June 2010 by Swinton Running Club

Swinton Running Club V O L U M E

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THIS MONTH 

Race Reports

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Presentation Night

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Race Results

5km - The hottest tread this summer at SRC Heaton parkrun - Weekly Free 5km Timed Run, , 12th June 2010 It is a 5km run - it's you against the clock. Every Saturday at 09:00 It's run in Heaton Park, Manchester. Cost? Nothing - it's free! But please register in advance. Come along and join in whatever your pace! It is entirely organised by volunteers - email HeatonHelpers@parkrun.com to help. After running Woodbank Park twice I decided it was time to have a go at another local park run. Heaton Park I had been told was an easier course. Lauren had done it the week before and got a better time than at Woodbank, so it was my turn. Paul offered me a lift and said he would pick me up at 8.20 am. At 8.30 I was getting a bit worried but Paul suddenly arrived outside. We set off for Heaton Park a little bit later than expected, but I should not have worried because as soon as we got on the motorway Paul just pushed a button on his car dashboard which had a sign underneath which read. “SPEED OF LIGHT”.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Heaton Parkrun

Comberbach Fete 5K

Fetch Article

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Edinburgh Marathon Potters ‘Alf Marathon

South Lakes Marathon

Swinton v Astley Paarluf

Smithills Serpent

CLGP Series

Up and Coming Races

Special Notices

Committee Minutes

Social Events

Presentation Night

Race Results

Contacts

FLASH we were sat in Heaton Park car park. We walked round to the start by the duck pond where we met up with fellow Swinton runners. Steve, Mark, Lisa, Darren, Jason and also running was Shirley Duckworth-Oates. The run started, so along with around 240ish other runners I set off on the course. The first part is a flat small loop back round past the start and then up towards the house. So the first mile is quite quick. As you start the second mile it takes you up a long hill until you reach the house at the top where you turn right still on a hill and past the house. This makes the second mile the slowest but as you swing on past the house you get the benefit of going back down the hill. Then the finish is one loop around the lake and back to the start. Run done you then line up with your finish token and printed barcode to be scanned and entered onto the computer. My finish time was about 50 seconds quicker than Woodbank Park which is still my favourite park run so far. Highlights of the run were being overtaken by a Japanese fighting dog and owner being dragged along behind. Also a big well done to me for managing to catch up and over take a nine year old girl on the hill section and holding her off at the finish. Big thanks to Paul for getting me there in quick time and a big well done to him for a big PB. Full results can be found available here.

Ads.

A Japanese fighting dog (owner somewhere behind)

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Comberbach Fete 5Km Race, 13th June 2010 Around Christmas time my sister had a friend die of cancer, so she decided that she wanted to do the Derby Race for Life this year and asked if I would support her. Linda hit the gym and I went out on the road with her a couple of times. Her first attempt at 5k on the treadmill took nearly 40 minutes, so when we did the Race for Life and she managed 29 she was really chuffed. To keep her motivated Linda asked me to find another 5k for us to do later in the year. I thought I only had one criterion for my search – no grand prix or inter-club races, I didn‟t want her to get disheartened by being 5 mins behind the rest of the field. It became quickly apparent that there were plenty of reasons that we couldn‟t do the majority of 5k on offer:    

Races for Life – been there, done that, got the T-shirt (literally) Midweek evening races – difficult when Linda works long hours and drives between branches across most of the Midlands. Park runs – we‟re at least an hour‟s drive from each other, so one of us would have to get up at a stupid time on a Saturday to get to them for a 9am start, plus loo and warm up time. Anything organised by Sale Harriers – have heard stories about how ferociously competitive they are, didn‟t think that was a good idea for a beginner.

