Category: Race Report (Page 2 of 10)

Chats not stats

To be able to do the Three Peaks Fell Race, runners have to finish two qualifier races. So this time last year I started hunting down qualifier races and used them for training and to see if I was ‘ard enough for the actual event.

Jumping in at the deep end, I chose Tour of Pendle 2021. My first AL (bloody steep (“A”) and long (“L”)) race. Mud, sweat, tears (of pride at the end). Tick. Next qualifier wasn’t til March; Coledale Horseshoe. AM (bloody steep (“A”), not as long as Pendle (“M”)). I got overtaken by a chump in a cowboy hat. Less mud, more sweat, no tears. Tick.

I’d qualified. Oh shit. Now I had to enter! And even worse, run the bloody three peaks. I’d tried two of them together in February and despite copious pork pie scoffing and friendly company I had a tough time of it. Other training runs had me trotting three of the peaks in the Wicklow Mountains whilst visiting friends, stomping round the forests of Fontainbleau on a climbing trip, running from Meanwood to Harrogate Baths for a well-deserved soak, and jogging the espresso round (spoiler, you don’t get a free espresso at the end from the café, the bastards).

The Three Peaks Fell Race day came. I got round just within the cut-offs, and had lots of jolly faces to support me along the way. It was great to get it in the bag and be part of such an amazing and inspiring event. But the thing I noticed 10km in was that I hadn’t really done a single training run on my own, and I so missed having a buddy to share snacks and chats with and not worry about the time.

And so began “Chats Not Stats”.

I deleted Strava and pencilled in some long-run adventures with all my favourite running pals and entered a handful more ALs. Some highlights were the Bob Graham Round over three days with the club, the Ilkley Skyline, the Wharfedale Three Peaks, a stunning ridge run on holiday in Spain, a few very sweaty summer Lakeland and Dales races, and to finish what we started on the Espresso Round I did the Tea Round with the BGR girls.

To book-end this year of long runs, I ran Tour of Pendle again, and guess what… I did it in pretty much the same time. Which goes to show, you don’t need a year of long runs to drag your ass round an AL. Just get out there and do it!

Top 5 things I learned this year:

  1. Don’t put red sauce on your pre-run sausage butty, it leaves a funny vinegar taste in your mouth which no amount of jelly babies can get rid of.
  2. Do keep on top of your salts (I’m looking at you Emma Lane), and if you don’t like the taste go for the tequila shot method; salt, water, lemon fizzy sweet.
  3. Do bring spare dry socks to avoid white wrinkly bog-ridden toes.
  4. Do have lots to eat (Niamh’s tip is: if you’re in a grump it’s probably because you need a feed… which means I need a lot of feeds!)
  5. Don’t underestimate the power of bonhomie!

Helen Freeman

Harriers vs Cyclists

Bingley, 19/11/22

This event is a competition between runners and cyclists with (usually) the first 10 in each category to score. The winning team holds the Fisherman Trophy for one year. The trophy is named after The Fisherman Inn from where the race starts and where the prize giving takes place afterwards. On the few occasions where a bucket of lukewarm water is not provided in the pub cellar to shift all that ground in dirt, ample washing facilities can be found in the nearby Leeds-Liverpool canal!

BIngley Harriers

The race starts at 2pm, I have just arrived at about 20 minutes to 2pm and the woman who has just given me my race number has explained that I should always bring my own safety pins. I haven’t brought any safety pins, and neither has Ian, who gave me a lift. A comedy lengthy search of Mike’s car turns up one safety pin which I stick through my vest and number.

We change very quickly in Ian’s van and run to the start line, stopping to pee along the way. Across a bridge along a canal and across another bridge into a muddy field full of fell runners and cyclists. We arrive just in time and manage to each scrounge a couple of pins in time to get into the race pen.

Dan keeping the cyclists at bay for now

Then we are off, up a steep grassy bank. The cyclists wheeling or carrying their bikes and everyone getting caught in a squeeze at the first gate. Off we go. This is my first race since the spring as I have had a prolonged bout of too much work and then injury, so I need to remember to go steady and not get too carried away.

