Haworth Hobble

[mr brightside]

Thanks to Keighley and Craven for a bloody good day out, 7ish mins slower than last year, would have been more if not for that nip of Whiskey at Mankinholes (Cheers Luke).

You're welcome Steve, can't stand the stuff myself. It was reputed to be a pretty good Bourbon, nice caramel overtones and all that. It was interesting to see the range of reactions; one lasses face lit up like a christmas tree and she just banged it back, others just sipped frugally and a lot stood there staring at the bottle trying to talk themselves into it. One chap poured a bit into his water bottle and diluted it down to make it last exclaiming that it couldn't do any harm...that's the spirit! Nice to see the group of scots again near the back, always good craic with them lads.

[stevefoster]

Great pics from the Accymeister, cheers Ady, good to see you today mate.

[Fat-Lad]

Aye, they were two of them in gym pumps, cheaper than inov8's?k.

Sounds like a good idea

[Ady In Accy]

Great pics from the Accymeister, cheers Ady, good to see you today mate.

Cheers Steve.
How did this handsome rascal go on?

[kevspider]

I saw both pumps and 5 Fingers, but only in the first few miles... I tried to imagine what it would feel like across those stony paths if it were me - I'd have crumbled into a heap by the side of the track. The chap in the 5 Fingers was running off the track whenever he could, on the vegetation. And that was only half a mile into the race. Bet they finished though - you'd have to wouldn't you?

One of the guys (Wye Valley I think) wearing gym pumps finished in about 7:15.
I passed him and his 3 mates running rather gingerly down towards Hedben Bridge

[Alexandra]

Aye, they were two of them in gym pumps, cheaper than inov8's? Friend of mine spotted someone in Vibram 5 fingers as well, brave folk.

And just what is the difference between gym pumps and Bare Grips (aside from the grip, of course, and the price)?

[Antisocial]

My main and most lovely memory will be of Antisocial, He is a dab hand at fixing zips and galantly offered to fix my broken one. Not wanting everything to spill out I said "oh, yes please." And he obliged with ease and expertise!!! Everthing was tucked safely away in a jiffy.

Thank you everyone involved for my several bonks!!

It wasn't that kind of zip you perverts and i never touched her. Rachel you are too nice a lady to put yourself about like that.

[biara]

Anyone see that chap with the school gym pumps and no socks?
Did he get around alright?. Bet that was bloody painful later on

Spoke to one of those at mankinholes, he was chatting about the idea of it being analagous to barefoot running. He had run in them before and wasn't breaking records but was quite comfortable when he stopped for refreshments with us. There was no bravado at all in his actions, seemed very sensible indeed.

[Duff]

Although gutted to miss Hobbling this year I still managed to have a good morning cycling around the Tod /Hebden bit of the route and watching you all suffer. I realise now that I probably met MrB and Biara but didn't make the connection at the time.
Nice to see the usual suspects, and apologies to those I didn't get chance to speak to. I reckon Mr Merrylegs downed his dram with a bit more gusto than anyone else.
Got very muddy on the way home and by 2pm was hosing down the bike in the back garden after having to de-robe at the door before turning the water on. Not a very nice image I suspect.
Well done to you all, and next year I'll be back!

[Bob the Dog]

Another epic and well worth the 400 mile round trip from Edinburgh although I think my position might have been a bit better if the finish line had been around the 28 mile mark! Although organisation was well up to it usual high standards I think a special word of thanks goes to the Scouts who seemed to be manning most of the checkpoints in a very enthusiastic and competent manner with plenty of words of encouragement for old nags such as myself. Plus also a mention for the young ladies back at the school whose home baking was quite superb, the thought of which was just about the only thing that kept me going in those last few miles. Given all the bad press the "youth of today" often attract it is nice to be able to paint them in a positive light and today was indeed a shining example. Well done to you all.