Swaledale Road Runners

Swaledale Road Runners

July 2005

Chairman’s Report

It’s been another busy, but successful month for the club with members running in various parts of the UK. In the mid week league we have matched our great success of last year by again finishing fourth in the main competition and being runners up in both the ladies and veteran ladies categories. There has also been some tremendous individual performances in the league as well, Richard and Erika have been top points scorers for us, and Tony Ward has won the veteran over 50 trophy and is also the first man on the age related results. The excellent performances however don’t stop with the fast guys, all the way down the field we have seen some great running and some big personal improvements as members have given their best for the club. We have also had 54 members take part in at least one race which I think is a record for our club. Let’s go and win the handicap now and make it three Swaledale victories in a row. Angie Stirk has given the club two vouchers entitling the holder of these to a free sports massage and we have decided to hold a draw for these. To recognise the commitment that members have shown to the midweek league everyone who has completed at least 4 races this year will go into the draw and one man and one lady will win a free massage from Angie. The draw will take place at the next monthly meeting at the George and Dragon, Hudswell on Monday 1^st August.

I am pleased to report further success for the club with Erika, Jackie, Liz and Glenys forming the winning ladies team at the Burn Valley half marathon, Erika was first lady in this and at the Rainton 10k the week before. Jackie Keavney is in the form of her life being 6^th lady overall and 1^st lady at the recent Blackpool half marathon while knocking minutes off her PB.

On the kit front we have ordered some Ron Hill technical T- shirts which will have the club crest and name on the chest. These will be great for training in and could also be worn in races by those who do not like vests. Unfortunately they are not available in the famous green so we will now have an ‘away strip’ of fluro yellow and like all top football clubs we may change this every season! We are also looking at crop top vests for the ladies and will have a sample available shortly.

Several people have asked me about the club handicap. This year it will be held on Tues 6th September to give you all time to get back from your summer jollies. Eric Nutter has spent a lot of time compiling our handicap times using the latest available computer technology and is constantly updating this to ensure the start times are as accurate as possible.

Have a good month’s running or for the injured or sick amongst us, get well soon.

Pete Richardson

A runner for one week!!

On Saturday the 4^th June I entered the Kirby Malzeard 10K. Not an easy course for me and I certainly didn’t trouble the time keepers. John Hunter had informed me about the wonderful sandwiches and cakes after the event so I thought that it would be a good run to get stuck into. The route was very up and down and a challenging wind made it even more difficult. Tuesday 7^th July was, of course the Richmond and Zetland 5 mile race that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was on the doorstep, running with good company, tremendous support from fellow runners and an event that I would certainly enter again. The sort of evening that makes running an enjoyable activity for someone limited in ability. Next came the Blaydon Race on the 9^th June. Having purchased my Swaledale Running Vest I proudly joined the mass of runners in this great fun Geordie event. The band played the traditional Blaydon Races song and the Mayor of Newcastle rang the bell for the start of the event. The 5.7 mile course was nice and flat and despite the heat I thoroughly enjoyed a good run with my best time recorded over such a distance. The Blaydon race is certainly an event to enter for a good running night out and at the finish runners are treated (??) to black pudding, tripe, a pickle and a pint!! Unfortunately, I missed out on entering the Swaledale Marathon but I did enjoy being able to support fellow runners in the event. Congratulations to all who entered you should be justly proud of your achievement and I will try to be in there next year. After such a great week of running how can I not keep it going?

Ian Robertson

Swaledale Marathon / my 15 minutes of fame
In April I got an unexpected phone call from Alison Brooks, chairman of the Swaledale Outdoor Club. She told me that this year's marathon was going to be filmed for Dales Diary and that they wanted to focus on one particular runner. It had to be someone who had done it before, was a member of the SOC and who lived and worked in the Dales. I couldn't think of any reason why not, so I found myself agreeing to do it. I had a preparatory visit from the producer, then one afternoon in the middle of May the filming began. First there was the interview with Luke Casey complete with his trademark stick, with a nice view of Bolton Castle in the background. This was really just a relaxed chat about me, the Swaledale Marathon and running in general, interrupted periodically by RAF aircraft flying overhead. Then it was back to the house for some shots of me doing some rather unconvincing marking, strategically surrounded by running trophies and Swaledale mugs. After that I had to be filmed out "training", with lots of stopping and starting for the cameraman to get in position. Finally I had to be seen doing some other outdoor activity and since climbing and caving would have taken too long,
for convenience we chose sailing at Thornton Steward. Shame about the total lack of wind.

