After a slightly delayed start the runners who had been huddled in the primary school were persuaded out into the downpour to be warned by the race director that conditions were the worst in his 20 years of organising the race and some puddles on the course could be half a metre deep. The multi-terrain course commenced with a steady climb out of the village before a right turn onto the moorland track and straight into the teeth of the wind and rain which had now turned sleety so that a pair of goggles would have been advisable. Puddles were deep, the bog was boggy and small boulders and sharp rocks were helpfully positioned to break your fall.

One of my shoes was temporarily lost to one of the deeper puddles and those without goggles were so blinded by the rain that they often stumbled - I witnessed two runners go headlong into the mire (one of whom I even stopped to help up). Leaving the moor the course began to turn back towards the village and although now downhill the wind conspired to stay mostly head on despite several changes in direction. At 5 miles we turned for home and as the wind dropped the road rose up for a final sharp hill back into the village and the reward of a piece of flapjack and a cup of tea.

Despite feeling more like a winter than a spring race there were some great times recorded with Chris Roberts being the first Harrier home in third place in an excellent 36m18s. The race for the ladies prize was very close with 50 seconds separating the first three. Emma Yates was the first Harrier lady claiming third, just 6 seconds from second place and first in her category!

A cloudy but dry Easter Day saw a good turn out of Knavesmire Harriers at the annual Helmsley 10K Multi Terrain Challenge. Many of us had run the race before and remembered with dread the long uphill slog along the road to Carlton. Once the hill was behind us, we headed off-road for some 4 km along a bridle track which was lined with cowslips and primroses. Very pretty, and the views over the Howardian Hills were truly breathtaking. All too soon, we were heading across slightly sticky fields and back into Helmsley, but the race had a nasty little 'sting in the tail' - a 500 metre climb to the finish which really tested our aching legs. However the lure of the Easter Egg at the finish line kept us focused, and resulted in some really good times.

First Harrier home was Darren Hendley in 39:57, followed by Pete Downes who came in as 3rd M45.  Mike McGrath was 1st M60, I managed 2nd F50, and Susan Adams finished as 3rd F60.

Welcome to Kate Atkin, running for the club for the first time, and finished with a huge smile on her face!

The new Hull marathon is an event well worth considering next year for Harriers who miss out on the London, being run two weeks before. Starting at the early time of 8am in the historic heart of the city, the 876 runners stayed cool throughout the morning, with mist shrouding the far side of the Humber Bridge and only a light wind coming inshore in our faces as we ran along the marina either side of the Deep. The flat course offered fast times, and Ian Anderson ran a really impressive race, coming third overall with a fast time of 2.41.12, and first in the 40-49 year age category.

Saturday 31st March 2012 is a day that will always be remembered by Caroline Warrington, Joan Heron, Sarah Douglas and Simon Collins. It is the day that they were amongst the first people to cross the Olympic Stadium’s finish line. Over 43,000 members of the public entered the ballot to get a place in the Olympic Park Run, organised by the National Lottery, however only 5000 places were available so our 3 Harriers were very privileged to be there. The run was a five-mile race around the Olympic Park, taking in landmarks such as the Velodrome and Aquatics Centre and finished in the iconic Olympic stadium. For Caroline, Sarah and Simon the most memorable part of the race will have been the final 300m when they actually ran on to the Olympic track to cross the finish line.  All runners were allocated 2 spectator tickets so runners were greeted by 10,000 cheering spectators including their own friends and family.  A number of famous faces and former Olympians including Princess Beatrice, Sally Gunnell and Roger Black also took part and helped raise the profile of the race. The winning man’s time was 25.11 and Nell McAndrew was the first lady in 29.21. Our 4 Harriers all ran fantastic races too and did themselves, their family and their friends proud. Simon finished 119^th overall in a time of 30.47 which is an exceptional performance. Caroline took Harrier silver claiming 475^th place with a time of 34.47 and Sarah took bronze finishing in 488^th place in 34.52. There were 2634 women running and Caroline and Sarah claimed 52^nd and 55^th lady, a great achievement indeed. Joan finished in a very good time of 46.24. This event really was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the 5000 runners who took part and when watching the likes of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis crossing the Olympic finish line in the summer Caroline, Joan Sarah and Simon will recount the euphoric feeling they had when they competed in the Olympic Park Race.

This certainly wasn’t a race for the faint hearted with temperatures only just reaching above freezing and more than a handful of hills to tackle. 16 of us journeyed over to Meltham near Huddersfield for the first of this year’s club runs. I have to say when I got to the start line I worried I had underdressed for the occasion, sporting only a club vest. Most people had jumpers on or at least a t-shirt under their vests. My logic however was I would have to run faster to keep warm. Don’t know about the rest of you but the exertion of getting up the hills did certainly help raise my temperature. Luckily the snow topped ones were in the distance and we didn’t have to attempt those but they were nice to look at. The positive to going uphill is that it’s pretty likely that at some point you’ll have to go downhill and there were some long downhill stretches to compensate, particularly the final stretch of the course, but it was pretty cruel putting a final uphill slog at the finish.

A big well done to all of our runners who completed the course. Chris Roberts once again ran a fantastic race finishing in 8^th place in a time of 37.43. Anyone would think it was a flat course with that time! Stef Durkin was our 2^nd male home in 43.48 and Dan Sturgeon 3^rd in 43.54. Great performances also by John Bullock who finished 3^rd in his age category in a time of 44.07 and Mike McGrath who came 2^nd in his age category in 46.41. Well done also to David Darton, Tony Kendrick, John Middleton and Colin Lea for running sub 50mins on what was a tough course.

Liz Matthews and I were the only Knavesmire ladies to enter but as they say it’s quality not quantity. Big congratulations to Liz for finishing 3^rd in her age category in a time of 52.21. Hilly courses usually defeat me but I’ve been putting in some hill training and made it round in 45.38 finishing as 8^th woman (I think!).

Not our greatest turn out to date but still an enjoyable race and great to catch up with everyone. Good luck to all those people who managed to get a place for Snake Lane, sadly I didn’t but look forward to hearing how you all get on.