Andy Ready Photos - 14 Dec08

Above: Maria after 2K going over the M40 to the airfield.















Above: Maria sprinting to the finish.










Above: Left Rod Paris off sharply soon to cook lunch for 7 back in Kidlington whilst Maria speaks to the grandmaster Bob Emmerson who use to be a target for me back in the late 1990s as a V60.

Andy Reading Memorial 10k, Dec 14th 08

A couple of years ago this was my First. 10k. Ever. ... and I loved it. You might think that there would not be a great queue of people to run round an airfield in freezing fog in December, but everyone else loves it too, and it is full weeks in advance. The marshalls are brilliant, it's one of the last races of the year, so everyone is getting into that winding-down-for-Xmas mood, and oh did I mention the course is almost entirely flat? (Hello, airfield!). The memento in '06 was famously bad (a metal keyring with the name of the race, printed on a bit of paper, stuck on the back) but I had finished in just over 52 minutes and, modest as that time may seem to the more fleet of foot, I had had no idea I could go that fast and was delighted.

I promptly spent most of the following year getting a hip problem sorted, and when I came back in '07 I was five minutes slower.

So. This was, in fact, the race I had been training for all year. No, not the marathon, that was just because my previous PB had been set at Andy Reading two years ago, off the back of marathon training, so clearly if I wanted to beat it then that (more marathon training) was the way to go. All year I've been clawing my way back to fitness. I have done a marathon, I have "barrelled" (it feels fast even though when I see my shadow it clearly isn't!) round the local track through clouds of smoke from the firework display next door, I have had weeks where all I did was run, I have stretched and strengthened and counted the miles on each pair of shoes. I felt like I was as fit as I was two years ago, but you never really know...

Come race day I was very nervous and jittery. This was good as it seems to be a reliable predictor of a better time. It's a bit like going back into the office after a holiday - you dread it, but once you're there you're too busy catching up with the gossip to mind!
I knew Peter was coming out (bless him!) to support me and a couple of the VCAC gang (including Rod Paris who'd beaten me by a hair earlier this year) but I was surprised to see someone who looked exactly like Sharon as we came into the carpark.

A couple of rounds of the playing fields to warm up and then John told me I should get a shift on or I would miss the start (which I have done in at least one race!). At the back of the pack I chatted to Vince from work and Rod, and then we all did the traditional clamber through a hole in the hedge to get to the start itself.

Once off I noticed that Rod was doing more or less my planned pace, so I trotted gamely after him. The race loops round Little Chesterton at first and then back past the sports ground where a big clump of supporters stand to cheer you on your way. The previous few days had been FREEZING and so I had my armwarmers on, but I was getting HOT and peeled them off. John took them off me at the sport ground in a hand-over that many of this year's Olympic relay teams could do well to copy!

The route then goes along quiet country lanes for a mildly undulating km or two before turning left into a big airfield. By this time Rod had pulled ahead of me. I had checked my watch at the first couple of km markers and I was on pace, but I was feeling quite heavy and didn't have the energy to check after that.
I have a policy in races: if in doubt, find a pensioner and follow them (because if they don't have their race strategy sorted out then heaven help us all). Enter Bob (I found out his name after the race), a 75 year old grandfather, whose pinky-red running shorts I followed round the entire airfield. Trust me, at this point in the race, you don't want to focus on anything more than six feet away. Look up, and you'll see the leading runners heading out of the airfield and home for their coffee and cakes!

In anticipation of big puddles at this point, I had duct-taped up my shoes. But pah, hardly any puddles! Luckily duct tape isn't that heavy, but I could still feel it. However, I was still on pace by halfway. By the time we were out of the airfield, Bob was slowing a bit and I found myself overtaking first him, then a mysterious man in yellow who knew me and yelled encouragement (who could it be? Not an Ambler, he wasn't in a club vest - but I was too tired to look back!), then Rod.

The final stretch, after you turn off the road back into the sports ground, is just right - long enough to overtake one or two people but just short enough that you can always find the energy for that final sprint. I heard Sharon bellowing encouragement and picked it up a bit - then heard someone telling me to get a shift on or they would catch me! Only later when John showed me a picture he'd taken (and I looked at the results) did I realise that my workmate Vince had darn near pipped me at the line, and in fact we were given the same finish time. Phew!
Looked down at the watch - 51:25 since I'd crossed the start line. A new PB, and I know I can go faster because I was feeling a bit rubbish that day.
Sharon's Dad, who's been running only six months, finished in 62 minutes - well done that man!
As a bonus, Peter let me have a go on his Brompton later on in the car park.

The race is a memorial for Andy Reading, the headmaster of a local school. (There are two children's races as well). What a lovely, happy way of remembering him!

Bedford Half Marathon 14th December 2008 Laurence Klein

Bedford Half Marathon 14^th December 2008   Laurence Klein 

A couple of days before this event two weather websites were telling me that there was a good chance of snow on the morning of the 14^th. On the day before the race, the weather in my part of the world, which is not too far from Bedford, was appalling. The strong wind was blowing icy rain sideways and it didn't stop all day. All it needed was for the temperature to drop a degree or two overnight and it'd be a blizzard. Especially after the Luton cancellation the week before I was fully expecting to wake to snow and have a morning in bed. 