The route is great, across boggy fields, through the woods, across streams and up to the top of the moor in the fog. By this time I have forgotten to take it easy and I am having way too much fun trying to chase down the people in front whilst also trying to avoid being destroyed by a cyclist firing down at full pelt.

Then on the final ascent up a steep and narrow ginnel I spot my friend Rob in his Ilkley vest and think it’s a great idea to try to beat him. I fire up the hill and catch up with Rob just before we cross the final boggy field home. I overtake him and victory is in sight but the bog and the sprinting down hill catch up with me and he gets back in front beating me to the finish.

It turns out I am still a bit out of practice. It’s a fantastic race with pie and peas in the clubhouse afterwards, and wonderfully organised by Andy Brown of Bingley Harriers. Was a runner or cyclist victorious this year? Results here.

Daniel Starkey

Adventure racing in Lesotho – A short film

Earlier this year I received a message out of the blue asking if I wanted to join a team heading to Lesotho for a 5-day, non-stop adventure race. The fact that I’d never heard of the country made me all the more curious to join the team. So despite the facts that a) it was just two weeks away, b) I’d not raced with the team of 4 before,  and c) I’d done very little long distance training recently, I said yes. What did I have to lose?

In case you are wondering, Lesotho (le-soo-too) is a small enclave inside South Africa, known as “The Kingdom in the Sky”. The whole country is higher than the highest point in the UK.

Things didn’t quite go to plan, I was ill in the days leading up to the race, but made the decision to start the 5-day, continuous race and see how it unfolded. As the race progressed we got into a good rhythm, I felt a bit better and we found ourselves towards the front of the race. 

Rather than write about the whole event, I took a Go Pro with me and documented the experience from the perspective of a racer. You can watch the 12-minute film on Youtube here: 

Later in the year I took part in another similar race in Scotland. Keep an eye out for another short video of that in the coming months.

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Ian Furlong

BRITISH FELL RELAYS 2022

Broughton Heights, Scottish Borders

What a spectacular weekend at the fell relays. Firstly a huge thanks to our team captains Emma Lane and Ollie Roberts for getting the teams together and dealing with all the red tape. A special thanks to Emma whose team, due to the volume of entries, wasn’t able to run, yet she gave up her time to support those who could. Other thanks to those who came to support: Dan, Sarah, Emma, Emma and Dom who gave encouragement, took photos and generally helped keep up morale.

Many of us arrived on Friday evening and stayed in tents, pods and vans just outside Peebles. I camped. A hot water bottle made possible a snug and cosy night. We woke to pouring rain which sounded pretty bad in the tent but it soon stopped, giving way to sunshine and glorious views of the surrounding hills. After a healthy breakfast and last minute kit checking and faffing, we arrived at the race field to find our shiny new shelters (thanks to Emma and Liz for sorting those!).

pic by Mike Ayres

Most of the teams were already there looking pretty happy and relaxed. Well, most team members were there. Dom’s group — who set off ages before us hadn’t arrived — and they had Ellis, the Women’s Open Leg 1 runner with them.

A bit of a panic when we got news that there had been a Sat Nav error that had sent them in the opposite direction. Someone was in trouble! They weren’t sure they’d make the start so Sarah was asked to step in and be ready to run if needed but Ellis arrived just in the nick of time. The race’s navigation leg 3 with maps, compass and real people proved much more reliable than Google Maps; some justification for the FRA’s insistence on banning GPS at races.

The race HQ was in a stunning location. It was in a valley surrounded by the hills we were about to climb which were grassy and smooth, displaying beautiful autumnal shades of green, russet, and brown.

Fell running is a low key, inclusive sport. Where else could you “compete” with elite athletes in the same event? I was on leg 4 which involves a lot of waiting but it means you can watch most of the event. However, Dark Peak, the winning team were in and off to the bar before I set off on my leg.

