Weekend Runs

Once again, plenty of parkrun action took place this weekend with Emma S, Mick & Steve W, and Rosie Wigg turning out at the Nostell and Pontefract venues. Most notable performances came from Rose and Steve. Rose managed a venue PB at Nostell and Steve an age group win at Pontefract. In winning his age, Steve also clocked a coming-out-of-hibernation time approaching the 18 minute slot.

Having loosened her legs with a relatively steady-effort parkrun, Emma S put her proper race-face on for the Snake Lane 10 on Sunday. This 10 mile event has a reputation for being quite quick but strong, bitingly cold winds on the day did not help the hundreds who turned out. In spite of the conditions Emma ran well with a top half of age group finish. Pleasingly, she also broke the 1 hr 30 minute mark for the first time in four attempts at this race. It's a pity the winds were so strong as her form may have otherwise netted a tough-to-beat PB.

Parkrun Course Bests

Half a dozen Go Veggies took to various parkruns this past weekend with Nostell and Sheffield Castle venues seeing the flag flown.

Mick and Rosie Wigg made their Debut at the Sheffield Castle event: a very intimate affair with only about 50 runners traditionally making the effort each week. The comparatively low turnout is probably due to the fact that there are 5 or so parkruns within easy reach of Sheffield centre and 'The Castle' is notorious for its climbs. Three laps of a seriously lumpy course, including three ascents of a hill that goes on for about half a mile is the order of the day - not one for the faint-hearted or hung-over. Mick and Rose both showed awesomely well. Mick was 7th overall and Rose won the female event.

At Nostell, meanwhile, Claire Whitwell, Emma S and Steve W flew the GO VEGGIE flag. Claire ran with her canine companion while Emma and Steve cracked on with a straightforward 'speed session' in preparation for the fast approaching multisport season. Both Emma and Steve went well and both recorded new fastest times for the venue. Steve (pic) was fastest in age and went on to do a really awesome mime act at the finish.

Weekend Round-up

It was quite a busy weekend, with Emma S and Mick W kicking things off on Saturday morning with parkruns at Nostell and Wakefield respectively. Wakefield's Thornes parkrun venue was Mick's first run-in-anger for nearly a month following a winter bug but he showed he's bouncing back well, recording a very respectable 21.05 on this hilly, twisty, muddy course - exactly the same time he recorded when he last did the event just before falling ill. Emma took things easy at Nostell and ran with her (by now renowned) 'reluctant' racing dog (pic below) - mainly using the event as a leg-loosener before a big cross country effort the following day.

Speaking of which: Sunday saw round 4/5 of the PECO series held - on this occasion - in Weetwood, north Leeds. A mercifully dry preceding week saw the course in good condition underfoot meaning lost shoes and long, soggy, flailing socks were a rarer-than-usual sight. It was still tough though, with plenty of twists and turns and many nasty short sharp uphill sections. Emma was pleased she'd saved something for the day and had a good run finishing 76/215 females overall and in the top half of her age group. Other GVs present were Rosie Wigg and Steve W. Rose showed consistent form and pipped Emma finishing 72/215 female, whilst Steve demonstrated a hint of upcoming triathlon season form with a 4/51 age group finish, and in the process showing a dirty pair of heels to many an athlete half his age.

Steve C, meanwhile, found himself gravitating back to the Lake District for a 13 mile trail race based on Grizedale Forest. Unlike with the bonkers Big Chill Swim, this time Len was allowed to participate too and the caniX duo successfully completed the scenic - if predictably tough event - overcoming the harsh terrain and the frosty / mainly foggy conditions. The Lake District reportedly didn't disappoint though, with low-lying fog sometimes giving breathtaking views of exposed 'crispily sunny' peaks: almost enough to make a marathon runner forget the incessant pain and fatigue, if only for a fleeting moment.

Recent Runs

Claire Whitwell and Rosie Wigg were in 10K action on Sunday (1st February) in this year's running of the Dewsbury 10K. This event attracts a huge field as it's an archetypally flat and fast PB carrot-dangler. Unfortunately, Sunday's chilly north wind was a bit of a goal-dasher and made the outward 5K leg a freezing cold blue-lip-making slog. In spite of the harsh Arctic conditions Rosie still managed a good solid 48min run - not too far from her best time on this course - while Claire (pic) rose well to the chilly challenge and beat her most recent 10K best (run a few months ago on the equally fast Leeds Abbey Dash course) by 20 seconds. Impressive!

Emma S was joined by a slowly-coming-out-of-hibernation Steve W at Doncaster parkrun on Saturday where conditions on the mainly grass-surfaced course can best be envisaged by imagining a deep muddy bog full of slushy icy-cold water. Emma enjoys the challenge of such conditions whilst Steve is known to become irrationally grumpy at the prospect of running through even the shallowest of puddles. One of the GV's present finished with a grin: the other didn't. What they did share was 5th positions - with Emma being 5th female and Steve 5th overall (and age-group winner).

Taking conditions out of the equation, the Doncaster parkrun is a pleasant multi-lap affair, and for the time being remains a 'small' concern with a very friendly atmosphere. Recommended!

How crazy can one man be?

It's been undeniably freezing cold outside this past few days so imagine how raw it must feel up in the Lake District. Now imagine how much worse being there would feel if you were standing right next to Lake Windermere in just your pants. Not fazed? Try plunging into the lake and racing in a flat out sprint with full-on brain freeze and your respiratory system in spasm.

Sounds fun, right? Welcome to the world of resident GV ultra-athlete Steve C, who took on the 60 metre version of the Big Chill swim this weekend. Steve was initially disappointed that entries were already full for longer versions of the event but immediately post-race was most definitely of the view he'd had something of a lucky escape and was furthermore persuaded it was a "never again" kind of race experience.

In spite of the body-shrivelling cold and - frankly - the sheer lunacy, Steve still managed a top half of his age group finish, and, in true Steve C fashion, an hour or so after finishing was already thinking of ways to improve for next year. He's even mooted the possibility of pulling together a relay team!

We can order some appropriately flimsy GO VEGGIE swimming gear if anyone's interested...