Non-cruel Christmas Fuel

There's been a flurry of parkrun activity amongst GO VEGGIE members over the festive period and some super competitive performances have hopefully made other parkrunners have a quiet think about their traditional Christmas dinner.

Members have been active at Leeds, Sheffield, Nostell, Wakefield and Eastbourne.

A good few age group wins have been registered as well as some impressive overall performances. Mick W in particular had a good run at Concord Park in Sheffield (pictured) and dropped impressively into the 19 minute bracket - a time he's well capable of but which often eludes him as he generally gravitates towards tough, hilly and twisty events that just don't lend themselves to PBs.

The next weekend or two promises to be a busy time with members having all manner of trail and cross country races planned. Good luck especially to Rosie Wigg who's taking on the formidable Wooden Tops Auld Lang Syne event: eye-wateringly hard does not even begin to describe it. The list of competitors makes interesting reading; particularly noteworthy are a couple of chaps called Brownlee...

PECO 2/5

The dedicated trio of Mick, Emma and Rose were out again last Sunday (14th December) for round two of the PECO winter 2014/15 XC race series. This round was held at the splendid-for-an-afternoon-out venue of Nostell Priory where, for a couple of hours, 400+ cross country runners responsibly undid the Capability Brown inspired serenity of the historic grounds and parkland.

The usual mud and slog were apparent but all 3 GO VEGGIES performed well and finished high enough up their respective orders to 'count' for their local team (the PECO series is a team based competition run under UKA rules which obliges all competitors to run for a fully UKA affiliated club). This is no mean feat as the quality of competition - even to be able to 'count' - is very high.

Mick continues to improve and is undoubtedly approaching the ranks of elite-for-age runner, while Emma and Rose (pictured) finished well up their age group order with Emma achieving 12/30 and Rose 10/29 positions.

New Members' Welcome

A big welcome to new members Phil Shreeve and Ryan Procter.

Phil is a runner and gym goer who hasn't competed in a while but still enjoys multiple runs per week for the pure enjoyment of it; he particularly enjoys running on crisp and sunny days - here's hoping the early months of next year deliver.

Ryan has concentrated much of his efforts on coaching in recent years but still keeps his hand in, mainly with running events, but is also known to tackle the occasional multisport race. When race-fit Ryan is a force to be reckoned with and has some elite performances to his credit.

It's a great pleasure to welcome both to the GV community.

Recent Runs

GV have been out in force again this past two weekends.

Emma S and Rosie W took to the mud and slop of the fields and woodlands of Crossgates (Leeds) in the opening round of this year's series of Yorkshire based PECO cross country races. The PECO series has become incredibly popular in recent years and attracts some very high quality runners. It's not unusual to find famous members of the GBR elite triathlon squad turning up to blow the winter cobwebs off. Though not troubling such exalted company, Emma and Rose both reported having a ton of fun and waxed lyrically and hysterically for a very long time indeed about exploits at one particular water jump. Both achieved commendable top-third-of-their-age-category finishing positions.

In parkrun news, Mick W, Claire Whitwell, Emma S and Rosie Wigg have been out there at various venues including Pontefract, Nostell Priory, and the fearsomely tough Temple Newsam (well done Claire). For anyone brave enough, the Temple Newsam parkrun is basically (or at least feels like) 4K uphill and 1K down; it's tough! A number of age group wins and top 10 overall results have been recorded by GV; well done to all for getting out there and for obligingly looming atmospherically in imposing bright orange out of the mists.

Sunday (7th December) saw Rose and Emma out yet again at the truly inspirational venue of Sherwood Forest to compete in the Edwinstowe 10K trail race. This event is always superbly organised and takes on the pathways and trails of the old-as-the-ice-age forest, including a reverential pass of the medieval Major Oak itself. Both did really well with Rose finishing 15/119 and Emma 19/119 in the female vet category.

Water Sport Indeed

Mick W was in cross duathlon action again on Saturday (29th November) in the 3rd and final event of the popular and very well organised Midland Off Road Race Series.

Sunday's round was based at the National Water Sports Centre near Nottingham - water being the relevant word. The signs were ominous when the organisers contacted every competitor the night before the race advising them to allow extra time to arrive as the venue car park was flooded!

Sure enough, the 5K run, 16K bike, and final 2.5K run were all a squelch-fest resembling archetypal Glastonbury scenes; but with no stages, only a few tents, and much less pretentiousness. Mick's choice of running footwear was not the best and a comedy-slither round the first 5K saw him needing to put in a top-drawer bike performance to salvage some places. Fortunately he was up to it and his MTB background saw him absolutely blast the leg to take on the 2nd of the runs well up the overall field.

Proving those long endurance training efforts are actually worth it, Mick held on in the run for a splendid 2nd in age group and 23rd overall position.

A major bonus was that his consistency in the three counting events saw him as series winner in his age group.

Go Veggie!