Heaton Harriers

It's March and I'm sitting in my car in a field in the Lakes in the rain. There are a couple of hundred other people sitting in their steamed up cars too, and another couple of hundred are already getting drenched up on the hill having started in the first wave 45 minutes ago. Why am I here again exactly? It had seemed like a good idea back in December when I was idly browsing around on the internet, looking for races that might be interesting for 2011. Lakeland Trails, "inspiring races in beautiful places", never done trail running before, sounds perfect. On a whim I bought a season ticket for all 8 events (including the marathon, but there's no way I'm doing that, obviously) and here I am in Cartmel for the first one, the 18k Sticky Toffee Pudding race, so called because a) you get one to take home at the finish and b) there's a seriously muddy section of the course which has, apparently, the same consistency.

Five minutes before 2pm the rain suddenly stops and we’re on the start line. I’m surrounded by t-shirts displaying allegiance to “Cumbria Fell Runners”, “Trail Marathon Club” and the like. Oh dear. I’m clearly out of my depth but the gun goes off and it’s too late to worry about that now as we head out of the village and up towards the trails. Surprise, surprise, all these races have pretty severe uphills early on and first time out it’s a bit daunting – just how high are we going? But we make it to the top eventually, the mud and the puddles are great fun and the sheer adrenaline buzz that comes from flying downhill on uneven, rocky paths at breakneck (possibly literally) speed is fantastic. I’m hooked.

Hawkshead in April hosts a woody 17k over to the Western shore of Windermere and in May it’s another 17k up and down the Kentmere valley, bathed in sunshine. We’ve made a weekend of this one and spend the afternoon sitting in the sun at the finish listening to resident singer/songwriter Pete Lashley who entertains at all the races and often competes as well. I’m starting to realise that these events are a bit different in ways that are not actually anything to do with running itself. There’s a real social feel to it all, what with the entertainment and the stalls and the spot prizes and the lively facebook page and the friendly organisers and the same groups of runners who I’m starting to recognise and chat with. One interesting feature is that the field is always split into two – as well as the main Trail Race there’s a Challenge event over the same course for ‘less competitive’ runners and that sets off earlier so the first Trail Racers are usually coming through the finish along with the later Challengers. There are typically about 300 in each group. Being stupidly competitive (which is not the same as being fast) I go for the Trail Races and am quite pleased to find I’m finishing each event in the top half of the field. Better than expected. I have made an enemy though. Poor lady doesn’t know it but by overtaking me in the last half mile of every race so far she’s really got on my nerves. Never mind, I’ll get her next time.

Fast forward to July, it’s 23 degrees and the Lake District is at its most beautiful. But I'm lining up for the marathon that there was no way I was going to do. How on earth did that happen? I've only ever done London before and each time I swore I would never do it again. And that's completely flat. The Coniston Marathon Trail Race has 3,700 feet of climbing through all sorts of terrain. And thanks to the local council who’ve dug up a bridge without telling anyone we’re told we even have to wade waist deep through a river somewhere around half way (actually most agreed that that was one of the best bits). Emotions go from :| at the start line through :( at the first big hill and :’( from 20 miles onward. It’s a fabulous kind of hell. Crossing the finish line, however, I'm euphoric even though it's taken me well over an hour longer than London last year. I wait for my wife Deborah and friends to finish - they're doing the Challenge - and we spend the next couple of hours collapsed in the sun, listening to the music and applauding the stragglers home.

After the summer break the series returns, moving now from South Lakes to North. First it's 15k at Keswick in proper Lake District weather, raining hard with clouds so low we're actually running through them for much of the race. Strangely most people, me included, seem to enjoy this as much as or even more than the ones in the sunshine. Then in October it’s back to Coniston for another 15k in the foothills of the Old Man. I’m not feeling good for this one and it’s a disappointing performance. Lastly, on an unexpectedly sunny weekend in November, it's finale time and The Dirty Double - Helvellyn 14k on the Saturday and Ullswater 13k on Sunday. The organisers even throw a party on board an Ullswater steamer on Saturday night – another nice touch - but with legs already heavy from Helvellyn and another race to come tomorrow it’s never going to be a wild night and after a couple of beers and a bit of a chat we’re off to get some much-needed sleep.

The final Ullswater race is certainly an unusual one. It's a point to point, not a loop, and we're split into 3 groups this time, setting off at hourly intervals. Deborah is in the first group and I'm in the second. Each group boards a steamer at Glenridding and sails for half an hour up the lake. Resident guitarist Pete entertains us as we go and we're dropped off at Howtown to run alongside the lake all the way back. For a lakeside route it's much hillier than expected but the scenery is superb and although it's cold there isn't a cloud in the sky. As we run up a particularly steep section we see (and hear) the steamer taking the final batch of runners up the lake towards the start. They’ve seen us and they’re screaming and shouting and waving and cheering and we all wave back, grinning from ear to ear. It’s a great moment, a real boost, and we push on. At the finish I’m thrilled to see my nemesis, the poor woman who up until now I’ve still failed to beat, come in a couple of minutes behind me, oblivious to the significance. Mission accomplished. Sad or what?