Eventually I found the Comberbach fete 5k. I looked at last year‟s results and there were only 80 entrants with times ranging from sub 20 to over 40 – ideal! I entered by post the week before the postal deadline (no online entries which was slightly frustrating). When numbers 13 and 14 turned up I became a little worried, were we going to be jogging round the park on our own? I was also worried by the directions that Google gave me for Marbury Country Park, the race venue. It seemed that the race was to be round Northwich Tesco car park! I decided on Friday to drive over and make sure I could find it rather than messing Linda about Sunday morning. Marbury Park is some miles away from Tesco and BEAUTIFUL! The Forest Ranger (who was probably bored and glad of someone to buttonhole) gleefully informed me that the park is 440 acres but that there is over a thousand acres of woodland in total. I would thoroughly recommend it if anyone is in the area. When we arrived this morning the children‟s fun run was just finishing – toddlers only just out of nappies looking over their shoulders to make sure they weren‟t being caught! Judging by the number of green shirts Helsby is the local running club and sure enough first male and female across the line were Helsby runners. There were a few more than 14 of us, we saw numbers into the eighties so were reassured. After looking at the Fetch newsletter 5k improvement guide we had a target of 28 minutes in mind. So I thought a nice, steady 9 min mile jog would be no problem and did a ferocious interval session at the gym Saturday morning. OMG Linda set off like a speeding bullet, ignored my protestations that she‟d set a fast pace and did the first mile in 8.04, at this point I was wishing I hadn‟t trained quite so hard the day before. Fortunately for me she couldn‟t keep up this pace and gradually slowed, particularly as we ran out into the open at the back of the park with no shade and fairly warm sunshine. Apparently Linda heard the locals at the start line talking about the first half of the race being downhill and an uphill climb on the way back, so she decided to push the downhill section. Entirely unnecessary as the only undulation of any kind was a bridge over the stream. The route is a figure of 8, with the local troupe of Brownies handing out water in the middle, apparently there is a section of track made of chippings, but I didn‟t notice it. As we passed the Brownies second time around we found ourselves back in shady woodland, still on a nice level path. At this point we again passed a group of teenage lads that I had ribbed about being passed by old ladies half a mile earlier– these youngsters just don‟t have the stamina! Joking aside there were lots of teenagers and younger in this race. It really was a family affair, a girl of about ten ahead of us being coaxed round by her dad and their dog.

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We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t overtake the ten year old, but Linda managed to run past the Lord Mayor, (who had the same fixed grin; glinting in the sunlight to match his chain, as when we passed him at the start) in 28.08 so it was a successful morning and justified Pavlova at the coffee shop on the way home. The race is well marshalled in a pretty location, small and friendly, well worth a visit if youâ&#x20AC;&#x;re free this time next year. Result available here

Sarah

5km article from the Fetch Newsletter One of the things about running that draws you in, is that your early PBs tumble like skittles, as your body learns to race, and your mileage creeps upwards. I thought I'd look at 5k's, and at how an average runner improves in their early racing life. ..Of course, you are anything but an average runner, and these numbers have been steamrollered flat, so if you find yourself on the wrong side of a curve, don't worry.

Run your finger (or at least a mind finger) along the bottom row until you find your first ever 5k time then move directly upwards. The different coloured regions show how much your time can improve over 2, 3, 5 and 10 races. For example, my first 5k time was 23:30, so the graph suggests I should take about 9% off in my first ten races, bringing me down to 21:23. I'm a bit behind that, with a best of 21:31, but it really is just a ballpark figure. If that's all a bit technical, try this handy tool. There are two more important things to note about the graph. Firstly, the percentage improvement gets smaller the more races you do. That 9% improvement after 10 races is only 13.4% after fifty! It's common sense really - otherwise you'd run out of percent completely, and end up being at the start and end of the race at the same time. Secondly, we all admire the speed and athleticism of the faster folks - but they really are at the sharp end of this graph and have to work really hard to improve. It's fun to beat PB's, but eventually it gets VERY hard. For more details on Fetch click here