Dark Peak on a peak. Pic by Dom Nurse

The main event started promptly at 11 and my mass start (which I was very likely going to be part of) on leg 4 would set off at 15.25. Lots of time to relax, do a bit of browsing at Pete Bland’s and try not to be too nervous (not easy for me). I wasn’t particularly fit. I’d not done much training due to a few set-backs. I’m much improved now but training has been thin on the ground.

Less of the excuses (Ed — surely “reasons”?) and back to the race. First to finish in our team was Ann Brydon on leg 1. Ann had a great run and finished 5th in our V60 category.

Ann in her favourite place: on a hill. Pic by Dom Nurse

Next up were Sheelagh Ratcliff and Hilary Lane. All leg 2 runners reported a very tough route with huge climbs over about 7 miles. Sheelagh and Hilary were exhausted but delighted when they came in: great run you two. Martyn Price and Mike Ayres were on the nav leg. They were still out when my leg started but they reported no serious errors, had a good run and finished 7th. Nervous but resigned to my fate I set off up that bugger of a hill. The weather was fine but windy as we set off. Earlier we’d watched the elites and very few were running up that hill. What chance had I? It was clear that I would be doing a lot of walking!

It was a fully flagged route with a lovely grassy descent before the climb up to Hammer which was tough and seemed to go on forever. I thought I may be able to relax after that climb but then the weather came in. It was freezing! Sleet and a strong headwind. Perhaps I should join a gym or stick to park runs if I didn’t want these conditions. I gave myself a talking to, head down and spirits up as surely this is what fell running is all about.

Hilary by Sheelagh

It felt great when I could see the marquee in the race field and hear the cheers from the club as I came down that final descent to the finish. Thanks all for that and in the rain too. It means a lot.

Our team was 8th out of 9. However, the V60 rules are different from other mixed teams who have to have a team of 3 men and 3 women. The V60 teams can have any combination including all men. Out of 9 teams in our category, four were all men; the rest had mostly one or two women and the rest men. Ours had four women and two men. So by my reckoning, had there been a level playing field, we may have won!? Thanks Team V60. It was a great day out.

— Caroline Clarke (Leg 4, Team V60)

Results here.

Pics by Dom Nurse, Mike Ayres, Hilary Lane and Josh Day.

2022 London Marathon

After successfully gaining the NLFR club place in 2021, I was able to gain a good-for-age entry for this year’s TCS London marathon (a good-for-age for F50 is sub 4 hours, for M50 it is sub 3.15, 6,000 GFA places are allocated altogether, so running the time no longer guarantees an entry).

Over 40 000 runners competed in the 42nd year of the race. As some of you may remember from last year’s report, I ran a dysphoric* race. But, this year, with my time of 3.40.10, I was 12 and a half minutes faster!

This year I was better prepared: I had recced parts of the route and associated them with pleasant memories, I had focused on 10 minutes  of little core exercises on alternate days, I had no alcohol for four weeks leading up to the race (not that I drink much anyway) and I had followed a personalised plan from Josh Griffiths (that cost me about £100).

It was still a wave start race and I left on the third wave from the green start. The weather was dry and became sunny. This time, I felt good at the Cutty Sark (6 miles in), at Tower Bridge (half way) and continued to do so. I was meticulous with gels (every 4 miles), electrolyte tablets and water.

True to the race’s reputation, crowds shouted encouragement along the entire course. I pinned my name on my vest this time and people did encouragingly shout it. Our esteemed Mrs Dom Nurse cheered me on at the boat and  Mudchutes. I kept my pace regular and was passing people right up to the end, there was even some elbowing at points as the course remained congested. The final several miles, where you see the sights, were actually pleasant, I was not clinging on for dear life like last year. The finish line came quickly, then what seems like an endless walk up the segregated runners’ area up the Mall to collect baggage. I got two medals, the other for the Abbots World Marathon Series that age groupers were entered into too.

