August 2010
WEEK 31
A short Saturday run of 2.5 miles took me to the Idle Trail Race on August 1st. This is another of my favourites, approximately 10 K of Leeds -
Men's winner, Colin Walker, Pudsey and Bramley, 36:04; women's winner, Karen Pickles, Pudsey Pacers, 39:34.
Overtaken by No. 140, M55 Colin Toole, Unattached
WEEK 32. I ran behind him for a bit and stuck out on my own. The 3 mile marker signals he start of the second lap and I was buckling up the sharp incline.My watch had shown 25:16 at 3 miles and I was deflated. Had I been mentally alert I would have realised that this was 8:25 a mile; not bad in my condition. At the top I'd had enough and on catching I slotted in behind an Oldham AC woman, Grace Atherton. I was glad of a rest. Not long after Paul Taylor overtook me again. I followed him. Down the hill a rain shower combined with a shaft of sunlight to produce a wonderful rainbow to our left. Up the other side I passed before turning right and on the long flattish section to 5 miles began to pull a few more back. My 4th mile was 8:33 having taken that sitting in rest. Trying to stride and relax my 5th mile took 8:38. I was tired Following the turn at 5 miles I took shelter again but when everyone moved over to the right hand side of the road I stayed left.Pushing on I passed about seven runners before turning into Men's winner, Ben Fish, Blackburn H., 29:26. Women's winner, Tess Walker, Salford H., 34:48. I struggled the next couple of days notching up 27.5 miles for the week. Another week of easy running for 26 miles. The discomfort in my left hip area ( I hate to use the word "pain" ) seems to be easing. I look forward to getting back to 30 miles a week. AUGUST 1970 I did not have my customary and recommended ( by me ) 4 weeks recovery after Within a week I was back in full training. I seemed to recover quickly and the only thing that troubled me was a sore and swollen right knee. But that didn't stop me and after three weeks the pains had gone away. I had three objectives left for the year. Firstly a 30 K World Record attempt on the track at WEEK 31. 120.5 miles. WEEK 32. 128 miles. WEEK 33. Saturday morning 5 miles. In the afternoon a 5 K track race on a rough grass track at the Ashbourne Sports. John Simmons led the field to about half way then began to slow. I had worked through from 8th to 2nd. Dave Lem and Ron Grove were hanging on and Trevor Wright was sitting in. I wasa running a very negative race. Dave Lem took over, set a fast pace then slowed. With 4 laps to go Trevor said, " Come on," and took off . I could only hang on for half a lap and had to let him go..I made up a little ground on the last lap to finish 3 or 4 seconds behind in 14:15.6. I wrote in my log : "A defeat like that does me good. Makes me want to have a go again and wipe it out. I was out of race practise." 20.5 miles the next day in wind and rain. 117.5 miles for the week. WEEK 34. 113 miles.
I was racing the Saddleworth 6 on the Wednesday and Saturday ran 3.5 miles followed by 5.5, 2.5 and 2.5. Warming up for the 7:30 start I ran on the dirt 400m track in the second lane. My first 1/4 mile was 2m 50s - painfully slow - equivalent to more than 11 minutes per mile ! By the time I had done 1 3/4 miles I had loosened up a little.It rained at the start then cleared a little. I did not feel comfortable. I missed the 1 and 2 mile markers. Just after about a mile I caught two guys one in a red vest who I guess was Oldham AC runner, Paul Taylor, who turned to his companion and said, " There's an International just behind us." Saddleworth Runner, Dave Sinnot was just ahead. Just after the top of a steep hill after a right turn I caught Dave and stayed right behind him. I was not comfortable but hoped to shelter from the wind when we turned right again after about 2 1/2 miles. We made the turn and for some reason I let him go staying behind a small group. Paul Taylor passed again,
WEEK 33.
A week of easy running. Niggles in left hip / gluteal may be easing. Usually come on during climbs. 27.5 miles for the week.
WEEK 34.
July 2010
WEEK 27
Sunday 4th of July I raced the K- Swiss City of Manchester 10 K. The day before I had done a very easy 5.5 miles to boost my mileage for the following week.
After a 2 mile warm up I waited behind the start line until one minute had passed from the off then joined in the pack. For the first time I was wearing a disposable chip on my shoe. Luckily someone had told me I had not looped the device correctly and put it right otherwise my time would not have been recorded. It was a windy cool day and I sheltered in the crowd until we reached 1 K and ran along
My chip position, 723rd out of 1792 finishers meant 40% of runners in front of me. 2009 showed 32 % so a higher standard of competitors this year. I was 2nd MV70 to Malcolm Parry, Unattached, who ran 46:48.
Overall winner was Jean Ndayisenga, Birchfield H., 29:22, 10 seconds ahead of Andi Jones, Salford H. First female, Tessa Walker, Salford H., 35:03.
The rest of the week I ran slowly. The pains or niggles in my left leg were not getting better. It was worse when I got out of bed and starting my morning runs I could feel my knee was not moving freely and there was soreness in my hip area. My big fear was that my hip joint had deteriorated with all my miles. But I persevered with my usual self help treatment: run slowly. 34.5 miles that week. I needed to cut back the miles.
Leaving the stadium - Photo Credit: Brendan Fox
WEEK 28
As I drove to my next race, the Jane Tomlinson Pennine 10 K in Blackburn, the temperature plummeted and strong wind blew in from the Irish sea at Preston about 10 miles away. Jane's husband had asked me if I would run and I could not refuse to support such a worthy cause. The start was in
Then, horror of horrors, just before 1 K my left shoe lace came undone. I was wearing some new ASICS Piranha lightweight racers, only 137g, but the laces were a silky material and though I had tied a double knot they had untied themselves. I stopped, moved to the pavement, tried to retie them, but after getting the single bow each time I went for the double bow the wind blew the laces ahead of me and undid them. Eventually they were secured. 1 K passed in 6:13. I was disheartened but ploughed ahead. I was passing and eventually ahead I could see a blue and white Blackburn Harriers vest. The white haired guy was wearing black tracksters. I guessed it was Chris Fay a rival from way back who I knew had not raced for years. I would soon catch him. Wrong. For a long time he stayed the same distance ahead. The route was very complex with lots of corners and I was frustrated to se all the runners cutting these corners whilst I ran the road as I was sure the course had been measured losing several places each time. Most of the runners ran 9.5 K maximum! After a short steep hill to
First man Lee Cook, 35:46. Women's winner Gwen Kinloch, W 50-59, 42:42.
The rest of the week slow running. I was tired and in a " DOWN " period. Left knee, hip, hamstring origin still sore. 30.5 miles.
I should have had a boost to my morale on the last day of the week, Friday July 16th. May and I went to Bolton University, firstly to witness the installation of the first Chancellor of the University, Baroness Morris of Bolton, then to receive from her an Honorary Doctorate " in recognition of outstanding contribution to sport and textile technology." A proud moment; can I now call myself Dr Dr Ron?
WEEK 29
Sunday, 18th, I had entered the Gravy 6 Trail Race, one of my favourites, which starts at Hadfild station. Saturday I ran a slow 5.5 miles. My legs felt weak. There was a good following wind up the Longdendale Trail and from the back I made fair progress in passing runners. After dropping down to the Torside reservoir head, I was very careful on the stony trail at the other side of the valley. On the Rhodeswood dam head I put in a fast push to slot in behind a red vested Prestatyn Running Club woman, to shelter from the strong wind. Her club was out in force that day. On the steep climb back to the trail I followed to Prestatyn ladies but got ahead when they walked the last bit. I was on my own running into the wind and relaxed until someone went past so that I could get in behind. It was a different Prestatyn lass who went by, Sharon Hullett. I had overtaken her on the first section of the trail on the way out. We passed a handful of runners taking one man, MV55 Reg Czupek, unattached, with us. The pace wound up over the final 800m but I had no sprint left in me and the pair got me by one second.
50:30 for 155th out of 200 finishers; 75.5% of runners ahead. 1:51 down on last year but an enjoyable race.
Winner, Ben Riddell, Salford H. 30:16, first woman, Donna Jones, Sale H. Manchester, 34:16.
An easy next 5 days to record 30 miles for the week.
On the last day of week 29, Friday, July 23rd, at a delightful ceremony at the offices of OSC and in front of all the staff, CEO Mike Deegan presented me with a bottle of champagne and a handsome cake. It was exactly 40 years since I won the Commonwealth Games Marathon title in
WEEK 30
On the first day of this week, Saturday, July 24th, Sweatshop Hyde organised a breakfast run from their store. Again it was a celebration of the Edinburgh Marathon Gold, but the venue was significant as this shop was the first premises that Ron Hill Sports Ltd ever had. Runners of all abilities enjoyed a 6 K run along the Tame Valley Trail and back on the banks of the
A deliberate easy week of 26 miles with left leg not a lot better
July ended with a total of 131 miles (211 K ) Lifetime total now 153,851.5 miles ( 247,599 K )
JULY 1970
WEEK 27.
No race this weekend. % miles + 13.5 miles Saturday, 20.5 miles alone Sunday. Monday ran home from work, 7.5 miles with speedwork. Tuesday, an extra session lunchtime,
That week was a mere 108 miles.
WEEK 28.
No race. Saturday, 7.5 and 13.5 miles. Sunday, 20.5 miles in my " World 10 " racing shoes.Monday, 10 miles home from work with speedwork. Tuesday 6.5 miles with speedwork. Wednesday drove up to Edinburgh.Thursday I ran the first half of the marathon course - " meant to go very easily but found myself running faster and faster - in fact moving very well indeed. "Friday morning I set off to do 7.5 miles but got lost and ended up doing 12 miles. I found the 7.5 mile course in the evening did some speed work and finished with a sore right knee. That gave me 117.5 miles for the week.
WEEK 29
Saturday morning I ran 4 miles and in the afternoon the last 10 miles of the marathon course with speedwork.I was on the third day of low carbohydrate. Finished the 10
At the Start line
Thursday, JULY 23, RACE DAY. AM 2 miles easy running in racing shoes.PM 1 mile warm up. As threatened, the pace was really fast start with some downhill from Meadowbank Stadium to the coast. I tucked in behind Jerome Drayton,
Second man home was the Commonwealth Marathon Champion from 1966, Jim Alder,
Derek Clayton was reputed to have run 2:08:33.6 for a marathon in
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Posing for pictures with GOLD medal
WEEK 30. I had ended up with a sore right knee and had an easy week of 13 runs totalling 62.5 miles.
My mileage for JUNE 1970 totalled 436.
June 2010
JUNE 2010
WEEKS 22, 23 & 24
On Wednesday of week 22 we flew to the
Week 22, 30 miles; Week 23, 25 miles; Week 24, 24.5 miles
WEEK 25
I finally got to race on Wednesday June 23rd; The Round The Resers 5 Miles in Tintwistle. I had not competed for over 4 weeks. I got there early for the 7:30 pm start and did a good 2.5 miles warm up. The race is a run down from the Woodhead road then two laps of Valehouse reservoir. There is some rough stony trail with one sharp hill to be climbed twice, with the rest on tarmac. Weather conditions were perfect. Cool and little wind. After a steady start I pulled back a good few runners, especially in the last mile to finish 116th in 42:39. I was pleased with that. With 162 finishers I had beaten 28% of the field plus my time was better than 44:37 in 2007 and 43:23 in 2009. However a long way short of 35:06 in 1998!
Gareth Raven, of Sale Harriers Manchester set a course record of 25:51. The women's winner was FV45 Alison Sedman, Belle Vue Racers in 33:44.
The next two day's easy runs of 3.5 and 4.5 miles gave me a total 35.5 for the week and brought to me next race.
WEEK 26
This week commenced with a Saturday race. THE ANGELA DEEGAN MEMORIAL 5 K RACE an Andy O'Sullivan production organised on behalf of Mike Deegan who was Angela's husband. Angela had battled cancer for several years but had finally succumbed a year ago. She had been a serious athlete and a member of Sale Harriers Manchester. For me her greatest achievement was winning women's 1984 The Tour Of Tame, a double marathon over six races in the space of seven days. Mike had won the men's race the year before. I have fond memories of racing with Angela, especially when the Ron Hill Sports race team went over to contest the
The 5K race marked the end of a year for Mike celebrating the life the life of Angela and raising £30,000 shared between The Christie hospital and Cancer Research
The race was held at Cowm reservoir, Whitworth near
It was a fabulous day; hot and sunny. I never recovered from the uphill start and ran in oxygen debt all the way. For much of it I was trailed by a guy called Andrew Denton, who was running with his dog, and John Wild. Towards the end of the second lap I was catching Sue Exon, Trafford A C. As I ran across head of the reservoir Andrew Denton's dog almost tripped me. On the final run down to the finish I passed Sue and John kindly allowed me to cross the line in front of him. 25:30. Not very impressive, but 69th out of 115 finishers was about right.
The first woman home was Rachel Deegan, Angela's daughter, Sale Harriers Manchester, 18:46. Overall winner was Gareth Raven of the same club, 15:18. First MV50 was Mike Deegan, Salford H., 17:10. Mike has run every day since Angela passed away and hopes to become MV 55 World 10,000m Champion next year.
Angela Deegan, 1984 Tour of Tameside, Champion
This week showed 31 miles. I had developed a sore left leg in the knee area and in the buttock probably as a result of a day in inappropriate on a 3 island trip on holiday. It was affecting my running.
June ended on the Wednesday and showed 123 Miles (198 K). Lifetime total stands at 153,720 miles (247,388 K)
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JUNE 1970
WEEK 22
No race this weekend but Saturday 7.5 miles am 13.5 miles fartlek " felt good and strong " pm. Sunday 20.5 miles. Tuesday's mid-day flying 440's were 59.7 and 56.2.A week of hot weather running to work and back for 128 miles.
WEEK 23
Saturday 5 miles am. The PLESSEY NOTTS 15 MILES ROAD RACE pm. 1.5 miles warm up. Ran to 13 miles on a scorching afternoon with Pete Calladine of
WEEK 25
Five weeks to go before the Commonwealth Games Marathon in
It was back to running to work then home again in the evening. Except Tuesday. That day after work I drove to
That brought a solid week of 132 miles.
WEEK 26
No race this weekend. Saturday morning 7.5 miles, afternoon 13.5 miles with fartlek on all the uphills. Sunday I ran 28 miles with Arthur Walsham. To work and back the rest of the week with an extra session Tuesday lunchtime - 4 x 220 yards on the Ashton track, and Thursday lunchtime 6 miles on the roads from work. Speedwork on the way home Monday and Wednesday. My last run, 7 miles lunchtime from work on Friday. " Felt pretty good - one or two enthusiastic bursts." A solid week of 140 miles.
During week 26 June ended with a total of 562.5 miles.
May 2010
WEEK 18
On Sunday May 2nd I raced the Great Edinburgh Run 10 K. I was classed as one of the elite runners and ran with " HILL " as my front number. The course did not suit me as from shortly after the off there was a hill which seemed to go on for about 2 K. I stood on the start line, behind the chip mat, for 28 seconds before joining the throng. The hill put me into oxygen debt and I was struggling. It did not seem to bother many people as runners were passing in their hundreds for around 3 K. Also I was not thinking straight. At the 1 K marker I looked at my watch, which I had started at the gun, and saw 5:57. " Hell, this is one hour pace," I thought. I had not figured in the 28 seconds before I actually started. The second K was 5:49 which appeared to confirm a slow pace. I struggled on and began to see some quicker splits but did not know, or care how these would affect my final time. K 8 took me 5:05; and K 9 5:01. With 500m to go my left shoe lace came undone ! I dare not stop nor sprint flat out. The finish clock showed 52:06 which was a pleasant surprise and gave me a final chip time of 51:38. The positives I took from this race were : my fastest time of the year on a tough course, first MV 70 out of 8 runners, 2018th position overall out of 6846 finishers meaning that only 29% of the field were in front of me.
Winner of the race was Titus Mbishei,
Whilst in
The day after the race I did not feel the fatigue on my run I had felt after previous races this year plus I was looking forward to a week's visit to Club La Santa in Lanzarote.
Photo Credit: Phil Wilkinson / Scotland on Sunday
Photo Credit: Phil Wilkinson / Scotland on Sunday
WEEK 19
The week in La Santa was on behalf of Sports
32 miles for that week.
WEEK 20
Saturday was the Veterans Road Relay Championships at
Just two runners behind Moved away quickly
WEEK 21
Friday morning saw us heading by train once more to
The total journey from home was around 4 1/2 hours with two changes and what, with the walk from Waverly train station to the Apex City Hotel on Grassmarket carrying a heavy rucsac, pretty tiring. That night we had dinner with my Team Captain, her partner, Robert, and daughter Jennifer who was running the full marathon.
Saturday was a scorcher. We spent the day visiting the " Marathon Hub " in
All week it had been predicting rain for Sunday. It was hot. I pitied the full marathon runners. The relay runners bus got to the changeover point at around 11:00 am. I had no idea what runners 2 and 3 looked like but luckily the handovers were close together. I looked in vain for my third leg runner in the crowded pen and in the end spent almost an hour standing at a point where I could see leg 3's number as he departed and leg 2's number as she finished. at last I spotted our race number - 30587 - a green vest with " GARRY " on the front. He was on an 8 mile leg so I could begin to calculate what time I should warm up. Peigi, our second leg runner had taken over from Ann who had run the first stage of around 8 miles. Ann had had a nasty fall in the week before the race and hurt her knee pretty badly. Despite this she ran well. Peigi had only raced one 10 K before this event and with the heat was exhausted at the end. I had to wait a good while at the end before she recovered and I could hand her my bag to take to the finish.