From the sublime to the ridiculous - now for something a little longer SWINTON

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Race Report

Edinburgh Marathon, Sunday 23rd May We had decided to travel down to Scotland on Friday evening for a spot of sight seeking on Saturday morning leaving the afternoon free to time the walk to the start and see where we needed to go the following morning, but thanks to a local traffic warden we got sent the wrong way, however one hour later we eventually found the start. (30 minutes walk back to hotel). Sunday morning arrived and hurray it had been raining and the temperature had cooled down, although my enthusiasm was to be short lived. Having overloaded on porridge we met Lisa outside the hotel and headed off to the start. We then met Fiona, Dave and Phil which calmed the nerves and relaxed the atmosphere. Enough time for team photo, and then we had to split into time predicted pens. Dave and Phil were starting from London Road and Lisa, Fiona and myself were all in different sections on Regent Street. A nice touch was at the baggage station where a couple came up and wished me luck and thanked me for raising money and awareness for Williams Syndrome. Their granddaughter also has Williams Syndrome. The start was well organised but this was the point when the sun came blazing out. Luckily I had put on some sun cream and a hat. Being in the last wave it was easy not to start too quickly, although I was surprised when we reached 6 miles – I am sure the miles were closer in the first half than the second! It would have been nice to run through the more scenic areas of the city but the route quickly made its way out of the main city. Between mile 12 – 13 the leaders passed and we all cheered them on – how can they look that fresh after 23 miles! The weather was getting hotter and reached 28o but there were plenty of water stations, except between mile 17 and 20 when you most needed it, as we suddenly went off road and there was no shade from the glaring sun and I found this extremely tough. No marshals, no crowd and not a water station in sight. This was the point when it would have been easy to start walking – the only thing to get me going was that it was just as difficult walking and it would take me longer to finish so took a gel and carried on at a slower pace. By mile 20, I found it easier as I kept telling myself I can easily run 6 miles – then each mile marker I pictured a race I had done at that distance and this worked for me. And by mile 23 the spectators were back – and they were fantastic – people creating showers with their hosepipes and children squirting water guns at us – very much appreciated. They were giving out sweets and oranges, although dodging the slippy orange peel on the floor was tricky. At this stage the last leg of the relay runners were dashing past, full of energy which lowered the spirits slightly and they did get in the way. Last water station and I tried to speed up for last couple of miles. Home straight with 0.2 miles to go and we had to run on spongy plastic matting covering the grass, and we all seemed to run in the style of Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks. But there it was at last the finish line and I heard a „come on mummy‟ so I tried to do a sprint finish but the mats were too bouncy and I had nothing left! Got a lovely medal but it felt so heavy. Had to queue for a photo and at this point I said “never again!.” A further walk to get my goody bag, and then I saw Stephen and Daniel. The only problem was there was a long walk to the baggage trucks which wouldn‟t have been too bad except for the crush of people trying to get through the small gate. SWINTON

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Unfortunately I never saw Sue, but luckily met up Lisa, Fiona, Dave and Phil again, time for another team photo. All relieved to have finished we started discussing which one we would do next – what had I said not 30 minutes ago about never again. We walked to train station only to be told the train was full and we couldn‟t get on, the trains only ran every hour. So we walked back and tried to get a taxi but they were all unavailable. Decided to have a coffee in Tesco and then went for a local bus back to the start. It was 7.00pm by the time we got back to the hotel and 8.00pm until I could eat as I hadn‟t eaten since breakfast at 7.30am. I have got 2 lovely red stripes across my legs and bright red shoulders but only 1 blister so got away lightly. Great experience, so pleased to have run a marathon especially when 3 years ago I couldn‟t run upstairs. A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me and helped me raise over £637.00 so far for the Williams Syndrome Foundation. Swinton Runners results available here

Carol

Pre-entries are now being accepted for next years Edinburgh Marathon 2011, and it already looks like Swinton Running Club will have a large presence again. SWINTON