So, I’ve entered with a good-for age-time for 2023, when the race returns to its usual date of April. I’d certainly recommend running the London Marathon to anyone, even though it is at the polar opposite of the races most of NLFR run. A flat road marathon is an attritional metronomic cardiovascular challenge, with some mental resilience thrown in, there is little outlet for the technical skills of you brilliant off-roaders, but it might be worth a try for you all?

— Lisa Rudkin

*dysphoric (adj) from dysphoria (n): a state of unease or general dissatisfaction. From the Greek dusphoros: ‘hard to bear.’

Newlands Memorial Race

April 23rd, 2022

Having recced this one and raced it in the past I was quite confident of the route and hazards. Caroline, Niamh amd I were only there a couple of weeks before so I had got my bearings and knew it would be tough.

The long track and road section at the start of the race wasn’t my favourite stretch, but knowing I would soon be in the depth of Lakeland landscape I wasn’t too put off. My running suddenly came to an abrupt halt as I clambered-up the side of Robinson, (almost hands and feet in parts) . When I appeared at the top I was knocked sideways by tremendous gusts of wind , steadying myself I was immediately knocked over again and again before the wall of rock that greeted me.


Being terrified of heights was my main concern, along with this wild wind knocking me over, but I really didn’t want to lose my hat.

Image by Harry Bolton


After the first climb came more fierce winds and a second rock face. Once over this my energy levels were almost zero and my jelly legs took a while to recover , I was all over the place. I had a word with myself, pulled myself together and trundled on.

During the recce I had run most of the hills but that wasn’t happening in the race, (probably due to not stopping for picnics and photo shoots). I had quite forgotten what these Lakeland races were like. Down and over Hindscarth and Dale Head wasn’t bad but by this time I realised I was carrying far too much in the way of supplies and laughed at myself for being over cautious. I had a bag of cooked, chopped tofu, a pocket of dates, a bar and a gel. (Plenty for a Bob Graham round).
Dale Head was another gusty one but I stayed upright. Up towards High Spy and my brain wouldn’t shut up from saying, “high spy with my little eye something beginning with.. H…hill, S… sky” etc etc. I even said “shut up Ann” out loud.


I enjoyed Maiden Moor but then I started singing folk songs with the word maiden in the lyrics. (Shame I’m not fast enough to run away from myself.) I began to feel at peace when I knew I was nearing the end and was greeted by the support team. Hilary was shouting, “do you want some sweets?” but I declined so she shouted, “but I searched for these vegan ones especially for you!” (Sorry, Hilary.)


The last section was easy enough but as soon as I hit the road my calf cramped up but as the end was in sight it didn’t bother me too much. My time wasn’t quite as fast as my previous time but I had done it and was pleased enough with that.


Free beer would have been great if I drank. I asked if they had zero alcohol beer and the bartender told me there was alcohol free tea and water outside so I downed some of that instead.


What a great race with breathtaking scenery. Thankyou to the support team of
Hilary , Caroline, Martin, Linda and Jonny with his cowbells.

Ann Brydson Hal

Credit for cover image: Harry Bolton

The other Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon (UK) :18th April, 2022

For the first time ever, I had paid for a training plan for this marathon from coach Josh Griffiths (who ran a 2.14.49 London Marathon in 2017). Anyway, I followed this plan to the letter following the dysphasia of my London marathon last year. Boston is again an incredibly flat marathon; it is a circular route around the arable fields of Lincolnshire, no hills, no anything.

It was a warm day with a gentle sea breeze. The race still started in waves, so like London, I wasn’t sure how I was doing. My plan of nutrition disintegrated when my five gels fell out of my bumbag at the start, I scrabbled to get them from under pounding feet and lost two due to burstage, not a good start (there were none on the course either). The marathon, was as always, increasingly psychologically challenging.

