Llandegla Dash in the Dark - January 20th 2012
Simon Phillips writes:
Three Whippets and, hopefully, a couple of soon to be Whippets met at Llandegla Forest Visitor Centre for race 1 of the "Dashes in the Dark" series.
The series consists of three night races on an off-road course around Llandegla Forest of about 4 miles.
We'd completed night laps as part of the Thunder Run 24hr, but were expecting this to be a more challenging course and we weren't to be disappointed!
With over 70 runners lined up in the car park, all with head torches blazing, it was a one lap mad dash around the car park to get a good position before ascending into the forest proper.
The course was a perfect mix of different terrain and gradients. From gravel paths, boggy mud, roller coaster boarded paths used by the mountain bikes to branch strewn sections.
The course also included technical bits through the trees and even a tiny stream to run across. After several climbs came a very steep descent with heavy mud at the bottom. I don't think I was the only one, lets say politely, to lose my footing at that point!
The course was well marked and marshalled, and even I managed to find my way around without getting lost.
Graham Jones was the the first Whippet home, closely followed by Dean Richards and then myself. The official results haven't been published yet, but we may have all been much closer than expected, so it's all on for race 2 on the 10th February.
The race was finished off with a reasonably priced large mug of soup and roll at the visitor's centre. All in all a really enjoyable race and with two more left, maybe we'll see a few more Whippets at the next one.
Mortimer Forest 10 Mile Hill Race - December 4th 2011
Simon Phillips writes:
Myself and Brian headed out to Ludlow to take part in the 10 mile Mortimer Forest Hill Race on Sunday.
Well over 300 runners lined up at the bottom in reasonable weather which turned to rain half way around.
I’d say this is one of, if not the toughest race I’ve done, with what feels like relentless climbs and descents,
many extremely steep and the ground underfoot deep, thick and slippery mud with all the rocks and tree roots you’d expect in a forest.
Just up my street, but perhaps not for some in the club. There are some glorious views en route, although with the concentration required you can’t spend too long looking.
I finished 104th in 94:10 and Brian 138th in 98:34. I’m sure it’ll be one to do again, hopefully we can get a few more Whippets taking part next year.
Helena Tipping 10k - December 4th 2011
It will be one of those trick quiz questions - when was the Helena Tipping 10k run twice in a single year! Fortunately it wasn't iced over this time round; but it was miserably cold and wet by the finish! I'm guessing it was easier
to run in than to stand around in!
Anyway, a good twenty-plus whippets assembled on the start line. It was also good to see Adam Richards, Rachel Ashley and Karena Evans in action.
First Whippet home was Graham Jones in 36:58. Next in was John Dillon setting a new Age Record and banishing his racing blues. First lady home for us was Laura Fisher in 46:48.
Best female performance of the day though came from Christine Henderson who set a new age record.
The race was the first in the new Club Championship series based on age performances. John Dillon leads the way for the men with Richard Stewart and Jeff Clarke in 2nd and 3rd place.
Christine Henderson heads the women with Jean Bancroft and Laura Fisher next. The next qualifying race in the series is the Village Bakery Half Marathon in February. Won't it be great
to be back running round the Wrexham Industrial estate!
Stiperstone Time Trial- November 28th 2011
Myself, Simon, Rob and Dean headed off to the Shropshire hills for the Little Stretton to Stiperstones time trial -
the aim being to get from point A to point B as quick as you can taking any route you choose. We eventually got to the
finish to drop one car off - after Simon and Dean decided to follow the sat nav rather than a map. After about 20 minutes
of waiting they arrived and we headed off in one car to make the trip over the Burway to the start.
That was quite an experience with a 300 meter drop on my side of the car!!!.
We made it to the start and checked in, me and Simon one team and Rob and Dean the other, a final decision was made
about the route and we headed to the start line.
Myself and Simon set off first with a 20 second start over Rob and Dean, I think we were the only teams not to use the favoured route
of Ashes Hollow and instead opted for the steeper but flatter route - the top Batch Valley option. Dean and Rob were slightly concerned
about our route choice when an old lady shouted out of her kitchen window informing them they were going the wrong way, undeterred
we all marched on.
