SPEN 20 IN THE 1980S

 THIS DAY 25 YEARS AGO:  THE 1987 SPEN 20
Several times, before, during and after  Sunday's SPEN 20 I was asked if I had ever run the event.  Each time I answered the same, 1977  1982, 1983 and 1987 and after each race I vowed NEVER to do it again!
 If my memory serves me well the course initially was perhaps even more testing than it is now as the first lap brought the field back from the heights to the track again:   only for us to have to climb back up again for another lap.
 My first crack at the race in 1977 was a cautious one as it came just a week after a  disasterous "recce" of the 3 Peaks  in which I'd been taken  off course and ended running for 4 hours.   The diary states that I was 31st at the end of the first lap but as is my way  fought hard  on the second lap to try to make the Bingley team count,   getting through  to 17th finishing  2:00.19.   
  I did make the count but you can imagine our  reaction when presented with a green onyx table cigarette lighter for the 1st team prize.   Hardly appropriate.  
                        The race was won by KEVIN BEST (Stretford) in 1:47.38.

  I think by 1982  I'd upped my game but so had many other  runners  in the area and despite running 1:58.37 it was only good enough for 14th place.  You will note from the pic left 
that this was the pre-polyester era.  Cotton socks, polycotton shorts,  cotton vest, cotton t-shirt.  Fortunately I don't sweat much!  Harrogate's ANDY ROBERTSON, running for the Army, won in 1:45.26 !!    
 Second placer a rapidly improving club mate JIMMY ASHWORTH  was to have his day the following year in 1983 winning in 1:47.06.  My fifth place in 1:54.17 was an excellent precursor to my  PB 2:25.36 London.   But  the middle of the year my first period with Bingley was coming to an end.
I  joined a fledging club in Leeds, VALLEY STRIDERS,  which had started up only the previous year with 4 members.   By this time 25 years ago,  as regular  readers will know,   in most Yorkshire races we frequently occupied half of the first 10 places.   The "work ethic" and team spirit of  the club  was amazing and as consequently as the weeks and months passed yet another member would come to the forefront and make his mark.

   In the  SPEN 20  of 1987 this day 25 years ago it was the turn of KEITH CLUDERAY.  In the October of 1986 he had closed to 2 seconds behind me over 10K,  32.42 to 32.44.   Here, just  5 months later, he ran 1:48.51 to win the 20 mile race beating me nearly 9 minutes as I ran 1:57.35 for 12th place.
  With TERRY BEAN 3RD and MIKE O'CALLAGHAN 8TH it was another good days for the men in white and black.
 Keith was a British Telecom engineer and put down his recent progress to being on strike! Obviously he had worked hard and fast throughout the winter but had "put in 400 miles over the last 4 weeks".  


   Keith (with cap) is pictured above at the 2004 Athens Olympics with Valley Strider TRACEY MORRIS and  STEVE O'CALLAGHAN, another member who can "boast" marathon victories.  
In the heat of Greece Tracey ran 2:41 finishing 29th of the 81 in the field.
   These years in the '80s were highly successful for the club but it centred largely around the marathon.  We did compete in the Northern 12 stage the year before but we couldn't match the shorter distance speed of teams  with younger runners  in and finished just 36th of 58.
 Sadly Keith, Steve, Terry Bean and others from that era are no longer racing it seems.  Perhaps  the high mileage took its toll  but no doubt most of them are still doing some running albeit it ast a more sedate pace.  After all it was 25 years ago!

                                
  

SPEN 20 from behind the camera!

