Yesterday it was Otley AC's turn to host an event for the Yorkshire Veterans Athletic Association. It was only 5.8 miles (9.3 km) but if a club belongs to an association such as that then it should expect to stage a race once in a while. And if a person belongs to a running club they should expect to help out as a marshal, or similar, once or twice a year. It's not fun standing around in the rain on a cold March afternoon for 90 minutes though .
Good to see Helen Barber (Horsforth H) running well on the multi terrain course. You may remember that she and her partner (Tony Hazell) provided much help during my Run To London back in 2009. Wow, was that really three years ago ?
Today was different though. Went for a long run this morning. Well, about 21.3 miles (34.2 km) up the valley to Addingham and back. Not hilly but far from flat either. Without pushing the pace at all I was out for about 2h 52 ... more than happy with that.
The sun was shining, it was a little breezy but all in all it felt warmer than expected and as promised a few days ago I just had a fun three hours (almost).
Feeling good ... fitness coming back ... testing nutritional stuff ... very happy ... expecting a better year than 2012.
Showing posts with label Helen Barber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helen Barber. Show all posts
Monday, 5 March 2012
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Washburn Valley Relay
Friday night was the annual Washburn Valley Relay and I ran for Otley Mixed A on the four mile stage 2. This has always been one of my favourite events as it takes place in one of my all time favourite running places - and it's just seven miles north of where I live too.
My stage comprised one complete circuit of Fewston Reservoir and I've raced along those paths seven times previously. Those previous times were:
19 June 1999 ... Otley AC handicap ... 24:03
25 May 2000 ... Otley AC handicap ... 24:57
6 June 2000 ... Washburn Valley Relay ... 24:17
6 June 2002 ... Otley AC handicap ... 27:12
24 July 2003 ... Otley AC handicap ... 27:23
14 June 2004 ... Otley AC handicap ... 28:17
17 April 2007 ... Otley AC handicap ... 26:23
16 July 2010 ... Washburn Valley Relay ... 25:47
My time this year was most surprising as it was my quickest in over ten years. I was not expecting that at all - the path around the reservoir is undulating, twisting and very narrow in places - how I managed to pass thirteen people I'll never know.
My team, which also comprised Sharron Smith and Renee Saxton finished 16th overall (out of 50) and second mixed team behind Pudsey Pacers.
Also, for the first time this year, there was a relay for junior runners on a 1.1 mile circuit. Overall a brilliant event at which I met up again with Helen Barber and Tony Hazell who played such a large part in last year's epic Run To London.
Thanks to everyone for organising and helping stage such an enjoyable event: Nick Hodgkinson, Julian Mawson, Chris Stacey, Andrew Robertshaw, Hugh Pearson, John Armitstead, Beate Schmidt-Rohlfing and I'm sure there are a few more whose names escape me ... apologies to them but well done.
My stage comprised one complete circuit of Fewston Reservoir and I've raced along those paths seven times previously. Those previous times were:
19 June 1999 ... Otley AC handicap ... 24:03
25 May 2000 ... Otley AC handicap ... 24:57
6 June 2000 ... Washburn Valley Relay ... 24:17
6 June 2002 ... Otley AC handicap ... 27:12
24 July 2003 ... Otley AC handicap ... 27:23
14 June 2004 ... Otley AC handicap ... 28:17
17 April 2007 ... Otley AC handicap ... 26:23
16 July 2010 ... Washburn Valley Relay ... 25:47
My time this year was most surprising as it was my quickest in over ten years. I was not expecting that at all - the path around the reservoir is undulating, twisting and very narrow in places - how I managed to pass thirteen people I'll never know.
My team, which also comprised Sharron Smith and Renee Saxton finished 16th overall (out of 50) and second mixed team behind Pudsey Pacers.
Also, for the first time this year, there was a relay for junior runners on a 1.1 mile circuit. Overall a brilliant event at which I met up again with Helen Barber and Tony Hazell who played such a large part in last year's epic Run To London.
