Harry Johnson was ninth out of more than 18,000 runners at the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday. Harry set a personal best and club record time of 1:06:21, continuing his recent sensational form. Erawan Wanithanont also represented the club, finishing in an impressive 1:24:15 in 551st place.
Ten Harriers participated in the ever-popular Leeds Abbey Dash 10k. Ben Crowther led the team home in 33:25. Watson Peel was next in 34:54. Tabitha Howe was the first of our ladies, clocking 43:23, with Joanne Arundale (44:08) and Alice Vick (44:18) close behind. Susan Hall was third FV75, setting a new age group club record of 1:13:42.
Husband and wife team, Will and April Stewart, raced in the Holmfirth 10k. April was third female finisher in 17th place in 42:12. Will completed the challenging undulating, but scenic, course in 43:29 in 23rd.
Further afield, John Moore finished the Chicago Marathon in 6:06:27.
Away from the roads, James Franklin ran in the Withins Skyline Fell Race. James finished the 6.2 mile course, with 820’ of total ascent, in 53:28 in 32nd place.
Ryan Barker travelled to South Yorkshire for the Sheffield TenTenTen. This 10k trail race takes place in the city’s Endcliffe Park, incorporating grass, roads, paved paths and woodland trails with a fair number of lumps, bumps, twists and turns. Ryan was second MV50 in 35th place overall in 45:08.
Well done to all our athletes competing at the weekend. Full results are on our website under Recent Races.
Photo of Harry at the Manchester Half Marathon
Last Sunday, Mark Crabtree took first place in his age category in the tenth, and last, race in this year's Grand Prix Series run by the Yorkshire Veterans' Athletics Association (YVAA). Mark completed the course at Ackworth in 48:08.
The YVAA promotes athletics events for over 35s in most running disciplines and runs both a Grand Prix (GP) Series and a programme of Championship races. Each year, the GP series consists of up to 10 multi-terrain races of approximately 10k. The races frequently have over 200 runners and are a great social as well as competitive event. I'm sure they would appeal to all our Vets who like to venture off-road.
Mark competed in eight races in this year's series (best 5 races count) and took second place overall in the M65 category. An excellent achievement. Well done, Mark!
Three other Harriers also participated in the series; Martin Ellis (3 races), James Franklin and Ryan Barker (1 race each).
On the YVAA Championship side, Martin Haigh found out this week, much to his surprise, that he won the prize for second M70 in the Half Marathon race, which was part of September's Vale of York Half Marathon (see photo).
Joanne Arundale (3rd F40) and Rachael Beaumont (3rd F55) were also among the podium places in the Half Marathon. Many congratulations to all three.
Our own race, the Halifax Harriers 10k, featured as the YVAA Championship 10k race this year. Mytholmroyd Fell Race on 1st December will be the Championship Fell Race. Vets, get your entries in for the chance of a prize!
Another very busy weekend of racing.
Morley 10k
Eleven Harriers made the short journey to participate in the latest counter in the Road Race Challenge; the Morley 10k. The undulating course took runners around the historic streets of Morley on closed roads and raised funds for local charities and good causes. James O'Rourke was the first home, clocking 40:36 in 25th place amongst 850 finishers and was second M50. Next was Keith Lemon (45:43) followed by Byrony Baron, who was second F35 in 46:00. Keith commented, "That was a very hard course. But season's best, I'll take that all day long."
Hopton Trail 10k
Eight Harriers competed in the Hopton 10k; the latest race in the club’s Fell & Trail League. Following a flat road section from Hopton Primary School near Mirfield, the route goes uphill into woods. There then follows a few miles of steep climbs, woodland glades and bridleways and some great views. A glorious long descent through woods takes runners back to the road and the return to the start. Over 750’ of ascent in total. Ryan Barker led the team home, finishing in 18th place in 49:05. David Ingle was first MV60 in 55:51 in 50th overall. Rachel Standish was the first of the club’s three women, clocking 57:26. Ryan and Nigel Rigg used the race as a warm-up before competing in the first West Yorkshire XC League race of the season in Guiseley in the afternoon. (See below)
Chester Marathons
A number of club members ventured to Chester. Will Carver completed the city's popular full Marathon in an excellent 3:08:28. Five runners took part in the Metric Marathon (26.2k or 16.4 miles). Paul Hopkinson was second M65 in 2:17:58 with wife, Jenny, third F55 in 2:28:46. Andrea Ackroyd (2:37:25), Jenny St Romaine (3:07:16) and Kirsty Carver (3:35:42) also completed the attractive course around the city streets and surrounding countryside.
West Yorkshire XC
Half a dozen senior Harriers took part in the first race in this season's West Yorkshire Cross Country League. Ben Crowther competed the 9.5k course at Nunroyd Park in Guiseley in 33:18 with Will Cattermole (33:38) and Watson Peel (34:05) hot on his heels. James Franklin (35:40), Ryan Barker (40:44) and Nigel Rigg (49:20) completed the team, which finished sixth in the men's race. Had Ryan and Nigel expended too much energy at Hopton in the morning?!
Photo of Halifax Harriers at Hopton 10k
My latest adventure saw me taking on a race that’s been under my skin for several years now - I’ve always wanted to sign up, but I’ve always talked myself out of it. However, as I’m well and truly in my Mountain Running Era, it had to be done before I turn 40.
As the main event in the annual Tour de Tirol, the Kaiser Marathon is billed as the toughest mountain marathon in Austria and when you run it, you soon learn why. About 80% of the course is steep mountain ascent and the short runnable sections are fast, energy sapping and cramp inducing. 42.6km, 2500m of vertical climbing and the most brutal 7km finish you’re likely to find anywhere, but what a race!
One I’ll certainly never forget, but one I’m not sure I’m mad enough to be repeating