 As I started the ascent from the muddy bottom of the HAIGH HALL RELAYon Saturday and could immediately soreness at the bottom of the left leg  I  really felt that I had fallen at the first hurdle in this new 2012 season.   But I iced frequently Saturday night and the pain, left and right soleus,  was eased.
 Fortunately I had planned an easy day on Sunday  as,   provided I could manage a very rare  6.30 a.m. rising I would take Sally and friend Debbie B. to the SPEN 20 mile road race.  I  finished off week 10 with a 3 mile test run on the grass  after the race and felt quite relieved that there was little pain from the calf.  But as we all know calf problems tend to bite back and  soreness came back on Monday at the end of a 5 mile run on soft but uneven ground.
  I returned home thinking it was perhaps a good thing that I had no immediate races planned, only to be greeted by the postman.   He handed me confirmation of an entry for the WILMSLOW HALF marathon (!) compliments of sponsors ASICS. Thank you Jon and team at ASICS.
 I wouldn't normally regard  finishing a half marathon as a daunting prospect but the way the leg felt on Saturday  the next week of running would be crucial in determining my approach to the race.
Yesterday then was another "test" run and pleasingly a 6 mile road went well,  in under 50 minutes.   Today, working hard/easy days,  I was back on the flat grass for an pedestrian 4 miler.  
 Further "test" days will involve a 12 miler at slower than race pace and a speed session at faster than race pace.


  Going back to Sunday's SPEN 20 the 263 finishers were really blessed with the weather they enjoyed;  possibly a factor in Sally's excellent 2:26 for 4th lady  on the tough West Yorkshire  course.  Whilst this may equate to her marathon pace at Manchester  it was not planned as such.
It was NOT a pace practice exercise. She gave it 100%.  Should events conspire that she can't run Manchester then at least her training so far in 2012 has been rewarded with a very creditable 20 mile time.  NOT a race run less than 100% practising to run slower than the athlete is capable of.
Sally's time  suggests that she has some good performances to come over 5k, 10k and 10 mile once recovered from the Manchester.
  It was interesting to see how the race unfolded.  Both male and female early race leaders  faltered but held on well to finish 3rd.  GEMA ADAMS of Preston took the lead just before 5 miles  and  was never really threatened after that.  But once QUENTIN LEWIS had faded , DAVID THOMPSON of BARNSLEY and ZAC MELLARD of KIMBERWORTH found themsleves shoulder to shoulder going through Roberttown with 2 miles to go with the Barnsley man easing away for victory.
  I hope the video gives a flavour of the event which is not for the faint hearted.

It's 25 years since I ran the event but more of that tomorrow................................................

The HAIGH HALL Relay....first race of 2012

                            If you have a spare 15 minutes check out the video of the 2012 event 
                                 with relaxing guitar music selected from Youtube's listings.


Without cross country races to compete in there have been several years in which January and February have seen no races added to the lists and this year has been another. But  there were several options this weekend.
Preferred option was  the TRAFFORD 10K.  There were  entries on the day and reaching the 140 10K mark has a nice ring about it ,  but at my time of life I'm not going to get up at 6.30 a.m. to make the 9.30 a.m. start time in Cheshire.   There is a low key 5K in Blackpool also on Sunday also but  the club "appealed" for runners for a 4 man road event   ,the HAIGH HALL RELAYS, near Wigan, last Saturday so that  became the race of choice  as it would leave Sunday free.

 I had envisaged the Lancashire relay event would be better supported than it was.  I had forecast that many clubs would have used it as a guide to current form when selecting teams for the forthcoming Northern Relays.
But just 14 runners from 5 clubs toed the line for the first leg  in this event based in the Haigh Country Park located between the M6 and the M61.
 Setting off in 9th place on leg 2  I manage a smile (of sorts) for the JUST LOVE RUNNING photographer but I could immediately feel a hamstring sore from Wednesday's tough hill circuits.
But despite the brisk downhill 2 mile  the pain eased  and  was beginning to enjoy the pleasant surroundings of the country park but mindful that what goes down.....and down.....and  down...will makl for a tough ascent!

 Steve Quarmby of Lytham caught but didn't fly past and I was ready to dig in for the uphill battle when the bottom of the calf stiffened up.  I couldn't hold Steve and he took another 30 seconds off me as I laboured up  through the trail and road to the changeover point.  If you view the video you will not I'm shaking my head as I finish and the photo indicates the toll the hill has taken out of me.
 My time of 28.54 for the 3.8 mile downhill/uphill race with initial miles of 7.10 and 7.00 gave some indication of current fitness  but all in all the flat Blackpool event would have told me more and been kinder to the old legs.
 Still a good afternoon of friendly, low key athletics which left Sunday free to support Sally M. as she tackled the much sterner test over 20 undulating miles in the SPEN 20........