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Race Report

Potters 窶連lf Marathon, Sunday 13th June It was 7am when my alarm went off one cloudy miserable Sunday morning as I made the 50 mile trip down the M6 as the solitary Swinton runner heading down to Stoke for the Potters Arf. The race had a lot to live up to - the reviews on the Runners World forum all said what a great atmosphere it was with the local residents coming out to cheer the runners on and some tough hills throughout the course. Before I entered I checked out the previous years 'form' and saw that Steve Campbell did the 2009 race in 1hr:29. One fellow Swinton runner (who shall remain anonymous) commented that it was 'slow' for Steve and it must have been hilly for him to enter. After a short blast down the motorway I soon arrived in Hanley where the town centre had been transformed with the finishing line, portaloos and race registration and lots of runners and supporting friends & family. Whilst warming up I soon got talking to a local who was running for the first time but had practiced the route previously. He, like many others on Runners World forum, warned me that there were a couple of killer hills about the 4 & 11 mile mark but he reckoned he could finish in under 2hrs if he really pushed it. As 10.30 drew closer myself and some 1,200 other runners made our way out of the town centre onto the ring-road where the start line was assembled. The Mayor & Mayoress were on hand to sound the horn and we set off for a quick lap of the town centre before heading out of the centre towards Fenton. Despite being a Sunday morning the local Police were on hand to close off all the roads and ensure all the runners made it safely along the course. The road to Fenton was long and you could see for a good mile ahead. About half way down the road you could see the dip in the road and the steady climb back up. Despite being out of the town centre the streets were still lined with people clapping and cheering and the steady in climb soon faded into insignificance and we soon were on level ground again.

The first 3 miles soon went past as we headed into Longton. The Police were still kindly stopping the traffic as we were directed off the main road towards the first of the major hills in the route. For those that have done the hill training sessions in the winter I can best compare it to Hospital Road in terms of gradient but about 3 times as long. Having made it up the hill we were kindly greeted by a gradual downhill section that took us round an industrial estate. Despite there being no houses in sight there was a woman with 2 kids and 3 freezer bags full of ice pops handing them out as we ran past!!! As the race went on the skies turned cloudier and a gentle shower came down which was a welcomed relief. Being off home turf I was struggling to pinpoint any landmarks to work out how near we were to the Town centre. As we made our way along large housing estates the roads were still lined with people outside their houses handing out jelly babies or cups of water, there was even one kind person who had the garden hose out as an impromptu shower to cool you down. Just after the 8 mile marker I spotted the 'local' from the starting line who was struggling and I shouted some words of encouragement as I passed him. He did say before the race he was going to run the first 3 miles at 7 minute mile pace then slow down - the first 3 miles must have really taken their toll as I didn't see him after I overtook him.

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Approaching the 11 mile marker the road started to climb and I remember thinking this must be the 2nd of the killer hills everyone had been talking about. As I struggled up the hill a grey haired local who had taken his vest off and resorted to just running in his shorts started shouting and encouraging everyone to keep on going for the last couple of miles. I remember thinking this was the hill everyone had been talking about and how it wasn't as bad as everyone had made out. We were soon directed off the main A-road onto another residential area where a Policeman with a big grin on his face was directing us to turn right at the pub on the corner. As I looked up I realised why he was grinning - we were faced with Stoke's equivalent of Trooper Lane. Another one of those hills where it's quicker to walk up than it is to run. For those that have had the 'pleasure' of Trooper Lane, Stoke's equivalent is not as long but every bit as steep and still burns your thighs as you go up it. Until this point I was feeling quite good, on track for knocking a couple of minutes off my PB. When I saw what lay ahead two words came to mind, 'oh' and 'f*!k'. As I struggled up the hill there was a lady with a jug and paper cups handing out much needed water. As I held my hand out she went to pour me a cup. Too late, the jug had run dry and we had passed the final official water station. By this point my concentration had gone, all I could think about was getting over the finish line and not really caring what time I did it in. The last mile was a bit of a blur, all I remember was people stood outside pubs with pint of lager in hand and cigarette in the other shouting encouragement. To get back to the town centre where the finish line was we had to cross the bridge that spanned the A-road where just 2 hours before the race had started. Looking back the bridge wasn't really steep but after 13 miles of up's and down it felt like a killer. There was even a craftily placed photographer to capture those final moments of pain. After crossing the line in 2:07 we were quickly ushered towards the goody bags where we were handed t-shirts and medals and a much needed bottle of water. In summary this is a great race, some of the best support I've seen with friendly locals on hand to shout some words of encouragement, offer a jelly baby or cool you down with a blast of a Super Soaker. I can't wait for next years race, for the ÂŁ15 entry fee this is worth every penny. The highlight of the day had to be seeing people running for charity, a woman pushing her handicapped son in a buggy whilst carrying a collection bucket, a man running in full camouflage gear including boots for Help For Heroes and someone running for a local hospice dressed as a sunflower. And before you ask the sunflower did finish ahead of me!!! Full results available here

