Racing Round Up – w.e 16th July – Ilkley, Cock Howe, The Beast, Viking Chase, Ingleborough..

Please send race reports,  photos & results to :  ykhracereports@gmail.com

—YVAA Grand Prix Summer series-Northowram.

—Cock Howe & Beyond Fell Race.

This Wednesday evening fell race was organised and marshalled by YKH’s fell running contingent, ably lead by Andy Chapman-Gibbs.
The 6 mile race stated at Chop Gate in Billsdale, a long climb to start with, a loop of the moor towards Billsdale TV Mast and one of the best bits of downhill running to be found locally to finish the race.

9th Nick Zizzler 46:41
15th Michael Shaw 47:26
16th Richard Purser 47:47

—Bishop Wilton Beast.
Becky Penty won outright at this Wolds trail race, a new event on the calendar replacing the defunct Bishop Wilton Half Marathon.

—Viking Chase 4 Peaks Fell Race.

An 8 mile fell race from Lordstones Country Park,  four tough climbs along the Cleveland Way before a less arduous return leg along the bottom of the bank.

14th Tom Ratcliffe 71:57

22nd Michael Shaw 73:25  3rd m40

27th Nik Tarrega 75:53  3rd Lady/2nd FO

33rd Natalie Greaves 79:06  4th Lady/3rd FO

59th Cassie Read 91:23

69th Melanie Ellwood 96:52

—Evensplits York 5k Series Race#6.

26th Rory Henderson 19:04

—Ilkley Half Marathon.

283rd Barbora Kolarikova 1:36:45
540th Luke Whiteley 1:46:57
901st David Baker 1:56:04
1726th Susan Adams 2:58:36

—Ingleborough Mountain Race.

60th Barry Atkinson 1:07:17

—Kentmere Horseshoe Fell Race.

—Run Rabbit Trail Festival 2023 – Collection of ramblings by Ed Roberts.

That pesky pandemic period and injury meant 2023 was finally the year to finally complete the Run Rabbit Travel Festival back in my old stomping grounds of Market Harborough (or Harbs if you’re cool, I wasn’t).

The event is a festival with speakers, guests and music and a little bit of running, all based around the grounds of Marston Lodge farm. Featuring undulating hills, running through fields and my favourite, tree lined gravel tracks.

Running consisted of three events with a 5k series and 10k on Saturday and then a half marathon on the Sunday morning to remind you to bring those spare pair of fresh running legs next year.

This is more of a random collection of thoughts and feelings with no rhyme or reason.

1st 5k at 11:00.

Cheeky two lapper around a field that sucks you in to run quickly especially with the windy wind. 

Nought much to this one, keep the low hedge to you right, suffer coming back against the wind and realise there was an incline when you started but got all excited.

I made a friend with Graeme O, by the end of the day there was one second between us at the end of Saturday (after the 5ks and 10k).

In the top 20 somewhere with 19:39 (short course).

2nd 5k at 12:00.

Wooo here we go, forest running on short punchy hills im buzzing, love it. Then the slog up a grassy path which we just came down. Much to my dismay it was going uphill, don’t remember going down that hill which just aint fair is it?

Top 15ish i reckon with 22:23 (bang on 5K).

3rd 5k at 13:00.

Starting line consisted of dark clouds, a flash and the crack of lightning, how very very exciting.

Maybe my favourite 5k out of the lot with a decent hill which winds through a luscious forest. Fields are becoming tough but all is forgotten when the descent through the woods and bluebells. Ohh it absolutely pissed it down for 5 minutes during this.

Lost track where I was in the pack but had the same people around me so didn’t feel too bad. 22:27 (near bang on 5k).

4th 5k at 14:00

Starting to get found out haa 😀 whilst that was happening I was starting to feel tired physically and mentally, the game was changing. The 200m stretch along the tracktor tram tracks was fantastic through the fields. That long grindy hill was much to be desired and had to walk the last 15 metres and lost a couple of places.

Not a scooby where I was or who I was. Time of 24:26 (tad long).

5th 5k at 15:00

After a fair bit of sugar and carbs, the mind was willing the legs were not. Blue bell hill was delightful with the blues, greens and sun poking through. I got to meet my friends again with a hill walking strategy fully engaged. A tricky S bend alongside a little “woodlette” (not sure if Rob made that word up).

Time of 24:28 and definitely in a hole of my own making.

10k at 18:30

After a bit of R&R, chatting and eating meant the start ending up being really good and decided to set off a bit steadier and see how we go in the second half. Watching Rob B fly off with the quick lot was a laugh.

That grindy hill was back and a killer but ended up being in a nice group to sit in and took the lead into the wind (woo made more friends). Running with fresh legged people was a fun/interesting challenge I think.

This absolutely ruined me, the hardest run of the lot. A shell of a human being at the end.

Finished 16th with a race for the last 400m down hill (Ian smashed it) with a time of 52:01. 8th place overall by one second (that’s all I need).

Brief evening highlight, eating Chinese takeaway on the grass with Rob at 22:00 and getting heckled by the musician singing Wonderwall. Time for some sleep.

Sunday Mornings Half Marathon at 09:00.

Legs are stiff and achy but not feeling too bad, strategy is to ease into the first 3-4 mile and know that I will be strong at the 6-10 mile mark. Immediately in a good group with my mate Graeme (the lad I was now fighting for 8th/9th), we swept up Allan for a good while. Quick loop around the field to a grindy little hill to then the steep one. Lots of nice easy tree lined downhill sections.

Tad nervous watching Graeme move away on down hill and flatter sections. More grindy hills but soon back to short sharp hills in the trees which I’m good at, all leading into coasting down hill. Back to tarmac through the trees (booo!). Then onto lap two of the same thing. Cat and mouse between me and Graeme between the hills. 

The legs are now done and anything resembling a hill means my calves are on fire. I can hear Mel catching us on the hills now. 

Graeme had been catching me on the easy downhill section but tried not to worry about it knowing we had an uphill section to the finish line. On the tarmac with probably 800 metres left. Started pushing hard, roughly knew what the last bit looked like, knew what I had left in the tank. Didn’t know where Graeme was, just legged it.

Gasping and through the pain I made it and shouted something that resembled “fudge it!” and was promptly asked if I was ok haa.

Robs wise words “You didn’t look your freshest.”

Finished 13th in the half (1:50:38) and 8th overall (Total time of 4:35:55). Noice!

—York Area parkrun PB’s.

-Heslington.

Adrian Turner 26:18

-New Earswick.

Beth Benger 23:15