Another moment in that glorious final race summed up the atmosphere of the series. After about 6 miles we came over the top of a serious climb, the Southern end of the lake opened up before us, sparkling in the sunshine, and a lovely long downhill section stretched ahead. I'm running with a Scottish guy at this point and I remark that it doesn't get much better than this. "Aye," he says, "we were trying to decide in the pub last night whether these races were better than sex. But I couldna be honest because ma wife was there." Now I wouldn't go that far but I would say that I enjoyed these races more than any others I've ever done in 25 years of running (with the possible exception of the Coastal Run). Definitely worth looking out for if you fancy something a bit different for 2012. Just don’t blame me if it rains.

Race 1: Cumbrian Half Marathon
1    James Buis    01:11:15        12
11    Les Smith    01:20:52        11
24    Ian Robinson    01:24:19        10
35    Chris Auld    01:27:01        9
38    Thomas Bell    01:27:44        8
41    Sam Daley    01:27:57        7
202    John Young    01:40:51        6


687    Melina Lewis    02:01:28        12



Race 2: Sherman Cup/ Davison Shield
14    Jamie    Barbour    00:32:22    12
43    Matt    Salter    00:34:49    11
52    Jamie    Macleod    00:35:07    10
54    Dan    Robins    00:35:12    9
58    Davey    Wright    00:35:36    8
65    Tom    Folley    00:36:00    7
74    Oliver    Jardine    00:36:20    6
105    Scott    McEntee    00:37:18    5
126    Gary    Dicker    00:38:12    5
132    Iain    McKinnon    00:38:25    5
136    Phil    Green    00:38:34    5
144    Craig    Hodgson    00:39:05    5
169    Shaun    Harris    00:40:39    5
186    Joseph    Macleod    00:41:37    5
192    Paramjeet    Bhogal    00:41:47    5
199    Graham    Tye    00:42:06    5
208    Alan    Longford    00:42:37    5
222    Ben    Shilitoe    00:44:02    5
237    Chrsitopher    Ward    00:45:15    5
259    Colin    McEntee    00:47:20    5
273    Dennies    Yound    00:51:33    5
279    Geroge    Routledge    01:00:13    5


12    Laura    Jardine    00:25:20    12
19    Kelly    Dodds      00:26:50    11
23    Hannah    Shillitoe 00:27:21    10
29    Nina    Cameron    00:27:47    9
41    Jenny    Friend     00:29:06    8
74    Fiona    Stanley     00:31:06    7
100    Alex    Bonnard    00:33:27    6



Race 3: Brampton to Carlisle
6    James Buis    0:52:59        12
68    David McAllister01:01:12    11
124    Scott McEntee    01:04:53    10
409    Ben Shillitoe    01:19:06    9

104    Anna Turvey    01:03:42        12
198    Hannah Shillitoe01:09:24        11
309    Kelly McEntee    01:14:30        10
379    Jenny Friend    01:17:33        9

Race 4: Norman Woodcock
58    Jason Wall    34:11:00        12
77    D Pace    36:38:00        11
102    Micheal Ewing    39:27:00        10

59    Mari Crawford    34:22:00        12
107    J Kilgour    41:23:00        11

Race 5: North-Eastern XC Champs
9    James Buis    42:43:00    12
143    Nick Froom    52:57:00    11
145    Gary Dicker    53:16:00    10
213    Scott McEntee    58:04:00    9
214    Paramjeet Bhogal58:07:00    8
222    Graham Tye    58:52:00    7
228    Peter Hawthorn    59:26:00    6
240    Ted Baty    60:28:00    5
269    Ben Shillitoe    64:11:00    5
274    David Wright    65:00:00    5


9    Anna Turvey    34:23:00    12
12    Jo Zoppi    34:56:00    11
32    Mari Crawford    39:00:00    10
45    Debbie Hicks    40:09:00    9
48    Nina Cameron    40:26:00    8
58    Jenny Friend    41:55:00    7
72    Pauline Chaplin    44:07:00    6
73    Judith Archbold    44:11:00    5


Race 6: Saltwell 10k
19    38.01    David    McAllister    12
93    45.23    Pete     Hawthorn    11
94    45.32    Doug    Michael    10
199    53.03    David    Horner    9
302    70.47    George    Routledge    8