Wearing the actual string vest worn in the 1970 Commenwealth Games
Garry too ran well and passed the timing chip over for me to strap to my ankle. My leg was 4.7 miles and I had warmed up 2.3 miles so I could get 7 miles into my training log. Despite all the hanging around I had a good run. I hardly noticed the heat.I was wearing my string vest from 1970 with my race number from then - 108 - above my relay number. I did a fair bit of weaving around the exhausted marathon runners and a lot Race Relay contestants, many of whom were walking. I only saw one of the mile markers, No. 23, and contented myself with counting the number of relay runners I could pass. This worked well and I could not believe it when the crowds were shouting, " Nearly there now. " But I saw the white rails of the Musselburgh Race course and suddenly I was on the rubber mats with the finish line in sight. I had passed 103 Team Relay runners and raised my right arm in an anniversary salute then stopped my watch at 40 minutes.The Kilgour Killers team recorded just under 4 hours 25 minutes.
With so many runners it was chaotic at the end. I made the reunion area but we had great difficulty getting out. Eventually, Robert drove Ann, Garry and myself back to the hotel to pick up an anxious May and our bags which we had had to leave at reception as we had no late checkout, then on to
Despite this loss in weight I seemed to have recovered well but my mood was not helped by the weather and I never expected to be running at the end of the week, close to the end of May in " full gear " including gloves. My log records " going through a bad patch." Week 21 showed 33 miles.
WEEK 22
The weather and the way I was feeling did not improve much and on the last day of May my log reports of a 5 mile run, " felt pretty awful."
May added up to 144 miles ( 232 K ) - lifetime : 153,597.5 miles ( 247,191 K )
MAY 1970
WEEK 18
This was my third week of active rest after my
WEEK 19
My final week of rest. Mainly 5's and 2's with a "long" run of 7 miles on Sunday. Total 51 miles.
WEEK 20
Now I began my 10 week build up to the Commonwealth Games Marathon in
Saturday morning I ran 5 miles. In the afternoon " 7 miles - easy for 2 miles - then fartlek with bursts on the hills - my first steps on the way to attempting a Commonwealth Gold " Sunday I did 13 miles, then for the rest of the week my runs to work and back : 7.5 miles there and a bit further on the way back.. One day 6 X 70 seconds strides with 50 seconds interval in 3 sets of 2; another day fartlek. Thursday lunchtime I did my 2 flying 1/4 miles on the Ashton under Lyne cinder track in 60.3 and 60.6. This pushed my mileage to 100 miles for the week.
WEEK 21
This week we spent on holday in th
WEEK 22
Saturday morning I ran 5 miles and in the afternoon raced the Pembroke " 20 " It was a very windy day . I ended up battling with Eric Haslam and John Balmer but managed a narrow victory in 1:45:25 just 7 seconds ahead of Eric. The next day my Sunday run was only 13.5 miles.
May ended with a total of 347 miles.
April 2010
WEEK 14.
The third day after landing from Lanzarote was Easter Saturday, the day of the Rivington Pike Fell Race. This was the 36th time I had run in this 3 1/4 mile classic. I had two objectives for this race. The first was to get all the way to the top without walking and the second was not to fall down on the descent. On the part of the course which was grass it was quite wet with one section deep mud which cows had churned up. I got left behind at the start and ran steadily. At the quarry I took the long way round, a sweeping curve, but as we approached the gate leading to the rough cobbled road I thought, “I am not going to make it." The course levels a little here and I got my breath back. With much effort I managed the last bit and the tower at the summit. Descending carefully, I managed not to fall and crossed the line in 32:35, my slowest ever. The speedwork in Lanzarote had not done me much good!
I will never try to run all the way again. It is quicker to walk in parts! It would be nice to end my affair with Rivington Pike on 40 runs. Two of the four I would need would be in my 75th and 80th years. I am not so sure about my 85th year so I am looking for two more.
I was 189th out of 209 finishers. Only 8 % of runners behind me. Leading V70 was Ted Orrell, Clayton-le-Moors H., 27:51; 2nd V70, John Swift, Chorley AC, 29:49; I was 3rd V70. John Coope, Horwich RMI, V75, 32:52.
Overall winner: Thomas Cornthwaite, Blackburn H & AC, 17:31. First woman: Laura Richards, Leigh H & AC, 21:46.
The man in the duffle coat is not a competitior! - Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)
I was hoping the slower run down would protect my quads and indeed the next day they were not too bad, but the next three days they were murder!
Total for the week 25.5 miles.
WEEK 15.
The first day of my week I ran my 4 mile "country" course. The first warm day of the year and I was in shorts I felt great. The rest of the week was cold and it was back to full gear, pants, cap and gloves. Friday was just a 2 miler as we were flying to
Total for the week 28 miles.
Correction. Because of the eruption of the volcano in
Below is a link to an interview with Ron in the April edition of Runners World USA:
http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2010/04/a-brief-chat-with-ron-hill-2.html
Later this year I am looking forward to returning to
WEEK 16.
I was really disappointed not to be in
WEEK 17. This week I enjoyed 2 runs in shorts but by the end of the week also the end of the month it was back to full gear. I also enjoyed getting used to my new Timex Ironman, Tap screen chronograph. I ran 30 miles that week.
April added up to 122 miles ( 196 K ) bringing my lifetime total to 153,453 miles ( 246,952 K )
APRIL 1970
WEEK 13 contd.
The rest of the week I eased down as I had an important race coming up. I ran just 107 miles that week.
WEEK 14
Saturday morning I ran 4 easy miles. In the afternoon I lined up for the AAA track 10 Miles Championship. I had won this five time since 1965 breaking the World record in 1968 with 47:02. This was the last of Ron Clarke's world records to fall. Later that year I lowered my own world record to 46:44. On this occasion I was looking for a good run and possibly a new record, before crossing the
The next day I ran 20.5 miles with my friend Arthur Walsham. I did an extra run on Wednesday; Speed sessions Monday, Wednesday and Friday! 5 runs, including the race, gave me 130 miles for the week.
WEEK 15
This was something of a taper down week prior to my Boston Marathon. The RRC of Britain had had a whip round to raise the airfare to send me to
WEEK 16
This week included the Boston Marathon on Monday, Patriots Day. On my 2 mile morning run I felt " indifferent." I jogged 1 mile warm up in rain. I had been given race number " 1 " .Jerome Drayton, who had beaten me on December in
I had won the most famous marathon in the world and was the first Briton to do so. What was even more amazing to me was that I had run 2:10:30, a personal best, and had broken the course record by over 3 minutes. My reward was a medal and a bowl of beef stew but most of all an amazed feeling of pride.
I could now relax. The next day I flew down to
WEEK 17
I ended up in
April totalled 348 miles.
March 2010
WEEK 9 contd.
I felt pretty good the day after the Lostock 6. It was the first day of spring and the sun was shining. My spirits were lifted but took it easily for the rest of the week to record 29 miles. The only mild upset was on Wednesday when half a mile into my run I turned my body to the left to look at the traffic before crossing a road and must have twisted my left knee. But I jogged on and soon the pain subsided.
WEEK 10.
3 1/2 miles easy on Saturday morning in preparation for the TRAFFORD 10K starting at the Partington Leisure Centre. It was a freezing morning. A 9:30 start beneath a cloudless sky. I could not get warm and as the previous week decided to run in two long sleeve tops plus a fluo jacket with my Clayton vest on top. The race director, Dave Norman had honoured me with race No. 1. I wanted a repeat of Lostock 6 with a run at training pace and to this end set off at the back. It was chip timing so I did not have to worry about an accurate time. I crossed the start line after 22 seconds. However, almost all the runners were of a decent standard and as we wended our way along country lanes I realised I was operating at faster than my easy training pace. The kilometres were all marked and there was a time keeper at 1 mile. Dave Attwell shouted,
“9 minutes 12, Ronnie," as I passed. I did not have the mental agility to subtract 22 seconds. 9:12 was way faster than my training pace, never mind the actual 8:50 it really was.
9.5 Km - Followed by Ruth Brown
The country lanes made for interesting, traffic free running. In the 4th kilometre there were two hills, hump back bridges, the first over a stream the second crossing the
The winner in a fantastic time was Chris Thompson,
For the rest of the week the weather continued very cold. I felt really tired most of the time and on Friday, the last day of my week, I wrote in my log of a 3 1/2 mile run,
“Can’t say I really enjoyed it."
Slow recovery runs gave me a total of 30 miles for the freezing week.
WEEK 11.
I felt tired on all of my daily runs which still required full running gear including, hat and gloves, because of the cold weather.
I was out earlier than usual on Thursday morning, the 18th as I was travelling by train to
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Left to Right: Gerry North, Dick Taylor, Mel Batty and Dr Ron
That week was 29 miles with some more enjoyable running as the trails I sometimes use were dry.
WEEK 12.
I spoke too soon. Saturday, the beginning of my week it rained. The planned 8 mile run was miserable. It rained all the way. Part of it was on the
We stayed, all inclusive, for 11nights, at the Sol Morro Mar in Mattagorda. It was a downhill run of about 800 metres to the promenade; a nice warm up after which I normally left May to go either east towards the airport or west towards Puerto Del Carmen. I got a couple of runs out on to a trail by taking the west option and turning right at Calle Pluton; no street sign but marked on maps; and following this street until I hit the country then heading out on trails to an underpass visible in the far distance.
It was great to be running in shorts and enjoying the sun and temperatures in the mid twenties. I actually did some speedwork, 70 second strides with 50 second intervals and number stride fartlek. Preparation for the Rivington Pike fell race on Easter Saturday. A good week of 29 miles.
WEEK 13.
As well as running we walked every day. May caught a cold out of nowhere, but I appeared to resist it. We flew back on April 1st with just 23 miles for that week.
MARCH added 123.5 miles (199 K) to my training log bringing my lifetime total 153,331.5 miles (246,762.5 K.)
197O MARCH
WEEK 9 Contd
The day after Saturday's National Cross-Country Championships I ran 21.5 miles with Tony Byrne (see Sep '09 blog) from my parent's house in
WEEK 10
Saturday morning I ran 7.5 miles in snow. It was
WEEK 11
Saturday morning I ran 7.5 miles. In the afternoon I raced the Sutton 7 near
WEEK 12
Saturday morning was only 4 miles. In the afternoon I ran the Longwood 10 in
15 runs that week gave me 133 miles.
WEEK 13
No race this weekend. Instead 5.5 miles on Saturday morning and 13 miles with some fartlek in mist rain and snow in the afternoon. Sunday 20.5 miles, drizzle at first then pouring rain.
In March I had run 565 miles (909 K.)
February 2010
WEEK 5 the ice gradually cleared over the week, I was able to establish a routine of runs which I like and my mileage reached 29, all of it relaxed and slow. My blood pressure has gone from being unhealthily low to somewhere near normal.
WEEK 6 Another week of 6 easy runs. Still not feeling good especially with the cold weather, some of it sub-zero. But the mornings are getting lighter and I was happy with 29 miles.
WEEK 7 I noticed in the fixtures section of ukresults.net that it was the 40th running of the Parbold Hill race. Although not right I wanted to be part of the anniversary as I had won the race in 1973. The race in those days was 6 1/2 miles and after a hard battle with Dave Brennan, Warrington AC, I got victory in 34:22. After that I was 4th in 1975, 35:27; 5th in 1976, 35:14; and 15th in 1980, 36:45. I returned in 1994 for the 25th anniversary (I know the dates don’t seem right.) The distance was still 6 1/2 miles, I was way down the field, and clocked 52:47. Now, the course has changed, slightly? And I have to admit, I remember little of it. I renamed it the Parbold Hills race as there were two good climbs and descents in the first 2 1/2 miles. I was telling everyone that I was only there to jog round and enjoy the scenery. It looked like a good field of MV70's with my rivals of Peter Edwards, Northern Vets and George Arnold, Preston Harriers. George and I started near the back for lap of the field behind the Farmer's Arms. There was a bottle neck at the narrow exit to the field, to be expected with around 500 competitors, but I did not mind. On the road I just jogged along near the back. At the first hill I began to pass odd people, imagining I was running up
The course hits the road shortly after that for the steep climb to the turn off leading to the highest point. Near the top I passed George once more. There were many stiles to climb, each one a bottle neck in the crowded field. At 5 miles the running levels out a little. I thought I had seen the last of George. I was now “battling" with Parbold Pink Panther woman, D. Powell, not really racing, I was too tired to do that, just trying to get to the finish as soon as possible. But I could see a runner in a red vest with white chest band, and thin white hair flowing. He walked occasionally on slight ascents and looked like he could be an MV70. Approaching the 6 mile marker George suddenly appeared. I'd thought he was long gone. From 6 onwards occurs most of the descent. On occasional deep mud and awkward stiles and fences, one with carpet thrown over barbed wire. At one particular difficult fence, with inches of clutch at the other side, Pink Panther got ahead. George was running away out of sight. We hit a bottom with just over 400 M to go, sign posted. There was a small ravine with a stream in the bottom to cross. A short climb, then a run down to the road on a rough field. I passed white hair, and a little later, Pink Panther. On the road and into the finish field I upped my pace to get home in 390th place out of 473 finishers (only 18% of the field behind me) in a time of 73:32. I reckon that this was just HALF THE PACE of my 1973 victory. PPP, D. Powell was one behind me with 73:39. White Hair, H. Johnson, Newburgh Nomads, who was an MV70, was 393rd in 73:53. In the last 3/4 mile George Arnold went from 4th MV70 to winning the age group with 380th in 72:38. 2nd was Peter Edwards, 383rd, in 73:01.Obviously I was 3rd MV70. Only 54 seconds covered the first three in my age group.
The overall winner was N. Leigh, Altrincham & Dist AC, 40:58. First female home, L.Whitfield, Spectrum Striders, 49:48.
Despite drinking an energy drink before the race, I didn't feel very clever after. My pulse was feeble and I felt light headed a few times. Low blood pressure! I drank 500ml liquid before heading for home. I was pretty exhausted on my next 4 runs of 4, 3 1/2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2 miles, but felt slightly recovered by the end of a week of 31 miles.
WEEK 8 Saturday, I hardly felt like running so just did 2 1/2 miles. Sunday, 5 miles in fresh snow. Monday, 3 1/2 miles at 7:13 am. Plodding. Tuesday, the same run as Monday but starting out at 9:00 am. I was 2 1/2 minutes faster. Have all these early morning runs been putting a strain on my heart? I will have to think about doing some occasional lunchtime runs. Wednesday, I slipped to 2 1/2 miles again and at lunchtime. I had gone down with diarrhoea. Antibiotics now. Thursday 3 1/2 miles. Friday, still suffering from infected stomach, I did a 4 1/2 mile run from our house, in pouring rain, with Steve Kenyon. Steve still runs but does not compete. He ran the fastest Manchester Marathon of all time with a clocking of 2:11:54 in the 1981 Piccadilly
WEEK 9 The beginning of this week was still in February. Saturday I ran just 2 1/2 miles. The antibiotics were working and I had entered another race taking place the next day; THE 24TH LOSTOCK 6 MILES. Here, I would not get carried away and would jog round and enjoy some new scenery. The course was nowhere near as severe as The Parbold Hill race and thus more conducive to easy running. To me the weather felt bitterly cold and after collecting my race number ( No.123 ) and pinning it to my vest, I put the vest over a running jacket over a long sleeve t-shirt. That kept me comfortable. I drank some fluid with energy gel to help with hydration and warmed up 1 1/2 miles. I set off right at the back of the field and timed my run from the start line. I looked back a couple of times and saw only about a dozen runners behind me. Somewhat alarming.
Only about a dozen runners behind - Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)
I was imagining I was on a training run and chatted to a few people as I jogged along. The first mile with quite a steep hill in it took me 10:14. That was OK. The course levelled out and I was running with a lady from Burned RR whose pace was just right. My second mile took 9:12. We passed a big guy in an orange vest, but he immediately came along with us. I turned to him and said, “You got a new lease of life!” The third mile took 9:58 and shortly after John Wright, the V45 owner of the orange vest with “Birkenhead AC" on the front started to push on. We were talking so I did not really notice an increase in pace. He told me he was coming back from a second knee operation, had not raced since last August, and had put on a lot of weight. His PB for 10K was 49:02. I said, “You’re doing well." the fourth mile with some good downhill was 8:19. In the fifth mile was a nasty hill up to
Along the flat road we caught another Burnden RR woman. She speeded up and we both went along with her to the 5 mile point when she fell away. That last mile was 9:32. In the distance I could see Conrad Slater, a fellow V70 of Kendal AC. I could allow myself to become competitive but did not feel I had to up my pace as I was comfortable at John Wright's pace and Conrad was coming back fast. We were passing a few. A left hand turn, then a downhill stretch with about 1/2 mile to go. John was striding out but I could comfortably stay with him. There was a muddy patch with about 300m to go. I stayed behind John; we passed a woman in green and were back on the road with the finish in sight. I would have been happy to have dead-heated with John but sensed someone else coming up so legged it to the finish.