The initial gambolling runners were reduced to limping figures in the last six miles, the flatness (total ascent over 26 miles is 86 feet) like running on a treadmill. Many were tempted by the turn-off for the concurrent half marathon. My second half pace dwindled, but I developed fortitude in the last two miles and passed many finishing in 3.47.38, 6th in my age group and 40th woman. It does give me an entry time for Boston USA should I ever fancy it and a further London good-for-age time for 2023. London 2022 next? The winning man was Lincoln runner William Strangeway in 2.25.11 and first woman was Natasha White in 2.59.07.


This is me and friend Keith at the end.

Lisa Rudkin

The Abbey Dash

Sunday 24th October 2021.

I ran this race for old time’s sake last month. The Abbey Dash was founded by Abbey Runners and more specifically Colin and Hetta Morath. Hetta has remained an inspiration to female runners and continued racing into her 70s. Colin very sadly died from a brain tumour a few years ago, still a fit and relatively young man. I have co-written this article with Hetta.

Lisa: This 10K occurs earlier and earlier now (due to Leeds CC I believe) and is no longer on wintery December or November days. It is known as a flat 10K. This year’s field was a reduced number of around 3000 and started and finished outside the town hall in Leeds. For you dedicated fell runners who have no idea, the course is an out and back to Kirkstall Abbey. There were some friendly faces from NLFR helping at the start and finish. The race was nostalgic for me and I was the only NLFR running and was accompanied by my sister Hannah from North Wales Road Runners. I finished in 46.59, 11 out of 123 VF50 and 146 out of 1161 women. The winner was Kadar Omar from Birchfield Harriers in 28.46 and first lady was Jessica Piasecki in 31.19, 56th place overall.

Lisa and Hannah

Hetta: My late husband, Colin, one of the founders of Abbey Runners, and long term president of the club, had long wanted to organise a Christmas race in the centre of Leeds. Richard Witt, a member of Abbey Runners, and then working for Mind, but later Help the Aged which became Age UK, had the same idea, so they teamed up to organise a Christmas race from the centre of Leeds and back again.

It was a good fast course and always intended to be a race, though of course still suitable for runners of all abilities. Colin was a registered course measurer and was meticulous about accuracy. Many were the trips he made at break of day on a Sunday morning when traffic was at its lightest, to measure the shortest and most accurate route, and to ensure the kilometre signs were in the correct places. Subsequently the race has always attracted a field of elite runners. This year, up to the start of the race 32 men had run sub 30 for 10K. In the Dash, there were 27 men under 30 minutes. After them came nearly 3000 runners, which demonstrates the race’s enduring popularity and over the years must have enabled it to raise thousands if not millions of pounds for charity.

The first race was run in 1986, entirely organised and managed by the club, many of whose members were also helping this year. For many years, Colin was race director, until Alex Grant took over. The first field was around 600. Before chip timing the results were done manually, and I remember a feeling that this was about the limit for us to handle. It was started as a Christmas event as, at that time, there were very few quality races in the winter. Many enjoyable post-race get-togethers were held in local pubs or, when it started, the German Christmas Market. For various reasons the race has moved earlier in the year but is hopefully still going from strength to strength.

Hetta and Colin

Some changes have had to be made to the course over the years. The start has moved from Wellington Street, and the loop around Kirkstall Abbey has gone, though the link with the abbey remains in the race title and the U-turn immediately outside. Fast and flat, it passes several places of interest for those who have energy to spare for looking. From the magnificent Leeds Town Hall, along the Headrow, which used to be the northern boundary of the medieval city, past the Yorkshire Post Building, the YTV Studios, Kirkstall Viaduct and the Cardigan Arms pub, where it is said William “Buffalo Bill” Cody stayed in 1904 when he was appearing in a show.

I hope the race will continue for many years and that plenty of Abbey Runners will continue to enjoy it and maybe find it is good for a 10K PB.

Lisa Rudkin & Hetta Morath

Two Riggs

Kong Winter Fell Race Series

5.6 miles, 1130 ft.

Registration for the first race of the series was held in a barn nestled under Bram Crags at the foot of Great Dodd. It was early November, very wet and very windy, with heavy clouds just touching the top of High Rigg on the other side of the valley.

