(TLDR. The Headlines: On Tuesday, we have more friggin’ intervals and are meeting at Knox Packhorse Bridge for both sessions, so you need to choose between 6pm and 7pm. Our Thursday club run takes us round the Duchy. Saturday is the Ladies’ Secret Santa Run, and read on for up and coming races, news about a forthcoming committee meeting, some details about the Awards Night and – of course – a word to the wise. Read on!).
Well, that’s that done. The tree is finally up in Nidd Valley House. I must say, it looks very lovely. Dave wanted to hang tinsel on it, and Sylvia had to remind him that we aren’t living in the 1970s any more. She’s kept it very tasteful, as I am sure you can imagine. It’s all warm lights and glass baubles. We did have to let Dazzler hang a few of decorations of his own up but, given he had spent hours at the kitchen table covering himself in glitter he made them, we could hardly say no. The Sarahs are both on the eggnog and we’re all trying to find the end of the sellotape to finish this wrapping. It certainly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Nidd Valley and we’re all feeling very festive indeed.
Results from the Week That Was…
Well, so far as I can see, we’ve not got any results from the past week. Makes it easier, I suppose, but the bind is that it’s a bit all or nothing. There’s nothing one week, and then the next week sees one chained to the keyboard for hours. Never mind, it is what it is.
In parkrun, the Deacons were down in Halifax, this being the closest they can get to X in their parkrun alphabet challenge. It was hilly, apparently. Sue Ball was down in Ferry Meadows near Peterborough, Adam Kirk was at Roundhay and Karen Mills was at Middleton Woods. The girls have had a weekend away in the Lake District, and so we had eleven (prosecco-fuelled? I shouldn’t be surprised if Jones and Staiano had anything to do with it) Nidds challenge Whinlatter Forest’s hilly parkrun challenge: Emma David, Sarah Staiano, Christine Jones, Jenny Manning, RebeccaVentress, Helen Cook, Rachael Prince, Debbie Dilasser, Lynsey Barraclough, Nadene Wilkinson and Sarah Chalmers. There were also plenty at Harrogate, Conyngham Hall and Fountains Abbey, despite the torrential downpours, and you can read up on all of the results here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
I have had to fight, almost every night / down throughout these centuries / that is when I say, oh yes yet again / can you stop the cavalry?: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
I appreciate that me telling you that you’ll be doing hill intervals on Tuesday night must feel like something of a broken record. But, it does you good (much like the sprouts will on Christmas day) and we’ve got nothing if not your best interests at heart here at Nidd Valley House. This week, we’re meeting at the packhouse bridge by the ford at the bottom of Knox Lane. There’ll be sessions at both 6pm and 7pm, so hopefully you’ll find one that suits you. It’s a quiet road with not a right lot of street lighting, so please remember something hi-viz to wear and do bring a head torch along if you have one.
On Thursday, we have another club run for you, and this week we are taking in the delights of the Duchy Estate. Yeah, I know. Well fancy. We’ll head out from the Hockey Club at 7pm, and make our way onto Skipton Road and Kings Road. Head down through Coppice Drive and cross Ripon Road before heading along Duchy Road. Once you get to Harlow Moor Road, turn left and run up to Otley Road. From there, you can head straight back to the club (that’s about 5.5 miles), or you can head further round Beckwith Road, Leadhall Lane and back that way (that’ll be longer). As ever, if you want to go a bit steadier or not as far, please come along and join us. There’s sure to be someone who’d love to run with you. We’ll be heading up for a pint in the Hockey Club bar afterwards, which will be as thrilling and riveting as watching paint drying.
Now, I’m not sure what I think about this. On Saturday, it is the Ladies Secret Santa Run. Yep, nothing for us chaps. Shocking. We’ll have to go to the pub and talk about football, drink beer and go “phwoar”, that kind of thing. Sarah Chalmers – and yes, I know what you are thinking, you couldn’t ask for someone more festive than she – is in charge of proceedings. She’s asked you to be there for 09.30 at Swinsty Reservoir car park (that’s the one without the toilets). I assume that those of you who are going will have told Sarah that you are, and that she’s given you the full instructions on how much money you have to spend as you desperately stand in Sainsbury’s thinking what to buy for someone you have never met.
Sunday is PECO time! Give one a whoop whoop! Yep, the third PECO in the series and the last before Christmas, and this week we are heading to Beckett’s Fields and West Park in Leeds. The junior races go off from 10am, so you’ll have to be up with the cock if you’re bringing the athletic bambinos with you. The senior races kick off at 11am, and you’ll have 4.6 miles of muddy trudgery and drudgery ahead of you. What isn’t to like? Can’t wait, and can’t wait to see you too! All the deets: https://tinyurl.com/3r56bxh6.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
Thanks to Phil Ventress for his efforts in organising the drinks and hog roast rolls for our Christmas run on Tuesday 19th December. If you want to join us in the Empress Pub for food afterwards, please can you let Phil know by this Tuesday at the latest so he can get the definitive numbers to the pub? If you still want to book, or have booked but not yet paid, then you’ll need to put £7 in the club account and let Sylvia know that you have done so? The club bank details are account 12074796 and sort code 40-23-12, and you can get hold of Sylvia via sylviamorten1@gmail.com.
Don’t forget that we’ve got the Jolly Holly jog on 31st December 2023. It’ll be a chance for some last minute competition, fitness and mud before the revelries to see out the old year kick in. It’s a cracking little 10km race, and a great opportunity to support our friends at Ripon Runners (not to mention a chance to get some cross country championship points). There’s all to play for, but only if you get yourself where you need to be and do what you need to do: https://tinyurl.com/yvaak3ru.
Committee Meeting: 13th January 2023
We’ve got the last committee meeting of the year on Wednesday. Sylvia is hosting and has promised us mince pies and mulled wine. We’re very excited. If you’ve anything that you’d like us to discuss or consider, then it isn’t too late to let us know. Please just let me know: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
Awards Night: 27th January 2024
We’ve sold out. If you missed it, then I’m sorry. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Everyone is, however, unimaginably excited. The kitchens here at Nidd Valley House are very busy indeed. Pans are on the boil everywhere, staff come back and forth as they ferry things from the freezers, and the head chef has been trying to get the reductions and the jus exactly right for days now. We’ve had a bit of a wine tasting, too, and the committee had a lovely afternoon doing that on your behalf. Nothing is too much trouble, that’s for sure.
As an aside, if you still have an award from the past year, can you please make sure you get it back to someone on the committee as soon as possible (ideally to Jane, but anyone will do)? We need to get them all back so we can get them back to the engravers in time for the Awards Night? Thanks, folks.
Word to the Wise
For our weekly dose of wisdom, we turn this time to none other than Nick Crebbin. As we ran around parkrun yesterday morning, Nick decided to share his thoughts on the young whipper-snappers from juniors who have started running with us at the senior club this year.
“It’s sickening, isn’t it? I mean, they’re fast, really fast. They’ve got their best times and PBs still ahead of them. They’re young, they’re really clever, talented, and will be going places. It’s hard not to hate them, really…” – Nick Crebbin, magnanimous in maturity.
So from Nick, from me, and everyone else here at Nidd Valley House, have a great week.
Chairman Sam x