55:18 on my watch but officially 55:28. I'd lost 10 seconds at the start. I was 287th; John Wright, 288th, 55:30; Conrad Slater, 295th, 56:07. There were 329 finishers which meant only 13% of the field, 42 runners, were behind me. I didn't care. I had enjoyed the run and had ended in good condition. Also I was 3rd in my V70 age group, Conrad was 4th. The winning V70, my Clayton-le Moors team-mate, was Ted Orrell in 44:34 just 17 seconds ahead of 2nd V70, Sid Sacks, Salford Harriers.
Overall winner was Anthony Valentine, Bolton UH, 30:58. First woman, Jayne Taylor, FV45, Wigan Phoenix, 39:40.
with John Wright, Birkenhead AC Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)
STATS. Daily runs in February totalled 113.5 miles (183 K) moving my lifetime total to 153,208 miles (246,564 K)
1970 FEBRUARY
WEEK 5 On Sunday I raced cross-country in the French railway
WEEK 6. Saturday morning I ran 2 miles. In the afternoon I travelled to
WEEK 7. I had no race this weekend so ran 7 1/2 miles Saturday morning and 13 1/2 miles late afternoon with fartlek on the uphill. Sunday I ran 28 miles with Arthur Walsham which took about 3 1/2 hours. The rest of the week I ran mainly to work (8 miles) and back with detours to give me 137 miles for the week.
WEEK 8. Again no race this weekend so same Saturday as last week and 20 1/2 miles on Sunday again with Arthur Walsham. It rained all the way. “- left leg extremely sore and aggravating " To work and back the rest of the week with speed sessions Mon. and Tue on the way home. 127 miles that week.
WEEK 9. Saturday it was the National Cross-Country Championships in
STATS. February's total was 422 miles.
January 2010
WEEK 1
Under the weather
Whatever was wrong with me certainly had a firm grip. I had lost all my spring and my heart was feeling tied, especially at the start of a run. I had thought a lot about the low blood pressure episode. If the blood pressure is low it must mean that the heart is not pumping strongly enough. Two of the causes of low blood pressure, I read, are bacterial infection and dehydration. I wondered whether you could add viral infection to the causes. I could take care with hydration but any kind of illness I could only get rid of by running less distance and running slowly. I reasoned that racing was out. No matter how slowly I would intend to start I would surely become competitive and overdo it.
On top of the weather.
The weather at end of last and the beginning of this year has been atrocious. Ay first snow looks pretty. Deeper fresh snow is fine to run on. It is when it gets driven on and walked on that problems start. Even worse when there is a partial thaw then freezing temperatures producing sheets of ice. Running on gritted roads you take your life in your hands as many motorists are inconsiderate.
153,000 miles and off on holiday.
With great care I kept my streak alive and on January 4th passed a lifetime total of 153,000 miles. We were due to fly out of
Neil, who had a 4 wheel drive vehicle in time for a 13:40 take off. At 14:00 we were told that our plane had been diverted to
This happened and we were told that we would be departing at 10:00 am. Good news, but the weather was still so bad that I had my doubts. My streak could be in danger. I decided to run immediately from Terminal 3 and headed out on to
The next day I ran another 2 miles, on the beach, with May. Stopping when she got tired then starting again. In my log I wrote, "RECOVERY DAY FROM MY LOW BLOOD PRESSURE PROBLEMS."
Week 1 Yielded just 17 miles...
WEEK 2
It was a pleasure to be running in warmer weather and nonslip conditions. I upped my mileage a little and most of the 3 1/2 mile runs I did were repeats of a run I had found when visiting this hotel in December 2008. Out of the hotel complex and right up the main road as far as a ruin near a huge Turkish flag; right here on to a small road lined with tiny hut like motels, all closed for the winter; right at the end of the road then down to the shore. It was not as easy to access the beach as last time as they were in the process of building a promenade with lots of bulldozing going on. I found some steps further on, flanked by fragments of white marble columns, precious to some people but here virtually litter. Then it was beach back to the hotel complex. The sand was normally hard packed but on one run after, a vicious night storm, with the wind coming off the sea, the surface was a lot softer.
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Run-Right at the ruin Steps to the beach
We explored ancient Side a lot. You could spend hours amongst the ruins. Pillars and carved fragments are lying everywhere.
Hotel Melas, after the storm Archaeology
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May outside side temple Knocking Side down
When we got back to
WEEK 3
The ice had retreated by the end of the week. My heart was feeling strained; a virus? My left knee was sore, but I got back to some of my normal runs to total 26 miles.
WEEK 4
Still no desire to race. Perhaps that was not quite right. Still no desire to go to a race and risk pushing myself. Almost back to normal mileage with 28 miles for that week.
STATS.
January produced 103.5 miles (167 K) bringing my lifetime total to 105,094.5 miles (246,381 K)
JANUARY 1970
Week 1
Saturday I was 4th in the Lancashire Cross-Country Championships held at
Week 2
I was struggling with a sore left knee and the pain occasionally spread to my hamstring. Sunday I raced cross-country in
Week 3
Saturday was the Intercounties Cross-Country Championships at
Week 4
Saturday I raced the East Lancashire Cross-Country Championships held at
In January 1970 I had covered 370 miles, 595 K.
2009 ANNABLOG
2009 ANNABLOG
The bare bones of 2009 are that I ran 1433.5 miles ( 2307 K ) bringing my lifetime recorded totals to 152,991 miles ( 246,213 K. )
I ran 32 races 16 of which were trail races. That 32 makes a lifetime total of 2297 competitions. I gained no new countries and in fact had no races at all abroad.
My last 1/2 Marathon ( I think) was at Freckleton in June on the 40th anniversary of my setting a course record of 64:45. It is still the course record ! My time this year was 1:49:59 and I was happy with that.
The highlight of my year was 3 weeks island hopping in Greece with my wife, May. Santorini, Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros and Thirassia. Great weather, new runs and scenery. Plus May started tentatively to run again.
The UK summer weather was rubbish and at the end of the year diabolical.
My form seemed to diminish with the passage of the months and efforts got harder only to produce slower times.
Currently, I have little desire to race. If I do, I expect a dramatic drop in performance as I feel to push myself would be detrimental to my health and enjoyment.
To me, now, running is about HEALTH and ENJOYMENT !
December 2009
PERSISTENT PAIN
The day after Silkstone I ran 3 1/2 miles. Recovery run. Then Mon. 4 1/2, Tue. 2 1/2. Weds morning, 4 1/2. I seemed to have my rib problem sorted. After the run a tried some gentle, half sit-ups. On the third one I heard a crack in my right rib. The pain was back. After lunch I was changing my jeans to go into the garden when the act of bending made the pain ten times worse. I could hardly sleep that night. Which ever way I lay, every time I turned the rib(s) hurt. The next morning it took me 43:25 to run 3 1/2 miles. Looking in the mirror I noticed bruising in the centre of my chest. It looks like this is going to be a long haul back!
THE GREAT LANGDALE XMAS PUDDING 10K, DECEMBER 12TH
Slow healing ribs. I had hurt my right ribs three weeks prior to this race and was still not fully mended. To be fair it was not sore when I was running but I was not doing sit ups or press ups and it was painful if I lay on that side in bed. Luckily I feel that it gets very slightly better with every day that passes.
Langdale races. My friend”Rocket” Rod
I was in this competition to enjoy it and did not worry as I went with the crowd on undulating roads being passed by a few tardy starters but in turn overtaking several myself. At around 2 K I ran past a couple I had seen virtually on the front row before the off. I wondered what they thought they would gain by being passed by probably three quarters of the field by the end of the race. This was one race where I did not look at my watch until after the finish. Conrad Slater, a regular rival in my MV 70 division battled me for the first 3 K; he was faster on the downhills but I was able to leave him on the up hills until I never saw him again. Around 4 K we did a loop round the Langdale Hotel estate then back on to public roads. We were running back the way we came.
I continued to move up the field. At 7 K there was a long uphill. I remember runners remarking that this would be tough on the way back. I had made a mental note myself. After that there were more hills I had not noticed after the start, being fresh and in the crowds. They were beginning to hurt. I picked off a handful more and finished pretty tired at the back of a group of five. At the presentation, my club mate, Roger Brewster, who was 14th and first MV 50, 36:37), remarked," How could you not be inspired by the mountain scenery in the latter stages of the race?" I hadn't seen the views with my head down concentrating on the road ahead!
Over the finish line. Now I looked at my watch. 50:38. A bit disappointed. But it had been very cold and there were, for me, difficult hills. Consolation was 1st MV 70 out of three in my age group. 217th out of 446 meant I had beaten 51% of runners. Way above average than the norm. But the number of unattached runners was a revelation. 267; that was 60% of finishers!
Rod put on his usual superb performance at the presentation. He does not take prisoners! I was his assistant, shaking hands and handing over prizes.
The race winner was Lee Cook, Tri Clan, 33:05. The leading female was Helen Waugh, Tyne Tri, in 11th position, 36:30.
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Icy Dawn at Great Langdale
Morning run
I stayed the night at the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel. I wanted to be first down fir breakfast, so was up at 6:30 and out for a 3 mile run at 7:30. It was still pitch black. As I passed a line of parked cars there was a single honk of a horn. I thought I had triggered an alarm and continued gingerly on the icy roads first to Stool End Farm, crossing a couple of cattle grids. I was surprised to see a shadowy figure ahead and passed a lone walker making an early start for the hills. An inspiring run as the light crept up the valley. I was first into breakfast, a full English, and was joined by Rocket Rod and his wife Dorothy. It had been Rod who had honked me as I left for my run. He'd been up since 4:00am and out checking the course for the second 10 K race at noon that day!
Snow- Pretty at first Snow gets nasty
Joel Lane - Impassable
Small Landmark
On Friday, 18th December, my training logs, started on Monday, September 3rd, 1956, reached a total of 246,000 Kilometres.
BIG LANDMARK
Two days later, December 20th, one of my favourite training runs completed 45YEARS OF NOT MISSING A DAY'S RUNNING. My elder son Steven accompanied me as we struggled through snow and ice up a road named
Big Landmark - 45 years of the "Streak"
Running on the six days after the completion of the 45 years of my streak were very difficult because of the icy conditions, but a note in my training log for my run on Christmas day was significant, " .....Heart felt a bit tired on the railway....." and the following day, when I ran only 2 miles because of the extremely icy surfaces, ".....could feel the strain of my heart....."
The next day I arrived early in Clitheroe to collect my number (George Woodburn, the race director, had allotted me No. 1) and give me plenty of time for a 2 mile warm up. I got well wrapped up as the air temperature was hovering around zero. Standing at the back as the race commenced was a wise move as, trying to relax, I found that my position did not change that much and I passed only a few people throughout the race. The course had been modified slightly compared to previous years, the start and finish being in the same spot. This entailed adding a short out (uphill) and back (downhill) section at 5K to maintain an accurate distance. On the “back “bit, into a head wind, it began to rain. I was not enjoying this! On to the familiar course now we had a favourable tail wind all the way home. I was with a group and counting down the kilometres.
I had deliberately not looked at my watch but was pressing it to get the splits. At 9K an unattached female runner in a khaki t-shirt, No. 663, asked, “What was that?" I glanced down, “47:04” But that included the 20 seconds it had taken me to cross the start line. Another runner, stocky Martin Doig, of BRJ RR, Huntingdon, who had been around me for most of the race exclaimed; “Now we've got that bloody hill!” After a sign indicating “440 M “we ran down to
The men's winner was Tom Lancashire, Bolton UH, 29:21, Course Record. Female winner was Helen Clitheroe, Preston H., 32:53.
I stood around a long time at the presentation. At one stage I began to feel faint and light headed. I knew it was a low blood pressure episode and luckily it passed. For the moment. Later I looked back and realised that I had had only a mouthful of fluid before the race and nothing afterwards despite sweating a lot in warm up and racing. I just hadn't felt thirsty, but I must have been dehydrated.
FULL ON POORLY
The day after
The reading was 90 / 50. This was not good. But I felt peaceful and thought this would be a nice way to die as I was not in any pain. Back to reality. On my run I had had pains in my knees and in the area of my kidneys. I WAS SEVERELY DEHYDRATED. I drank a large glass of orange juice and a 500ml bottle of Lucozade Sport. I was in bed again by 7:00 after a tiny amount of steak and mashed potato. I slept the night through only disturbed by cramp in my lower left leg and arthritic pains in my left hand. More evidence of chronic dehydration.
Four days into the New Year and with short slow runs, 2 to 3 miles, and the occasional swig of water, I am feeling much better. Mind you, I will not be going out running on cold days carrying a bottle of water! But I will be taking care and thinking about hydration.
DECEMBER STATISTICS
My training log shows 129 miles (208 K) for December, including 2 races, bringing my lifetime recorded total to 152,991 miles (246,213 K)
November 2009
THE 50TH DERWENTWATER “10 ", NOVEMBER 1ST
What a shame about the weather. The 50th anniversary of this classic 10 mile road race greeted by what must have been the worst weather in the history of the race. I had won the race on October 26th 1963. That day I was timed at 49:48 which must have been a course record. The race was reputed to be slightly under distance but we were misdirected in the town of
Unfortunate start - Photo Credit: May Hill
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Happy to finish- Photo Credit: May Hill
My training log reports of this day's conditions, “A dreadful, dreadful day - cold and rain and floods." So horrible in fact that I pinned my race number “1 " on to a jacket over my long sleeve and Clayton - le - Moors club vest. I wore tights tights under my shorts and put on cap and gloves. This attracted a lot of weight when my kit was soon soaked. I can honestly say I was not looking forward to this race.
From the off I did not feel good at all. Despite starting near the back people were passing me and I struggled on the hills from the beginning. At about 2 1/2 miles two large collie dogs passed me pulling a female competitor behind them. They disappeared into the distance and I never saw them again. Many parts of the road were now flooded and like many of my fellow strugglers I tried to run in the middle of the road where the water was shallowest. This was not easy as many impatient drivers were forcing their way past in both directions. At about 4 1/2 miles, at one particularly deep spot, I was forced into deep water by a double decker bus coming in the opposite direction, charging through and spraying me with water.
I turned right at Grange on to the hilly part of the course. I was just about holding my on with respect to the other runners. The mile between 5 and 6 took me 10m 49s, dragging my sodden shoes and socks up the hills and across the streams flooding off the fells. I was plodding along with a woman, a portly bloke in a white vest just behind, and a tall guy wearing a bin liner. The rain stopped at 7 1/2 miles. At 8 miles the tall guy took off his bin liner and shot off into the distance. After 8 miles a lost my two companions on the downhill’s. In the distance I could see two other runners ahead a man in a purple t-shirt who appeared to be running slowly and a woman in a navy and sky blue jacket. Purple t-shirt, Andrew McIntosh, Unatt., must have speeded up as he overtook the woman in the blue jacket, Alison Andrew, Cumberland A C, and went away. I wasn't bothered. I'd had enough. I just wanted to get to the finish. In fact I was so anxious to get it over with my last mile was the fastest of my race, a pathetic 8:37, but it took me past Alison Andrew.
My time was a P W, 1:31:10 for 335th place of 410, brave soul, finishers. I had managed to beat only 18% of the field, one of my worst performances for a long, long time. Something had definitely been wrong with me. I was 2nd MV 70 to Peter Taylor, Cumberland Fell Runners, who ran 1:26:27.
Andi Jones, Salford H., the winner in 2008, ran an excellent time of 51:48 to win by 2m 20s from James Douglas, Border Harriers, whilst Rebecca Robinson, Kendal A C, the female winner in 2008, won again, in 9th position overall, with a time of 50:09.
My admiration and thanks go to Alan Ritchie, aided by his wife Elaine, for keeping this true and historic classic of the
RACING / RECOVERY / AND A DOG
The day after Derwentwater I ran a 3 miler, out and back, on the railway trail, before we returned to Hyde. Tuesday morning I ran 4 miles on the road. It took me 45:17. My log records, “Legs lifeless." By the end of the week I was running a little bit better but “feeling tired, " and this was just easy running! I had done no speedwork for ages. Derwentwater had been my 29th race of the year. Had this got something to do with it?
At the beginning of the next week I ran a 4 1/2 on Saturday and a 5 1/2 Sunday, trying to continue with runs partially off-road before the mud gets too deep. But having to put on full gear to protect against foul wet weather I find depressing. To add to my misery, Monday morning I was running on a disused railway track, now tarmac'd, a course I really enjoy, when a dog off its leash came bounding towards me, went behind, got caught up in my heels and sent me sprawling forwards on to the hard surface, taking most of the force on my hands. It hurt! I stopped my watch before getting to my feet starting the watch and continuing. My right hand sustained a torn glove but on my left hand, which was sorest, I noticed blood beginning to seep through. When I got home I noted a small cut on my left hand which eventually became a big blood blister but more importantly I had damaged some bone near the wrist which I had hurt severely in the Idle Trail Race in August.
I could not do press ups for a week. Healing was quick. Dogs can do damage beyond biting. By the end of the week I was still feeling tired. I set off on the same run as Monday. As I reached the railway trail another man got there just before me. He was stooped, wore thick glasses and was wearing shorts and a black t-shirt heavily faded at the shoulders. I was in full gear. I pondered how long it would take me to overtake him. I kept looking ahead and blow me if he didn't move further away before exiting the trail! What speed was I doing? Time to retire? Not a bit of it. I can only give what I have got and will continue doing so.