Mike

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Race Report

South Lakes Half Marathon, Saturday 26th June

The Swinton Posse hits town

“UNDULATING” When the umpteenth shattered runner came round the final bend, tripped on the sleeping policeman, and went full length onto the hot tarmac it became clear that the South Lakes Half had been baring its teeth. “Who‟s idea was this anyway?” Sarah called out as she avoided a similar fate a few minutes earlier. A fair question. Only later, huddled around a table in the car park of the very excellent “The Old Engine” did it become clear that the charm of this race lay more in the location than in the course itself. “You‟ve only got it because it‟s 2 for 1 at Morrison's!” bawls a rather substantial lady at a table to my right. Or, more or less to my right: these good burghers of Cark have moved their pub table half into the road in order to chase the evening sun. The wide wench has shouted across the pub grounds, and across a small river, into the garden of a house beyond where an equally well equipped lady has a jug in her hands. Between these two massive long distance interlocutors sits a doubt as to whether we are referring to grout, or Pimm‟s. This is surely the first time in human history that these two substances have been confused, which somehow sat well with the high risk tanning strategy in operation. It was one of those days. We had arrived early, around 0930 and chatted about this and that – speculating about the weather, the times we expected, the nature of the course, and where to finish off the day with pint in hand. A car park had been arranged in a nearby field – the one resource that Allithorpe has in profusion – and we learn from the guy watching the gates (who is a project manager from the nearby submarine construction yard) that nearby Grange-over-Sands is known locally as “God‟s waiting room” due to the average age of its all too temporary inhabitants. This sets the tone. For a race with 170 runners organised from a small community with few facilities, no open pubs, no police or traffic wardens, and probably only one gay in the village, it all worked well. It is based around a community centre last decorated in 1976, before the days of magnolia and when heavily textured polystyrene ceiling tiles were cool. Probably built in wartime it was the only thing of substance the Germans missed. But the people were lovely and as runners‟ numbers that have been lost are rewritten in pen onto labels the moist selection of homemade sponge cakes calls to us all from across the jaded wooden floor. Meanwhile, the sun climbed slowly, lazily, and ultimately mercilessly into the sky.

