Well done Nick, welcome to the stable:thumbup:
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No worries Simon, I managed not to knacker myself. I started off alright with Helen and it was pretty easy going, the icy conditions didn't seem to upset my dodgy leg at all. I did intend to pull out before we headed up towards Harvey Smith's gallops and head back to Guisely, but seeing as we were just jogging and it felt easy I carried on. As we came onto the road section off the Chevin Helen got her head down and made a bolt for the finish, but I thought that might be pushing it a bit so I just took it steady, finishing around 4.13. Really impressed by your finishing time, I reckon it was those bare legs that made you push it - you're a better man than me fella, it definitely got a bit nippy up on top of the moors. :)
First time for me on the new course - last time was 2004/2005 I think? Back then had a PB of 3:49 but always wet/windy/boggy - today 3:50 with the solid ground but felt pretty terrible wthin the first hour and was tempted to retire at Baildon trig (tired legs from too many tough long runs in the past month) so reckon I could have done a bit better with fresh legs. Very happy with my time still and thankful I didn't get caught for too long in that snow - the poor walkers and marshals. Yes it was pretty nippy on the tops - probably should have made the effort to stick a jacket on at some point but down below it was warm enough. Must reccie from White Wells to Menston as I'd forgotten it today!
I can confirm that the right turn at the top of Rocky Valley up, across and left down to cross the culvert is faster than continuing ahead and down to the stream before turning right uphill - to the tune of 30 seconds (approx, not that I was timing it or anything).:rolleyes:
Well I dropped down to the stream, and then up. I closed right up to someone who hadn't been in sight and scooted away from those behind me, so I think I'll beg to differ! :-)
Yes I also went down and up, despite having looked at the conduit crossing on a recce. I followed a group I'd gained on going up RV which included an Ilkley Harrier who'd mentioned he'd run it a few times before, and didn't find it particularly difficult. Did see another group of 3 coming further from the left/lower down to join us as we reached Pancake Stone but no-one going up to/coming along from the conduit at that time.
I should have added that I think most of the leaders took the up/conduit route. This is based purely on a dog walker shouting at me as I crossed the stream that everyone one else was 'up there' - so presumably I was one of the 1st through on the low route, or in a minority up to that point? I was counted through in 29th soon after that.
I took the up/conduit route and it felt like the better route. I never caught sight again of the group that took the 'down' option just ahead of me; I don't know if this means their route was much faster or much slower. Unhelpfully for this thread, all I can say is that it was one or the other, but the difference was significant!
The snow started just as I was coming off the moor. The flakes were tiny and light but also hard; they made a tinkling sound as they fell....which was nice.
I was very conscious of carrying an injury but at least it didn't seem to get any worse so I kept going and made it round in just over four and a half hours, a few minutes behind Socks who, having been nowhere in sight, unexpectedly shot out of a ginnel just before Otley Road and quickly disappeared into the distance.