GILL PIMBLOTT MEMORIAL 5K, NOVEMBER 15TH.
There have been some half decent days amongst the recent gloomy windy wet weather that has been thrown at us recently. One such day was November 15th when I returned to compete in the Gill Pimblott Memorial 5K. The venue was
The start is very narrow at this race but, unworried, I stood at the back of the field of 85 runners. It is an uphill start for a first short lap of just under a mile. Being amongst the slower runners controlled my speed and saved me from getting into immediate oxygen debt. The trails had some puddles but these were easily negotiated and I overtook a few on this short loop. There was then a gap in front of me. Relaxing on the bigger lap I managed to overtake eight runners in the second mile. It had taken me 9 seconds to cross the start line. My first mile was 8:32 and that second mile 8:08. I was happy with that.
Now there was a much bigger gap ahead to a group of four. I just kept striding but an 8:06 third mile saw me passing no-one but took me close enough to overtake one more in the last bit. I was 52nd out of 85 ( 1st MV 70 ) in a time of 25:44. I had beaten 39% of the field. 2008 had been 55th out of 80 ( 2nd MV 70 ) in 24:34 - now a year older ? - this year worse conditions ? but last year I only beat 31% of the field. I think I was a bit more comfortable this year so all in all a positive result. I think the long warm-up helped !
The men's winner was Guy Heyes, Horwich RMI Harriers, 17:13; and his clubmate, Emma Perrin, was first female home in 19:13.
This is a great little race, preceded by a Fun Run for youngsters and beginners, and organised on a friendly way by Astley and Tyldsley Road Runners. This club is doing a great job in promoting running in this area and last year doubled their membership !
THE SILKSTONE SHUFFLE, 4TH & FINAL RACE IN THE 2009 SERIES, 28TH NOVEMBER.
I seem to have been dogged by unlucky injuries this year. Six days before the above race I was climbing a short ladder when I slipped, skinned my left shin and hit my right side on a low wall. I cracked a rib. This got more painful as the days progressed but was not a sufficient problem to stop me racing. What looked like more of a problem on the journey to the race was the weather. I set off up the
I had run the first race of the series on March 28th and enjoyed it so much that I promised race director Ian Meade that I would come back for the final competition. Actually he had bribed me with a promise of a series t-shirt and a pint if I ran! The conditions were more difficult this time around with some deep puddles on the road section, exceptional mud in places, and an extra couple of stiles plus an electric fence to climb over.
Despite the weather delays I had time for a 2 1/2 mile warm up before heading for the start wearing two long sleeve shirts, my club vest, tights and shorts, cap, gloves plus cycling gloves, padded at the palms, in case I fell down. Starting at the back and relaxing, I was surprised to find the field running away from me and it was not until about 10 minutes into the race that I caught a runner, Barnsley Harrier, Vikki Skipper. I was able to overtake two more before the top of the first long hill, taking me 14 1/2 minutes, then three more on the road, firstly flat, then down, then up before a turn downhill on to a trail. I passed one more woman just before the trail turned left, which left one more runner in my sights. He was wearing the vest of Northern Veterans AC plus a white cap. I could not make out whether he was in my age category but struggling over the stiles, as I was, he seemed to have a bit more spring than I did. I later discovered from the results that he was Thomas Finch an MV 60.
Approaching one stile his cap caught on a hedge branch and flew off. His stopping to retrieve it allowed me to close right up. Just before a long downhill soggy grass section I over took him. Striding as well as I could I followed two women, one of them losing a bit of ground on the other at each of two stiles. But they stayed in front of me. I found the stile leading to the final road section really awkward but still had a good margin on Thomas Finch. Donna Hackleton, Kingstone RR, was now running away leaving a woman in pink jacket, Rebecca Branford, just ahead. I was close at the penultimate stone stile, across a short wet field, and after the last wooden stile, I discovered the lady in pink shouting, “Which way, which way?” “Over the low wall to the right, " I directed. She was also confused about the way on to the finishing field and I passed her. But she was not giving up. As we splashed our way round the field she came alongside then started to sprint. I did too but was not strong enough to hold her.
I clocked 41:44 (2m 15s slower than March) for 104th place out of 123 finishers I beat only 15% of the field! I knew I'd had a poor run, but by not pushing too hard I had enjoyed it more. In March I was 124th out of 157 runners (a record?) in front of 21%.
The race winner was Nick Swift, Sheffield R C, who remarkably ran 32 seconds faster than in March with 25:20. The women's winner was Pippa Wilkie, Hallamshire H. 30:24.
I stayed on to help with the prize giving and received a bottle of red wine for 1st MV 70. Just before the ceremony started a young woman came up to me and said, “Hello,
I'm Ian Thompson's daughter." I was amazed. Ian had come out of the blue in the October 1973 Harlow Marathon, the Trial for the Commonwealth Games to be held in
Outsprinted!
My cracked rib had not affected my performance; I only felt it over the last 1 1/2 miles. I got my t-shirt. I got my pint of excellent Moorlands bitter in the Ring O' Bells and went home happy.
NOVEMBER STATISTICS.
My training log for November shows 135 miles (217 K) around 30 miles per week, bringing my total recorded mileage to 152,787 miles (245,886 K)
October 2009
AUTUMN LEAVES.
Autumn leaves are falling fast now and, as well as giving splashes of red and a gold colour to pavements, trails and paths, the smell is very evocative. For me, visions of past cross-country races appear, especially of Wythenshawe Park in Manchester where I ran many course record breaking races at a time in my University days of six years and in an era when cross-country was my favourite discipline.
But a word of caution; where the leaves are deep, especially on pavements and paths, take care, you never know what is under there. Branches, stones or ditches can easily lead to a twisted ankle.
It is also a sad time. The mornings and evenings get darker. The weather turns wetter turning summer paths into clinging, shoe soaking mud. Both of these force me on to the roads. I have been using as many of the “country " courses as I can before the inevitable. All this brings back memories of the period 1964 to 1975 when I used to run to work and back for my training. Then winter was always morning and evening runs in the dark. Not pleasant, but achievable, and I had some success on the back of it!
STADIUM RUNNERS'
Jane Denniss, Ladies Rep at stadium Runners contacted me ages ago about being Guest of Honour at this year’s event and, when I finally consented, the Event Committee Chairman, Brian Pinder, wrote to me. “Dr Ron - we would like you to start the race, run the race and then present the prizes." No problem. Without a decent map the venue,
Smiling - The easy bit - Photo Credit: Stadium Runners
After 1 1/2 miles warm up I carried out my first duty, sounding he horn for the start. Joining in near the back, the first bit felt difficult as being uphill I was quickly into oxygen debt. Nevertheless I was passing and when the traffic free estate road went down I was able to recover and stride. Just before we left the road I passed a Wakefield Harrier, Stuart Anderson, an MV70 who had beaten me last year in the Wombwell “5 “in
Another steep down then a left turn to face a huge hill. The race marshals were all fantastic telling us how great we were doing and looking. No matter how we felt inside! I thought I would try to run all the way to the top of this hill but in the end succumbed to - walk 10 double paces - run 15 double paces. After two of these we reached some levelish trails where I could recover a little before hitting the road and climbing past the start to commence the second of two laps. On this ascending section I was able to overtake a couple of runners including Karen Thrippleton in the yellow vest of Pudsey Pacers who seemed determined not to let me pass. On the downhill road I passed and soon overtook Donna Sibery who had out sprinted me at “
“Run Rabbit." Overtaking a runner here, who said he had run four marathons this year, I recounted that I was concentrating hard. The next second he hit a tree root, tripped, but just managed to stay on his feet.
NOT smiling - the not so easy bit - Photo Credit: Stadium Runners
There was no queue at the wall stile this time around, but I climbed over very carefully. At the big hill I began - walk 10 - run 15 early and after three sets was running freely and not far behind Stuart Anderson. On the flat trails, amazingly, so near the finish, he stopped at a water station. I passed but soon he was sprinting past me. I thought this unwise and that he would pay for it by the finish, but he kept going to finish 5 seconds ahead of me. I had nothing in my legs for a sprint. On the whole the weather had been bright with a rain show during the race. Which nobody noticed! The”goody” canvas bag was so full you could hardly lift it, and the race T-shirt was made from a technical polyester fabric.
I stayed on to help with the presentation and promptly got lost on the way to Holmfirth and then home.
Presenting Julie Buckley with her prize - Photo Credit: Stadium Runners
The men's winner was David Watson, Holmfirth H, 34:39, and the women's winner, FV50 Julie Buckley, Penistone Footpath Runners, 42:33.
I was only 3rd MV70 behind Stuart Anderson and the winner of our division, Jeffrey Taylor, Meltham A C, 51:36.
My 167th place out of 250 finishers meant I was ahead of 33% of the field.
What a race and what a reception for me. Thank you Stadium Runners!
WARM (AND WET) WEATHER TRAINING.
A week after the Woodland Challenge May and I flew to Kalamata in
My kit just about dried before the next mornings run and as May and I set out to run the first 1/2 mile together it was warm and sunny. This is what we had come here for. But the weather had not finished with us yet. The next morning, off with May, then on alone to the main road where I headed north as far as a big supermarket. We had holidayed in Stoupa in 2000 and the supermarket was not there then, but I recalled heading up into the hills on a road, now beside this building, and took this road again. As I started to climb rain came belting down. I passed an old couple sheltering in a doorway. They must have thought I was mad as by now I was ankle deep in streams covering the road.
Luckily that was the last we saw of bad weather and every day I would leave May at some point and run high into the hills. 4 miles was my maximum But I could have gone much further. Maybe another time! We did some good walks, enjoying the sun, the butterflies, the rosemary and sage and the wild pink cyclamen.
Oh, and I managed to read another book from my refound library. "The Power and the Glory," by Graham Greene, first published in 1940. My second hand copy had been sold off by Bury and District Co-operative Society Ltd. - Educational Department - sometime around 1955. An interesting tale.
THE 200TH WIRRAL
The morning after arriving back from
I had moved up the field a bit on the run to the sea but seemed to make little headway from there on. The gale was whipping swirls of sand which ran ahead along the concrete. I think the previous day's journey had taken a lot out of me as I was finding very difficult to find a relaxed pace. I was eyeballs out! Towards half way I caught a tall guy who looked familiar and who looked like he was in my age group. I passed him then immediately after a young lass from Wirral AC, Emily Atkins. As often happens with runners I pass, she saw the back of me and gained added strength, overtaking me and staying in front of me to finish 8 seconds ahead. It just seemed to get harder and harder. My heart and breathing could hardly take it. Over the last bit I was right behind a group of five but could raise nothing of a sprint and had to let them go.
Me at the back of my group - 640, Emily Atkin; Harry Greenwood - Photo Credit: www.tonyclixby.com
Some consolation should have been the time, 22:44 compared with 23:42 in March, but the wind had been much stronger this time. Perhaps I should have taken a little satisfaction from my position - 76th out of 154 athletes which meant I was ahead of 51% of the field. In March 61% of the field of 99 had beaten me. The tall runner I had passed at half way? After the race He asked me, "Will you be doing
The men's winner was Shaun Egan, 15:29 and the first woman, Rachel Jones, Preston Harriers, 7th overall, 17:03.
Congratulations to Roy Fisher and his wife Alison for keeping this popular race thriving.
OCTOBER STATISTICS
Daily runs in October totalled 121.5 miles (200 K) bringing my lifetime recorded total to 152,652 miles (245,669 K)
September 2009
LAKELAND TRAILS, PUMA DERWENTWATER 14K
It can be seen from my recent races that I am enjoying and favouring off road events. On the other hand some of these races have not been kind to me in terms of falling down! I just have to be more careful. This means concentrating more, especially when I'm tired and I am not picking my feet up properly. I have enjoyed some of the Lakeland Trails series. The Coniston Trail in October 2007 was held on an incredibly beautiful day as was the Hawkshead Trail in April this year. All the races involve serious (for me) climbs and descents and with my fallibility on downhill’s I wanted to do the Derwentwater "whilst I still can."
This time the weather was not so kind but with only a little rain during the race and a stiff headwind on the tops conditions were not too bad. Warming up around
Derwentwater Start - Photo Credit -May Hill
I thought I had lined up near the back of the field. At 2 o'clock the horn sounded to send us on our way, up past the old railway station and on to the abandoned railway track for 3 kilometres of gradual incline. I knew immediately that I was not having a good day. Wearing a cap in anticipation of the forecast bad weather due to arrive mid-race I was starting to sweat. It seemed hard work. And people were passing. And passing. And passing. It looked like I was going to be last and I actually looked round to see if anyone was behind me. I didn't see many! Left turn off the railway track and a steeper climb. I managed to keep running. Down and through a stream, then a long climb began alongside Glenderaterra Beck. The trail became a path and the path turned into a bog. We had been warned about this, “2 to 300 metres." It must have been at least 1 kilometre and almost impossible to run on wherever you put your feet.
It is not easy nor that enjoyable to run when you are absolutely knackered. Floundering in the bog I happened to glance ahead and saw in the distance a snake of runners on a hard climb. Looking to my left and raising my eyes, a file of figures way, way above heading back. Inwardly I groaned. Out of the bog, stony trails to be negotiated with extreme diligence, then the muddy upwards trudge. The path along Lonscale fell was the scariest of all. Some parts were good running and I could try to sit in behind other runners, mainly female. There were a couple of tricky bits however. Slabs of bare rock which were very slippery wet. I walked; saw a bit of gritty path down to my left and jumped. My landing was not very elegant and I almost lost my balance, just steadying myself at the last second. That scared me as there was a massive drop if I had gone down.
Now I really had to concentrate hard. Runners were still overtaking me, mainly women. There was one short uphill section on which my legs felt really tired, then some steep downhill trails where I tried to stride out. On to a road, then back into
Derwentwater, approaching the Finish- Photo Credit -May Hill
My "chip" time was 1:32:59, not far off what I expected, and I was 323rd out of 397. I had had a bad day as only 19% of the field were behind me. In my category, MV60, I was 11th out of 17.
The race winner was James Walsh, Leeds City AC, 51:53 (Course Record) First woman was Vic Wilkinson, Bingley AC, 8th overall, 60:07.
In my August blog, Saddleworth "6," I mention the winner, Tony Byrne, a Salford Harrier. I hadn't seen Tony in years and had no idea what had become of him. Just before the start of Derwentwater, a man with a newspaper under his arm rushed up to me. "Ronnie, Ronnie." I realised it was Tony and said I would see him at the presentation, which I did and introduced him to a couple of his other contemporaries, Colin Robinson and Harry Walker. He was in Keswick, by chance, with three cousins celebrating a birthday. We had a drink together later. He had stopped running long ago but I tried to persuade him to run my birthday 5K on September 24th.
Another coincidence. I helped out at the presentation handing out the prizes to the female veterans. Second in the FV50's was Jill Horsburgh, Lothian Running Club. She told me she used to live at Low End Farm half way up
WHY SO TIRED AND SLOW?
Running has not been so easy lately and it is only logical to search for the reasons why. Getting older obviously has something to do with it but there are other over 70's faster than me, though perhaps they have not been running as long as I have. Is there a wearing out factor?
I have seriously neglected our house and garden for the last 25 years due to work commitments and projects of various kinds. With the recent prolonged dry spell I have been able to devote some time to the garden. Much of this has involved digging and the lifting and moving around of heavy stones. Not quite back breaking work but in the mornings after my legs were telling me that something different had happened the day before.
Athletics Weekly recently had an article on the reasons why athletes lose their form. One suggestion was that it could be stress due to poor time management. For a long time I never believed in stress but now I am beginning to think there is something in it. I go into my office at home to see piles of papers everywhere plus heaps of socks and other clothing. I know I have to take our partnership accounts and tax returns down to our accountant with all the relevant documents. I have to keep our expenses sheets and motor mileage log up to date. There is invoicing to be done. Sometimes I just feel like turning round and going to bed to sleep.
My monthly bog often gets behind.
Then there is the internet. E-mails. I know it is great and it cuts out the need for writing and replying to letters. But it all takes time. Luckily for me it is just a tool and I would rather be doing something else than additional things in front of a screen.
Sometimes when I have had my run and filled in my training log I feel like my job for the day is done!
Maybe I'm racing too much.
Must break off now to answer an interview for "FitPro" Magazine!
WORSLEY WOODS TRAIL RACE, SEPTEMBER 13TH
What a great little race this 4 1/2 miler was. Organised by "athlete matters", sports physiotherapists the 10:00 am start was in Roe Green on a railway trail. I had never visited this area before and was amazed at the diversity of he course. I entered on the day, was there early and received No. 11. How many were going to run ? I need not have worried, there were 94 finishers. A 2 mile warm up and I was ready to go, despite all the gardening the day before ! The user friendly route was interesting. Flat railway trail, cross-country fields and woods and stepping stones across a stream. At one point on a very short steep drop I saw what were the edges of bright white stone poking put of the ground. I thought that was curious until I realised that the organisers had sprayed bricks which could have been hazardous to competitors.
I thought I would start midway up the field. That didn't work. For over a mile on the railway trail people kept passing and passing. There was nothing I could do. I felt really, really tired and could not hang on to anyone. In the second mile only two passed me. The miles had gone 8:01, and 8:40. I was slowing. In the 3rd mile, 9:03, I passed one and two passed me. The same in mile 4, 9:41. Something of an effort over the last 1/2 mile, 4:30, gave me a final time of 39:55. I could not believe how slow I had been over that last 2 1/2 miles! It had been a nice day, little wind and good conditions underfoot.