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A word on shorts at this point. I remember, a long time ago and in a galaxy far, far away, running as a 140lb youngster in proper running shorts; shorts so short they were barely more than a belt and a way of controlling vegetables (inadequately, on one occasion – but that is not for here). Not so, these days, I observe. Amid the lycra and the labels all manner of sub-stomach apparel is on display, including my own pet hate, shorts that go down beyond the knee (or “longs” as I like to call them). One pair in particular catches my eye, looking for all the world as though they were designed in a Russian tractor factory they appeared to be cheap denim, extended to mid-calf, and had the girth of a common or garden air balloon. Luckily, it was a windless day. The race began and Swinton have made a good showing, with only the Dashers showing up in similar numbers. Up through the village and away into the boondocks they go. “If I take more than 2 hours I‟ll be in tears,” Sarah says, somewhat prophetically it turns out. I spent the next 90 minutes doing what you runners never see. I killed time, finding a local shop where the serving girl would not look me in the eye – drawing ever closer an uncomfortable comparison with The Wicker Man (always count the fingers); taking on the sights, sounds and smells of the village; dawdling in the makeshift car park and listening to the Grateful Dead. Actually, on this day, time flies and my copy of The Guardian remains virgin. The sun is high and the midges absent among the silent grasses. Only the lonely barking of dogs and the profile of the church break the peace and the air is thick and heavy with the heat of the day. It is tranquil, near-idyllic (apart from the car park bit), and from this reverie I am loathe to rise – at least until the end of Cumberland Blues – but the thought dawns that it is hot, a bit hilly (or even undulating) and that our runners might be grateful for a little tlc. Temporarily and reluctantly eschewing the Audi, the sunglasses (nobody was watching anyway) and Jerry Garcia‟s languid solos I make my way to the start armed with a bag full of liquids and bits and bobs. Real horror show, as they say in the Clockwork Orange. In the heat and the “undulation“ all the times are down. Although Tony has put in what was on this day a stunning time of 1 hour 30, runners are dripping across the finish line like bags of sweat with attitude. To make matters worse, the MC is making full use of the tannoy (earlier playing J J Cale, which is good) and attempting to raise spirits. “And here’s Jim from the Morecambe Mitherers. Give us a smile Jim! What about a sprint finish then?” If the MC is not now dead this would be disappointing since his removal from the gene pool would be a blessing. Speaking of gene pools, Cark in Cartmel does not have an overly large one, but there we must stay the night. It all became clear when the horses trotted into the pub car park, shortly after pyjama man arrived. It might be the grout, but who can say? Pyjama man has those slacks on. You know, the ones in which one could comfortably accommodate an extended family of Polish plumbers. His shirt, if such it could be called, was several square metres of what remains of the Hindenburg. What she was wearing was equally inexplicable under the microscope of sartorial reason but mercifully all-covering as she rattled and rolled towards the bar. The horses, oblivious to grout, Pimm‟s and suicidal sunbathing, were lovely and soon attracted an audience of children keen to stroke and pet while the lady riders (not dissimilar to their mounts in size and shape) sank a quick one. There were footballs, laughing locals, horses, bemused tourists, bizarrely attired people and it began to take on the feel of a circus. Back at the finish, Tony has pulled a calf, Lauren is next in but in pieces, and Adam, Sarah, Rebecca, Carol and Steve duly appear – all showing the signs of wear. “Undulating,” it turns out, means run uphill all day and the South Lakes Half is the only course known to mankind designed around the principles of Escher. The first 5 miles are uphill, and apart from a few helter skelter downhill moments so is the rest – except for mile 12, which is very uphill. The field outside the community centre increasingly resembles a World War I field hospital as bits of runner appear, dazed and sun-struck, before collapsing on their goody bags. Sardonic comments about a lovely run in the afternoon abound and long after our crew is in and accounted for bedraggled pools of sweat held together by momentum are trundling down into the village.

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We leave the car park in decent spirits then, saying goodbye to Carol and Steve before making towards Cark and the many splendoured wildlife to be found at The Old Engine. We are staying at the Eeabank Lodge guest house, the first duty of which is to provide showers and soft furnishings for our runners but otherwise the main purpose of which is to be close to the pub. On all counts it excels and after a while we arrive, eat, and start drinking. Queue horses, kamikaze melanomiacs, pyjama man et al. The absence of a troupe of clowns in a battered wagon is the only disappointment. At one point, a senior gentleman appears with his good lady wife and, ignoring the horses, the chaos and the girls at risk of getting BMW tyre tracks in their sunburn, he looks at the pub building itself in complete amazement, as though it had just dropped down from space. I‟d love to know what he was thinking. Or drinking. And now a word about drinking – always do it in moderation. That night there was plenty of moderation. At one point the Pimm‟s lady appeared with her jug because the shop would not re-open for her (an outrage). For our part we attempt to fit in, sequestering several bottles of little known vintage purely in order to give them the benefit of our experience. It was a fair exchange and with heavy legs but enlightened minds we rolled back up the street towards Eebank, to be greeted by a carefully pre-positioned bottle. Very shortly afterwards we went down like felled trees and the gods of the night and the tired sped us towards morning in uncompromising bliss.

The last word must go to the excellent Eabank breakfast. On a stylishly bedecked table in the yard and the morning sun we ate like kings. As the menu was read out by the genial Chris, we said “everything,” “bring it on,” “it’s all going down.” He duly obliged, as did we. A good trip.

Jon G.

