, see speedy marathon time above should you need proof). Anyway I digress, back to parkrun, Fiona Robinson came home in 31.39 – great running all round.
Finally, a little further afield, at Clair parkrun, Tony L-C finished in 28.05 – fantastic!
The Week Ahead:
Tuesday: It’s the club run! Meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm, clad in as much hi-vis as you can muster.
Thursday: Another fantastic club run – see you at the Hockey Club for 7pm. Remember hi-vis and head torches for the dark nights! Drinks in the bar afterwards.
Saturday 17th October: Yes, that’s this Saturday, 9.30am, Guy Fawkes recce from Ripley Castle.If you can’t make that one, then there’s another chance to run the course on Sunday 25th, 9.30am, again from Ripley Castle.
Saturday 17th October: British Fell Relays. The fun starts at 10:30am. Barley, Near Burnley. For more details see http://www.claytonlemoors.org.uk/open-races/british-fell-relays-2015/
Halloween Run: 29th October 2015. You’d be surprised what goes bump in the night here at Nidd Valley House. For the particularly brave among you, there’ll be a special Halloween run at the end of October. More spellbindingly spooky details to follow…
Guy Fawkes 10: Sunday 1 November 2015
If you have not yet told Mike that you are available to marshal, then please do so as soon as possible: mjfjdeacon@ntlworld.com.
Christmas “Party”: Saturday 12th December – an afternoon of running (mixed terrain) followed by drinks in town in the evening… I personally cannot wait!
Please send all your news, updates and results I may have missed to chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
And finally, you may have realised reading this disordered chaos (not to mention the email address), that our dear Chairman has been treated to a night off after his monumental efforts in the marathon today, he does however get the last word and rightly so…
Word to the wise…
“Any idiot can run, it takes a special kind of idiot to run a marathon!”
Chairman Sam, October 2015, after completing the Yorkshire Marathon.