On marathon day itself the film crew were there at the start of the race and Steve Hirst and a few others started beside me in the hope of getting lots of green vests into the picture. Then I headed off, knowing that they would appear at various strategic points round the course. They first appeared looking over a bridge and I tried to ignore the cameras and just keep running. The next time they appeared was on a steepish uphill section. A
whole row of people were walking in front of me, then one by one they broke into a run as they spotted the cameras.
As we headed over to Great Punchard it was getting hotter and I was beginning to get cramp, much sooner than usual in a race. I thought of
Stuart and wondered if he would collapse on his usual rock this year. When I reached the Level House checkpoint I asked if they had anything salty - whereupon Paul Brooks produced a large pot of salt! I managed to swallow some in water, with the camera right in my face, and took a tuna sandwich to eat as I continued. The cramps came and went for quite a while, but eventually subsided, so the treatment must have worked.
So far I had always had quite a few runners with me or in my sights and I got to Gunnerside without any "poor route decisions" (great euphemism that). I then led a group of three as we headed back out of the village. My good intentions to pick up in this final third came to nothing as I started to run out of energy. At Surrender Bridge I felt like surrendering, but was cheered up by a drink and a chat with Vic. If you are going to have a real low, I suppose the small ravine at Cringley bottom is as good a place as any to do it. As I ground to a halt I remembered the energy gel at the bottom of my bag. For a further 15 minutes I continued at a pitiful shuffle, then the gel kicked in. Why on earth hadn't I had some sooner? My legs felt the best they had felt all day and I caught up with several runners who had just passed me. For once the final stony lane was a pleasure, I overtook two more runners easily on the run in and finished quite strongly. I went straight for a cup of tea - then had to put it down and pick it up again for the camera. They did their final bit of filming as I compared notes with some ladies I had met the year before. After that I could relax and find out how others had got on.
Tony Ward had had a superb run and finished 7th, earning him the veterans trophy. Sven Wardle, Stuart Smith and Keith Richardson had also produced fast times, but had been beaten for the team prize by East Hull Harriers.
Many SRR runners completed the event for the first time, including Pete Richardson, Oonagh Bathgate, Melanie Albrighton and Karen Saward. Former SRR members Jill Harsent, Liz Duggan and Kevin Brown were also there, faithfully returning each year for the event.
The Swaledale Marathon is always a memorable event, whether you are competing seriously or just getting round and enjoying the scenery and the company. If you are thinking about doing it next year, get your entries in before the end of January as it soon fills up. If that sounds too much like hard work, why not watch it on ITV some time this August!

Liz Sowter

In Brief

3 Swaledale runners took part in the Edinburgh Marathon. Pete Wicks completed the 26.2 miles in 3.30.18 while training partner Roger Webber followed in 3.51.16 and Northallerton member Julia Spittle finished in 4.32.13.

In the Blackpool half marathon Jackie Keavney smashed her P.B. to finish 6th lady and 1st female over 40 with a time of 1.35.49 whilst Graham Turnbull enjoyed his day at the seaside with a time of 2.51.16.

Eric and Glenys Nutter also took part in another Lancashire half marathon at Freckleton. Eric ran 1.54.20 while Glenys took 2.26.09 on a very hot day.

Runners also had to contend with the heat at the Newton Aycliffe 10k. Pete Devlin finished in 47.52, Alex Brown 49.12 and Helen Ovens 66.30.

The Rainton 10k saw another win for Erika in 38.47. Richard was 7th in 35.37, second claim member Avril Steele was 3rd lady in 40.51, followed by John Hunter 47.15, Peter Richardson 48.26, Eric Nutter 49.55, Marian Hunter 55.07, Julia Spittle 61.15, Glenys Nutter 61.48 and Jo Richardson 67.27.

Burn Valley Half Marathon. One of the country’s toughest half marathons saw Richard Johnson finish 5th in 1.23.55, Erika Johnson 1st lady in 1.31.25, Jackie Keavney 4th lady in 1.39.29, Liz Sowter 1.44.18, Pat Neeson 1.53.23, Eric Nutter 1.55.56, Helen Davey 1.58.28, Glenys Nutter 2.27.40, and Kathleen Allison 2.39.44.

Race Diary

The race folder is bursting with entry forms and here is a selection of forthcoming races within easy access of Richmond and Northallerton. Early entry is advised as all races seem to be filling up fast nowadays.

July 17th Eccup 10m Y.V.A.A. Championship

July 24th Burton Leonard 10k

July 31st James Herriot Trail Run

July 31st Harrogate 10k

Aug 14th Darlington 10k

Aug 21st Auckland Castle 10k

Sept 4th Tholthorpe 10k

Sept 4th Harrogate Theatre 10k

Norman’s Summer Fun Run

Norman is going to host a summer fun run followed by eats and drinks, on Sunday 28th August, 10am at Roots and Shoots

We received an e-mail via the club web site from Jeff Larson, an American doctor, who was coming over to the U.K. to take part in the Swaledale Festival and also to run the Swaledale Marathon. He was asking if anyone would be prepared to show him the route. I decided this was a case for Norman and put Jeff in touch with him. On Jeff’s return home he sent me the following report which he has written for an American running magazine. I thought members would be interested in reading this.

An American In Swaledale

A marathon where you have to carry an emergency whistle in case you get lost on the moors? My wife thought I was crazy (“mad,” the English would say). The Swaledale Marathon, the web site said, is a “fell run/walk challenge.” I had to look up “fell” run. The fells are the hills or mountains, so fell running must be like trail running. It sounded good so far. I was intrigued by the list of required equipment each runner must carry, which included the whistle, a first aid kit, map and compass, a cagoule (I had to look that up too. It’s an Englishman’s word for raincoat), rain pants, and emergency food (what emergencies do they expect?). Each runner also carries a cup to get water or sports drink at the aid stations (no paper cups). What I found was a race quite different from anything else I had run, and a great group of new running friends. I play in the band for a group of English style Morris and Garland dancers (my wife is in the Garland dance group), and we were planning a trip to England, sort of a cultural exchange. Our English friend Fred emailed me to tell me that there would be a marathon in the Swaledale area of North Yorkshire about the same time we were planning to be in the area to perform. I’ve run five marathons here in the States since I began running two years ago, including one trail marathon, the Dupont Forest Trail marathon near Hendersonville, North Carolina. I felt ready for the chance to do something a bit different and “fell running” sounded promising. The web site said it was only 23 miles long however. That isn’t even a full marathon distance. It couldn’t be too hard! The course would be cross-country, up and down the hills and across the moors. It is pretty rugged country, more like parts of the American West than the pretty flower gardens and cricket fields of England. Think Emily Bronte or The Hound of the Baskervilles. Typical of English fell runs, each runner is given written instructions with map coordinates and punches a card at various check points along the course. Unlike typical American adventure racing, the course is the same every year, and not particularly difficult to navigate. It is really much more about the running than finding your way.

After finishing the Country Music Marathon in Nashville the end of April, I began training for the trails and steep hills of Swaledale with runs on local mountain trails near my Western North Carolina home. My biggest concern was the unmarked cross country course, so when I arrived in England, I called Norman Bell, president of the Swaledale Road Runners Club. He offered to take me on an early morning run on the marathon course. Norman is a small, thin man of 60 with a grey beard, a warm heart and a strong Yorkshire Dales accent.

It was foggy, cool and raining when Norman, another running friend Sharon, and I started our training run the steep climb up Great Punchard, a long steep slope leading up onto the moor, beginning at roughly the 7 mile mark of the marathon course. Norman wore a Stars and Stripes bandana in honor of his American guest. Up on the moor, the spongy peat surface felt wonderful under my feet, though in places it was more black mud and our shoes and calves were soon soaked black. The fog was thick and at times I had trouble keeping my bearings. Norman pointed out the landmarks as we passed them, but at one point we missed a turn and found ourselves too far up the mountain, well beyond where the check-point would be on race day. We cut back across the heather to get back on course. Suddenly the lower half of Norman disappeared into what appeared to be a patch of bright green moss. Norman grabbed up onto the bank and pulled himself out of the peat bog, a little wetter but otherwise fine. “I tell my running buddies if I ever drop over dead while we are running up here, just throw me into a bog, then whenever you run by, drop a piece of heather on me to remember me.” We laughed and ran on, but I made sure to follow behind Norman and not venture too far away. The hills were very steep, too steep in places to run well, and I found I could walk these sections almost as fast as I could run them with much less leg fatigue. “Even the top fell runners walk up the steepest hills, run carefully down the hills, then go full out on the flats.” Norman said. In a few places we climbed hand over foot and in others waded across streams.