And in the order that we ran them, with only a day’s rest in between!.. SWINTON

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Race Report’s

Swinton v Astley & Tyldesley Challenge 2010 Round 1 - Paarlauf Relay, Monday 28th June 14th May and Steve chucked the words Paarlauf at us, Rebecca, Lauren and TV superstar Sarah Green all asked a very important question... “What the heck is Paarfluff?!” Paul fired the first reply back with a bit of German oral, Paar meaning Few and Lauf meaning Run, he was half right anyway, we were gonna bloody run! Ads heading for Google found the other half for us, that should have been enough warning! Two Mondays training at the track in the nice weather and I felt pretty ready, actually looking forward to it! Hard but worthwhile training I thought. Quickly came a rainy race night, despite several of our runners getting a full on Baking over the weekend at the South Lakes, traffic delays due to some plum wagon driver on the M60 setting fire to his rig and Navigator Horton making me drive over curbs in a search for parking we arrived at the rather plush Sports centre. Steve quickly got us up and ready into teams of three while me and Mike took a telling off from a man who seemed to be trying to charge us a quid to spend a penny! Minutes later Team seven and of course everybody else were lined up ready to go, A whistle went up and Rebecca as first of our three runners zoomed towards me, too fast as far as I was concerned! A quick tag and I was off, “not too bad this” I thought as I tagged operative number three Dave for the first time, that opinion soon went off the top 100 in my head and mainly was replaced by the phrase “please Jesus let this be over” despite a driving rain everybody kept going, round and round, passing people and being passed in equal measure, finally at the start marker I heard the minute to go shout go up and saw Rebecca bearing down, not wanting to be stuck just before the line I went for one final time, too fast, my legs wobbled but I was nearly face planted into the track but I managed it, crossing the line with seconds left, the whistle went up and I finally got to fall over! First round might have gone to the A&T team but I really think the laps everybody on both teams knocked up were fantastic, people actually smiling at the end and the knackerdness I think was actually worth it, a good choice for a challenge! Agecroft Hill memorial run next week anyone? A massive well done to everybody who ran!

Paul Shier

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Race Report’s

Swinton v Astley & Tyldesley Challenge 2010 Round 1 - Paarlauf Relay, Monday 28th June Team 1  Mark Birchall  Steve Campbell  Jason Cunningham Team 2  Richard Sutcliffe  Paul Rutherford  Steve Doxey

A&T v Swinton Challenge - by Garry Baines On the wettest night for months, our friends from Swinton RC made the short journey down the East Lancs Road to contest the 1st Leg of this year‟s challenge at LSV. Taking the format of a 30 minute Paarlauf, both clubs fielded 8 teams of 3 runners, with A&T supplemented by the inclusion of a “very” junior team. As you would expect the race was conducted in an extremely competitive but friendly spirit with all runners giving 100%.

Team 3  Chris Lomax  Lauren Marsden  Adam Pickup

There were some great performances with the winning team managing 26 laps and approx. 120mts. or just over 6.5 miles. To put things into perspective, this is around 17seconds per mile faster than Gabresalassie‟s record-breaking marathon pace.

Team 4  Louise Mcloughlin  Carl Price  Sarah Green

The final finishing order with points scored was as follows:-

Team 5  Mike Horton  Phil Summers  Glyn Williams Team 6  Andy Smith  Mel Jones  Charlotte Team 7  Rebecca Mills  Dave Williamson  Paul Shier Team 8  Kate Cammish  2 A&T Runners

Even the 7th teams from both clubs managed 21 plus laps.

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A&T Team 1 Swinton Team 1 A&T Team 2 Swinton Team 2 A&T Team 3 A&T Team 4 Swinton Team 3 A&T Team 5 Swinton Team 4 Swinton Team 6 Swinton Team 5 A&T Team 6 Swinton Team 7 A&T Team 7 A&T Team 8 Swinton Team 8

26 laps plus approx. 120mts 25 laps plus approx. 350mts 25 laps plus approx. 300mts 25 laps plus approx. 170mts 25 laps 23 laps plus approx. 250mts 22 laps plus approx. 320mts 22 laps plus approx.230mts 22 laps plus approx. 50mts 21 laps plus approx. 300mts 21 laps plus approx. 270mts 21 laps plus approx. 220mts 21 laps plus approx. 200mts 21 laps plus approx. 190mts 17 laps plus approx. 210mts 17 laps plus approx. 180mts

= 1 point = 2 points = 3 points = 4 points = 5 points = 6 points = 7 points = 8 points = 9 points = 10 points = 11 points = 12 points = 13 points = 14 points = 15 points = 16 points

The final scores were: A&T = 64 points – Swinton 72 points. The A&T Junior Team, consisting of Joseph Wane, Harrison Williams and Cerys Baines did remarkably well and recorded 19 laps plus 330mts. A big thank you to the lap recorders – Dave Crowe, Liz Ellicott, Andrew and Michelle Coates who had the arduous task of counting every team as they completed each lap. So A&T take back the trophy, at least for the time being. Swinton will have their chance for revenge at the 2nd Leg at Swinton on 25th August and we‟re all looking forward to that encounter. http://astleyrunners.blogspot.com/2010/06/v-swinton-challenge-by-garry-baines.html

SWINTON

RUNNING

CLUB

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Race Report’s

Smithills Serpent ~ Grand Prix Race, Sunday 30th May The Smithills Serpent is a 3 lap, off-road, trail race run mainly through the Horrocks Wood area north of Smithills Coaching House. Last year 2009 Serpent was the 1 st running of this race and had 120 race finishers. This year 2010 saw 87 runners finish. I think quite a few runners decided to stay away from this run as it‟s a very challenging race. I was joined for this race by 11 other Swintoners . Unfortunately Lauren & Rebecca were the only women able to turn out for the women‟s team due to various reasons from illness to recovering from marathons. Lauren, Rebecca, Mike & myself decided to do a warm up on the course and soon found that it was still made up from shredded car tyre rubber, some of which had been scattered to the side of the track only to reveal quick sand down the centre. This made for a bouncy foot strike which seemed to drain all the energy out of your legs within 10 metres. We didn‟t go too far to save our energy for the main event so we ran back (walked) to join up with the other runners at the start. I set off at quite a slow pace remembering how I felt last year. The first part of the run took us through a gate which had a bottle neck of runners at it last year but no such problem this time. We then turned right onto that *$%&****!£$% rubber & sand track and headed down. But not for long because as we took a left, the bottom of the Serpent revealed itself. As we looked up all we could see was its body twisting all ways to some dots at the top (race leaders). My slow pace got even slower at this point and my breathing(panting) got louder. Rebecca, Steve, Paul & Mike were all close at this point but Lauren was the only other Swinton runner I could see. But it didn‟t take long before Lauren was out of sight as her famed hill prowess showed itself. I reached the top with the local Mountain Rescue team eyeing me over as a possible faller. It was then a steep down section until we reached the rubber trail for our second lap. At this stage things were pretty spread out apart from the odd casualty walking the other way. Half way up this snake‟s tail I sensed a runner behind me . I moved to the side and watched as a Horwich runner (the leader) streamed past me and disappeared into what was now a very strong blustery head wind, which made my breathing almost impossible at times. Near the top I passed a stricken A&T runner ( well and truly bitten by the Serpent) Down I went again trying to get some speed while still conserving myself for the final lap. Horwich number two runner flew past me in a clear 2 nd place. Lap 3 then and I managed to pass a women runner who had been stopping and starting for the last mile, another A&T runner as well as a tall unattached runner. We all ended up having a tussle up the last hill section; I managed to get in front until near the top when unattached runner went past me. I could hear the breathing of the female runner behind me but I was saved by the steep down section where I decided to let my legs go and she took a more reserved approach. Finally I was in sight of the finish only for a group of three finished runners coming the other way using the route as a cool down and chat area. Still I made it over the line and was presented with my trophy (a blue Burnden water bottle).

SWINTON

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Race Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Smithills Serpent ~ Grand Prix Race, Sunday 30th May Last year I blamed my time on the fact I was recovering from illness. This year fit and well again I manage to be 1 min slower!!!. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x;s a hell of a run but I will be back next year to do battle with the Smithills Serpent. Many thanks to Clare who cheered us all on and made me run faster until I was out of sight. Carl Price also ran but I could not find his name on the results sheet. Pos

Name

Mark Birchall

Swinton Running Club