Wharfedale Half Marathon 2011

Pics courtesy of D Brett: http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/WORM/index.html

Back to blogging albeit briefly in between Runningbear life, which incidentally feels like a vortex of work, training and trying to eat and sleep in between! I'm a bit late in reporting on our run around the wonderful Wharfedale Half Marathon last weekend. This fine off road race offers some of the most beautiful countryside running a Runningbear can get. M and I both ran our muddy socks off in beautiful but very blustery conditions.The route sets out from Threshfield Rugby club and follows very runnable trails including the Dales Way, the Monks Road and the long and slightly painful climb up Mastiles Lane.

Pics courtesy of D Brett: http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/WORM/index.html

The summer is all about this kinda stuff; less obsessing about race times and PBs, just great running in summer weather enjoying some of our most beautiful countryside. I love this race, the route is well planned, the event well organised with the perfect cafe menu at the club house finish (for those that like to indulge in a chip butty or a generous slice of Victoria sponge post race!) Unfortunately, I'm never quite prepared for the hammering my quads seem to suffer from the descents and have hobbled my way around training earlier this week. 

Building on his continued awesome form and trashing me yet again in another race, M finished second male in the open race, knocking nearly 4 minutes off his race time from last year. He is flying. Some of the other leading male runners suffered some unfortunate navigational errors which assisted me in swooping into the third spot in the open race and first lady by a healthy margin. I beat my previous course record by 2 minutes despite the windy conditions and received a very fine and generous Black Sheep hamper for my hard work. I'm now quite tempted by the full Marathon next year and that course record is looking tasty. Even M seems quite tempted for his debut at the distance. Watch this space... Results here. News report here. Race report here.

Sunshine!

A truly gorgeous day today. After another frantic week at work there's been little opportunity for catching those sunny rays I keep spotting through the office window. Today was the exception with a chance to pop out for a lunchtime run. The off road adventure was blissfully warm and breezy with clear and perfectly cloudy views of Wharfedale. The sheep seemed happy with the weather too.

I also sneaked another race on Sunday, the Trimpell 20 for a bit more marathon paced training. The run felt easy and perfectly pleasant until mile 18 when the gels played havoc with my tummy. I was lucky to make it to the finish with the contents of my tummy still in the right place. It really is a lovely race, with beautiful scenery of the Lune Valley but the very pricey entry (£22) was marred by the most dismal prize I've ever received for winning a race. First lady saw me with 2 x £10 vouchers for 'Lancaster Races in 2011'! And with only 9 months left of the year too. And I didn't even make my entry fee back. Is it me or is that really stingy?

Summer

It was a long and frustrating day at work today; a working-very-hard-but-achieving-nothing kind of day. I was longing for the journey home so I could peel off the suit and burst out of the door, trainer clad and running free. Yippee! The early evening was filled with a fresh and brisk 10 mile run along my usual Dales' trails; the Wharfe was my burbling companion except for the occasional startled sheep interrupting the running flow. 

I've been niggly all week and a bit anxious about my dodgy leg. Tonight it was a relief to feel easy and strong. There's nothing to beat these mid-week summer runs, once the office mania has quietened its swirling in my head. I was soon absorbed in the sights and smells of running through warm grass and enjoying the contrast of a cool green canopy as I hit the woodland trails with summery songs playing in my head. I'm a bit of a running puritan and judge harshly those who use modern distraction devices (IPods etc.); being fully aware and in the moment is surely what its' all about?! Anyway, tonight's run inspired a summertime slideshow complete with a tune that I just can't seem shake off...Haikuesque from Bibio.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Today was M's big day, it being a key race in the calendar; the Wharfedale Half Marathon. This is a lovely off road race taking in plenty of climb, skirting Conistone, Kilnsey and taking in the very long, hard slog of a climb up Mastiles Lane. The race ends with a very fast final descent back into Threshfield and is superbly organised by Bingley club mate and supremo runner, Mick Hawkins. 

The day was a hotty and with the race setting out at 11am no runner escaped the bright but harsh rays of the sun today. M has focused on nothing else this last week or two and was eager to run well and find out exactly how good his race preparation has been.

Setting out a tad fast, M led the first mile over the fast boys at the front; the initial road section lulling him into a slightly too fast pace. The race soon settled down with some tough running over glorious dales terrain, a hazy sunny day with slight breezes and breathtaking scenery. The views were the last thing on their minds as they dug in, racing from checkpoint to checkpoint and hydrating where they could.

My snippets of the race were wee snatches of action where the car could take me, though admittedly I nearly missed M whilst absorbed with a lovely scattering of limestone boulders! The area is one of my favourites, Burnsall and its environs being my dream home, if only. 

The final stages of the race forced me to rouse myself from a happy-snapping-stupor just in time to chase M to the finish; a bone rattling descent of 2 miles into Threshfield for the final sprint home. After a near tie with a Leeds City boy mid-way, M came in to swoop 6th place overall. A few mispunches and wrong turnings for the leading two took them out of the final results. It has to be said that all boys looked truly wasted by the finish. Nice one M, first V40 and 6th overall! Well done to all Otley and lkley mates too including Jon S, Andy W and Ewan (he braved the full marathon!). Marc S of Horsforth also ran well, racing well over his usual distance and for the third time this week. A nice prize and a bacon butty followed by cake finished off the afternoon nicely. We'll both be back next year, there's a ladies record to break. Results here.