CROSS COUNTRY CAPERS

   FOR MANY THE CROSS COUNTRY SEASON HAS ENDED. ELITE RUNNERS HAVE THE INTERCOUNTIES TOMORROW AND ELITE YOUNGSTERS ALSO HAVE THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS NEXT WEEK.
  A QUICK REMINDER OF SOME OF THE FUN YOU HAD THIS WINTER...........

HITTING THE STRID WOODS TRAILS

  Sunday's track session satisfied my lust for speed (!) this week so it's been a week of hitting the fine, picturesque trails;  albeit with a twist to make the runs include more inclines.  I think I'm guilty of too many flat runs and avoiding the hills!
  I made Wednesday the key session to leave a bit in the legs for a race this weekend to kick off my 2012 season.
 Two laps of the undulating STRID WOODS trails
at Bolton Abbey with just a flat half approach and return.
 I think at time we runners forget just how much effort we put in compared with the general public.
For example, I may get asked, "What have you run today?" and I may say, "just an easy 5".  But compare that with a group of "hikers" who  set off on Wednesday as I started the run.  They certainly looked the part all geared up with their boots, gaiters, water proofs etc.  They looked ready to tackle sub zero temperatures at high altitude.   Off they went clockwise, many with walking sticks as I went anticlockwise.
  I'd covered an undulating 2.5 miles when I saw them next.  They were all sat around in one of the shelters on the trail having lunch.  They had barely walked a mile!  I saw them again on my 2nd loop.  I notched up 6.5 to their 1.5!  Easy life!
 But at least they were doing something rather than sat at home watching day time TV and taking in more fully I suppose the splendour of the surroundings.

  Wednesday evening Pat and I watched the 7-1 Barcelona humiliation of Bayer Leverkusen  with GARETH SOUTHGATE  being one of the pundits.   It was funny then that the next morning our paths cross on the reservoir trail  around Swinsty.  When I met him again as he completed his run, I stopped to tell him that we thought he should apply for the England football manager's job.  I said I thought he had the knowledge, was articualte and intelligent and Pat thought he had the good looks compared to Harry Redknap. He said he would rather concentrate on his coaching duties; and who could blame him. The England job being somewhat of a poisoned chalice.
  It's an easy jog on the grass for me today. Looks like I could finally digging out my SALE HARRIERS race vest, finding a set of pins and putting a number on!  
   The start of my 50th  season of competition. Let's hope it's a good one........and for you also!

DID THE LADIES SUPPORT THE ALEXANDRA PARK 5K?

  It is of course the prerogative (had to check that spelling!) of a race organiser to define the limitations of their event as theyseem fitting. After all,  generally they are volunteering their time. But I did query the decision of the organisers of the Alexandra Park 5k  in making their low key monthly  event a Womens Only one.
 I queried the decision by email and the reply came back that it was felt that many women are basically intimidated by the presence of men.   How  an ex World Vets champion jogging around a 5K in 33 minutes as Salford's Arthur walsham liked to do at over 80 can be seen as intimidating is somewhat puzzling but there you go!  They made the decision and have changed the Open Athletics website accordingly.
 So did the women of South Manchester and further afield rush to run an event they had previously ignored?
Unfortunately  it is impossible to make a direct comparison with last year's March event as someone made off with the results sheet but this is the comparison with February and April of last year.........

 2011  FEBRUARY      (Mixed field)   MEN  46  WOMEN  21
           APRIL                (Mixed field)   MEN 56   WOMEN 34
2012   MARCH        Boys and Men excluded...........WOMEN ONLY  13.
                             So not a great response, ladies! Time for a rethink?  
.......................................................
 If you managed to get out for a run during the day today you'll appreciate we were blessed with a really tremendous day. What a complete contrast to that miserable Sunday on the track.   Beautiful bright blue, cloudless skies; enjoyed by hundreds and myself at the reservoirs. Absolutely fabulous.
    March in England, what a month; never know what to expect or wear from one day to another!
                          Unfortunately, I forgot to take the camera.............next time.