Thanks to everyone for organising and helping stage such an enjoyable event: Nick Hodgkinson, Julian Mawson, Chris Stacey, Andrew Robertshaw, Hugh Pearson, John Armitstead, Beate Schmidt-Rohlfing and I'm sure there are a few more whose names escape me ... apologies to them but well done.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Guinness World Records (TM)
Late last week I received an email from Guinness World Records (TM) about the Run To London which read:
"Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record attempt for 'run from Leeds to London'. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record."
"We receive over 60,000 enquiries a year from which only a small proportion are approved by our experienced researchers to establish new categories. These are not 'made up' to suit an individual proposal, but rather 'evolve' as a result of international competition in a field, which naturally accommodates superlatives of the sort that we are interested in. We think you will appreciate that we are bound to favour those that reflect the greatest interest."
"Guinness World Records has absolute discretion as to which Guinness World Record applications are accepted and our decision is final. Guinness World Records may at its discretion and for whatever reason identify some records as either no longer monitored by Guinness World Records or no longer viable."
Of course I'm disappointed and I thank everyone who has offered words of congratulations even though the event will not be recognised officially as a record.
All this was brutally put into perspective though by the news I received yesterday afternoon. As you will know if you were a regular reader of the Run To London blog, one of the helpers, Helen Barber (Sly), has a brother in law (Mick) who has penile cancer. Well, his cancer has spread and it isn't deemed curable ...
I really don't know what to say at this point. I've never met Mick but Helen and I have exchanged a couple of emails recently and obviously she's a bit numb with shock at the moment. I know from experience that the shock will pass and then the job becomes one of living life to the full - as much as is possible in light of things such as pain, swelling, morphine, etc.
I believe Helen knows this and, although my cancer obviously wasn't terminal, it does seem strange offering support because one of the few ways I know how to do that is to relate some of the things I saw and did whilst I had cancer. I also know that talking about one's own medical history can be incredibly boring and off putting to most people.
If ever Helen needs someone to talk to though, to 'get things off her chest' perhaps ... I am more than willing to be there for her. Just to listen, read her emails, whatever she wants.
"Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record attempt for 'run from Leeds to London'. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record."
"We receive over 60,000 enquiries a year from which only a small proportion are approved by our experienced researchers to establish new categories. These are not 'made up' to suit an individual proposal, but rather 'evolve' as a result of international competition in a field, which naturally accommodates superlatives of the sort that we are interested in. We think you will appreciate that we are bound to favour those that reflect the greatest interest."
"Guinness World Records has absolute discretion as to which Guinness World Record applications are accepted and our decision is final. Guinness World Records may at its discretion and for whatever reason identify some records as either no longer monitored by Guinness World Records or no longer viable."
Of course I'm disappointed and I thank everyone who has offered words of congratulations even though the event will not be recognised officially as a record.
All this was brutally put into perspective though by the news I received yesterday afternoon. As you will know if you were a regular reader of the Run To London blog, one of the helpers, Helen Barber (Sly), has a brother in law (Mick) who has penile cancer. Well, his cancer has spread and it isn't deemed curable ...
I really don't know what to say at this point. I've never met Mick but Helen and I have exchanged a couple of emails recently and obviously she's a bit numb with shock at the moment. I know from experience that the shock will pass and then the job becomes one of living life to the full - as much as is possible in light of things such as pain, swelling, morphine, etc.
I believe Helen knows this and, although my cancer obviously wasn't terminal, it does seem strange offering support because one of the few ways I know how to do that is to relate some of the things I saw and did whilst I had cancer. I also know that talking about one's own medical history can be incredibly boring and off putting to most people.
If ever Helen needs someone to talk to though, to 'get things off her chest' perhaps ... I am more than willing to be there for her. Just to listen, read her emails, whatever she wants.
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