The yorkshire vets monthly gp race 10.

This race for those who don't know is part of a series of races for the over 35 s, which there is some stiff competition amongst the competing clubs, this year was another good turn out with 174 runners one being a vet 80, not bad eh! I wonder if I will be still plodding at 80, I think not;
With the greenway closed Steve and I had to do a slight detour, I jogged round with Steve on Monday afternoon and it was very muddy then! but with all the rain over the last few days made it even muddier, at least we a dry day and a bit of sunshine,
The winner was James Kovacs from pudsey pacers in 32.09,the first lady was Aly Raw from Bingley in 37.00, Spenborough had 5 athletes competing first home Keith McGhie in a brilliant position of 13Th in 34.53 not the normal distance for Keith and he actually ran in spikes too, he was also first v50 back.
John Gallagher had a super run also not his usual distance or terrain but with leg 3 of the calderdale way getting close I cajoled him into it , he came 51st in 40.38.
First home for the lady's was Emma McGuire another one who doesn't like the mud!Emma was 97th in 45.09.
Hazel Pike was the only one who has done this last year , coming in 126th pos in 49.38.
Last home for Spen was get my but into gear for the London Marathon A manda Pearson in 160th place in 58.01.

Last of all I would like to thank all the help of the Marshall's ,the help with the food on the day! Henry for his help and having to get out of bed very early on a Sunday.
Also special thanks to Steve , Gareth,Ian,Frank,&Michael who marked out the course.
Hope I've not missed anyone out sorry in advance if I have. now its all over I can chill with glass of wine and a sigh of relief.

I forgot to mention Les who not only googled some maps for me he also went and helped mark out the course and marshall, thankyou.

Lakeland Trails - Derwentwater. 15k

A jolly good route

This June me and some of my colleagues did a walk for Wateraid. The plan was to do Blencathra via the famous Sharp Edge. Sadly the weather put paid to this so when we saw this trail race from Keswick it seemed a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

The weather was only marginally better, but fortunately the wind wasn't quite as bad so Saturday saw me clinging to a mountain side.
















Sunday was the race and a grand affair these things are. One of a series of 4 and over 500 entries. A samba band lead the runners through town and then the race was started by the famous Kenny Stewart. Not a fell race but still a climb up a boggy hillside. Great fun, although my ultimate speed was hindered by the heavy legs caused by a day of walking on the Saturday

http://www.lakelandtrails.org/derwentwater/results.htm

The Reindeer Romp Relays

There was a massive turnout tonight, with 37 teams taking part , it was also a new course due to rd works , as always a fast start down the track then right on the road as the left turn past the farm house was closed ] i thought we were doing it in reverse but we did a left into a corn field which brought us out on the rutted path just before the wooded section up to this point i was running well [my little legs were going so fast they were in front of me] with the relay you miss the hill out taking a left round the edge of another corn field though its not as steep as normal its quite a pull my lungs were fit to burst I'm sure" my team was Oliver carter leg 1 14.42, new girl sue pimley just over 16 mins leg 2, with myself leg 3 15.12 mick Howard ran well in just over 14 mins , I prefer this new course its more runnable

7th vets race and Reindeer Romp 3

Wednesday 29Th July 2009.
I trooped off to Knavesmire to do race7/10 of the Yorkshire vets monthly GP.
A half past seven start, the heavens opened, it was the most torrential down pour.
As this is an off road run from the race course, through fields, tracks and paths it was muddy to say the least.
Of course being around in York it is fairly flat. Even though the weather was horrid 186 runners turned up. The pressure was on..to gain points to take me further up the rankins. Weather it was up to the weather or to just having a good run I don't know!
But I just set of as fast as I could and just kept going. I finished 12Th lady over all in a time of 44:58. Which was faster than my previous time. I was the second vet over 45 which has brought me up to 4Th in the rankins.

Thursday 30th July 2009.
At least it wasn't raining.
Turned up for this race feeling tired, legs like led.
But the pressure was on yet again. Also, to make the pressure worse, my son Oliver was up for beating me after the Helen Windsor race. As Oliver has been training well I was in no doubt it was going to be tonight. The only advantage I had over him was knowing the course. But no good it brought me.
He passed me at the bottom of the hill, although I could still see him through the field my tired legs gave way and he gained around 40 seconds on the uphill back to the finish.
I'm pleased with my time concidering racing the previous day.Not happy with Oliver beating me, must try harder next time.

Jackie Carter

The Trunce

With Ingleborough just days away I decided to start training. I thought a race would be a good way of getting in a good session and since my colleagues at work have been dying to have a go at beating me this seemed like a good adventure (its also on my way home). I consulted the Richard Lee book of "Races where you can be sure no one will know you" (note not the recently released "When will I realise no one cares!") and it was rated thus;

1) Distance away (2*) - only 40mins away. High risk of someone being there
2) Obscurity (2*) - some people have heard of it
3) Terrain (1*) - only one short section of road.

Oh well, decided to do it anyway. Its quite a tough 4 miles. Undulating and some narrow trails. 3 river crossings too. Quite please with my 30.50 time. Try for sub 30 next time. Bring on Ingleborough

http://undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/index.php

PS - Chris King did it too. Richard was right.