I was 60th of 94. 37% of runners behind me, probably slighter better than normal, but still not happy. I was 1st, and only, MV70.
The winner was Andy Jones, Salford H and AC, 23:43; first woman, Donna Jones, 6th overall, Sale H Manchester, 29:18.
MY 71ST BIRTHDAY 5K RACE, LITTLEBOROUGH, SEPTEMBER 24TH.
Obviously not exactly my birthday which is the 25th but Andy O'Sullivan always organises this race on the Thursday before the actual date. Considering the race starts at 6:45 pm Andy got a great response with 329 finishers receiving a special mug commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first Gold Medal of my career in the Marathon in the European Games of 1969, held on the original Marathon to Athens course. The date of that race was September 21st.
Team Clayton Le Moors - Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)
Dr Starter! - Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)
I acted as the official starter, firing the gun, handing it to Andy, then joining close to the back. 84 year old Louise Gilchrist had announced to me before the start that she was not running. That made my run a little easier as I always have a job trying to beat her. I was determined to try to take it easily and ran on the pavement up Rochdale Road quietly overtaking on the long, slightly uphill slope, left down Smithy Bridge Road I relaxed then faced the long climb to Hollingworth Lake. Luckily we did not have to use the underpass and steps at the level crossing and crossed the railway lines. Just after this I overtook Brenda Robinson wearing some old Ron Hill racing shoes. "Nice shoes," I remarked. "My favourites," she replied.
Rear Guard Runners - Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)
Up ahead I could see a Clayton vest and closed in on FV55, Eileen Jones who I had battled with to half way in "
The men's winner was Ian Grime,
Perusing the results to see who had travelled furthest, Robin Whitely who had finished second was from
CITY OF SALFORD 10K, Three days after my birthday race I was back in action. The race has a wonderful setting for the start and finish, right in front of the Lowry Theatre. I was not looking to kill myself. After a short warm up I stood at the back and was last across the start line. There seemed to be a bit of a competition for this dubious honour. My gun time did not matter. I would have a chip time at the end. I did not look at my watch throughout the race but noted afterwards that it took me 41 seconds to cross the start line. It was a cool day, little wind and completely flat. For once I actually enjoyed a race. I was passed by only one person in the whole run and I reckoned that guy had missed the start. It was somewhat strange in that nowhere amongst the runners did I see anyone I knew. Probably most were unattached, that is not club members. Come to think of it I saw very few club vests. My pace increased towards the end as my body had warmed up and the competitive urge returned a little. One guy almost caught me in a sprint but just failed to overtake and we were given the same time. My gun time was 53:00 for 201st position. I'd passed 150 of the 351 finishers. My chip time, 52:19, had me at 194th place so I was faster than 45% of the runners. Not bad for me. I think I was the only athlete over 70. The race winner was Tom Charles, Trafford AC, 33:44 with the women's winner, Jessica Riley, Stainlands Lions, 39:33. What a wonderful setting for a 10K race. I'm sure 2010 will feature far more runners on what must be a PB course. LOOKING FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE. I always like to take something positive from any race. My time at SEPTEMBER STATS. In September I ran 4 races and logged 121.5 miles (200 K) which upped my lifetime total to 152,530 miles, (254,473 K)
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August 2009
Try to stay on my feet ! Twenty days after falling in the Rombalds Romp my ribs are still hurting especially when getting in or out of bed. I have been there before and realise that the healing takes a long time especially as I get older. A further fall in my first race in August did me little good.
THE IDLE TRAIL RACE, AUGUST 2ND.
I was belting down a hill, just after the 5 mile marker, on a rough stony track called
One Mile in Photo: May Hill
I'll Finish! Photo: Idle AC www.idleac.co.uk
Up until then things had gone well. I had fully expected to finish near the back as with my cracked rib I could not get a deep breath. I would "race" but run carefully and enjoy the different surroundings. A good training run. There was a bottleneck as we approached the bank of the Leeds -
5 Barred Gate Photo: May Hill
Field Finish! Photo: Idle AC www.idleac.co.uk
The fall had stopped my watch at 49:35. I don't think I stopped it ! Not many more people passed me as I limped on, hurting like hell. My pace picked up a little. With great car I negotiated a stile which led to a downhill run over a lush grass field. At the bottom a five barred gate. Locked. May was at the other side She'd said to me emphatically before the start, "Don't fall down." The help of a marshal was needed to get me over this obstacle. Then I was on the bank of the river Aire and at the 6 mile point with just a long run into the wind, across the field to the finish. I was in a mess but had still beaten the hour with a time of 59:03 for 177th position from 254 finishers.Despite everything 30% of the field were behind me. I was only 4th in my MV70 category the first being Jeffrey Taylor, Meltham AC, 51:00
Overall winner was Stephen Broadbent, Bingley H. 36:17, with the women's winner, Lizzie Spencer, Leeds Bradford Tri Club, 16th overall in 42:49.
The Damage Photo: May Hill
I was lucky not to break my humorus bone again, aggravate my cracked rib or break a leg. LESSON LEARNED !
WHAT WAS I PLAYING AT ?
I can't believe how stupid I was . What was I doing hurtling down a hill with unsure footing ? Why did I not just jog down then pick up the pace? Ten days on my knees, protected by some strong supports, otherwise they would have been shredded, have more or less recovered. My left hand is healing but I still have a hole in my right elbow.
THE FRANK HODSON SADDLEWORTH " 6 " - THE 34TH RUNNING OF THIS EVENT, AUGUST 12TH
I ran in the very first Saddleworth "6" on September 22nd 1976, finishing 2nd to Tony Byrne who I think was in Bury and Radcliffe Harriers at that time. Tony ran 29:48 to my 29:57. I was probably pretty tired though as I had run two marathons in the previous eleven days. The first was the Polytechnic Marathon on the 11th where I got 3rd in 2:18:44; the second was the Berchem Marathon, Belgium, on the 17th, where I placed 4th in 2:23:38. 3rd and 4th in that first Saddleworth race were Dave Brown and Mike Deegan who both became Salford Harriers.
I was feeling somewhat beat up in this year's race with two bad falls in my previous two races. I was determined to stay on my feet and intended not to "race". From the back it took me 14 seconds to cross the start line and I thought I'd had a pretty slow start and seemed to be struggling. I was surprised to see 8:14 on my watch at 1 mile. A mile in 8 minutes was excellent for me. The middle miles were slower, but from 2 miles onwards I was moving through the field. With so many new faces around, a good thing for running in general, it was difficult to spot potential rivals to give me a benchmark.
"Slow" Start Photo: May Hill
Into the second lap I spotted the backs of two green vests in the distance. They were both East Cheshire Harriers. The first was Ann cherry and behind her Colin Timpson. I told myself to relax and that helped as, on the hill up to 4 miles I closed in on Colin and caught him soon after. I didn't go past and sat quietly behind him, content to wait and if necessary sit in, into the wind, after the left turn at the Clarence pub and 5 miles. But before this a guy with "Road Runners Club" in blue emblazoned on his white vest shot past. He was MV50, Keith Rant I decided to go with him for as long as I could and hung on for about 1/2 a mile during which we passed Ann Cherry.
Overtaking Caroline Broderick Photo: May Hill
He had taken me up to a group of runners and I passed a few on the long street to the finish on the track. No final sprint but my time for the final mile was very pleasing: 7:41.I hadn't run that quickly in years ! I wrote in my log, "Pretty amazing for me."
I stopped my watch at 49:16. The official results had me at 49:22. That was impossible. The one before that was 49:17 and that must have been me. 190th place from 272. 30% of the runners behind, exactly the same as my previous race. But as in that race the leading MV70 was Jeffrey Taylor of Meltham AC. His time was 46:00. I was 2nd in that category.
The race winner was Gareth Raven, Sale H. 29:07. First woman, Tess Walker, Salford H. 34:45.
WARM WEATHER RUNNING,
After eight races in eight weeks, including two nasty falls, and one of the worst summers I can remember, I felt I was in need of some of some sunshine and warm weather running. We chose Gumbet, near Bodrum in
We went to find our previous hotel on the first day. It had been called the "
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8 Windmills high
May outside the Bitez Mosque
Our 1998 hotel was on the north side of
Sarnic Water Storer
We walked a lot too, each day catching an inexpensive dolmus to a different resort and exploring on foot. We must have visited some of these in 1998 but with the amount of development that had occurred they were unrecognisable. We enjoyed the sun but after a night flight back felt like we needed another holiday.
BOOKS
We have emptied our loft with a view to rearranging the contents. A lot of stuff got put up there when we moved into our present home twenty- nine years ago. There were many books, untouched since that move. Some were in boxes, many in bags. A few had been nibbled by squirrels. Before our trip to
ALICE'S RUN, 10K TRAIL, MYTHOLMROYD, and AUGUST 30TH.
On a pleasant sunny morning, I warmed up a couple of miles recycling the last 1/2 mile of the course from the finish at
Soon we were directed left uphill on paths and tracks. I had passed three more runners in the 5th mile (10:48) but was starting to get tired. The 6th mile included four awkward styles plus a slippery uphill on wet stone slabs. I had passed the two women I had dogged after 4 miles but they came back at me as we passed 6 miles (6:56?) and commenced a downhill section on to the school field. On this level bit a sprint was not forthcoming and showing a complete lack of sympathy for age the two females surged past. I clocked 54:41 with Donna Siberia 2 seconds ahead and Liz Flanagan 1 second in front of me. Later Donna came up to me to say I had passed her in the Saddleworth " 6 " Looking up those results later I found I had finished exactly 2 minutes ahead of her 51:22 there. Her
The winner of the race was Chris Miller, Harrogate H & AC, 34:48.
The female winner was Susan Robinson, Unattached, and 45:44.
I was 131st out of 259 finishers, and first V70. A good run for me, approximately half way up the field (51 % in front.)
Of the last 40 runners only one was a member of a running club.
The race was in aid of Epilepsy Action.
STATS
Augusts daily runs produced 114 miles (183K), bringing my lifetime recorded distance to 152,411.5 miles (245,376K)
July 2009
JULY 2009
THE GO FASTER LOOK
I am sure that some readers of my blog will have noted from the pictures that I am sporting a new hair style. Before we left for our Greek holiday I had the lot shaved off down to the scalp. The reason? Simply that I had never done it before. Some years ago a friend had said about my hair, "If you've got it, flaunt it." So I did. The new look was something of a shock and the top of my head peeled a few times in the wonderful Aegean sun, but now I am used to it and will probably keep it like this for a good while. It certainly kept me cool in the Freckleton 1/2 Marathon but occasionally just recently I have had to don a cap to keep my had warm in this awful summer that we are experiencing.
TOO MANY RACES?
June saw me racing on four consecutive weekends. Who needs speedwork? But my knees are telling me that maybe this is overdoing it no matter how much I like the excitement of competitions and travelling to different venues. Perhaps twice a month is a better target to be aiming for. If I can hold myself back!
THE SPORTS
Both the start and the finish were on the track at Sportscity Manchester. I had been invited to be the official starter along with the Lord Mayor of
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Tracking Chris Bird (No.7) at the start Picture: May Hill
The mayor and I pressed the horn sending over 1600 runners on their way round the streets of
The third K was a little better, 4:55, but lots of people were passing me. I slipped to a 5:08 on the third K but recorded 4:53 up to 5K for a time of 25:15. Multiply that by two and I was heading for a finish of 50:30. Not good. At 6K we were back in sight of the stadium. I looked ahead and saw a petite blonde woman in a pale blue outfit and thought, "76 year old Lou Gilchrist?" There was a water station at 6 1/2 K; she stopped; it was her. I dashed past. I did not need a drink in a 10K race. Just before 7K a guy in a full BEAR SUIT overtook me saying, "Come on Ron, keep going, you are my hero." Away he went. I was not enjoying this!
7 to 9K was with the wind and it got very warm, but it did not bother me. I was speeding up. In the 9th K on a slight uphill to the stadium, I was sitting in behind other runners for a 4:53 split. In the final K I was striding out, just anxious to get to the finish. There was almost a full lap of the track, clockwise, as we entered the stadium. I looked at my watch and thought, "Perhaps I can beat 50 minutes." With around 150 metres to go I sprinted like hell, weaving in and out of the other runners, and crossed the line with a time of 49:58. That was fine. I had salvaged something from the race. Based on the chip times ( the time from crossing the start line to the finish ) Lou Gilchrst lost only 51 seconds on me to record 50:49, and Chris Bird, running with a heel injury, ran 54:29. My position, based on actual (chip) time was 522nd from 1622 finishers. 68% of the field were behind me plus I was 1st MV70.
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Receiving 1st over 70 prize from the Lord Mayor assisted by Chris Bird Picture: May Hill
Winner of the race was Ezekiel Cherob, Birchfield H, 30:27. First woman home was Nicki Archer, Vale Royal AC, 35:24.
Every one seemed to enjoy the race. Certainly one for your diary next year.
LANDMARKS
The 25 miles in the week following the 10K I reached a lifetime total of 245,000 Kilometres. I find it motivating to have these little landmarks.
ST. ANNE'S CARNIVAL 5K, JULY 12TH.
The weather was not great for this seaside race. Cool and a stiff breeze coming off the sea. I did a 21 minute warm up to loosen my quads which were stiff from gardening the day before and to determine exactly where the wind would be difficult. Setting off steadily, with the wind, I was being passed for the first K, then began to move up the field. To my surprise I overtook Derek Walton, Altrincham, who called, “Go on Ron." At 2K, reached in a respectable, for me, 8:45, I sat in on a
Leaving the lake there was a sharp left turn and a steep little hill. I just managed to get behind a couple of runners, Elliot Fraser, in a black and white vest and a young girl, FU14, Kirsty Fraser, Lytham St Anne's RR. I sat behind them all the back. We passed Derek once more and he didn't hang on. 4:56 for the third K. we passed a couple more but the wind took its toll and the 4th K was 5:10. The last K, 4:53, was perked up when my two pace makers sprinted up the home straight leaving me by 2 seconds. I could not go with them and I would not have tried to beat them having used them for the last 2K. My 24:43 compared favourably with the 24:51 I ran in 2007 and the other big plus was it was the first time in years I had beaten Derek Walton who came in in 25:13. John Winter was 1st MV70 in 23:48 and I was 2nd. I was 80th of 120 finishers. Exactly 2/3rds (66.66%) of the field were in front.
The winner was Sam Dalgleish, Unatt, 16:07, and 1st female was FV45 Carolyn Robbins, Blackpool W. & F.AC, 19:44.
THE GRAVY SIX, JULY 9TH.
I had run this race a couple of times before including last year when I ran with my arm in a sling after breaking my humorus on holiday in Santorini. The start was 11:00am near to Hadfield railway station and the route climbs on the Longdendale Trail, once the railway line to
It was a miserable day, rain and wet conditions underfoot. Not unusual for this year's summer. I didn't feel fresh and started at the back of what must have been a record field, running easily, on the road at first. I passed a blind runner as we entered the trail with a couple of East Cheshire Harriers women, Ann Cherry and Pat Hanley just ahead. I passed Pat and another Pat, Pat Curran, Salford Harriers. In turn Mike Cutler,
There was a strong wind from the left as we levelled out on the head of a dam. At the end, a left turn up a sharp hill into the wind, and I let Ruth pass so I could sit in for a while. We caught Ann Cherry and I ran carefully with these two along a stony, uneven trail, eventually leaving the pair. Down on to tarmac and another dam head to the right. I made something of an effort to cut the gap to the Todmorden couple and got in behind them. Dave turned to me and said, "Go ahead Ron." "No thanks," I replied. A sharp left turn and a steep climb back to the trail, which I was expecting. I managed to stay with them and could nicely sit in behind them. I knew there was not far to go. Soon we were almost within sight of the finish. I said, "We could get one more." They did not respond so I speeded up past a
My time was 48:49 (that compares favourably with last year - 53:27, and 2006 - 47:50) and that brought me 130th out of 171; 24% of runners behind me.
The race winner was Gareth Raven, Sal Harriers, 29:35. Women's victor as Olivia Walwyn, Altrincham AC, 33:34.
40TH ANNIVERSARY
The next morning my 2 1/2 mile run celebrated my victory in the Maxol Manchester Marathon of 1969 (see my book "Manchester Marathons, 1908 - 2002, co - authored with Neil Shuttleworth) in a personal best time of 2:13:42, a best long overdue as I had run 2:14:12 way back in 1964. This was the beginning of my "purple patch" of marathon running.
ROMBALDS ROMP TRAIL RACE 25TH JULY
Continuing my preference for off road races I sent an entry for this race. The instructions and course descriptions were amusing. They posted back my number. “1. “The race was originally 8 miles was now 9.
I arrived early for the 10:00 am start on a fine summer morning (for once.) Because of unusually boggy conditions on Rombalds Moor, south of Ilkley, the race would now be 7 miles. I warmed up just one mile and stood at the back of the field for the start. A bit of steep uphill on the road, then a long gradual climb on a decent path to the 2 mile point. Two high stone stiles on this section thinned the field out and as there were bottlenecks at each one I lost quite a bit of time, in fact about 7 or 8 metres per runner. At 2 miles the course turned left up on to boggy moorland. I was following a woman in the black vest of Rotherham AC, Adele Morris, but she began walking on the reedy bits, even when it was flat, and at the first opportunity I overtook her.