But there was no snow. In fact, as I stood on the start line I realised I'd got it a bit wrong. Although the car park (a field) was so muddy that a Land Rover had to be towed out by a tractor, the day was still, dry and relatively mild. And I was wearing three layers. Working on the principle of always trying something new on race day, I'd never worn three layers to run in before, but I was expecting freezing conditions. And then the middle of my three below-the-waist layers nearly ended my race in the first few hundred yards.  

All three of these layers had cords which tied at the waist and as soon as I started running I realised something was amiss. I could feel some slippage going on. I glanced down. If Nora Batty wore running tights, even they wouldn't look as bad as mine, and it was getting worse. It was a crowded start and there was no way I could stop or even pull over to the side, but as my stride became more and more penguin-like I stuck my hand down inside my top layer and started rummaging and hoicking. There was no way I could secure three pairs of cords while running, even at my pace, so establishing that the outer layer was secure I pulled the inner layers over the top and folded them over. This of course is the reason why I missed my target of under two hours. Nothing to do with lack of ability backed up by inadequate training.  

The course profile explains the race. The first couple of miles are flat and then you start the steady climb which hardly relents till mile 9. Then it's pretty much downhill all the way except for a short sharp rise leading up to the finish. Though it's called the Bedford half, it starts and finishes outside the town and the course goes through pleasant countryside, if winter landscapes are your thing, and mostly quiet rural roads, all on good hard, solid ground.  

Keeping warm in the school hall before the race, looking for friendly faces, a woman came up to me asking about VRUK and the website (as she was a vegan runner though a member of another club). Tip for the lads: Vegan Runners vest = babe magnet. So if you're reading this, woman-I-spoke-to, hope to see you running at a race soon in VRUK colours.  

Unfortunately I missed both Colin Braybrook and Frances Humphries who were both in this race (see results), but Colin would've been showered and changed and at his mother's 80^th birthday party (congrats Mrs B!) before I staggered across the line. 

There was a very decent sweatshirt included in the price which meant that presumably the entry fee couldn't stretch to anything more than icy water at the finish. I do enjoy a substantial post-race goody bag in childish, Christmassy sort of way, even if I have to pass half of it on to my non-vegan friends.

By the time I got back to the car park after the race, the field was more liquid than solid and the post-race entertainment had begun. The tractor was very busy.

Hastings Marathon Haiku

It was a tough course,
with lots of hills and over a
mile on a shingle beach

Anna Finn finished it in 4:20 notwithstanding!

Spooky, strange morning in Germany

"Running is a strange sport..." Sidney DeLara reports on the Branfeld 10k Hamburg Germany: 

Spooky and strange morning,  I always try to fit in a run when abroad/on holiday.
The run was around a lake so 4 races at same time provided confusion once round 5k, twice round 10k , also 15 and 20k.
 Spooky as i had to report in 8.30am ,at latest so still dark and the run was next to what
has got to be one of the biggest graveyards in Europe, which i had to walk through to get to race, buses go through this graveyard ,
 i counted at least 5 bus stops on the route i took. It took me about 45 mins to get through it on foot. Strange as it was first time i have been to run where nobody was at finish line, it was with chip timing though, so you got your time and place straightaway and a certificate printed from computer to take away with you, giving time, overall position and age group position. Running is a strange sport and in doing my slowest ever 10k (it was officially 10.2k) and was 1st in age group.

Vegan 5K event in the USA

Donna Zeigfinger in the USA writes:

Please keep me active. We put on an all vegan 5K race in May and would love to have some of the UK runners here.

Fixed Stockport photos courtesy JM

Re: Vegan Runners UK

Not sure if this will work but here are a couple more photos that are a bit clearer from the Stockport 10:   [img]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s155/james24746/stockport/DSC076511.jpg[/img]   [img]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s155/james24746/stockport/DSC079901.jpg[/img]

Stockport 10 photos

James M appears in a couple:

and

(photos "borrowed" from Stockport Harriers)

Non-club members - results

I have created a spreadsheet to keep track of those results which come in for vegan runners who are not (yet!) VRUK members - it can be found
here.

Message from VRUK Chairperson & Diary Secretary

Laurence Klein writes:

Hello all

Gorgeous sunny morning in Regent's Park on Sunday - we had the frost but no accident - commiserations to all those who went to Luton in vain. Just Annette and me running the VRUK vest - where are the rest of you?!! This race is worth getting out of bed for on a Sunday!

I'm up for the Reading half - Maria's entered, who else has? Dave you said there are two of you. We could make this a VRUK targeted event, and Reading has one of the most active vegan groups in the UK (the Fenwick-Pauls) so perhaps we can get some local entrants and support.