15    46.19    Nina    Cameron    12
21    48.04    JENNY     FRIEND    11
42    53.49    Naomi    McGovern    10

Race 7: Newcastle Parkrun 24/12/2011

10    Les SMITH    17:36        12
30    Gary DICKER    19:03        11
35    Phil GREEN    19:18        10
47    Jason WALL    20:00        9
53    John Harvey MARSHALL    20:11        8
54    Paramjeet BHOGAL    20:12        7
76    Simon JOBE    21:02        6
78    Howard GOLD    21:10        5
82    Doug MICHAEL    21:20        5
83    Dave DALE    21:26        5
84    Pete HAWTHORN    21:30        5
89    David BRIGNALL    21:42        5
94    Paul INSKIP    22:01        5
95    David Gordon WRIGHT    22:04        5
100    Ted BATY    22:18        5
101    Neil Scott GAMMACK    22:23        5
102    John YOUNG    22:32        5
104    Michael EWING    22:40        5
113    Allen MULLISS    23:12        5
147    John OSWALD    24:57:00        5
158    James Alexander GREEN    26:27:00        5
179    Eric Lancelot APPLEBY    29:00:00        5
186    Thomas G GREEN    30:15:00        5
201    George ROUTLEDGE    37:56:00        5


4    Ellen TULLO    21:08    12
8    Jenny BRIGNALL    22:15    11
28    Kelly DODDS    24:48:00    10
44    Lynn SWANSON    26:42:00    9
74    Mandy PHILLIPSON    28:55:00    8
79    Ellen MATHESON    29:30:00    7




Current Standings

Race #1 Race #2 Race #3 Race #4 Race #5 Race #6 Race #7 Race #8 Race #9 Race #10 Race #11 Total Men James Buis 12 12 12 36 Gary Dicker 5 10 11 26 Scott McEntee 5 10 9 24 David McAllister 11 12 23 Les Smith 11 12 23 Peter Hawthorn 6 11 5 22 Jason Wall 12 9 21 Paramjeet Bhogal 5 8 7 20 Ben Shilitoe 5 9 5 19 George Routledge 5 8 5 18 Michael Ewing 10 5 15 Doug Michael 10 5 15 Phil Green 5 10 15 Jamie Barbour 12 12 Graham Tye 5 7 12 Matt Slater 11 11 David Pace 11 11 Nick Froom 11 11 John Young 6 5 11 Ian Robinson 10 10 Jamie Mcleod 10 10 Ted Baty 5 5 10 David Wright 5 5 10 Chris Auld 9 9 Dan Robins 9 9 David Horner 9 9 Thomas Bell 8 8 Davey Wright 8 8 John Marshall 8 8 Sam Daley 7 7 Tom Foley 7 7 Oliver Jardine 6 6 Simon Jobe 6 6 Iain McKinnon 5 5 Craig Hodgson 5 5 Shaun Harris 5 5 Joseph Mcleod 5 5 Alan Longford 5 5 Chris Ward 5 5 Colin McEntee 5 5 Dennis Young 5 5 Howard Gold 5 5 Dave Dale 5 5 Dave Brignall 5 5 Neil Gammack 5 5 Allen Mulliss 5 5 John Oswald 5 5 James Green (Junior) 5 5 Eric Appleby 5 5 Thomas Green (Junior) 5 5 Paul Inskip 5 5 Race #1 Race #2 Race #3 Race #4 Race #5 Race #6 Race #7 Race #8 Race #9 Race #10 Race #11 Total WOMEN Jenny Friend 8 9 7 11 35 Nina Cameron 9 8 12 29 Anna Turvey 12 12 24 Mari Crawford 12 10 22 Hannah Shilitoe 10 11 21 Kelly Dodds 11 10 21 Melina Lewis 12 12 Laura Jardine 12 12 Ellen Tullo 12 12 J Kilgour 11 11 Jo Zoppi 11 11 Jenny Brignall 11 11 Kelly McEntee 10 10 Naomi Mcgovern 10 10 Debbie Hicks 9 9 Lynn Swanson 9 9 Mandy Phillipson 8 8 Fiona Stanley 7 7 Ellen Matheson 7 7 Alex Bonnard 6 6 Pauline Chaplin 6 6 Judith Archbold 5 5

The Heaton Harriers 2012 Jesmond Dene handicap series will take place on Mondays, each event to start at 7.30pm

Monday May 7th
Monday June 4th
Monday June 25th
Monday July 30th

Each race will be handicapped, giving everyone an equal opportunity to win. Competitors will start at staggered times based on the information provided on the official entry form. Handicap times will be amended accordingly in subsequent races. Competitors may enter individual races later in the series.

