Swaledale Road Runners
March 2005
Chairman’s Report
I was right! There are no hills in Northallerton. I took advantage of a work free evening and enjoyed an excellent flat run at quite a pace around the streets and pathways of Northallerton. It is strange running and not knowing exactly where you are and how far there is to go. My trust in Andy Broadley and the rest was well placed and we returned to the Mencap Centre in plenty of time to drink a well earned cup of tea. If you have a free Wednesday evening, try and get over. If you work with or know people who live in Northallerton, let them know about the Swaledale Road Runners new branch.
It is nearly time for the AGM. I would like to collect in all the trophies so that, once the trophy committee has made its decisions we can have the engraving done. Please return the trophies to me, or hand them in at Roots and Shoots, by Thursday March 31st.
I would like to remind you that the committee will be reforming at the AGM and if you would like to be considered for a particular post you should give your name, with the names of a proposer and second, to the secretary by Thursday April 28th.
Please see Stuart Smith and sign for your Mid-week League number if you think you will be running at least one of the races. This will help the league organisers and save you hassle on the evening of the race.
Where ever you are running make sure you enjoy yourself.
John Hunter
Winter in the Park Series
We had not been long in America, when we were loading the car to set off for our only race of the holiday. Eric had been passing e-mails with a runner, Robert McGill, beforehand to find us any events. Robert knows the ground, and informed us of a little 5k race in a park not too far away. The race is usually held on the cycle track, but snow and ice forced us onto the road. We registered in the park recreation building, Volunteers were already slicing a dozen varieties of bagels, donuts were stacked in bowls, chocolate bars were laid out, and a huge urn of coffee bubbled in the corner. $5(£2.60) let you race and eat as much as you wanted.
We walked around the car park meeting up with acquaintances from previous trips, Robert was there “Gee, Eric I only managed 168 races last year,” he announced seriously.
Three Veteran racers, not one under 74, limbered up next to us, we also know these guys, Bill Welsh ,75, He once led the Boston Marathon for 10 miles, a great runner in his time, grumbles that he forgot to pack his lightweight trainers.
The presentation was a great wind down after a hard race, Bill tells us his 77 year old friend ran his first 5k race some weeks previously, only to be disappointed to record a time of 24 minutes, mmmm….very disappointing.!. We all collected our prizes, 4 identical alarm clocks, The winner, well his name was JESUS ! so I had no chance really, I would only have to answer to his father if I beat him.
Richard Johnson
The course was mainly trail/cross country through fields and woods I knew well. Unfortunately there had been some heavy rain in the preceding week and parts of the course were deep in mud. Even more mud than on one of Norman’s mystery evening runs! In one particular steep uphill section, a number of running shoes were lost, some, I suspect, forever!
However, it was quite a pleasant day with some sun later on, and generally friendly competitors. Unfortunately, we were all slowed by having to queue at six or seven stiles, which, together with the mud, ruled out any fast times.
For once I started fairly slow, and actually overtook a number of people in the latter stages. Unfortunately, I did not see the finish line (poorly marked), and discovered later that my sprint finish was rather too late!
I finished 191st out of 384 finishers, in a time of 1hour 31mins. Not too bad considering the heavy going, but I think it’s time to invest in some trail shoes.
Keswick-Buttermere Round
After running this race last year under perfect weather conditions I wanted to do it again but the chances of a repeat of last years weather was remote. So I entered the Snake Lane ten mile at Pocklington so if the weather was bad I would be able to run the ten instead. The weather forecast on Saturday night gave sunshine in the west but very cold and snow showers in the East moving West later in the day. So the decision was made, it would be Keswick.
I arrived at Keswick, followed shortly by Liz Sowter. The sun was shining and the temperature was -2 degrees but the race did not start till eleven so hopefully it would get warmer and providing the wind kept away I was not worried as I had three thermals on together with a Balaclava which I had never used before.
The run starts in the centre of Keswick, down Borrowdale, over Honister pass to Buttermere and returned over Newlands Pass to finish in Keswick.
Great North West Half Marathon
When I left the house the first thing I had to do was to dig the car out of the snow. Thankfully over in Blackpool the weather was warm and dry. The race starts at the Hilton Hotel but unfortunately there was a bit of a bottleneck and it took me 20 seconds to get over the start line. I had downloaded a pace band from Runners World web site and I set about sticking to it. At mile 9 I was 1.1/2 minutes ahead of schedule. I managed to hold on and crossed the finish line in an official time of 1.39.26 ( 1.39.06 on my watch), I got a PB by knocking almost 3 minutes off my previous best. I would recommend this race to anyone as it is well organised and well marshalled. And best of all there are no hills!