Dead heat with Adele Morris, Rotherham AC Photo: Sarah Jarvis
At the top of this section we turned right then left into a forest area which was very muddy. It was difficult to find a good line and avoid the deepest puddles. Out of the woods the course ran into a deforested area where I was careful to avoid the tree roots. After this the course started to descend through heather with only narrow sheep tracks for a footing. I was trying to stride as I had one guy behind me and a female in the yellow vest of Pudsey Runners, Jenny Cooper, just ahead. The water station at 4 miles was in sight. Suddenly I caught my right foot on a root and fell heavily on my left side. I feared I might have damaged my left shoulder or humorus bone again but I was quickly to me feet. The runner behind caught me saying, "Are you OK?" I told him, "Yes. It had to happen. You go on." I could feel a slight hurt at the left of my chest.
www.woodentops.org.uk photo: Dave Woodhead
At the water station a young lad offered me water. "No, thanks." Pudsey Runner and the guy had stopped. I reached the tarmac and a left turn. The road seemed to stretch for a mile and got steeper and steeper. I plodded on. The man I had passed caught me, stayed with me for a while, then moved away. I slowly caught a woman in green and black, Dragons Running Club, Kaye Barney, and said "Well done." She immediately overtook me and ran away. This happens often! I could see people walking ahead. I just put my head down, looking at the road one metre in front. When I did look up I saw I was catching a stocky runner in the red vest with green band of Ilkley AC, Rob Payne. He was walking. Then on the steepest bit I started: walk 10 - run 15. After only a couple of these I saw a photographer in the middle of the road who shouted, "Go on, Ron." So I had to keep running. At the top my ears popped! The photographer had also said,” Downhill all the way after this." Wrong!
I didn't walk, honest! Photo: Dave Woodhead
Left off the tarmac and I passed Kaye Barney again. It was a long downhill trail. I passed a female Basildon Runner and got close to Rob Payne but never quite caught him. I was getting tired and thought we must be getting near to the finish. We hit the bottom of the trail and to my shock were sent left, uphill and into the wind! I gave up then and ran to finish. There was more downhill but now on narrow twisting paths which needed a lot of care on my part. I could not afford another fall. I reached the good path of the early part of the course and turned, with the wind towards home, the finish. It still seemed a long way away. Suddenly my pursuer was with me. It was Adele Morris. "It's me again." she said cheerfully, and overtook me. I strode out and kept close, within 10 metres. I could hear someone else close on my heels. With the finish in sight I speeded up, playing a game. I didn't actually want to beat Adele and we crossed the line together in 71:02. But I got the verdict. We had held off Jenny Cooper by 16 seconds. 108th position out of 151; 28% of runners behind me. I was satisfied.
The winner of the race, Steven Neill, Pudsey and Bramley AC, ran 43:50, whilst his female counterpart, Laura Martin, Otley AC, came home in 53:41.
The next morning my suspicions were confirmed. I had cracked a rib. On my 2.5 mile run I had to be extremely careful, I could not get a deep breath, coughing and sneezing were out of the question, and later on I found that turning over in bed was agony and I had to sleep lying on my back. This was going to take some time to heal. But it was not going to beat me!
JULY STATISTICS
Daily runs throughout July gave me 110.5 miles (178K), making a lifetime recorded total of 153,317.5 miles (245,1125K)
June 2009
First of all apologies to regular readers of my blog for the delay with June; Coming back from three weeks in the Greek Islands took some getting used to but I am now firmly in racing and writing mode, so here goes.
RUNNING IN THE
On the 26th of March HILLY CLOTHING LTD. was sold to the Bollin Group who also own Ron Hill Sports, so the two are now together. I remain a technical consultant with Hilly and hopefully will become an ambassador for both companies. Having reached the age of 70 I decided I needed to set an example to others by taking the longest holiday we have ever had, three weeks. I am aware that I will not live forever, though sometimes I act as though I think will, and there are still plenty of things I want to do. With this in mind we flew to the
Turn around point on run in Santorini
Our next stop was the
Aghios Irini Windmills at Chora
Our second short hop was to the
Zoodochos Pigi Sikinos Scenery Episcopi monastery
It was not far, an evening ferry, to our third island, Folegandros, where we were picked up at the
Local Greek Children performing for the crowd
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Pangea Church May on our morning run
After four nights in Folegandros we sailed back to Santorini for a week of what seemed more like a holiday. We stayed in Kamari at the Horizon Resort in a lovely room with a sunny balcony and a view to the road to Ancient Thira. Running here was good as I was on familiar territory after three previous visits to Kamari. I would start out with May, running down to the beach road before continuing with a loop back to Horizon and continuing on he quiet roads towards the airport. One day I actually ran twice! The second run was on the small
View from our balcony Rough surface for a fall Turn around point on run in Thirasia
Time to leave Santorini
One run I did not attempt was the run up the road to Ancient Thira where last year I had fallen near the bottom and snapped the ball off the top of my humorus bone. We did walk up one day and over the top to Perissia, but what was until recently a quiet peaceful walk had now become busy with the traffic of tour minibuses, cars and noisy quad bikes. We had enjoyed our extended break with blue skies every day and it is the first time May has said, "I don't want to go home!" I had covered 76.5 miles in 21 days, all of it easy running. Would I be ready for my last 1/2
THE 45TH FRECKLETON HALF
My pre - 2009 history with Freckleton
In 1965 I won the very first race in what is now the oldest established 1/2 marathon in he
The race in 1965 was interesting. It was held on a Saturday evening and that afternoon I had raced in the Northern Counties 3 miles Championships on a cinder track at Kirkby, near
The next time I raced Freckleton was 1969. The race was part of my preparation for the Maxol International Marathon which would take place in
I returned in 1970 nine weeks after winning the Boston Marathon where I set a course record of 2:10:30. I won again in a time of 66:03. Again this was preparation for my next major marathon, the Commonwealth Games in
I defended my Freckleton title in 1971 a week after winning the Maxol Marathon in a time of 2:12:39. That night, for a change, I ran dead last for one lap of the three laps of the field, and then began to move through. By the time we hit the road I could see that the leaders were about 200 yards ahead. It took me until 7 1/2 miles to catch the then leader, John Fewery,
It would be five years before I returned in 1976 to finish 4th in 65:42, not far behind winner Roger Harrison, Liverpool, who clocked 65:31.I got out of the Freckleton habit after that, mainly because of the many marathons I was chasing and clashes with the series of veterans races in Brugges, Belgium.
After a gap of 24 years! I ran again in 2000. The day was torrid. The temperature must have been over 100 deg F, approaching 40 deg C, for the now Sunday 2:00 PM start. I ran without a vest, probably illegal, and certainly not wise! By 8 miles I had died. At 9 miles I had to walk for a minute then jog. This was deliberate as I had said to myself, "If you don't walk you could die." I even had to walk with only 600 metres remaining and finally crossed the line in 1:52:07. A PW - Personal Worst.
The next year, 2001, on a totally different day, 61 deg F (16 deg C), I cruised round in 1:35:45.
Over the next six years I lost my appetite for half marathons and returning in 2007, on a warmish day, clocked 1:52:46. Another PW.
This year's race
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I wanted to have an enjoyable race for my last one but felt tired even before the start. After four minutes warm up I was presented to the crowd of around 600 runners and given an engraved pint glass tankard before giving a short speech saying that the fact my course record was still standing after forty years reflected the decline in distance running in the
I saw Brian being sick at 3 miles and came up to him asking,” What were you drinking last night ?" "It usually happens to me at this stage in a race," he replied. We ran together then. I was nice and relaxed and surprised at the good pace with miles of 8:04, 8:14, 8:09 and 8:03 up to 4 miles. On the hills up to Wrea Green I sat behind Brian as we slowly overtook people. Running down to 6 miles I said, "I'm going for a finish, not a time." "So am I," he said, "And I'm sticking to you for as long as I can." Between 7 and 8 miles we encountered some headwind and I told him to get behind someone and just relax. There was a refreshment station at 8 miles and I took my first sponge, ignoring the drinks and moving forward. Realising Brian was no longer with me; I slowed to allow him to make contact again. I was not racing and some company would make the journey easier.
With race director Brian Porter (45R) at 7 1/2 miles Photo Credit: Tony Croft
We hit the main
Still together at 10 miles Photo Credit: Tony Croft
Now it was getting hard. I was hot and my legs were tired, we were still climbing through mile 12 which was our slowest of the race at 8:59, but every mile had been under 9 minutes and I was pleased at that. A right turn into the village with crowds cheering the runners on and Brian began to put on the pressure. Down at first then up a short steep hill at about 12 1/2 miles. Brian suddenly said, "I'm going for a time now!" His pace increased. Right turn on to a level road. I could see the 13 mile marker and I was hanging on. He speeded up even more. The 13th mile was 8:31. He had calculated better than me and was obviously to beat 1:50:00. I didn't want to sprint and he went ahead. A left turn and the finish was in sight. Brian looked round, hesitated to let me catch him and we crossed the line together. 1:49:59. my position was 241st out of 534 finishers meaning I had beaten 55% of the field. I WAS HAPPY WITH THAT! There were only two finishers in my age category and I was beaten by John Winter, Blackpool Wyre and Fylde AC, who ran 1:48:48.
Approaching the finish with Wife, May in the background - Photo Credit Billy Matthews - www.flickr.com/
Sharing a celebratory pint with Brian at the finish with aforementioned tankard
The winner of the race was Ben Fish, Blackburn Harriers, in 68:44, almost exactly 4 minutes outside my course record of 40 years. But he was hardly pushed as second and third runners; both V40 veterans were 7 minutes behind him with 1:15:42 and 1:15:48. Another reflection of the state of British long distance running! The first female was Beverley Wright, FV45, Blackpool Wyre and Fylde AC, 1:26:40.
A comfortable race and a reasonable time for me. Does that mean I will be reconsidering my decision to quit half marathons? The answer is "NO." I do need to preserve my knees and hips.
SPEEDWORK VERSUS RACING
I normally incorporate some speedwork, fartlek or 70 second strides with 50 second intervals, into my training if I am approaching an important (to me) race. Before Freckleton I had done none at all for 14 weeks but had run four races on consecutive weekends prior to going on holiday to
ROUND THE RESERS”5”
Three days after Freckleton I lined up at 7:30 for the start of the Round The Resers 5, Tintwistle. I warmed up, one mile. My legs were a bit stiff and I felt very very tired. There was a moving full one minutes silence in respect of Angela Deegan, a popular Sale Harrier, who had passed away recently after a long battle with cancer.
I started off steadily on the downhill run to the two reservoirs which we circled twice before finishing. The race flier had advertised a souvenir Tintwistle Gala mug to the first 120 finishers. At the start I had looked around and the highest race number I could spot was 148. Could I put 28 runners behind me? I had been honoured with race number “1." An absolute gale was blowing down the
Overtaking Julie Ryan on the first lap
I could not pull away and she matched me stride for stride. As we got into the wind on the second lap I moved behind to shelter from that awful wind. She faltered on the steep hill so I got in behind a bloke in black. He was slow, but I didn't care as I was tired, and there was no way I was going to run head on into that gale. Julie Ryan passed again and I went with her pulling away as we dashed down again for the long run to the finish. I hit a good rhythm, with the wind, passed two more, and finished in 43:23, 14 seconds faster than I had run in 2007, though that year I was running with a heavy cold. I apologised to Julie after the race and she said, “I knew exactly what you were doing." I got 113th place out of 141 finishers. 80% of the field beat me, but I got my mug.
The overall winner was Tom Bush, Altrincham District AC, 29:54. First female was Olivia Walwyn, (2nd position overall!) Altrincham, 30:11.
That experience taught me a lesson: I cannot handle two races so close together!
JUNE STATISTICS
In June I ran 118 miles (190K) Bringing my lifetime total to 152,173 miles (244,898K)
May 2009
THE GRAND
My first two runs in May were in
Scenic Drive, Sandrigham Estate Rhododendron tree
Trevor took us round the town of
Ron with Trevor Mace at Brancaster Beach. The Custom House King's Lynn
The weather had changed by Sunday. It was cold and whilst doing my 16 minute warm up, I discovered that a strong wind had developed. This would need some "sitting -in" tactics on my part whether I was now well rested or not. Approaching 10:30 the weather seemed to be improving and I opted to run in a singlet. I forgot to take my energy drink and at the start stood at the side of the road until the "Sub 50 Minute” group started to pass. I noticed a lot of runners who had ignored the Finish Time instructions and were far to near the front! It took me 21 seconds to cross the start line and I did not feel comfortable but did not panic when the field concertinaed. The first K marker I saw was 2K. 10:03 for that split. This was in the narrow streets of the town. A bit disappointing, but I suppose it was a fair pace for the start. I tied to relax and shortly we were on the bank of the River Great Ouse. This was an exposed stretch with the strong wind coming from the right and slightly behind. I sat in with a small group, running on their left, taking advantage of the tailwind but avoiding the buffeting from the right. We reached 4K; somehow I had missed the 3K marker, and that last 2K had taken me 10:13. Again not good, but I had not been forcing it. A left turn, down a straight road with rows of houses giving shelter from a side wind. I was trying to stride and reached 5k in 24:59 from the start line. That last 1K was 4:43. Better.
Approaching the 6K marker
We ran down a wide road towards the town centre before turning into a park and the 6K mark. 4:54 for that 1K. I was not comfortable but was staying below 50 minute pace. Rounding Red Mount Chapel, before a sharp left turn, I spotted at tall suntanned runner with grey hair and a grey moustache. He was wearing a blue vest with yellow writing on the back. I suspected he was in my age group, the M 70's. I slowly pulled him back, caught him at about 7 1/2 K and decided to stay behind him. Shortly after 8K, back in the narrow shopping streets, someone passed the pair of us on the right. I quickly slotted in behind him thinking I would leave my adversary behind. By now I had ascertained he was a Norwich Beach Runner and was well known locally as people were urging him on, "Go on, Malcolm." He did not drop behind. Indeed, I was on the right shoulder of our overtaker when Malcolm went past on the right. It took me a few seconds to adjust my position and a lot of effort to catch up. To much of an effort and at 9K I began to lose him. I heard him call over his shoulder, "Come on, Ron." Maybe he waited momentarily and I caught him once more, just as we entered South Quay to run into the teeth of a gale. Unashamedly, I ran right behind him sheltering from the wind. He didn't complain and bravely forged ahead. Right then left and we were into the home straight still into the wind. I think he was weakening a bit and I would have been a coward to try to out sprint him. With about 80 metres to go I said,” Go on mate." He shot off and I'm not sure if I could have held him. Dick Hughes, the race announcer, could see us coming and proclaimed, "Come on you can beat 50 minutes." I sprinted for all I was worth to get 49:57 on the clock, 2 seconds behind Malcolm Ball, who took first prize in our age group. Third place went to Mike Creasor, RRC in 50:53. A healthy set of 70 year-olds! I was even more pleased with my "chip" time, 49:36! Ronnie's back! I was 484th overall out of 1550 finishers. Only 31% of runners were in front of me and 69% behind.
Malcolm Ball and Ron. Photo: Alan Miller at Johnston press plc
First man home was last year’s winner, Andrew Hennessy, Wells City H., in 31:34. The women's winner was Olivia Walwyn, City of
An excellently organised race in an historic town, a superb finisher’s medal, a flat course, a wonderful part of the country. Get down there in 2010!
THE
At the start of the Salford 5K (152,000 Miles writen on my race number)
With only five days to recover from the GEAR, I had to continue with easy running and ignore speedwork. That week, which ended on Friday, was 25 miles; bang on target.
It was a cold blustery day and I warmed up by doing a full lap of the course in full gear, noting that the wind would be against us in the latter half of the race, especially the final 1/2 mile up to the finish.
There would be a small landmark for me that day. After one mile of the race proper I would achieve a lifetime total of 152,000 Miles.
My first 1K, mainly downhill was not very clever, 4:57. My second K, up quite a steep hill to Heaton Hall was better, 5:03, and I passed three runners and was gaining on others. The third K was my slowest, 5:13, as we climbed a further slope and started to catch the wind. Just after 3K, I managed to catch a grey haired runner in the colours of Manchester Harriers, blue vest with a red chest band. I stuck right behind him, passing one runner, on some undulations, until a downhill section before a left turn to the 4k marker. I stretched away here and on a short section without the headwind caught an "unattached" runner, Phil Beach. My 4th K had been 4:45. Feeling tired, I was content to stay behind on the downhill run before a right turn and the long finish. Suddenly, a young lady in the colours of Sale Harriers Manchester, Lauren Davies, burst past on the right. If I could stay with her I would get a quicker ride to the finish. I sat and sat until I could see the finish line then sprinted to get the best time I could but taking only 3 seconds out of Lauren.
My final time was 24:43. I was happy with that considering the weather conditions. In both 2006 and 2007 I had run 24:35. I was 103rd. out of 135. 76% of runners were ahead of me, but I finished 1st M70.
The winner was John Brown, Salford H. & AC, 15:54 and first female was Natalie Grant, Rotherham H., a junior and 12th overall, 17:35.