Btw, I've just taken over the job of updating the VRUK diary so please let me know what you're planning to do - distance, place, date and time as well would be helpful.

regards

Laurence

Weekend of 6 & 7 Dec

Dave Arnold writes:

Hi Everyone

Quick catch up....So? Who did what at the weekend? Sid and I were at Portsmouth for the Victory 5 (miles), a very flat fast course that always attracts a large number of serious (VERY serious ) athletes ..plus two Vegan Runners! No doubt sid will tell his story, a PB I think! I was pleased to sneak back inside 6 min/miles (29:50) which is faster than I've been for ages, so maybe Hackney Downs training is doing me some good!

Regents Park 10k ....what was the story there?

Thinking way ahead. would anyone (possibly) be interested in doing Reading half marathon in March? I know two London VR's that are already in for it. Maybe we could get a little posse (spell check that!) up for it. I know there are some VR's in Reading so we could perhaps meet up with them there. Maybe even get the VR Bristol crew over for it too? Thoughts......

Hope you're all well etc....

Dave/...

Stockport 10 miles VRUK team

VRUK managed a 3-man team for the Stockport 10 miles, thanks to the efforts of James Meldrum, Ian Hodge and Paul Snell with James and Paul running personal bests.

Results:

6th James Meldrum 54.37
178th Ian Hodge 1.14.52
315th Paul Snell 1.21.47

543 runners finished

Team position 13/19

James was also 6th at the 2007 event when he achieved 55 minutes.

Luton Marathon & Relay, 7/12/08 - canceled

Hi Everyone,

Everyone who intended to run was ready at 950am apart from the 2nd & 3rd leg relay runners. There may have been some announcement earlier as I arrived a little later than intended on the bike due to the icy weather and getting a little lost after taking a new route across Luton. It was certainly a freezing morning with frost everywhere so pleased I was not the lead relay runner. With 10 minutes or so to go we were told that due to a car accident on the course where a vehicle had overturned at a notoriously icy stretch of road in the winter, the Start was being delayed by at least 30 minutes. As I waited outside in the sunny but cold conditions, Police Officers filed past sometime later, I thought they were going for a tea break when in fact they were going to speak to the race organisers. It was not long before one runner walked briskly past and announced it had been canceled. We thought he was joking but soon several more confirmed the announcement. The Marathon in particular has been a very popular event over recent years with the entry limit increased to 700 or so and reached in advance. A lot of the runners had traveled considerable distances, even flying to Luton Airport. For myself I was not too disappointed given that I was only running in the relay and had the benefits of the 12+ miles cycle ride each way.

We were not told if there were any injuries to the passenger(s) in the car involved in the accident.










Ed Banks alongwith a 1000 or so other runners waiting in the Recreation Centre for what seems an eternity and getting cold on a freezing morning.

Peter Simpson

Wolverton 5 miles Report - 29/11/08

Hi Everyone,

My local 5-miler is now in its 44th year, I first ran it on its 25th anniversary. The event has since moved from its original location in Wolverton, Milton Keynes to Willen Lake about 5 miles away!

Usually the weather is undesirable but on this occasion it was calm but cold. An earlier start of 2pm instead 3pm is an acceptable choice for most. The field was mostly club runners as we come to expect, encouraging a fast start. I was soon breathing heavily and the legs were feeling a little tired but managed to maintain a steady pace helped by the calmness. The course consists of a lap around the smaller northern lake followed by a loop of the two lakes. Finished well and later discovered I had broken 34 mins (33.51), usually my aim. Given the higher calibre of runner, my position was a lot lower than normal 164/375, category position 23/49 M45-49!

Peter Simpson

Race this Sun 7th, Meal on Friday 12th Dec

Message from Dave Arnold for the London region:

Sorry everyone. Forgot to mention two dates.

This Sunday (7th Dec). It's the third in the Regents Park 10k series. I can't make it myself (racing 5 miles in Portsmouth) but I know Laurence and Annette are doing it and last time we had a 'mass turnout' it was a very sociable event. I believe you can enter on the day too!

Friday 12th December
One of our star runners, Andrew Knight is also one of the founding lights of ' Animals Count' a Political Party. They are having a Fundraising Christmas Dinner. Indian Veggie Restaurant, 92/93 Chapel Market, Angel, N1 9EX (nearest tube ANGEL)
7pm prompt. Eat as much as you can buffet and vegan drink. £10 advance ticket. Contact 07983 167588 or email: info@animalscount.org
Followed at 8.30pm by a 'Fun Auction'!!!

There's also a Vegan party evening thing at Conway Hall on the Sat 13th (evening till late), details of which I don't have to hand right now.

Maybe we'll bump into a few of each other at either or both of these events.

Good luck for Sunday races.

Dave/...

E-mail: veganrunnerslondon@yahoo.com

(James. Can you give me a call / text re training tomorrow (Wed 3rd Dec). Thanks.

London Vegan Runners - Training Update

Dave Arnold writes:

Hi Everyone.

Just a quickie.

1. We had our first 'official' training session on Wednesday and are planning a re-run of it this Wednesday. Proposed time is again 5pm, admittedly we didn't get running for about an hour, but if you can make it after that then reply because we could delay the start to encourage a few more runners along. Same plan. Meet at pogo and return there after.

2. Poster. Attached. Thanks to Andrew.

3. Good to see a number of VR London at the Xmas Without Cruelty show today.

Hope you're all well.

Dave/...