Evening all,
Hope you’re all okay. Sorry for the late email this week. I headed up to snowy Northumberland to spend the weekend up at Fugill Towers with my folks (and you know it’s cold up there when even the natives are wearing coats). Still, better late than ever, I suppose.
Results
Okay, I really cocked up here. It started when I got an email from Jon Easton telling me that I’d missed his other half out of the results for the Muddy Boots 10k (missing someone from the results isn’t admittedly terribly new… so it’s a case of so far, so perfectly predictable), only to then receive an email from Christine Holleran telling me that she was somewhat surprised to see her name in print, complete with a time, as she didn’t even run the race. It then took me the best part of three days to realise I’d printed the results from last year. Sorry about that, folks. It’s a wonder I am allowed out in the community without a carer, if we’re being honest. The results from the 2016 are reprinted here apologetically: Alex Patrickson (40:55), Moira McTague (55:22) and Carolyn Easton (1:00:32), and my congratulations, if late, are no less sincere.
And while we are on the subject of my shortcomings (and we won’t be here much longer, I hope), I’m also reminded that I failed to include Mandy Smith and Jane Hill in the roll call of achievements at the Awards Night. The more eagle-eyed Facebookers among you will realise that last year Mandy joined Dan, Sarah and Dave in completing her 100th parkrun, while Jane joined Club 50. Your achievements, hitherto unacknowledged and unrhymed, remain no less impressive. Well done, ladies.
Contrary to popular belief and the above evidence, I do actually have control of all of my faculties (albeit not simultaneously, it would appear), but nonetheless it is with some trepidation that we move onto this week’s results.
“Barcelona – It was the first time that we met! Barcelona – How can I forget the moment that you stepped into the room you took my breath away?” Only it wasn’t Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, but Phil and Rebecca Ventress celebrating their achievements at the Barcelona Half Marathon this weekend. Spurred on by a rigorous and disciplined nutritional plan of tapas, wine, lager and sangria, Phil (1:53:53) and Rebecca (2:04:19) made easy work of the course in the searing Catalonian heat (it was 18 degrees – the bastards).
It was a probably a little colder in West Yorkshire at the weekend, where we had a handful of Nidds tackle the challenging Liversedge Half Marathon. Can you guess who was first over the line? No? I’ll tell you. It was Mike Deacon (1:40:01), followed by Fiona Decaon (1:46:00), Jenny Manning (1:55:54). All very good efforts, mind you, so well done all.
And that’s it! Apart from the relays to be hosted in March, that’s it for the PECOs. But what amazing results we have from the fifth and final of the races held at Roundhay Park. Let’s start with the Juniors, where Jake Stalker (08.31) and Harrison Iles (08.47) made sure they were up front from the off, while Evie Iles (10.18) was alone in flying the flag for the girls. That’s an amazing trio of results, I’m sure you’ll agree. Top draw running, little peeps. From the big boys (no, I didn’t mean it like that, so you can put that thought back where you found it), Matt Wilkinson (32.37) led the men over the finish line, followed by Andy Todd (32.53), Martin Lofthouse (33.33) and Fingers Harris (36.57). Steve Newton (41:57) had to put on a spurt to keep Fell Running Phil (44:03) from gaining on him, giving us a thrilling finish. And it was no less thrilling for the ladies, as you’ll see when you have a look at the results: Sarah Hughan (46.54), Michelle Smith (53.27), and Sarah Chalmers (55.07). Congratulations to you all.
Let’s finish with a quick peek at the parkrun results for this week, and in a stunning role reversal, Martin Lofthouse (19:02) denied Matt Wilkinson (19:29) his apparent birthright of ‘First Nidd Home’, both of them putting down fantastic times on the Stray. In the post-20 world of we mere mortals, Matt Rickard (21:49), Fingers Harris (22:30) gave us two brilliant performances, and I’ve doubled checked to confirm that Christine Holleran (24:15) actually ran it this year rather than last, followed by Steve Newton (24:24) and Moira McTague (24:37). With a lingering, stale aftertaste of prosecco in her mouth, Sarah Hughan (26:03) soon appeared, and was joined by Hannah Peagram (27:11), Tony LC (30:28) and Michelle Dinsdale (32:14). Mandy Smith (39:14) finished things with another notch in the parkrun bedpost, taking things past the century and beyond.
Taking a break from her holiday sightseeing, Christine Jones (25:12) took part in the Knysna parkrun in South Africa. What do you mean she’s showing off? Yeah, I know, it is a bit tropical for a running club which considers going to the parkrun in York to be throwing caution to the wind. Still, all very impressive. Closer to home, and probably with a few less elephants, we have the results from Fountains: Nick Smith (25:03), Sue Reast (28:25) and Debbie Dilasser (29:58). Over in Wetherby, it’s Mr and Mrs Fellrunning: Phil (26:02) and Fiona (33:24) Robinson. Well done to you all.
