Chevin Chase 2009

Dave Thompson I believe!

"T-rees a jolly good fellow!"

Chevin Run

Abbey Dash 2009

Set out with Willie Milne at 8:15 on what had been forecast to be a windy and cold day...but found a pleasant Autumn morning waiting instead!

Great run - I could not have worked any harder and got a 2nd best ever 10K result of 47:59 - yes! that counts as 47 minutes, in the same way that my marathon time of 4hours 1 minute was over 4 hours!

Great runs from Willie, Kev Nicholson, Debbie Hoos, John and Helen Bradbury, Alec Pinto and others who I will name in an update

Anyone interested in me putting club race times up on this or another blog? (like I used to do on the old website). Post a comment if you think this would be a good idea.

Better also make a link to this blog as the link from the club website may cease to exist soon

Russ

Guy Fawkes 10

Andie, Jane and myself headed off in torrential rain on Sunday morning to Ripley to run the Guy Fawkes 10 mile race.

The wind picked up and armed with bin bags and hats we tried to stay dry before the race began at 10:30 - unsuccessfully! At one stage Andie said that she preferred being inside a portaloo to being outside!

Race eventually began at 10:40am - we had to wait for the number 22 bus to come past first!

Steady progress through the castle and narrow trails for 2 miles until the field spread out a bit and then I saw a sign for The Birstwith Brute! Now any race that actually has a name for a hill must take it seriously - 1 mile of 45 degree ascent later I could see why!

Field now well spread out and running steady with the rain now easing off slightly until we hit the next hill - nothing like the brute though!

Heading back to the finish in the castle forecourt - a welcome sight. Nice goody bag with plenty of Nestle product (race sponsors) and a decent sweatshirt.

Great race/route - better weather next time please

Not one of my better runs...

Went out on Tuesday evening to do the Calverley - Rodley - Rawdon hills run. 7.5 miles of 3 hills which is usually a good workout and a chance to listen to a few tunes on the mp3.

Raining when I set off - not a problem I thought - done this plenty before

Got heavier - driving rain into face just as I hit the first hill.

Can't get any worse I thought...then I ran into some dogshit covered by leaves

...which then stuck to my trainer

...then my mp3 player battery ran out

Still, mustn't grumble!

Thanks

Just wanted to say a big thankyou to everyone who came up to me today at the club and thanked me for what I had done

...and I'm still thinking...what HAD I done?

I will continue to write this blog as a club runner - thanks to those people who came up to me and said they liked reading it - you can post a comment if you want to and you don't have to leave a name!

It felt right today just heading out with a group and running and chatting at the finish

Now training for the Guy Fawkes 10 Miler at Ripley on 1st Nov and for the Abbey Dash at the end of November

Running feels good again!

Russ

Standing down as coach / head coach

A decision not taken lightly, but here goes as to an explanation...

Filling the shoes of someone like John Radigan was never going to be an easy job for anyone in the club. Bev did a good job when he left, but then her own personal pressures forced her to hand over to me.

At the time this happened, I was seriously considering whether or not to continue as a coach. I felt that the social running structure at the club did not really "fit" with the notion of traditional coaching - where a group turn up for a regular session and have a structured workout.

But I tried! I published a marathon training program and ran some sessions on Saturdays involving hill and fartlek training, but did not seem to inspire people to join me.

I would really like to see a juniors section at the club, and if this happens, you may see me back coaching them.

Thanks to anyone who gave me support and encouragement, and keep on running!

Russ