Leeds based beginner

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05-01-2015, 12:59 PM
corredor

Leeds based beginner

Hello Fell Runners

I am a runner based in Morley, Leeds. I love running off road and especially love running up hills so it's a bit strange that despite almost 30 years on this planet, I've never actually got round to try fell running, although I've talked about "giving it a go" for about 15 of those years. So, enough talk: time for action!

I've never really run in races or with clubs but this (last?) year I ran in a few XC races with my university team (Sheffield) however as I am based in Leeds I have not found it easy to get to training. So I was wondering whether it would be better to join a club closer to home.

Also, would anybody be able to suggest some good locations around Leeds and/or Kirklees to start? My girlfriend and I enjoy off road running but at the moment only really go to Chevin, so I am hoping to get out and see a lot more.

Thanks!

Matthew
05-01-2015, 06:48 PM
IanDarkpeak

welcome Mathew, I'm sure many of my Yorkshire brethren will be along with sage advice bit Ilkley is great and not too far away, also Shipley Glen.
Certainly the dales.....

Did you run with ShUOc when in Sheffield?
06-01-2015, 05:44 PM
corredor

Hi Ian,
Thanks for that. At the moment I am with the Sheffield Athletics and XC team but the XC season seems to have been wrapped up for this year. I assume ShUOc is the orienteering/fell club? I am thinking that I could join them because I am in Sheffield a fair bit but I spend my evenings and weekends in Leeds, so was wondering whether somewhere closer to home would be better.
I think a trip to Ilkley is in order.
Thanks,
Matthew
06-01-2015, 06:16 PM
IanDarkpeak

Quite a few ShUoc members run with dark peak so you may be able to get a run out after uni before you go home?

Quote:

Originally Posted by corredor

Hi Ian,
Thanks for that. At the moment I am with the Sheffield Athletics and XC team but the XC season seems to have been wrapped up for this year. I assume ShUOc is the orienteering/fell club? I am thinking that I could join them because I am in Sheffield a fair bit but I spend my evenings and weekends in Leeds, so was wondering whether somewhere closer to home would be better.
I think a trip to Ilkley is in order.
Thanks,
Matthew
06-01-2015, 08:59 PM
Rob Furness

Ilkley is definitely a good start, there's a good variety of routes you can try on Ilkley moor and it's accessible for parking or via train etc. so should be worthwhile visiting. I would advise parking on wells road near the moor and running from there, if you pick an OS map up you'll be able to find several different route variations quite easily. Then it's a short walk back into Ilkley town where there are several cafes and pubs for after if you fancy that sort of thing.
07-01-2015, 02:35 PM
DinoF

Ilkley Moor and Blubberhouses Moor (to Beamsley Beacon or Round Hill) are definitely great places to run off road if you are really getting bored of the Chevin (seems unlikely) and haven't time to get out in to the Dales.

If you fancy exploring the Chevin more, then from April to September, Horsforth Fellandale train there on Wednesday evenings. We're (whoops, given it away there ;) ) all based in and around Leeds, and very often do off road club runs during the winter, either longer runs at weekends or headtorch runs during the week.
07-01-2015, 03:33 PM
GrahamPilling

Hello Matthew, have a look at P&B if it's fells you're interested in. We're not a huge club but have picked up a few new members recently who are good runners but quite new to the fells, so perhaps similar situation to yourself.

We all race reguarly and have a few group runs up in the Dales coming up as people begin training for Three Peaks and other longer races.

Have a look at the website and you can see what we get up to as well as the ethos of the club: www.pudseybramley.com

You'd be very welcome to join us for a Tuesday eve training session as a try out with no obligation to join. Any questions, feel free to drop me an email via [email protected]
07-01-2015, 05:09 PM
wrecker

you cant beat a bit of P & B.......from a Morley based P & B runner. Give us a shout via the website & I can soon show you a few trails!
07-01-2015, 08:24 PM
GrahamPilling

Who's this? I don't know anyone's Forum Code Names! ;) :)

edit: actually I figured it out, aye up Gnarly Mac!
07-01-2015, 10:17 PM
Vegan Runner

Don't forget that the Peak District is only an hour (or so) from Leeds.
10-01-2015, 12:52 PM
corredor

Hi All,

It has been a busy end of the week and I've not been able to get back here. Thanks for your comments and advice!

Ian - Thanks for the suggestion! I think I will see what happens when it starts to get lighter in the evening.

Rob - Thanks for the advice! I have dug out an OS map and it seems there are some striking routes. I have also found a 10 mile walk in a guide I have lying around that starts at Cow and Calf so I might try that as well.

DinoF - I will also have a look at Blubberhouses Moor (great name!). We are intending to try a "mountain race" (carrera de montaña) near my girlfriend's home in Spain, which has a lot of steps... so I'm at least going to try and get some sessions on the steps at Otley Chevin before then. My girlfriend likes Chevin a lot and works in Leeds so I might try and get her along to a session when the weather becomes more suited to the Spanish taste.

Graham - Thanks for that. I think I will try a session to see what it is like. I will be in touch!

wrecker - Thanks a lot for your offer! I will be in touch! It would be good to know someone nearby. Are there any trails around Morley worth running? I am getting a bit tired of the roads up and down to Batley.

Vegan - Yes, especially from where I live, Google Maps tells me I am more or less equidistant from the two!

Thanks again for your help!