Over the next week I carefully marked the course out on my contour map using the map coordinates from the race instructions. I tried to visualize the route we had taken, but as my wife would tell you, I’m pretty bad with directions. I also worked to get the black peat out of my running shoes and socks. Norman tells me he doesn’t run with socks. They just get wet and heavy (and black).

The day of the race was cloudy, cool and pleasant without any fog. Since I still worried about getting lost on the moor, my plan was to stick with Norman and a small group of the Swaledale Road Runners. As it turned out, with the 500 or so runners on the course, and with the clearer weather, I could usually see where the course route went by following the line of other runners. At the aid stations, the volunteers would welcome me, “Oh, here’s the American!” The first one to run in their race I believe. My legs felt fresh early in the race, and after a steep climb out of the town of Reeth up to the long plateau of Fremington Edge, Norman suggested that I run ahead. I tried to keep up with another fellow and we ran together until we started the steep climb up Great Punchard. I couldn’t keep up. For a few minutes I was alone on the moor, but the footprints through the grass and mud were easy to follow. I caught up with Terry Bower, another Swaledale veteran, and we ran and chatted together until we reached the village of Gunnerside. “I’m shattered,” he said as we began the steep climb up the next hill with perhaps 6 miles left to go. “I’ll see you at the finish,” he said. The runners were getting pretty spread out and the only fellow close to me, Paul, had never run here at all. “Where do we go?” he asked me. “Up here and to the right, I think.” I said. It looked familiar, but I wasn’t quite certain. An older shirtless man with the thin body of a veteran marathoner passed by us and confirmed our choice.

As we got to the top of the last steep climb my pace had slowed, my legs were feeling heavy and tired as the 3500 feet of elevation gain took its toll. The last two miles, Paul and I were alone. We came to the last steep hill down a stony path between two high stone walls and I showed him the way (I was glad Norman, Sharon and I had run this part the week before). Paul passed me, but stopped at the final self clip station to punch my card for me before running down to the finish in Reeth.

After a cup of hot tea and a finisher’s meal of steak and kidney pie, mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, I waited until my friend Norman finished. “Gunnerside Gill took it all out of me,” he said. I chatted with all my new English friends for a while, and I gave muddy, sweaty hugs to my wife and daughter and our American friends who met me at the finish. Then we walked next door to the pub, bought a couple of local beers and sat in the sun in front of the pub as the other runners trickled in.

My time was 4 hours and 39 minutes, 89^th place out of about 500 and over an hour slower than my time in the Country Music Marathon six weeks earlier, even though the course was three miles shorter. It sure felt like a full marathon to me! I left England with some new running friends and plans to return to the Yorkshire Dales and run with them again.

Now, if only I can get my running shoes clean.

Jeff larson

Social Committee

We are also looking for people to join the social committee. We have an informal meeting about once a month, you can do as much or as little as suits you with social events, but we do need some fresh ideas. If you just have an idea for a social event, please also let us know and we will see if we can organise it.

Jo Richardson

Club Birthday

In April next year the club will be 20 years old. We would like to hold some events to mark the occasion, if you have any ideas please let any committee member or social committee member know.

New members

A warm welcome to new members Jan Bolam, Damien Murphy and William Simms.

G.N.R. Bus

We have had some enquires about our usual bus to the Great North Run. As most club members are boycotting the race due to the exorbitant rise in entry fee we were not going to run the trip. But due to demand (from mainly outside the club) Norman has organised a coach. If you or any one you know (don’t have to be club members) would be interest in a trip please let Norman Bell know a.s.a.p. (Roots & Shoots). Cost will be £8.00 p/p