Pat Neeson
Snake Lane 10
In the weeks leading up to the race several club members indicated that they would be running. As the date of the race came closer it was clear the numbers were decreasing. Marian and I travelled over to the East Riding on the Saturday and stayed in the Feathers Hotel. We woke to find the car covered in 5cm of snow. After listening to the weather forecast we decided conditions could only get worst. After breakfast we returned to Richmond and were home before the start time of the race. In the evening I searched the net for the results fully expecting the event to have been called off. To my surprise over 550 people completed the race. David Crapper was the sole representative of the club and he finished in 1:34:50. Well done David! Angela Went (a former club member) also ran the race. She finished in 1:23:41.
I think we will all have to try again next year.
The Predictor
Due to a parent/teacher meeting the February predictor was moved to Thursday March 3rd. 17 runners took part and all managed respectable times. The ‘Time Way Out’ bar was won by Vic Parkinson who had to be convinced by the assembled masses that he should take the award. His difference of – 154 seconds must be one of the least way out times to have won the bar. Although Paul Emson felt he had made a mistake with his prediction he still managed to run only 7 seconds over his prediction and win the bottle of wine.
The March predictor will take place on Thursday March 31st.
Yorkshire Veterans Athletic Association (Y.V.A.A.)
Please don’t forget we are members of Y.V.A.A.
When you enter a race that includes a Championship of Y.V.A.A. and you are a veteran please tick the box that shows you are a member or you will not get included in the championship and you may miss out on a prize! Details and entry forms of Y.V.A.A. are in the race folders at Richmond and Northallerton, and can also be found at www.yvaa.org. There is also the 10 monthly Grand Prix events that you can enter (on the day, usually the cost is a mere £2 per race) details as above and the monthly results of the Grand Prix are kept in the race folders. Races that I list in the newsletter that are Championship races I will put Y.V.A.A. next to them.
Jo Richardson
Race Diary
Time to get those spring races entered and test the winter training out before the Mid Week League starts in May. The race folder is full of entry forms at the moment, so there’s no excuse!
Mar 12th Dentdale Run 14.3
Mar 13th Redcar Half Marathon
Mar 19th Coniston 14 (full)
Mar 20th Dalby Forest 10k C.C.
Mar 20th South Leeds 5m
Mar 20th Stainland 7
Apr 3rd Doncaster Half Marathon
Apr 3rd Hartlepool Marina 5m
Apr 10th Great Grizedale Forest 10m
Apr 17th London Marathon
Apr 23rd St Georges Day 10k - Langdale
Apr 24th Rothwell 10k Y.V.A.A.
May 1st Kirkbymoorside 10k
May 1st Sheffield Half Marathon
May 4th John Carr Series 5k Esholt Y.V.A.A.
May 8th Fountains 10k
May 29th Wigginton 10k
Jun 5th Thirsk 10m
Jun 12th Harewood House Chase 10k
Harrogate Mid Week League
Dates of Races:
Tues 3rd May Ilkley 7.45pm
Tues 17th May Dragons 7.45pm
Tues 7th June RZH 7.45pm
Tues 21st June Skipton 7.45pm
Tues 5th July Harrogate 7.45pm
Wed 20th July Ripon - Handicap 7.30pm
See Stu Smith for your number by 17th April. The club is covering the cost of entry this year. Club vests must be worn.
Subs
Subs are due by 1st May, £10 for full members, £5.00 for social, juniors and people in full time education (that does not include all you teachers!), assuming they do not change at the A.G.M.
Can all members please pay on time. If you pay late it can cause quite a few problems for the club and make Jo’s job very time consuming (new form to fill in for each late payer etc). The bulk of annual returns need to go in together and if we are late paying we could lose our right to vote at the A.G.M. of North of England Athletic Association. This may not seem too serious but if we lose our vote, we also lose the right to club numbers for London Marathon! If we are very late we could lose our membership of N.oE.A.A. and all the benefits that go with it ie cheaper race entry/insurance etc. So please get your membership in on time this year. Please post all memberships to to: Cyril Fell, ‘Goodison’ 1 Maple Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4BW, cheques should be made payable to Swaledale Road Runners.
New members
A warm welcome to new members Mary Carnegie-Brown and Neil Stevenson.
A.G.M.
The Club A.G.M. will be held on Sunday 8th May at 7pm at the club house. It is important that all members attend the meeting and use their vote. The annual presentation of trophies will follow the main business.
Thoughts for the Month
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just soft people."
"When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less."
Deep Water Running
41 people enjoyed the Deep Water Running sessions that Angie Stockton so kindly put on for us over the winter months. We now have no excuse for for not winning any race held under 6 feet of water!!! Many Thanks Angie.
Jo Richardson