A quick up date as to what I have been up to the last few weeks. I returned from Chamonix and after two days my dad convinced me to run at Crag Vale. A short 4 mile race with only about 600ft of climbing. The weather was nice and sunny but conditions underfoot were a bit damp and wet in places. I warmed up and to be honest I didn't feel great but I thought I would give it a shot. After about 600m of undulating in the woods, we started to climb up onto the moor and I hit the front. I tried to keep a good tempo, but I wasn't as quick as I'd have liked. I felt lethargic. When the route flattened, Jamie Parkinson, an orienteer from down south kicked and I was unable to respond. I just didn't have the energy. The gap increased over the next 2 miles and I eventually finished 2nd.
The next day was the murder mile in Keighley. A race I have done a few times as a junior. It's one mile uphill with about 400ft of climb. It's not steep, in fact it's a very fast race. I decided to do it as it was uphill and I was only going to do hill reps anyway so I thought I could run the race and then do a session afterwards. Local whippet James Hall was on the start line, as was the legend Ian Holmes. The race obviously set of incredible fast with all the juniors getting excited and going to the front. I settled into about 7th at this point knowing that a lot of them would drop off and so it proved, After about 400m of the climb I went into second place, with James storming ahead. I knew I wasn't going to catch him. Ian was hot on my heels after a steady start in 3rd by this point. At half way I was very tired. Again not really a lot in my legs but I knew that was going to be the case. It was just about hanging on. I managed to finish 2nd in 7.02. James won by quite a distance and Ian finished 3rd. A good race and good stepping stone for some of the junior athletes as they get a chance to race the seniors.
The next race I did was Widdop. A race organised by Calder Valley and one I have run previously as a junior. On the start line was Darren Kay from Pudsey and Bramley and Alex Whittem from Calder. The race sets off on the road before a left turn winding down to the valley. A gradual uphill to a track before a run round the reservoir. The race started slowly which I didn't mind and was happy to sit in. We started to ascend to the track and a group of 5 assembled at the front. We began to run along the reservoir and the pace quickened. It felt pretty fast to me and so I was still happy to sit in at the back with Darren alongside me. We then turned right over a stile before a long run out over the moors to another reservoir. I went to the front, not intentionally, and pushed on as I wanted to keep the tempo high. Alex and Darren followed and we were down to three. After a few slips and falls we reached a track and began to ascend back to the moor. Again I went to the front to work hard on the hills. We reached the top and picked up a little path running back across the moor. Again after a few falls I relinquished my lead and sat back in second allowing Alex to lead the way. It stayed like this for a few miles as the going under foot was terrible. The ground was extremely rutted and was becoming increasing difficult to stay balanced. When we did hit better running. I increased the pace again as I could see we were going to be going up to a trig point. Again Darren followed with Alex not too far behind. A we started to descend we were all in a line heading for the valley bottom. Unfortunately for Alex he took a tumble and went over on his ankle. He was ok but it took him a good 800m before the pain wore off. So it was me and Darren left. We reached the road at the bottom and I was still leading. A sharp pull up the road and onto a narrow path where there would be no passing as there were 6ft high ferns either side as well as rocks underneath meant it was slow running. I pushed up the hill knowing that I wanted to hit the stile first. I did and about half way on the track I took a tumble (only the 5th time tonight) and Darren jumped over me to take the lead. I got up and tried to close the gap but I didn't have the legs to do so. We took a right over the final stile before a 100m run to the finish. 2nd again. Slightly disappointed not to win, but there is no shame in losing to Darren.
The next day was the murder mile in Keighley. A race I have done a few times as a junior. It's one mile uphill with about 400ft of climb. It's not steep, in fact it's a very fast race. I decided to do it as it was uphill and I was only going to do hill reps anyway so I thought I could run the race and then do a session afterwards. Local whippet James Hall was on the start line, as was the legend Ian Holmes. The race obviously set of incredible fast with all the juniors getting excited and going to the front. I settled into about 7th at this point knowing that a lot of them would drop off and so it proved, After about 400m of the climb I went into second place, with James storming ahead. I knew I wasn't going to catch him. Ian was hot on my heels after a steady start in 3rd by this point. At half way I was very tired. Again not really a lot in my legs but I knew that was going to be the case. It was just about hanging on. I managed to finish 2nd in 7.02. James won by quite a distance and Ian finished 3rd. A good race and good stepping stone for some of the junior athletes as they get a chance to race the seniors.
The next race I did was Widdop. A race organised by Calder Valley and one I have run previously as a junior. On the start line was Darren Kay from Pudsey and Bramley and Alex Whittem from Calder. The race sets off on the road before a left turn winding down to the valley. A gradual uphill to a track before a run round the reservoir. The race started slowly which I didn't mind and was happy to sit in. We started to ascend to the track and a group of 5 assembled at the front. We began to run along the reservoir and the pace quickened. It felt pretty fast to me and so I was still happy to sit in at the back with Darren alongside me. We then turned right over a stile before a long run out over the moors to another reservoir. I went to the front, not intentionally, and pushed on as I wanted to keep the tempo high. Alex and Darren followed and we were down to three. After a few slips and falls we reached a track and began to ascend back to the moor. Again I went to the front to work hard on the hills. We reached the top and picked up a little path running back across the moor. Again after a few falls I relinquished my lead and sat back in second allowing Alex to lead the way. It stayed like this for a few miles as the going under foot was terrible. The ground was extremely rutted and was becoming increasing difficult to stay balanced. When we did hit better running. I increased the pace again as I could see we were going to be going up to a trig point. Again Darren followed with Alex not too far behind. A we started to descend we were all in a line heading for the valley bottom. Unfortunately for Alex he took a tumble and went over on his ankle. He was ok but it took him a good 800m before the pain wore off. So it was me and Darren left. We reached the road at the bottom and I was still leading. A sharp pull up the road and onto a narrow path where there would be no passing as there were 6ft high ferns either side as well as rocks underneath meant it was slow running. I pushed up the hill knowing that I wanted to hit the stile first. I did and about half way on the track I took a tumble (only the 5th time tonight) and Darren jumped over me to take the lead. I got up and tried to close the gap but I didn't have the legs to do so. We took a right over the final stile before a 100m run to the finish. 2nd again. Slightly disappointed not to win, but there is no shame in losing to Darren.