Matthew
31-01-2015, 05:17 PM
plodding bear

Can you get to leeds train station easily? The settle - Carlisle line effectively starts from there so that opens up a wealth of possibilities.
Train to Ribblehead, whernside and ingleborough, off park fell and into the Station inn (er, next to the station!) for some well earned rehydration.
Marvellous day out!
02-02-2015, 05:25 PM
Datt

I live in Drighlington a few miles from Morley, if you’re looking for hilly, off road runs then you don’t have to look much further than Tong and Fulneck valleys if you don’t have the time to travel farther afield. Both are within easy running distance of Morley and you can easily get a 10mile run with 1800ft of climb in just by zig zagging across the valley/s using the numerous footpaths, cart tracks and the Leeds Country way
26-02-2015, 11:49 AM
corredor

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datt

I live in Drighlington a few miles from Morley, if you’re looking for hilly, off road runs then you don’t have to look much further than Tong and Fulneck valleys if you don’t have the time to travel farther afield. Both are within easy running distance of Morley and you can easily get a 10mile run with 1800ft of climb in just by zig zagging across the valley/s using the numerous footpaths, cart tracks and the Leeds Country way

Thanks Datt! I've just discovered the Leeds Country Way as access to the bit around the quarry near Batley (I live at the Tingley end so this is the nearest access point for me). It looks like I can follow it all the way to Tong and Fulneck so I will give that a go soon!
26-02-2015, 11:54 AM
corredor

Quote:

Originally Posted by plodding bear

Can you get to leeds train station easily? The settle - Carlisle line effectively starts from there so that opens up a wealth of possibilities.
Train to Ribblehead, whernside and ingleborough, off park fell and into the Station inn (er, next to the station!) for some well earned rehydration.
Marvellous day out!

Thanks! The train is definitely an option. For some reason I hadn't thought of it and was trying to work out routes that went into the Peak District via Sheffield so that I could finish near a pub without having to drive back. It's weird how you get tunnel vision with routines! I (used to) catch the train to Sheffield for work so in my head train = Sheffield, even though I go via Leeds...
27-02-2015, 05:52 PM
DinoF

Quote:

Originally Posted by corredor

Thanks Datt! I've just discovered the Leeds Country Way as access to the bit around the quarry near Batley (I live at the Tingley end so this is the nearest access point for me). It looks like I can follow it all the way to Tong and Fulneck so I will give that a go soon!

I ran the LCW in a day last year. I definitely recommend Tingley all the way round to Thorner via Fulneck, Horsforth, Harewood and Bardsey. After that, not so much...
16-07-2015, 08:16 PM
3755

Have you tried running around Howley moor? From Tingley roundabout head towards Dewsbury. About a mile down the road there is the church on the left. Opposite is a car garage (Peugeot I think). Go up the road with the garage on your left. About 400-500 yards up you will find footpath signs on your left into the woods. Or pass them and when the road turns 90 degrees right go straight on over the boulders. There are various tracks around there to get anything from a couple of miles up to 10 miles with a bit of zig zagging. If you keep heading down you can go left and end up on Soothill Lane or right and onto Scotchman lane, they'll lead back towards Tingley/Morley respectively
16-07-2015, 08:18 PM
3755

Howley Moor

Have you tried running around Howley moor? From Tingley roundabout head towards Dewsbury. About a mile down the road there is the church on the left. Opposite is a car garage (Peugeot I think). Go up the road with the garage on your left. About 400-500 yards up you will find footpath signs on your left into the woods. Or pass them and when the road turns 90 degrees right go straight on over the boulders. There are various tracks around there to get anything from a couple of miles up to 10 miles with a bit of zig zagging. If you keep heading down you can go left and end up on Soothill Lane or right and onto Scotchman lane, they'll lead back towards Tingley/Morley respectively
28-07-2015, 11:48 AM
corredor

Thanks 3755, yes I do know the one! Although now I have a name to put to the place I call "near the quarry". In fact, I have a way of getting there via Rein Road, which takes you to the Leeds Country Way by the football club opposite the church. If you're coming from Tingley Bar, there is a footpath immediately on the right after the bridge over the motorway. That's a nicer way of getting there.
In the winter, with the snow, it felt like my own bit of wilderness when the whiteout removed all signs of life.
04-08-2015, 07:35 PM
MickTor

From the Amazon review..
Avoid, heavily spamvertised.
I would avoid this like the plague. There are a ton of obviously bought astroturfing reviews, and a massive spam posting campaign on various running forums trying to drive traffic here. It stinks.

Also, the picture of "Steve Winzo" is a piece of Creative Commons stock photography, as fake as this spammy book:

http://fotomelia.com/?download=portr...bres-de-droits

..or behold all the spammy pages using it as a fake user pic via google image search:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/fakewinzo

Scambag alert!
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04-08-2015, 07:55 PM
mr brightside

I say all this user's posts be moved to the sockpuppet lounge.
05-08-2015, 05:50 AM
Jez Hellewell

I'm biased, but another "Ilkley" vote! Plus it's on a train line so you can have a few "recovery beers" in The Flying Duck afterwards & collapse on to the train home!
19-02-2017, 12:21 AM
ollyh

I'm in Gildersome, so probably not a million miles away. I've done a few 10ks and half marathons and a handful of fell races about 4-5 years ago. Looking to get back into this side of things. The LCW lloks like a good option. If you feel like doing a section of it any time soon (so long as it's a weekend) give me a shout and I'll be more than up for joining you.
19-02-2017, 12:25 AM
ollyh

Just seen the last post on this thread was 2 years ago. The offer of company on runs is still open but perhaps given that timescale it's not especially relevant anymore.