Me and Simon headed the way up and over the Longmynd only losing sight of Dean and Rob once or twice - I was hoping that they
would lose sight of us and then take a wrong turning giving us a chance of beating them over the finish line.
Running down the Longmynd was exciting having to make split decisions about which part of the heather to run though next. We then hit
the road and it was then a straightforward run into Bridges, unfortunately the pub was closed otherwise a swift half might have been had!!.
The next stage of the race was to find a route over the Stipperstones. We opted for the road along the base up into a farm yard and then
a nip over the top and down a tarmac path to the finish line. Still Dean and Rob had not caught us and it looked like the
unexpected victory was on. Myself and Simon were spurred on by this and continued to run all the way over the Stipperstone
and down the other side. A slight wrong turn was taken coming down where I decided to try and ditch my team mate
by taking him over a near vertical grass/prickly bush drop which ended in me on by backside!! I picked myself up and it was
then a very quick dash to the finish line down an easy tarmac path.
An anxious wait was to ensue, with Rob and Dean eventually arriving 3 minutes behind us which meant the underdogs
had won the day. A much needed and well deserved pint was then had in a very crowded Stipperstones Inn.
We decided to head back to pick the other car up from the start and eat in one of the Little Stretton pubs,
both were fully booked, Simon looked like he was going to start eating his own arm he was that hungry. Eventually
we called in at the Pound Inn at Cardington and had a very nice roast beef dinner sat by a lovely open fire.
All in all it was a great day, and is certainly a race to look out for next year, I have been tasked with finding
a shorter and quicker route but when I find it I’m not going let Dean or Rob know as I am sure they will be out for revenge.
Simon Phillips adds:
It was a really good relaxed event, well organised, good weather bar the gusty winds and very scenic.
I think we'll all be doing it again next year. Highly recommended for those who want a bit of a different challenge.
Just a shame I didn't scan the chip a bit quicker at the end which would have moved us up a place.
Simon and Brian were 26th tea in a time of 83 minutes and 18 seconds. Rob and Dean were 32nd in 86 minutes and 3 seconds.
Flying Fox 10 - November 6th 2011
Dave Wilson accompanied by Brian(Brain) Hickson and Laura Fisher ventured over to Stone for the Flying Fox 10. Dave writes:
Well it has been a long season pounding the hills of Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas but I ran in the final North Staffs Road Racing of 2011 today.
Race number 20 The Flying Fox 10, a tough workout in near perfect conditions I came home in 59th position in 1:10:17.
I’m very pleased to finish my first full year with NSRRA in 5th place overall in group B, having completed 15 out of the 20 events, including 1 marathon, 1 20 miler, 3 X half marathons, a 10 miler, a 15k, a 7 miler, 3 X 10k, 3 X 5 mile and a 4 miler (including 4 races in 2 weeks in July).
Now time to let the IT band make a full recovery and spend some quality time with the family.
Deja Vu Track Marathon Crewe - November 6th 2011
Juliet Salem sneaked over to Crewe to take part in the horrendous sounding 105 lap Track Marathon. Juliet writes:
I completed the Deja Vu Track Marathon in Crewe today in 4 hours 29!!! (I did wear my garmin in the end, but I put some tights over it to stop me from obsessing!).
The Garmin says I ran a lap more than I should, but the lap guy insisted I ran another one!! I suppose the watch might have been confused by the laps, but I will wait and see what the results say when they are published.
The race was brilliantly organised, runners were chipped and everyone there was very friendly. The race consisted of 105.5 laps, which despite needing focus and concentration to complete, it was in my opinion the only way to run a marathon!
105 water stops, no hills,a smooth and slightly springy surface, access to your own gels/ drinks without having to carry them and getting to know the runners at the front of the field when I was running near the back!!
Oh, and the goody bag was the best I have ever had at an event. The race was only open to 35 runners due to the capacity of the track, but if the Sandbach Striders decide to put the event on again next year, I would reccomend it to anyone - it is definately a race to achieve personal bests.