THREE OF THE FIRST FOUR WERE M 40. WHERE ARE ALL OUR PROMISING MEN IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES ? ? ?
MAY 16, THE
My club, Clayton -le - Moors Harriers, had selected me to be a member of their three man M70 team. In my race each leg was over a distance of 3 miles and the W35, W45, W55, M50, M60 and M70 all started together. The course at
Being at the rear of the field I avoided the pile up and concentrated on my running, head down attacking the hill. It seemed every one of the first leg runners was running away from me. I was out of breath, in oxygen debt and near the top of the hill felt so bad I almost came to a standstill. I hope when I made the right turn on to the more level bit, with the wind behind me, I would recover. I had just squeezed passed a big guy in the black vest of Birchfield Harriers and was trying to stride. By the sound of very heavy breathing just behind me I was not getting away. Only as we approached the short out and back section of he course did the gasping noise begin to fade. I turned at the cones and was surprised to see not the black Birchfield vest but the green and gold of East Cheshire Harriers. Wade Cooper. Another M70.
Back slightly uphill then a left turn for some downhill of about a mile to the finish. Surely I would get my breath back here. It was not to be, but I had to keep going as best I could as two other team members were depending on me. I was out on my feet but knew I had to give every thing I had up the steep rise to the changeover point. My time was 23:26 and I handed over to Lawrence Chew. I jogged the lap the opposite way round, cheering on Lawrence and eventually Ted Orrell our last leg runner. It looked like he was third M70 but maybe I had missed someone. I waited at the finish line with Lawrence who had run 23:13 for his leg. We only saw two M70's finish and perhaps we had bronze medals. This was confirmed after I had departed for home. Ted had run 20:58 for second fastest M70 of the day behind John Perratt (Exmouth) 20:43.
The winning team was Exmouth H., 65:42; second were Bingley H., 67:03 and Clayton -le -Moors third with 67:37, 34 seconds behind silver.
My time of 23:26 equated to 24:11 for 5k. Three weeks previously at the Grand East Anglia run I had clocked 24:38 for the second 5K on a flat course, and last week I had run 24:43 at the
In any case we are proud of our Bronze Medals and the fourth team was 5 minutes 34 seconds behind us.
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Ted Orrell, Ron and Lawrence Chew - Bronze Medal -National Vets Relays
MAY 24, THE ILKLEY TRAIL RACE. 6.9 MILES
A lovely sunny day and excellent underfoot conditions greeted the runners. The uphill start on the road did not do me any favours. It was the steepest hill on the course and I was quickly into oxygen debt. But I was not forcing it and as we turned left into the woods the gradient was not so great and I began to pick people off. Although the race venue is only 60 miles from my home there were very few people that I passed that I knew. One was Sue Exon, Trafford AC, who politely greeted me with "Good morning, Ron," as I overtook on a grassy hill. We climbed fairly gently until we reached Ilkley Moor. I was wearing a headband so was definitely "Baht'at."
Continuing to climb reasonably well and just after the top I succeeded in overtaking a heavy runner in the colours of Ilkley Harriers, red vest with green chest band, who looked as though he could be in my M70 age group. As passed the water station at 5 miles, which I ignored, I temporarily overtook a couple of runners, one of whom said, "It's an honour to be beaten by a legend." I responded with, "It's not over yet." In the end he finished a few seconds ahead. The other runner, a tall athlete in Ilkley Harriers, stayed just ahead and with about 1 1/2 miles to go began calling to the marshals, "This is the great Ron Hill behind."
Down the fields we went and just before the woods I overtook Colin. I knew his name by now from the shouts he was getting from the local spectators. To his credit, Colin shouted to the next marshal, "That's the great Ron Hill in front!" I passed one or two in the woods and a couple on the road towards the finish, which got me clear of any close followers as we hit some steep downwards steps, which I had been dreading. Luckily I managed them gracefully and fled down to the finishing funnel to record 63:51 on my watch, nearly a couple of minutes outside the 70+ course record.
But I was unscathed and happy. A race I can recommend!
The race winner was Tom Adams, Ilkley Harriers, 42:18; and the fist woman was Jennie Guard,
I finished in 205th place out of 338, meaning I had beaten 39% of the field, excellent for me. Plus I was 1st MV70.
May ended in the
Photo Courtesy of Stadium Runners
April 2009
LEARNING SOME SENSE ?
At the beginning of the month I felt so bad with a heavy head cold and chest infection that probably, for the first time in my life, I opted out of a race I had wanted to do the Gill Pimblott 5 Mile off-road race at
THE RIVINGTON PIKE FELL RACE, APRIL 11TH.
I first ran in this competition 51 years ago in 1958. I took 5th place just behind local star, Joe Salt, Rochdale Harriers, in a time of 19:56. It was my first ever fell race and I described it as "a very tough course." This year would be my 35th. running, the first in my seventies, and I did not want to miss it. On a mild spring day, with the sun shining and conditions underfoot excellent, I would take it easily and just record a finish. I had intended to run all the way to the top as I used to do in the old days, but that was now out of the question. In fact for many years I would run to the top as a warm up and a "recky." This year, just 1 1/4 miles warm up, not feeling good at all, would allow me to record 4 1/2 miles in my log book as the course measures 3 1/4 miles in total.
"Walk 10"
There can't have been many people behind me as we headed up the road to begin the climb proper. I was wearing my Hilly compression socks and some "far infrared" knee supports. At a steady plod I passed a few people, Howard Henshaw,
Ungainly but taking care on the decent
Only two runners passed me on the way down. I followed the grass by the trail as it looped round "the quarry" in order to keep a good stride going and was careful to see where my feet were landing all the way down. The last road, as always, was very hard work, but I finished in 30:40, 52 seconds faster than last year thanks to a much swifter descent. My position was 207th out of 234 finishers. 88% if the field were ahead of me. 296 had finished in 2008 an inexplicable decline for such a classic event. I was only 3rd in the over 70's. My club mate Ted Orell won this category in 27:04.
The race winner was Rob Hope, Pudsey and Bramley, 17:25, and first woman, Claire McKittrick, Charnwood AC, 21:17.
I paid for the fast downhill run with sore quads for four days afterwards. Also my cold and blocked chest had not fully cleared by my next race a week later.
THE PUMA HAWKSHEAD TRAIL RACE 15K, APRIL 18TH.
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In an e-mail to Race Director, Graham Patten, I explained that I wanted to do this race "whilst I am still able." Having overdone it a bit lately, my knees had become a bit suspect, plus after my fall in Santorini last June I was becoming terrified of descents on rough ground.
Another beautiful day and after a 1/2 mile warm up I stood at the very back of the field telling myself that this was going to be a run at training pace. On the kilometre of road I was moving through nicely and continued to do so on some strenuous climbs. On a level section I caught someone I knew, Dave Sinnott, Saddleworth Running Club. I stayed with Dave for a long time, being extra careful on the rocky downhill sections, and we were still edging ahead. there seemed to be a lot of women in this section of the field. I ignored the water station just after 7K . There was a long section of climbing during which Dave was just ahead, but on the run down to the shores of
At the start - Hawkshead trail - Photo Credit: May Hill
By the lake was the 10K marker. It had taken almost 69 minutes to get this far. Unbelievable. And I was knackered. Another feed station at 11K, again ignored, a left turn and the start of the notorious "Coffin Trail," about a 1k steep climb on a path paved with rocks. A lot people, including me, were walking. Half way up this section, I was looking ahead at a plastic glass from the last feed station, placed on a rock, and thinking ,"How disappointing someone had not disposed of it properly," when I tripped and fell forward banging my ring finger and left elbow. Concentrate. As the trail began to level out it was run - walk and then run, but I was so tired I could hardly stay on my feet.
Ahead of Dave Sinnott (255) - Photo Credit: James Kirby http://www.jameskirby.me.uk/event-photography.php
My hips and the tops of my gluteal muscles were aching and there began a rough descent, the reverse of our route on the way out. I tied to avoid the rocky bits and stay on the grass but despite being ultra careful I tripped andfell again. Luckily on grass and no damage done, except to my pride. A woman, Janice Metcalfe, Preston Harriers stayed right behind me for the last 2K. We hit a bit of road at 14K, then ran down through some fields, over a high stone stile and on to the flat field of energy sapping long grass leading to the finish, which I was very glad to see. My watch showed 1:44:57, and my gun time was 1:45:32 for 434th place out of 560 finishers, including 163 women. 23% of the field were behind me. I was pleased with that. Dave Sinnott had arrived in 1:44:27 only 65 seconds ahead, but out of sight !
The men's winner was John Hennighan, Pudsey and Bramley, in 58:09, whilst in 19th place overall came Candice Taylor, Clayton - le - Moors Harriers, the women's winner in 71:17.
A great race and I'm glad I did it.
REST AND RECOVERY
The remaining days of April I ran easily. I had a special 10k race at the beginning of May and had I been fully healthy I would have been doing some speedwork but my decision was to get that race fully recovered from illness and take my chance.
April ended with a total of 107.5 miles, (173K) and my lifetime total at 151,968.5 miles, (244,569K)
March 2009
SIX RACES IN MARCH
Reaching the beginning of March I realised that I had not raced for seven weeks and that I had had only one race in 2009. I already had two invitations to races in
The Cloud Nine Hill Race, Congleton March 1st,
I ran this race in 2003. It is described as "a scenic and challenging off-road race from Congleton to the summit of Bosley Cloud ( 1125 feet ) and back, via the ancient Bridestones ( ca. 2000 BC)."
On November 13 2001 I set out from home on a 5 1/2 mile run. My left foot was sore but inexplicably after 1/2 a mile my leg almost collapsed under me. I continued slowly and it happened again. I had no idea what the problem was. November 18, I ran the
I had read my training log's account of that 2003 effort and decided that this year I would treat the race as an adventure and enjoy a race in the countryside. It was a cold day with sharp south westerly wind and I wore compression socks, tights, cap and gloves. Warming up I spotted an old adversary, Joe Park, Cheshire Tally Ho, a fellow V70 and thought, "He's going to be hard to beat." Starting near the back, I ran as I had intended, trying to relax and not worrying about some long delays at two stiles and a narrow downhill path into woods. The final climb to the summit was hard and a few young females bounded past, in particular three lasses in bright green T-shirts. Earlier in the race, I had caught sight of a runner I had out sprinted in the Tegg's Nose 5K in November 2007, to take first place in the V65 category. In my log I'd christened him "Old Wilmslow," after he club he was in. I wondered whether he was V70 now, but he had disappeared ahead.
Glancing at my watch, I saw I had reached the summit about 3 minutes slower than in 2003, but it was a much bigger field this year and the delays had cost me a good bit of time. Now the difficult bit came; the downhill. I was as careful as I could be on the narrow paths and luckily it was not as rocky as the ascent. After my incident in Santorini last June when I tripped and snapped the ball off my humorus bone, I am terrified of falling. We hit a wooded area and I was quite prepared to let anyone, speeding down behind me, come through. The tree roots were treacherous and, despite all my care, my shoe caught one and I went stumbling forward. I don't know how I stayed on my feet, but I did. I was sure I was going to fall and the incident left me in shock. Another queue at a very high stile, then down an open field and up the other side, into the wind. on to a trail and through a farmyard where a sign indicated "5 Miles." A glance at my watch showed 58:00. 58:00? That is slower than 11 minute miling!
There was some good downhill after this, some on the road some on a red sandstone trail where again I was careful to avoid some of the smooth rocks poking through. The trail turned to road, then a stile leading to a steep flight of steps, road again then fields and galvanised metal gates instead of stiles. I was now catching people and by the time we hit the railway once more, there was quite a group in front of me. I knew it was the same disused railway trail we had run out on but suspected it was not a run straight to the finish. A marshal confirmed this. I caught a young woman, one of the green T-shirts, and as I went past she said, "You've got some stamina." I could see two more green T-shirts ahead and also "Old Wilmslow," Trevor Faulkener, about 40m ahead. We turned off the railway on to road and I relaxed, passed the two green T-shirts and got in behind Trevor. I left him on a downhill stretch and as we made a left turn on to a steep uphill ran quite strongly. Strongly enough to catch Mark Hughes of Trentham AC and with enough breath to be able to exchange a few words with him. A sign signalled "400m to go. It was down to the railway and a sight of the finish. I eased away to gain 3 seconds on Mark, but resisted the temptation to sprint after two women.
Heading for home - Photo Credit: www.racephotos.org.uk
"Green Tee Shirt Birgade" Runcorn Hockey Club members and i post race
From Left to Right - Barrie Cavanagh (01:24:40), Kate Wozniak (01:37:22), Ron Hill, (01:36:45) Andie Cole (01:37:24) and Karen Jones (01:37:24)
My official time was 96:45, whereas in 2003 I ran 93:11.I reckon much of the difference was due to the size of the field: 427 finishers’ v 171 last time, which meant longer delays at the bottlenecks. Last time I was 152nd, 89% of the field ahead; this time 366th, 86% of the field ahead. I had been 3:34 slower than ' 03; Trevor Faulkener must have had on off day as he was 10:27 down on ' 03. But that meant he had hammered me by 6:31 back then! The results showed he was still a V65.
First male was Lloyd Taggart, Dark Peak Fell Runners, in 54:57.
First female was Olivia Walwyn, Altrincham AC, 12th overall, in 59:03.
But what about Joe Park? He beat me for the V70 prize, recording 88:07. 8 MINUTES 14 SECONDS AHEAD OF ME. FANTASTIC.
Joe Park - Photo Credit: www.racephotos.org.uk
March 8th The 32nd. Ballycotton 10 (miles),
I have run many classic races in my time but never the Ballycotton 10. The race director, John Walshe, came to my 60th birthday race in Littleborough, and last year to my 70th birthday 5K. An invitation followed shortly after my expressing an interest. But fist I needed to recover from the Cloud Nine. The day after that race my left foot was sore and my right knee was pretty badly swollen. Three days of easy recovery running with a support on my right knee and I was beginning to feel better. By the time of my first run in
Garryvoe Chapel and Graveyard
Later, John transferred us to the Bay view Hotel in Ballycotton itself, which opens on this weekend at this time of the year purely for the race. The village is not what you would expect, hosting such a huge and prestigious event. The main street has two pubs, a bar, a diner, a post office and a snack bar. The houses overlook a tiny harbour and lifeboat station with a lighthouse on an island some
The night before the race we had "An Evening with Ron Hill" in the hotel, introduced by Frank Greally, the editor of Irish Runner magazine. The subject of declined standards in marathon running and what can be done to reverse this came up. My answer was to look at the training done by John Treacy who took a Silver Medal for
The course for the race is a fast one, and has not changed since the inaugural competition back in 1978 when 31 runners faced the starter’s pistol. The course record is an amazing 47:00 set by Gary Staines, Belgrave H. back in 1995. Jerry Kiernan, Clonliffe Harriers ran 47:04 in 1983 and local hero Noel Berkley had three performances under 48 minutes between 1995 and 2000. For this year’s race, the initial allocation of 2500 numbers sold out in three days and when club members and people who ran the local summer series were added, the total was more than 3,360! 820 extra entries had to be returned. By the end of the race 2402 runners had crossed the line plus one wheelchair athlete, Jerry Forde. John Walshe gave me race number “10 " in honour of my World Records for 10 miles on the track in 1968, 47:02 and 46:44.
Start Line - Ballycotton 10 - Credit: John Walshe
It was a windy day; into the faces of the runners at first but following for the last two miles. After warming up one mile, I had to push my way from the start line through a packed throng on the narrow road to a position which I judged would not impede other runners behind me. I never heard the gun and pressed my watch on the start line. My time for the full course would be recorded accurately by the Champion Chip attached to my right shoe, but I wanted to monitor my mile splits along the way. The first two miles were downhill and in the crowd my first mile was 8:28 followed by an 8:13. But I did not feel comfortable. I could not relax. My recovery from Cloud Nine had not been complete. My body never really got warm. A couple of rain showers soaked my gloves and my hands were cold. At one stage my left hip started to hurt. But the welcome was warm and many runners turned to me, shook my hand and said, "Welcome to
Just before 5 miles I was tracking two big guys, chatting away. I was sheltering from the wind at this point. One man turned to me and asked, "Are you enjoying this?" "No," I replied. "You're smiling though," he retorted. I was still averaging just under 8:30 per mile which is good for me. Some people were warm as there were hats and T-shirts hanging from the hedges! After 7 miles the wind was strong from the right hand side. I kept to the extreme right, alongside a dyke. At 8 miles we began a climb all the way to the finish. I put my head band on and it was not too bad. 8:46 for that mile. The hill levelled out but was still up. I had been surrounded by people every yard of the race and now, with the sun shining and the finish not far away, everyone was upping their pace. The last mile was my fastest of the race, 8:06.
Crowded Finish
The finishing positions were listed on "gun" times not chip. My time was 1:25:41 for 1484th position. My Chip time was 1:24:27, almost the same time I ran in the Derwentwater 10 last November. Such was the packing of the field that 16 runners crossed the line in the 10 seconds ahead of me. There were 2402 finishers, therefore 62% of runners were ahead of me, but more importantly 38% were behind me.
Winner of the race was Vinny Mulvey, Raheny Shamrock AC in 49:06, and the first female home out, of 788 finishers, was Pauline Curley, Tullamore Harriers in 59:03.
