A good little course through some of Leeds' secret woodland glades, in very mixed weather.
I saw Leeds Rhino and Chris Brown there. Were any other forumites involved, and if so, how did you get on?
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A good little course through some of Leeds' secret woodland glades, in very mixed weather.
I saw Leeds Rhino and Chris Brown there. Were any other forumites involved, and if so, how did you get on?
9th time I have done the race and slowest time ever today. 1hr and a few seconds.
I cant even use my plantar faciitis problem as an excuse really as it didnt bother me during the race. I think old father time has just really caught up with me this year.
3 solutions really ,1 pack it in 2 accept I'm a bit slower now and just enjoy my running or 3 train like hell and try to get back to previous years standards
not decided which option to take yet.
might feel better after tomorrows race, the pier to pier race at South Shields and Sunderland followed by a boozy afternoon with club mates.:D
Disregard option 1. That way lies misery.
Option 2 is pretty sensible for those of us over a certain age; but spice it up with a bit of option 3. It can also give a boost to age grade your times occasionally, or else mentally re-set your pb's, making this year your new year zero. Alternatively, avoid the problem by running in a different set of races.
And remember that most of the population, twenty-somethings included, would be amazed by anyone getting round that course in an hour.
These are my strategies, anyway!
Your devoted Agony Uncle,
Tussockface
PS You might feel your plantar fasciitis later on. Even if it didn't apparently trouble you in the race, you'll probably have been making subtle compensations for it, even if unconsciously. It probably did affect your time.
Good luck tomorrow.
As a rough guide to the slowing process you could try putting in a previous time for the approx distance together with your age when you did it. Then putting in your current age/performance and seeing how they equate on the age grade calculator
http://www.runbayou.com/Wavacalc.htm
A mate of mine has been using this for some years (he's over 65) and he reckons he's slowing between 5 and 6 seconds per mile per year.
Thanks Epocian.
I don't know if it'll cheer Leeds Rhino up, but it's given me a boost! Age graded, my last 10k and 5k runs give me new all-time pb's!
Off now to celebrate with a drink. Or should I treat what I now find is the body of an athlete with greater respect? ;)
Think it calls for a celebratory drink!! Enjoy it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
Decided to give it a miss this year having run it 6 times before. What were conditions like on the trail after Friday's rain?
Still pretty good underfoot. One or two puddles but nothing to call serious mud. Trail shoes were perfect, though you could probably have got away with road shoes. Studs would have been overkill.
Yeah I've only ever worn studs once in the race in the early days before they 'levelled' the path back from Meanwood Park itself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
When I first moved to Leeds in '95 I lived two minutes from the park/trail and it played a major role in motivating me to get out running again after a 4+ year break in early 1990s.
It does seem amazingly secluded/rural for somewhere so close to a major city centre. And I didn't spot any wrecked cars, abandoned shopping trolleys, or corpses, at all.
Ran around most of the race route today in advance of this year's race on 15 May, was bone dry apart from the one or two always wet/muddy sections.
Now to enter the race - anyone else planning on running it this year?
Interestingly despite the race being publicised as 7.5 miles (approx) the 'Map My Run' route on the event website is only 6.74 miles!
Do I do this race ,which is a 30 min bike ride from home or do I do one of my fave Lakeland races,Fairfield , cant decide at the moment
Virtually on my doorstep and I'm away that weekend... annoying!
Any other forumites running this on Saturday?
Was it only me then?
Good race this morning despite a personal worst of 58.18 (although there have been small subtle changes to the course since I last ran it in 2007). Very dry underfoot, pleasantly mild with a cooling breeze. First time I've walked up part of the steep climb in Meanwood woods as well as the Adel Crag climb!
Provisional results already at www.valleystriders.org.uk
Anyone else entering this year's race on 28 May?
Doing Ilkley trail on the monday so probably not, see how it goes I suppose
Would like to do this because it's so very local, but it's much too tough for me.
oh do 'em both, thats what I'm hopefully doing !Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness
feet up on Sunday:wink:
I'm tempted by both but will decide on the day for Ilkley.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leeds Rhino
Was out on the MVT including most of the race route today, almost completely bone dry apart from a couple of patches just south of 7 Arches and near the Slabbering Baby well.
I'm doing it now, it's one of our club champ races.
I'll have to try stay in front of your OH then BY!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Behind You
I can't believe my luck, staying with a friend in Alwoodly on Friday night, found this thread (never heard of the race) and discovered it starts about 100m from his house. Entries on the day accepted so that's my Saturday sorted.
No beers Friday night now though :-(
It's a really memorable race. Have fun! NB it is a lot more strenuous than the title "Trail Race" suggests.Quote:
Originally Posted by RichK
I was gonna run it in road shoes but the forecast is for a wet Sat morning so maybe trail shoes now.
Probably Kanadias for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leeds Rhino
Boo! Does that really mean no beers tonight then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexandra
A cracking race as always, with the dry underfoot conditions only slightly counteracted by the breeze. Happy with my time of 55.29 as almost 3 mins faster than last year.
Good to see Behind You's other half well inside the hour too - hope you guys caught your bus ok - yes that was me tooting as I drove by!
Hope you enjoyed it RichK!
Yeah that was a really good race. Lovely route, I really like not knowing the course and taking it as it comes.
Probably the first race since October where I've relaxed and enjoyed it, feel like I'm nearly back to normal.
(Blencathra on Wednesday, not sure I'll be so bullish after that).
Provisional results + links to photos etc up at: http://www.valleystriders.org.uk/trail.htm
This year's race is back to an April date - 14th to be exact - anyone else entered yet?
Did as part of the "Airedale triple" last year, it's a nice run with a real sting in the tail at the end re the small cliff you have to climb! Unfortunately away this year otherwise would have considered it.
That's the best part of the race and where my current avatar pic comes from!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by protodoc
Week before London, so definitely not running it. Have offered my services to Bob J to marshal (and take some photos) if VS are a bit short though. It will mean I have to help our rival club out, but I was bribed by beer!
Will see if my services are required!
I may come down and watch anyway - it's only a 2mile trip down the road.
I'm doing it, for about the 12th time ! Pleasant enough way to spend a Saturday morning
Anyone else running this tomorrow?
I'll be there :)
Looks like you had a good run Rob (5th or 6th?).Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness
I was content with my 57:35 mins for 71st though feel I relaxed too much on the narrower paths particularly on the way to 7 Arches. Perfect weather for it today.
6th MT. Pretty happy with that. I'm running well just at the moment. Long may it continue :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Multiterrainer
It's quite a tough route actually. Flat enough overall to be quite quick, but with some rough ground and a few surprisingly steep climbs. I ran 45:45. Might as well do the last one of the series now too, if I'm free next Sunday.
Good stuff Rob. It was my 9th time at the race in the 18 years its been going and having run the inaugural one. There's been a few course changes over the years as numbers have increased but current course gives best of both world's, and you say some fast flattish running but with the steep climbs- love the climb up through the woods after entering Meanwood Park! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness