Helsby running club weekly round-up 2nd – 5th August 2014

How ya doin’?
Delamere Park Run Race Number 71 5k was on Saturday August 2^nd and Colin Bishop kept up his winning ways against last year’s Robbie Wobbler winner Dave Alexander. Rachel Arnold was first Helsby lady. Five ran in total as below

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/delamere/results/latestresults/
It was the monthly Halewood 5k also on Saturday where Tom ran in first u20 followed by Dave Madders securing a new PB for the course
37^th         Tom DeJong                       19.57 (1^st u20)
45^th         Dave Madders                  20.20 (New PB)
Full results https://sites.google.com/site/halewood5kresultsservice/home/weekly-results
Teggs Nose Fell Race was also on Saturday August 2^nd and three Helsby were out in attendance, Colin Thompson, Phillip Roberts and Tom DeJong.
Well done to Colin Thompson first in for Helsby at Teggs followed by Phillip and Tom (on his 2nd race of the day!)
12^th         Colin Thompson                               1.05.01
28^th         Phillip Roberts                                   1.12.55
50^th         Tom DeJong                                       1.18.43
Full Results now available at http://www.macclesfield-harriers.co.uk/
or why not watch a clip of the start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn4E-3VcbOM
Worsthorne Fell Race near Burnley was a near 11k trail and moor race with 900ft climb with three Helsby out on Sunday 3^rd August. Three lady Internationals were in the race with Jayne Joy 2^nd of the bunch to enjoy another day on the podium. Adair and Mario were both 2^nd in their age categories. Fantastic support from Joe meant we got to see him twice on the course (I’m thinking Joe could probably walk round the course faster than half the field running it!)
22^nd        Jayne Joy                             47.03
27^th         Adair Broughton               48.48
52^nd        Mario Foschi                      53.51
Full results here
http://www.ukresults.net/2014/worsmoor.html
and comedy gurns, legs and arms here
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/
Arenig Fawr on Sunday was a North Wales Fell counter and a classy field will always be in attendance for these races. Phil was the only Helsby runner but did the club proud with a solid run.
Race report by Phil Gillard.
“When a sheep trod feels like a motorway – a lot of my racing this summer has been in races which start and finish at a carnival or fete, Arenig Fawr was different. The start and finish is a quarry to the north of Bala – a stark and remote location. The race is organised by Yannis; Yannis is a purist and a proper “mountain man” and the race reflects this, having run the inaugural running of this new route last year, I knew what to expect. The other thing Yannis is really good at organising is a support crew with experienced marshals and a team providing copious amounts of refreshments both pre and post race, so to be greeted with a cup of coffee when you had completed your race entry form was fantastic.
The race starts from the base of the quarry and winds up a zig-zag path for about a mile until you reach the base of a gully much like the one at the far end of Moel Famau but twice as long. Once you reach the top of the gully then you are on your own, the route is not marked the terrain is unforgiving (tussock, bog and rock) and the paths are non existent. From the top of the gully you climb to checkpoint 1 on a small knoll and then contour round under Arenig Fawr for about 2 miles to find checkpoint 2 and then descend into the valley below Moel Llyfnant to be faced with a mile of climb to the summit (checkpoint 3), as you are climbing the lead runners are descending via the same route; an inspirational site to see the likes of Lloyd Taggart and Jackie Lee descending at real pace. Back into the valley and then another tussocky climb up the top of Arenig Fawr, the conditions at the top were very windy, pity the poor marshals on checkpoint 4. The route between checkpoints 4 and 5 is probably the best running – a semi circular flattish run to avoid the cliffs to the left and then a tremendous grassy boggy descent to checkpoint 6 and the finish.
The joy of running in this type of terrain is the remoteness, there is something special about being able to make progress over difficult ground, trying to select the best line to make your travel as short as possible without taking in too much height gain / loss and avoiding difficult terrain. The sheep trods make life a little easier but the sheep aren’t always following the race route!”
33^rd        Phil Gillard                           2.13.17
Full results www.wfra.org.uk
North Wales Half Marathon was also on Sunday and Helsby’s Jim Jones was the sole representative having a great run in the process. Race report from Jim below.
“I signed up on the day and did the North Wales Half Marathon. This race is promoted as one of the most scenic half marathons and I wasn’t disappointed. The views of the castle from the top of Conwy mountain at around 9 miles were fantastic. Fortunately the weather had also cleared a bit by then for what was nearly all down hill to the finish.
Notwithstanding the 600ft climb from Penmaenmawr village to the top of Sychant Pass, the toughest part of the race today was probably the first 3 miles with a strong head wind and blustery rain before we turned inland. The race website describes the first 1.2 miles as being on ‘hard sand’ (I must have been on the wrong beach!)”
Route and results below,
112^th           Jim Jones                     1.51.29
http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/race-results.php?event=1716&sort=guntime&page=1
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/556505220
Borrowdale is a classic fell race of 17miles and over 6500ft of ascent and our classy runner Jim O’Hara ran one of the best races he’s had in a green shirt for a sublime 34^th overall taking a few named scalps along the way. Well worth a congratulations to Jim when you next see him.
34^th         Jim O’Hara                          3.48.50
Jimmy does the Splits as below

And Full results
http://results.sportident.co.uk/home/event.html?eventid=3d6a99aa-6446-494a-b72c-0e3f9dadecfb
Worth also noting that a runner was seriously injured at the Borrowdale Fell Race. Please do not take running in the fells lightly. Wear the right kit and spend time on navigation if required. No need to take risks out there!
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-28629541
If I’ve missed any news or events then please let me know. It’s great when I receive race reports and adds so much colour to the blog, please keep them coming
Keep on running
Adair