I took second place in the V70 category to Tadhg Twomey, Metro St. Bridgids AC, who clocked 1:14:24. That was 11 minutes 17 seconds ahead on gun times. Amazing!
May and I had a wonderful dinner with Middleton AC after the race. The following morning I ran 3 miles with John, along a cliff path, across a field and back on the roads to the hotel. I'm not a good judge of pace and was surprised to hear John say, "We're doing 9 1/2 minute miling." As we ran up through the village, John said, "I'll time the last 1/2 mile to the finish line." 4 1/2 minutes. 9 minute miling. It must have been because I had my lightweight ASICS DS Racer VII shoes on. The village was spotless. You would not have believed that almost 2500 athletes had been there the day before.
In the afternoon we visited John Buckley Sports in
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May, John, Ron and Mary at John Buckley Sports
Before dropping us at
A couple of easy day's recovery runs, two runs including speedwork, in anticipation of my third March race, and two more day's easy, left me feeling tired. I had not felt right since returning from
Wirral Seaside Runs - March 15th
This was the first of a series of eight races throughout the summer, all on the same course of 4.92K (3.05 miles,) from Leasowe Lighthouse near Moreton, along the sea embankment to
At the start being greeted by Roy Fisher Awaiting the starters orders
It was a new race for me and the weather being bright and not too cold I was able to race without tights for the first time this year. I warmed up 2 miles on the lanes and trails near the lighthouse. A Pensby Runner introduced himself at the start saying he was Neil Thompson and had been
There was a following wind for most of the way. On the short section from the start to the lighthouse, we were running into the wind, and I relaxed, sitting in behind the other runners. Once on to the sea wall I tried to stride out and was in a group of Pensby Runners. I passed Neil Thompson, then he passed me, but my strides overtook him once more and I did not see him again until the finish. The rest of the runners just seemed to increase their lead over me, especially on the short sections of the route covered in sand, some of it quite deep in parts, blown up from the beach in winter storms. I did not find it easy but kept on pressing. I passed a young woman in the colours of Wirral AC about midway, then near the end a Penny Kane Strider, Robin Ireland and another runner in black. I pushed on to the finish, which was on sand, and was happy to hear 23:42, a reasonable time for my tired condition. I had left Neil Thompson by only 25 seconds, so he was still in reasonable shape.
When I got home I looked in my 1959, bound copy, of Athletics Weekly. There were some interesting names from the past, and in a couple of cases the present. Winner of the senior race was the late Fred Norris, Bolton, from Gerry North,
I'll be back to Wirral before the year is out.
Crossing the sea wall with a group from Pensby Harriers
Leading Neil Thompson at the Wirral Seaside Runs - Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davepinno
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Approaching the finish
The "Connemarathon" 1/2 Marathon,
Sebastien Locteau, a French triathlete, long distance runner, member of the Run Ireland Team, who is coaching in Ireland, contacted me on behalf of Ray O'Connor, Race Director of "Connemarathon ' 09," to see if I would go over and be the official starter for the 1/2 Marathon. I said, Yes, and in a fit of enthusiasm asked for a race number. It was a whirlwind trip, out on Friday afternoon with May, flying to
In addition to being the 1/2 Marathon race starter, my duties included leading a group of runners on a mid-day run, out and back, from the west end of the promenade of The Salt, a popular route for local runners, which was accomplished with about a dozen runners taking part. My final contribution was to meet and greet competitors during the last three hours of registration at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. May and I had a few opportunities to slip into
Before arriving I knew little about the set-up except that there were three races in all, a Half, a Full and an Ultra Marathon. I knew less about the geography as I had seen no maps. Each race had its own start time and start point. The Ultra ran a 1/2 marathon distance before continuing on the Full marathon course which eventually joined the 1/2
Most runners are bussed out to their various starts. I was lucky and had a 10:00 ride out to my start in Leenaun with Mick Rice, an ultra runner, along with
The first 500m were downhill, turning left in the village centre to face a seriously steep hill up to the 1 mile marker. With the human traffic and weaving in and out to overtake, that first mile took me 10:45. After that I relaxed, dropping my arms on downhill sections, sometimes looking around at the mountain scenery. I was running well and my 3rd mile was 7:38. I was not daunted reaching the 6 mile point knowing that there were still 7 miles to go. The sun was shining and at his point I took off my gloves, tucking them into the front of my shorts. My 8th mile 7:39, nicely bringing my average per mile below 9 minutes, which was my loose target. There was no problem with my left knee which had felt worryingly unstable when I had begun my warm up. At times you could see the line of runners stretching way into the distance. I got a lot of good support from the other runners, many saying, "You are an inspiration to us all," which was very inspirational to me.
At 9 1/2 miles a huge hill loomed, rising for a visible 1 1/2 miles and strewn with runners. The mountain did not intimidate me and I just put my head down and relaxed. My 10th mile was 9:00 taking me to the 10 mile marker in 86:46. The next mile, all uphill, was 9:24, so I was going to be easily inside my 9 minute mile average. The 2 miles to 13 miles were not difficult. In the last 192.5 yards I saw a runner with white hair, figured he could be V70 and sprinted past him to record 51 seconds for that final stretch. My watch read a pleasing 1:53:18, which should have been my "chip" time. However, when the official results were published my gun time and my "chip" time were both given as 1:56:12. Perhaps my presence at the start line as "starter" had triggered the mat. It looks as though I was around 756th from 2542 finishers, including walkers, so about 30% in front and 70% of competitors behind was a great result for me.
Kimutai and Norman battle it out
Lezan Kimutai - 1:08:09 Andy Norman - 1:08:48
The male winner was
The female winner was Eilis Conner, St.Laurence O'Toole-Carlow AC, 1:24:40.
For further information go to www.connemarathon.com
As well as the satisfaction of an enjoyable run, there were further rewards with an excellent finishers’ medal and souvenir Ronhill T-shirt in a technical fabric.
A couple of 2 1/2 mile easy runs was probably not enough recovery before my fifth competition in March.
The Vera Hurst 5K, Littleborough, March 25th.
The 6:45 pm start meant it was going to be dark by the time we finished. I got there early in order to register, have a walk, then do a gentle 1 mile warm up. It was a cold night and I raced with my Clayton vest over a woven fluo jacket, over a long sleeve top and wearing gloves. Anyway, I was determined that this would not be a serious race as I was still in a recovery phase and wanted a relaxed run.
Starting right at the back, I was soon out of breath and only moved through slowly up
Near the top of he hill I caught sight of V75, Peter Dibb, Longwood Harriers. It took me all of the road alongside the lake to catch him. Starting the long downhill to the finish, I strode out and overtook him. This was not relaxed running now, and passing two more runners I crossed the line in 26:03. Will I ever learn ?
The men's winner was Matthew Proctor, Rochdale Harries, 15:43, and the women's winner FV45, Sue Beckonsall, Bingley Harriers, 18:51. I was first V70 in 197th position out of 243 finishers, 81% of the field ahead of me. But what a good turnout for a dark Thursday evening.
Of the next morning's 2 1/2 mile run I noted in my training log, "Left knee and left leg not good." And the morning after,"Left knee / leg suspect." Not a good omen for my 6th race in March, a trail race the very next day.
The Silkstone Shuffle, Silkstone, near Barnsley,
This race would get my average races per month up to just over two.
I had to park in the village and jogged up to the Sports Pavilion to collect my race number then continued to the first part of the course and back for an easy two mile warm up, which left me feeling better than when I started out. The course ran slightly downhill for a few hundred metres then climbed a long, long hill. From the back of the pack I passed a couple of people and a couple passed me. I was being sensible and running within myself, enjoying the new terrain. It was a windy day and, running without cap or headband, my hair was a nuisance, flying in my eyes when the breeze was behind. A couple of Northern Veterans were just in front and I passed one as he started to walk.After a right hand turn we ran downhill on the road. The second NO. Vet. stayed with me. Another right turn and now it was a steep uphill into what seemed like a gale.
I tucked in behind my rival.Two runners passed and I got behind a woman wearing a loose jacket until another right and off the road on to a trail. I moved ahead.
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A woman in pale blue, Lisa Hinchcliffe, was just ahead and stayed there for a long time. We ran across fields, into woods, which were muddy in parts, and over many stiles , some of them high, which I found awkward, as I was still tired from the previous week's two races. Each time a gap appeared which I had to close to get back on terms.We came to a long, long downhill run on grass by the side of what looked like a horse race course. With an effort I overtook my female adversary and for the last three stiles she had the task of trying to make up the gap on me.
We hit the road again,the first part of the course in reverse, and I thought to myself, "I'm racing again now instead of running easily." I relaxed a bit after that. Over a stile ..... a stile with a wall ,,,,,, passed a runner seemingly wallowing in a muddy patch ...... a final stile then a run down for a final lap of a flat grass field. The mud dancer, Peter Davison, passed me and I tried to shelter behind him into a strong wind, as I heard frantic shouts of encouragement for a Barnsley Harrier bearing down on us. Too late. Nothing I could do about it as Richard Latchem sprinted past.
First man home was Nick Swift, Sheffield Running Club, 25:57; and first woman, Deborah Richards, Sheffield Running Club, 29:52. I was 124th in 39:29 ot of 157 finishers. 79% of these were in front of me, almost the same as my previous race. The chair of Barnsley Harriers, Ian Meade, told me this was a record field, possibly because he had mentioned on the club web-site that I would be running.
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I stayed behind to present the prizes, including one for myself as winner of the V70 category, and in addition to the prize for first V65, John Hewitt received a birthday cake. It was his 65th birthday that day!
This was the first race of a series of four throughout the year. I'll be back for another.
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March's Aftermath.
The result of 6 races in a month ? My knees were complaining and I picked up a severe chest infection and headcold. My bodies resistance had been lowered lowered and it's ability to recover diminished. Also my weekly mile has crept up to around 30 and I must return to 25.
March showed a total of 135.5 miles ( 218 K. ) bringing my lifetime's recorded miles to 151,861 ( 244,396 K. )
February 2009
AM I GETTING SOFT?
At the moment it certainly feels like that! I dislike training in the cold, especially when it is icy underfoot. Then it can be downright dangerous. That is what it was like for the first nine days of the month. Similarly the thought of racing in cold weather does not attract me. I missed out on one of my favourite races, the Nick Beer 10K, Llandudno, on the 8th, because the forecast had been for snow in
A friend, David Denton, who I've not met in years, owns a house in
David does a great deal of charity work in Kerala raising funds to help poor families and individuals in many ways including sinking wells for drinking water, building toilet facilities for houses without them, buying goats to give away to families seeking self-suffiency , etc. He receives guests in his house: friends and friends of friends. Up to four couples can stay at any one time and he charges next to nothing, often picking up guests at the airport in the early hours (including May and I.) Included in his charge is breakfast, made by his maid Kuvala, who does a mean mixed omelette, or provides a plate of fresh pineapple, papaya and banana.
Monday morning, 9th February, a 2 mile run at 4:59 am was the entry in my training log, before travelling to
The weather in Kovalam was superb; hot and sunny. And David's house was only a five minute stroll through the palm trees to
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Lighthouse Beach
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Hauling in the nets at Lighthouse Beach
May and I spent most of our time walking in the morning; there are several other small beaches and villages nearby to visit, drinking a cold beer with lunch, a siesta at the house, then down to the beach to sunbathe. Two sun beds cost less than £1.50 at the "evening" rate. Back to the house then out for dinner. Although Kerala is supposedly a "dry" state, some restaurants have a license to serve alcohol. Those that do not serve beer in pottery mugs and hide the bottle under the table. There is a "beer shop" just a coupe of minutes up the road from David's. We found the beer excellent and there are several brands. However, you had to buy what the beer shop had in stock, once you had awakened the proprietor, and that stock varied day to day, but at about 75 pence for a 650 ml. bottle we weren't grumbling.
Laundry and Bathing pool Crows' Bathing pool
Several brands of beer
Morning catch at Vizhinjam
Local beer shop
Several inexpensive excursions were available through Kuvala, who was something of an entrepreneur. We took a full day trip, in a private taxi, to the southernmost tip of
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Padmanabhapuran
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May & I at Kanniyakumari
Running was not easy with the heat and humidity to contend with. Early mornings were best. The situation was made easier by having company on some of my runs. For three days at the beginning of our stay I ran with 53 year old Jim Davies from Lincoln who was coming to the end of his holiday with partner, Sandra. We started our runs with an extremely steep 100m.ascent, and immediate oxygen debt, followed by a gentler one mile climb to "The Junction." From there it was downhill to
Post run with Jim Davies and Mike Brake
Another couple arrived a day after Jim left; Mike and Judy Brake. 73 year old Mike was a member of the "Epsom Oddballs" club. Meanwhile, I had found a 3 1/2 mile run with a downhill start. We ran this three times, twice on his arrival and once after he had been on an extended excursion. In the interim, I ran the same course but introduced some speedwork, fartlek and 70 second strides, in anticipation of the Cloud Nine Hill race in Congleton, on March 1st.
March 1st. would be the day of David's race in Kovalam. A week before there was an official launch of the event at the Subash Centre where the race would start. I was the guest of honour and after various speeches was presented with a specially made, large, wood and gilt metal plaque. This was embarrassing as I realised how much it must have cost to make and how little these people had. David assured me that they had enjoyed my presence.
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Launch of Subash 5.3K Marathon
(Back Row 2nd Left - Martin Rouse. Front Row 1st Left - David Denton)
One memory I took away from
My final run in
The winner of the SUBASH 5.3K
In 10th place was M51, Martin Rouse, Invicta and
Anyone interested in the race, or Kovalam should log on to www.runningwithdavid.com
In February I ran exactly 100 miles ( 161K ) bringing my lifetime total to 151,725 miles ( 244,177K.)
January 2009
AWFUL WINTER WEATHER
It has been a pretty miserable start to the year. Freezing temperatures and snow has made running very difficult with slippery dangerous conditions and often black ice. My priority has been not to fall meaning careful easy running and no speedwork.
BELLE VUE RACERS " HIT THE TRAIL 5 "
I had only one race this month, the Belle Vue Racers "Hit The Trail 5 " held on the 11th. This was an off-roader on the paths and trails of Reddish Vale,
Round a big loop of grassy path then back up to the railway on a series of steps. Looking ahead, I could see Sid Bailey an MV50 of Dee Striders. He usually beats me, but he seemed to be struggling, walking up the steps. Back along the railway
My watch was stopped at 41:49, highly satisfactory; however the official results had me down at 42:07. I have never been 18 seconds out plus the gaps behind me did not seem to tally. The time in front of mine was 41:48 so I guess this was my time with Sid Bailey 42:07 and Elizabeth Stillo 42:21. I was 99th out of 156 finishers meaning 37% of the field were behind me. Also I was 1st (and only) MV70. I did not attend the presentation; I wonder if I got a prize?
The men's race was won by 2008 winner Damian Nicholls from Wilmslow RC in 26:06, while first woman was Joanne Seymour from Hallamshire Harriers, also a winner in 2008, in 31:10.
NUMBERS
Do you ever read any significance into the number you are given in any competition? I do not believe in fate but sometimes I wonder at what the numbers could mean. In my last four races of 2008 I received number "1" in the Derwentwater "10" which was an honour, number “1” in the Gil Pimblott 5K. In the Ravenstonedale 10K I got two 1's, number "11" - were they trying to go one better than Derwentwater? In the Ribble valley 10K it was number "1" another honour. Finally in my first race of 2009 they gave me "170" and I finished 1st 70 year old! What will the future bring?
SLIGHTLY BETTER WEATHER
The rest of January was slightly better from a running point of view, as with rain, frozen ground turned to mud but pavements cleared of ice. Some speedwork was possible to prepare for potential races in February.
On January 30th I passed the minor landmark of 244,000K recorded running.
Daily runs in January totalled 123 miles (198K), bringing my lifetime's total to 151,625.5 miles (244,017K)
Ron's 2008 Annablog
2008 WAS A YEAR WHEN I ACHIEVED MY TARGET 0F COMPETITIONS IN 100 COUNTRIES DESPITE SUFFERING THREE INJURIES, OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD WAS BORN AND I REACHED AGE 70.
The first injury came out of the blue on April 9th. I was not one mile into a 5 mile run, and going downhill, when an excruciating pain hit me in the left leg from the groin downwards. There was no warning. I hoped my left hip had not gone. Thinking I could run it off, I completed distance. Having no idea what was in that part of my leg, I consulted a diagram and concluded it was my “abductor longus," which I had not heard of before, that had torn. Running gently for the next four days the pain disappeared and I set out on a 9 mile run as a test for the
May 18th, just setting out, a pain so bad hit my right groin area that I thought my right hop had shattered and I almost turned back. Continuing on a”wander” run, very slowly, the groin pain eased but my right knee almost collapsed three times. It took me an hour to cover 4 1/2 miles. But the “streak " was still alive. Running easily for the next 3 weeks, with no stretching, sit-ups or press-ups or speedwork 30mile plus weeks were maintained and I managed a 48:50 in the Morecambe 10K.
In June we took a two week holiday in Santorini, staying just outside Kamari. We had been here in 1994. Far above Kamari up a zigzag road of hairpin bends are the remains of the city of ancient
On August 10th we arrived in
Our first grandchild was born on August 31st. a girl, Katie Allanna, daughter of elder son Steven and his partner, Jill.
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