Arncliffe Fete 4 mile race

    Over the past month I've reduced my number of training runs to three per week, or just two if racing at the weekend.  The two main sessions have been a set of 200m repetitions, with jog recovery, incorporated into a six mile run, and a long (for me) off-road run up to 10 miles at the weekend. The third is usually an enjoyable six miles through local woods, fields, fells or riverbank - taking my camera along as an excuse to occasionally stop and stare while taking pictures for my Blog. My old knees have thanked me for this change of regime, I've felt less tired and been better able to cope with the next session. Repetition runs have increased from 12 to 16 without any loss of speed. I might even be slightly faster. So the animal is happy.

The Arncliffe 4 mile race route

    Highlight of the past week was the Arncliffe Fete 4 mile road race, a low key event that annually attracts around a hundred runners. This year we were down to 80 which is a shame because the number of prizes diminishes with the drop in entries. It's all about budgetting.
   The race is suitable for all grades of runners, many unattached locals lining up with top class club runners. The route is an undulating out and back circuit through beautiful Dales scenery following the right bank of the River Skirfare down to Hawkswick where it crosses the bridge and returns to Arncliffe by the opposite bank. Overall ascent is about 140ft - which is negligible spread out over 4 miles. This year's winner, Alan Buckley of Leeds City, kept just inside 5 minute mile pace to clock 19.59. The race takes place on the second Saturday of August, and there's a campsite nearby if any of my Blog readers should wish to take part in future years.

Starting near the back (313) so I can't be passed!
Photo courtesy of Dave Woodhead

    I'd spent a lot of Friday night visualizing just how I was going to run this race, which probably robbed me of a few hours sleep! My tactics were to start from near the back and gradually wind up to optimum pace over the first mile. That way I reasoned no-one was going to overtake me, but I'd have a succession of pace-makers to pull me to the Finish. It worked to a T, as they say. Glenis Speak of Northern Vets pulled me along for the first ¾ mile until I set my sites on an unknown runner who stopped to stretch against a wall when he heard my footsteps behind him. After the drinks station at two miles I caught Caren Crabtree of Wharfedale Harriers who said she was also entered for the Fell race later in the afternoon, so was keeping a bit in hand! In the last ½ mile I managed to catch the unattached Paul Stephenson and race him to the finish. I was happy with my time of 33.40, over 7 minutes inside the previous MV80 course record, and surprised to discover I'd beaten everyone over 65!   Full results here:

A smiling LV65 winner

     My wonderful partner considered she'd had a bad race and was anything but happy with her time of 40.49, but cheered up immensely on being presented with a £12.00 voucher as winner of the LV65 category. She later learned she'd also won a raffle prize valued £25.00 for a meal at a trendy local restaurant.   So a good time was had by all.  Roll on next year!
    Finally, I'm indebted to Karien, a South African runner who's been kind enough to feature my geriatric exploits in her very readable Blog entitled Running the Race. Whilst feeling slightly embarrassed I do hope her band of readers may draw inspiration from it and encourage them to run for longer and maybe rise to greater things. Thanks Karien.