I started off quite far back within the group. Within the first 50 metres there was a narrow bridge over St John’s Beck which constricted our flow causing some tripping over heels and elbows out from fellow runners. Once over the bridge and into the fields we spread out. The ground was heavy going, soft but pitted by cows hooves threatening to turn ankles for the unlucky.

I moved to the edge of the pack and increased my speed passing runners with ease, feeling strong and thinking I should have started further towards the front, or that — considerably more probable — I was not pacing myself very well for the hills that lay ahead.

We soon reached the footpath that traverses around the bottom of High Rigg to the southern tip before turning sharply and starting the first proper climb.There were a few gates to frustrate, and slippery slabs of rock too much for even the purest of graphene soles.

The path was narrow, pinched between the hillside on the right and the river down to the left. There were few overtaking opportunities for me or indeed those behind me so we snaked along close together, in silence apart from the sound of feet pounding the wet ground. The wind was howling through the trees, sending autumn leaves churning all around us.

I lost some places on the first climb, and when it got too steep for me to run I tried to take my rain jacket off and stuff it in my bum-bag. This turned out to be harder than it sounds while trying to scramble up a hill in high winds.

Wren Crag is the top of the first climb, then the route follows an undulating series of craggy outcrops, grassy slopes and deep mud around the perimeter of little tarns too small to be named. I battled against the wind with it repeatedly pushing me off-balance and making me unsteady on any exposed rocky sections.

As often happens, I found myself in a game of cat and mouse with a few runners, who I would pass usually on a climb, before they would then catch me up and fly past me with enviable descending ability.

High Rigg is the highest point, and I felt for the marshals stood out in these conditions, even the two collie dogs who are built for it looked unimpressed. From High Rigg there was a steep descent (where I was passed by a few more downhill experts) down to a farm track and then up the final climb.

Coming off Low Rigg there was a great section of downhill through soft springy wintered bracken, I managed to gain enough momentum to hold off anyone snapping at my heels.

At the bottom of the hill we joined the flat cow rutted fields again, this time with tired legs, head-on wind and biting rain. It all sapped any remaining energy I had, but the end was now in sight. I attempted a sprint for the finish line with high-fives from my kids leaning over the wall and cheering me in.

It was a great race in classic Lakes conditions, but I was glad we were heading for a warm pub and a late lunch.

I had finished 42nd overall, 37th in my category, netting me a measly 1 point in the series standing. I vowed to try and work on my descending skills for race 2 in December.

Hefin Clarke

Chester 10K

Whilst the majority of my club members were loyally scampering up the hills for the British Fell Relays on Saturday, I was committed to running the Cheshire 10K. I chose this race due a combination of factors: running in my birth county, trying a new race and a mission to find my paternal grandma’s pauper’s grave in Bolton.

The Cheshire 10K was a low-key event, pleasantly so for road races these days which are often “run festivals” sold by large companies. It started in the grounds of stately home Arley Hall and the course took us through closed country lanes. There was a marshall every 1K or so, interestingly always with a tambourine. Congestion was minimal and I was glad to be back in a mass start race so that I could more accurately pace myself with others ( I now realise how much this lack of ability to pace with others in the London marathon due to all the wave starts detracted from that race for me).

I finished in 47.14, 3/24 F50 and 24/227 women (551 runners overall in the race). I ran a better race, my heart rate remained lower than London throughout and I actually enjoyed it!

I found my grandmother’s “grave”, just a patch of grass in a Bolton cemetery; she died aged 40, twenty years before I was born, having committed the crime of bigamy in an effort to escape an abusive marriage, prostituted out by her husband. She had been imprisoned and died soon after, having brought shame on her family, and unentitled to have a proper burial. I mulled over the liberating euphoria of the race compared to the moral control society inflicted on women two generations ago and felt sort of energised and just, frankly, lucky and grateful to be alive.

–Lisa Rudkin

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