The reindeer romp, race one.

What a good night it turned out to be for Spenborough. A superb run from Keven aka race machine Ogden(who won the race). Which I think was his fist time running this race( correct me if I'm wrong). Next in was a sprightly Steve Moss, winning the vet 60 category. A good run also from Mick Howard, who was closely followed in by Edward Wilkinson. Both Mick and Edward are new recruits for the reindeer. Me, being the only Spen female winning the first vet 45 category.

Last but not least,Karl, who came in shortly behind. I have being doing this race for quite a few years now. And I have seen some horrible conditions. But tonight was warm and dry under foot. However, sometimes it can be quite badly rutted. But tonight it was pretty good underfoot. A good turn out for Spen and a PB for me. My first race as a 47 year old. Chip butties always go down well afterwards. The bottle of wine I won will too.

Spen Results
1  KEVIN OGDEN      17:21 M
30 STEVEN MOSS      21:41 M60
38 MICK HOWARD      21:59 M45
42 EDWARD WILKINSON 22:30 M45
55 JACKIE CARTER    24:09 F45
64 KARL SPEIGHT     24:59 M

90 Finishers

Full Results Here

Meanwood Valley trail race.

Saturday, 16 May 2009.

Edward, Hazel, Dave(new be) and I ran the Mean wood Valley trail race.
Although, I have done this lots of times, however, I never find it easy.
I forgot how many hills there are (especially the rock climb at the end, just before coming into the field).
As a fast start, Edward and Karl got off pulling away from me.
But trying my best, I passed quite a few runners. I eventually caught up with Karl between the 4-5 mile mark. At this point I was feeling strong, I encouraged him to stay with me. We worked together for a couple of miles, but unfortunately I went over on my ankle.
Subsequently, he started to pull away from me.
Overall, it was a disappointing time for me. generally times were down by around 3Min's due to the heavy conditions , not 6Min's like me so its time to pull my finger out i think.

Meanwood Valley Trail 2009

"You'll like this it's a nice race not too hilly..." As I tried to keep going round the course these were the words I was remembering and a few choice words for the person who had said it (mentioning no names but initials EW!). This was a tough course!

There was Jackie, Ed , Karl, Dave (newbie) and myself from Spen AC that were doing this today(Sat 16th May).

The first half of the course wasn't too bad (race was 7.5 miler through fields and woods in Meanwood Park). I remember thinking there's a lot of down hill wonder if we're going to start climbing soon - yes we did!

I managed to overtake newbie Dave at the three mile point but as he said afterwards it took me a while to get much distance between us - as I slowly plodded on. Then the steep bits came and came and came - Edward had said only one there were more like 10! - at one point I looked up and thought my god we're doing a bit of rock climbing here.

After 5 miles I was struggling and kept having to walk up the steep bits. One lady said 'I've never had to walk in a race before' another said 'I feel terrible' and I thought yep I know what you mean.

Eventually as always it finally came to an end. Official results not out yet but here's what I recall:-

• Ed Wilkinson 59 mins (last year 61.57)
• Karl Speight 1hr 05 perhaps?
• Jackie Carter 1hr 06 (last year 59.48)
• Me! 1hr 08 mins (1st timer for me this one)
• Dave (oops don't know his surname) 1hr 09

Karen Pickles won the ladies in 49 mins something and was 4th overall I think they said. Wow how does she do it?!

The Bluebell Trail 3-5-09

Bluebell Trail - More Hills than Bluebells in the Heartlands of Stainland Lions Lady Vets!

"Voted 36th out of top 50 best races for 2006 by readers of Runners World Magazine"

After the trials of the three peaks it is back to earth for some less mad adventures. A 'bluebell trail' race in Halifax is just the ticket. I have accepted that my glory days of being an average club runner are behind me, but I now find myself amongst the knee bandage and cellulite brigade. So is the Bluebell Trail, a 10.3 mile trail race frequented by those 100's of Stainland Lions / Pudsey Pacers runners who enjoy a run out on a weekend. The unfortunate truth is that many of them are very good.

Just two spen vests on show (Chris Jacobs) and two former members (Alison Pickup and Karen Pickles) amongst the crowds waiting for the start. I decided to start slow (with the option of slowing as the race progressed).

Up and down along pleasantly soft woodland paths, the canal, and some backroads of Halifax and then onto the horror that is Trooper Lane. Foolishly on the lower slopes I was running well and passed many a walker, only to discover that they had paced themselves and walked past me nearer the top.

Then a couple more ascents of Southowram Hill and off down the valley back towards Elland. Disappointingly the 3 peaks came back to haunt me as I suffered a couple of minor cramp attacks, nothing serious though. A fast canal section saw me pick off a couple of super veterans and then all finishes with a crossing of the river back to the Rugby Club.

Showers in the Rugby club kind of unisex and alfresco which made things interesting.

Oh and I think I did 1hr 25mins which is fairly rubbish. Will update results when I get them

and I think Karen was first lady

Here are the results