Evening kids,
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.
Results
Within minutes of last week’s missive being dispatched, I was inundated with a flurry of emails pointing out errors in the times for Leeds Abbey Dash 10k. Some of the results I received were gun times rather than chip times, and so I’m pleased to give you the correct times for Fiona Robinson (1:05:36 ) and Jane Hill (1:08:35). With that record set and straightened, let’s move onto this week’s results.
Belated congratulations to Sue and John Reast who recently competed in the Dalby Dash 10k (having called them lesser-spotted last week, we now can’t get rid of them). John completed the challenging course in 53:55, with Sue (1:01:35) not far behind. Very well done to you both.
Well this is all very awkward. Fell Running Phil has beaten me to it in circulating the results from the PECOS at Temple Newsam earlier today. Congratulations to all of our competitors flying the flag high for Team Nidd. From the boys, we had Tim Harvey, Andy Todd, Andy Harris, Phil Robinson and Dave Seaman, and from the ladies we had Debbie Gibson, Hannah Peagram, Michelle Smith, Sarah Chalmers, Philippa Moorse (she runs!!) and, Mrs Fell Running Phil, Fiona Robinson. I can’t wait to hear how the Juniors got on, too! You’ve all done brilliantly, congratulations!
Here come the girls (with Macy, the Nidd Valley Dog, too!)
And so we move on to the Parkrun results for this week and I must say that they make very interesting reading indeed. At Harrogate, Fingers Harris (20:25) led the troops home, followed by Steve I’m-not-bitter-but-I-wanted-to-be-first-Nidd-home-three-weeks-in-a-row Newton (22:27). Moira McTague (25:25) held Jim Cook (25:31) six seconds at bay in a nail biting finish. Parkrun Dave (27:35) and Tony LC (29:50) made easy work of the muddy course, followed by Jane Hill (30:55) and Michelle Dinsdale (31:18). Great work, team.
Keeping things suitably monastic, Brother Andy Todd (19:15) and Mother Superior Nicki Walton (28:05) soon tamed the course at Fountains Abbey. Amen to that and well done to you both.
Please Mister Postman, look and see if there’s a letter in your bag for me! You’re all marvels and it is lovely to hear from you. Keep me updated with your results: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Week Ahead
• Tuesday: it’s the second of the interval taster sessions led by the ever enthusiastic Mike D and Emma D. I’m not sure where we’re going this week, so meet at the Hockey Club and be ready to run for 7pm.
• Tuesday: if intervals don’t float your running boat, there’ll be a steady run from the Hockey Club, meeting for 7pm.
• Thursday: the systems administrator here at Nidd Valley House tells me that this week’s run is the Supermarkets, so you’ll be able to get a bit of shopping in as you pass. Leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm, this route heads out past ASDA, Waitrose, round the Stray and down the showground, past Sainsbury’s, over to Morrisons and home. Those wanting a little more can take a detour up to M&S on Leeds Road, and there are plenty of options to cut short too. Route here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/926355713
• Sunday: Dave S will be leading a Sunday run for you this week. Meet at 9.30am outside Yorkshire Showground on Hookstone Wood Road, near the Scout Hut. It’ll be a social and steady run of about 8½ miles towards Kirkby Overblow and returning via Follifoot. All sounds fun, and we hope to see you there.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: 12 December 2015
I know I’m normally like the Grinch that stole Christmas, so you’ll be surprised to hear that we’re going out for a social run on 12 December as our way of marking the festivities. This will be at relaxed pace and I hope it is something that everyone feels able to take part in. It’s a little over eight miles from Calcutt to Plompton, Little Ribston, Goldsborough and back. It’s all pretty flat and mainly on trails and fields, so it should be accessible to all. You can have a sneak peak at the route here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/926063497 (#organisedchairman). If anyone feels that this is a little out of their depth, then let me know and I’ll make sure there is provision for a shorter route.
Your ever-festive Chairman…
Later that night, we’ll be meeting for Christmas drinks in the Harrogate Tap (that rather nice pub next the station. Well, I’ve heard it’s nice and that they do nice beer. I’ve never been in. Don’t touch the stuff myself…). We’re meeting at 8pm and it’d be great to see all of you there. All the relevant details (mainly irrelevant, to be honest with you) via our Facebook page where you can join in the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044567955561567/. I know, I am so down with the kids.
You’ll be champ-ing at the bit (see what I did there? #megalolz)
We’re busy putting the fell and road championship calendars together for next year. Nidd Valley House is so awash with spreadsheets, maps and timetables that you can barely move. It’s utter chaos here. Still, it is lovely to see Fell Running Phil with something positive to do: he’s done nothing but mope around and get under my feet since the championships ended in October.
If you have any ideas and thoughts about what you’d like to see in next year’s championships, then we’d really like to hear from you. You can share your views here: https://goo.gl/forms/sUWYfkmgeX. Thanks to Mark D for creating the form and for collating all the data from your responses (I tell you, you can take the man out of GCHQ…).
We are particularly keen to extend the allure of fell running to others in the club, especially the ladies, as it can be a little bit of a niche activity at times. Please don’t assume fell running isn’t for you or that you’ll never get round. I manage it and, if the Nidd Valley Juniors can tackle a PECO, I know you have a fell race or two in you. The views can be stunning, the terrain varied and challenging, and the descents thrilling – often for only a few quid (come to think of it, it probably explains why fell running is so big in Yorkshire). Have a chat with any of our muddy brethren at Nidd Valley House, they’ll gladly give you a few pointers. We’ll be trying to make the fell championships as local and accessible as possible this year, so please do think about getting involved.
Awards Night: 30 January 2015
It seems that everyone wants to be Lady Mary this year. Dave was desperate, bless him, but he said he wouldn’t mind if he could be the Dowager Countess instead. So that’s settled that, fortunately. Anyway, keep this date in your diary. Tickets will be going on sale soon, and we look forward to welcoming you to this most glittering of nights here at Nidd Valley House.
A Word to the Wise
“The great thing about running is that it is a great leveller. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’ve come from. Everyone is equal when they run” – Comrade Martin Lofthouse, sharing his Trotskyist reflections.
The comeback itches ever closer, and I celebrated yesterday by popping into Up & Running in Harrogate to buy a new pair of fell shoes (god, they’re beautiful), and ended up getting a new pair of road shoes too as an impulse buy. Bumped into Fingers Harris while I was there, and I think collectively we spent enough to put the owner’s kids through university. Great stuff. Anyway, it’s been lovely chatting to you, and I’ll see you soon. Have a good week.
Sam x