TRACK. NO GUTS! NO GLORY!

  Sunday. 8.30 am.  A quick glance across the valley.  Rain driving through Wharfedale from the west. Not good.  A track session to be tackled this morning; I can only hope  there is a "weather repeat"  of yesterday.   Early morning rain turned to bright warn sunshine.  very welcome although I must admit I wasn't prepared for it and was far too overdressed for my Saturday 6 miler on the road.  March weather is SO unpreditable.
  To conclude week 9 of her marathon build up, I had Sally down for 8 x 1K today.  But  my "acquaintance knowledge"  tells me that reps. of less than a mile can be quite punishing on the legs. Particularly wee legs that have 22 miles in them from the previous Wednesday!   So I suggested yesterday that we do the session on the track up at Carnegie.   Tartan being softer than tarmac!
  I say "we"  as I need a speed session today  as well.    The task for me being ...what session can be devised to cater for each of our needs?   I've calculated that based on her mile rep times
 which she has been doing at an average of 6:40 of late,  that Sal should manage around 4:05 for a K rep.   I reckon I could cover 900 metres in 4:05 so  she will start at the 200 mark, I will start at the 100 point at the same time. 
                    So basically, this morning,  I'll be the hunted prey and she'll be the hunter!
 If my calculations are correct and we both run to expectations then we should cross the finish line each time together.   She will continue arouind to the 200 mark; whilst I turn back to the 100 start.  Sounds like a plan!


Sunday   2 p.m.

  Not much of a surprise but we had the track to ourselves this morning. Not even the sign of a sprint group doing some  pre season training.   
  Is there another commandment which dictates "Thou shalt not use a running track on a Sunday".  
  We splash around the outer track perimeter path whilst  the pools on the tartan  get bigger and bigger.  We've both plenty of clothing on, but it's so windy, wet and very cold!  At least we're not on the top of Ilkley Moor.
  After a nod and a wink at "dynamic stretching"....a swung my legs in the air a few times....we were away.   As forecast. on the first rep Sally was on my shoulder as we swung into the finish straight and I had to up the pace so that we crossed the line together..........4:03.  Great stuff, I thought, but too fast?

  A little restrained on the next one.....4.06.  A  plane roars overhead; taking off from Leeds Bradford airport, no doubt carrying passengers bound  for a spot of late winter sunshine.  My mind went back to  track sessions of the past in the warm, winter sunshine of the Canaries in Las Palmas and on tracks at Villanova and Barcelona in Spain.
 But we weren't on the plane, we were struggling around a puddled strewn track in North Leeds and the rain was steadily turning to sleet.  Surely it couldn't snow, could it?
 As conditions deteriorated my times went out  but only a touch.....4.08  4.08  4.08   4.08 but  I rallied with 4.07 and a final surge back to 4.03.   Sally stuck to her "stalking " task extremely well
crossing the line shoulder to shoulder on all but one of the 8 reps.
  To her immmense credit Sally dug very deep  today.   Many would  have thrown the towel in today in the conditions.  I'm more used to solo track sessions in adverse weather at Nelson. She more used to speed work in a straight line on the road! Not having done a track session for probably 6 years ( only her 2nd ever!)  and with 22 mile run in her legs  from Wednesday the morning was proving a tough one.   But that was the plan. the need to run hard and fast when tired.  As is required from 20 miles in a marathon.  I reminded her that if she could manage 6:40 mile pace for these K reps, which she was doing,  then a marathon pace of 7.20 will feel a "doddle" on the day......up to 15 miles at least, 
then time to dig in. As she did today.

  March 4th and there I was "cooling down" with a baselayer  , a Windstopper shortleeves and a Gore  Soft shell jacket on!  Sally had not lost the will to live but she had lost all feeling in her hands.  It was that kind of day but as I reminded her......NO GUTS!  NO GLORY!
  So as per last week I  salvaged the week with a Sunday speed session  and maintained the year's average with a 43 mile week.
 Sally meanwhile has completed her peak mileage week of 65 miles.  She will be grateful there's only 4 easy miles to do tomorrow before ploughing on towards the SPEN 20 mile race next Sunday.