The course is approximately 5000 metres (3.1 miles) of undulating tarmac roads and footpaths within Jesmond Dene, Armstrong and Heaton Parks.

 

Entry form

 

My trip to New York began with an eight hour flight from Heathrow to New York JFK. My wife Helen, and my children Evan and Amy had travelled with me from Newcastle to Heathrow. We arrived into New York late at night at around 11 PM and had an hour and a half to get through security due to tighter US Security controls. After a 30 minute taxi ride we had our first glimpse of Manhattan and the area we would be staying in.

After grabbing a few hours sleep it was time for our first New York breakfast and then on to the convention centre where I collected my number for the race. There was a huge exhibition typical of large races which included an excellent video of people talking about their previous New York marathon experiences.

That evening I took part in the inaugural Parade of Nations event where marathon runners from all over the world taking part in the New York marathon joined together to celebrate. The event included each nation marching over the finish line of the marathon with a flag bearer. The UK group were honoured to have the flag carried by no other than Ron Hill who we all got a chance to meet and say hello to. There was a huge fireworks display after the event in Central Park which was magnificent.

The following day we ventured to Staten Island which was the starting point of the marathon. We accessed the Island from the ferry which is the way I would be getting to the marathon the following day. It was clear that marathon day itself was going to be glorious as we had unbroken sunshine all Saturday even though it was cool.

Marathon morning itself involved an early start. I was booked on the 6:15 ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island. I was up at 3 AM, eating porridge and making sure all my kit was in order. I got a taxi at 5:45 with another marathon runner who I had met via the New York marathon FaceBook. It took around 20 minutes to get to the ferry terminal. Once on the ferry and surrounded by other marathon runners our 30 minute journey to Staten Island began. At the other end we were met by a flotilla of buses who took us to the starting point. There are three coloured starts for the marathon blue orange and green my start was the green start. It was still early morning and I had noticed there was frost on the cars on the way to the start point. Needless to say it was very cold and it was not surprising to see other runners with sleeping bags and other very heavy duty cold weather equipment which was going to be discarded. I had some old jeans and T-shirt and an old plastic poncho from a previous race to keep me warm. At around 8.20 we moved to start corrals where we had to be there before they closed at 8.55. Around 10 minutes later they started moving us onto the slipway to the bridge which would be our stating point. The 1.75 mile long bridge would form the first part of the marathon for us. The orange and blue starts would run along the top of the double-decker bridge while the green start would run along the bottom.

After the race started and we had crossed the bridge, we entered the first of the boroughs of New York Brooklyn. Already the crowds were amazing and there were loads out cheering us on. We ran 5 miles along the very straight fourth Avenue. The place was good at this point of the race and the weather was perfect it was very sunny and around 8°C. I was feeling good and running around 7.30 minute mile pace. The half marathon marker is at the point the marathon enters the borough of Queens, I hit the half marathon at about one hour 38 minutes still feeling pretty strong.

The Marathon twisted and turned through Queens before going to the Queensboro Bridge. This is one of the toughest parts of the course with no crowds and a very steep incline. At this point people were starting to walk this was around 15 to 16 miles. On descending from the bridge the race entered Manhattan to the first time.  This was uplifting as the crowds were massive and very noisy. The course then has along First Avenue for about 3.5 miles. This is very straight and a little bit downhill. This point between 16.5 and 20 miles it's very easy to start going too fast and burn yourself out for the last six. At 20 miles the race goes over yet another bridge into the famous Bronx. Rap bands welcomed us into this area playing loud music on the street corners as we turned into the Bronx. I was feeling pretty tired now leaving the Bronx we entered Manhattan for the final time at the 20.5 mile point.

We then headed down Fifth Avenue before entering Central Park in about 23.5 miles. My pace had dropped considerably and I was suffering from a bad stitch on my left side. Miles 24 and 25 seem to drag by and take an eternity. I was delighted to see the 800 m to go sign only half a mile to go. Then 400 m then 200 m and finally 100 m sprint to the line. I knew was going to be tight to get under 3.5 hours but I finally made it in 3 hours 29 minutes and 43 seconds. The last section through Central Park I had been wasted. it was only when I rewalked the route a couple of days later than I realised how hilly it had actually been. After having a medal slung around my neck and the obligatory photo, it was the walk back to the baggage buses. I was really wasted and felt sick. On reflection I was really sugar depleted and I needed to eat something but I didn't realise it at the time. Somehow I managed to walk back to our flat which was only about half a mile away. I crawled up the stairs but couldn't manage to open the front door. Luckily Helen was in and managed to open it for me. After a shower I fell asleep for about two hours.

We had another amazing 5 days in New York after the marathon.