Before we put the adult’s results to bed, we need to make a bit of a fuss over Moira McTague. The results for the Parkrun 2015-16 Season have been published, and Moira took the prize for the most runs by a female (44 out of 52) on the Harrogate course, and took the third prize in the ladies points table. Well done, Moira, you’re an utter marvel and we do love you loads (it’s okay, Dan, don’t worry. We love you the most). You can see the full hall of fame, here: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/harrogate/news/2016/02/12/harrogate-parkrun-fourth-anniversary-prize-winners/.
We’ll finish on a high with a look at the junior results for their parkrun in the Valley Gardens. Joe Sutcliffe (8:07 – PB!) took first place (Boom! Yeah baby! Who’s your Chairman!!?), with Harrison Iles (8:21), James Harvey (8:22 – PB!), and Jake Stalker (8:34) tearing down the path behind him. Walk tall, little people, walk tall (well, as tall as you can). A hearty congratulations.
Please report all errors, spelling mistakes, incorrect times etc to the Customer Complaints Centre here at Nidd Valley House. You can speak to a friendly staff member by calling 0800-NOTCUTOUTFORTHIS. Please note that calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes, and that your running shoes may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments or any other loan secured upon them. Alternatively, just send me an email: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Week Ahead
- Tuesday: intervals! The hills are over (Fell Running Phil is terribly upset, but we can’t keep pandering to him like this, and he’s going to have to pull himself together), and we’re now heading into the uncharted waters of a pyramid run. Get yourself to the Hockey Club for 7pm, or to Slingsby Walk for 7.10pm. The will to win the mob match trophy back is nothing without the will to prepare for it, team, so you need to be there. See you then.
- Thursday: we’re going to do a short run this week as we have the AGM shortly afterwards, so need to get back to the Hockey Club in good time. With that in mind, I’ve devised a shorter run than usual, so we’ll head out onto Kingsley, down into Starbeck, round Stonefall Avenue, up Woodlands Drive and onto Hookstone Chase. From there, you can peel pack up Wetherby Road, Oatlands Drive, Leeds Road, or come up by the Cricket Club and St Georges. Whichever route you take, you can then come back to the club around the Stray. Take whichever route back works for you, and do your revision here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/987367225.
- Thursday: AGM. Please be at the Hockey Club and ready to rock and roll for 8.30pm. I really need you to be there for this peeps, as we need to get enough people in the bar to make the meeting quorate, otherwise we have to rearrange and you’ll never get me voted out. Take the opportunity while it is there, and I’ll even give you some free pizza. All the relevant info here: https://niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk/2016/02/11/agm-2016-2/.
- Sunday: fortune may favour the brave, but it looks away when people tackle the Ilkley Moor Fell Race. It’s a cracking race, but it packs more than enough technical challenge into its five short miles. It tends to sell out quite quickly, but if you too would like to put on your off road shoes and go for a run without your hat, then this is where you need to be: http://fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?id=4203.
Emma’s Stretch of the Week
Stand side on to a wall about a foot away from it. Place the foot of the leg closest to the wall behind the other leg and stick your hips out towards the wall until you feel a stretch down the side of your hip area. Lean on the wall as shown in the picture for support! Once you get the hang of this one it really works.
(Chairman’s note: what do you mean it “really works”, Emma? What about the others? Were they just moves from an interpretive dance show or something?)
Evening League: Tuesday 24 May 2016
Just a quick heads up, this one. It’s our turn to host a race, so we’ll be looking at getting as many of you as we can to help marshal, direct traffic, serve food etc. Please, please, please keep the date free. We really do appreciate all your help. It’s a given that if we’re hosting, then you can’t run this race, but you didn’t me to remind you of that, did you? More details to follow when I pull my finger out and get my backside in gear.
Knaresborough Bed Race 2016: Saturday 11 June 2016
I’m hoping to have provisional teams lined up by this weekend. Please think about having a go. It’s a race that has everything, from dressing up to throwing up, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss it. If I watch a video of the race, or even run part of the route, I feel sick with nerves. It has that kind of effect on you, I suppose. If you want to throw your hat into the bed race ring, then please drop me an email: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
A Word to the Wise
“When you’ve lost your running mojo (and endurance and speed) and your club mates literally drag your arse round a hill session shouting encouragement all the way. Thanks NV!
Just refuelled like an athlete on pancakes with nutella and a bag of wotsits” – Debbie Dilasser, joining Phil and Rebecca Ventress in unwavering commitment to quality sports nutrition.
Anyone else think we should have a regular feature called Debbie’s Diets? This week, I have mainly been eatin’….
See you later.
Sam x