In memory of Gill Pimblott.
4 Mile run.
Can you catch Shaun in race the train driver.
£8.00 entry fee on the day. Please arrive early to register.
All money raised will be donated to Gill Pimlotts charity.

Turnslack fell race report 

humdinger [huhm-ding-er]: noun (informal) “a remarkable or outstanding person or thing of its kind”

Before the Turnslack fell race I was reliably informed that it was a “humdinger”, or at least Claire overheard someone say this in the queue for the toilet, but however unorthodox our source of information, they were absolutely right.  2,000 ft of climb in 8 miles meant that this was almost the same as doing the previous two champs fell races back-to-back!  And humdinger was just one word used to describe this race, with many other, more colourful, adjectives being used after people had experienced it, in fact I was quite shocked at how many of these words Kerry knew! 

The race started below the church used for registration and went straight into a long climb up a road, which turned into a track and then turned into a narrow trod on the moors.  As well as the constantly undulating course, a feature of this race was the off-road sections across rough and boggy moorland, where footing was treacherous for the incautious.  During one such crossing, the presence of what looked like a recently surfaced and perfectly polished white human thigh bone lying on the top of the bog gave me additional pause for thought.  However, there was also beauty amongst the ruggedness of the fells and a couple of times we crossed grounds that were carpeted with white dots in every direction, as if the fields had been speckled by stars.  Bog cotton, never was an uglier name given to such loveliness.

The end of the race was also memorable for 2 reasons, the first being the actual finish, which skirted the high wall around the graveyard and relied on you spotting a sharp and narrow right-angle turn up the steps to an unusually situated finish line, right at the church door.  The second was post-finish, with the after-race drinks being served in cleaned-out Pot Noodle pots, classy stuff and only at fell races, you don’t get that kind of thing at the London Marathon!

Well done to everyone who took part, it was a good test of legs and character.  I’ll post a link to the results when I find one!  In the meantime, the latest fell champs have been updated on the website.  

The next race is another step up again and not to be taken lightly at Sedburgh Hills on 20th Aug 11:00, AL 14M 6004ft.  

Road Race - Reminders

The next races in the road season calendar are :-

CLGP race only (Not club championships - Chorley 4.4 miles  2nd August)


Club Champs


Pennington Flash 5 -                27th August

Wigan 10k   -                           3rd September

Swinton 5.25 -                         24th September

Manchester Half Marathon  -  15th October


Captains Advice -     I strongly recommend you book on the Wigan and Manchester races ASAP as rumour has it as they are expecting race limits to be reached in August.

Thanks

CB

My Ironman Journey - James B

My journey started many years ago when weighed 25 stone I have always battled with weight and still do.

I decided to do Ironman as I love to put my body to the limit and to see what I can do. Also to prove to myself I am fit enough and it does not matter what shape or size you are. Anything is possible 

People who know me realize that I always train and live for it. The feeling of pushing myself is like a drug. Because of my weight I also feel I have something to prove all the time. Always get comments when racing "god he is doing well for his size" these comments just push me more. To be honest I still have to lose more but what people may not know is when you have abused your body it is hard to get it back (perfectly flat) often wish I was skinny but I am not and just have to deal with it the best I can. I was hoping I would lose more during ironman training. But when training hard and doing a lot of hours you need to eat. So only dropped a stone

I started the plan with Graham and Scott - we were already friends but have become much closer. When going through 32 weeks of training the amount of highs and lows you go through is unreal but we all pulled together and supported each other through out. Times when you feel you just cannot do another day of training.

During training I have improved my swimming from being a 2,10 per yard to a 1,39 and being able to hold that pace. Even though Hindley baths was empty on a Tuesday night the support from Claire Matchwick and her advice was brilliant and Shaun who put together some real good sessions has made the difference.

 My cycling improved with using Trainer Road and a power meter which I think is anamazing tool and we were doing 4-5 bike sessions a week. Also having Graham with all his knowledge in cycling helped loads. My running started to go down hill when I tore a muscle and missed a lot of long runs which affected me on race day. The last 5 weeks were very worrying and I did silly things like kept running and making it worse, in the end I had 12 days off running and Warren did an amazing job getting me to race day

Race day - my nerves were all over the place thinking to myself how the hell I am going to complete this, really worried about the run - had I done enough.

Swim - got myself in the 80min wave, even though I had done 70mins for distance just thought it would be best. My swim went very well. thought I could have gone quicker but very hard getting past so many people getting kicked and swum over. First lap was in 36 mins second was slower as I started to lap the slower swimmers but over all swim time was 1hr 16mins. 

T1 - messed about again chatting away to random people when I should have been getting on with it.

Bike - this is what I wanted to smash I had worked hard on the bike. So I pulled my bike off the rack and as I went down the road someone smashed my rear mech so it was changing and slipping gears. I was so upset knowing it was affecting my ride and knowing Sheep House was coming up.... when I got to 25miles my power was really down nowhere near it. So I had to just get on with it and thought sod it, if I brake down at least I tried - so started to up my power. Hoping I would find my chief mechanic (Dave) but found him at 70 miles and just thought I would carry on. When I picked up my bike that evening I took the wheel off and the whole rear mech fell to bits so I was very lucky. Also first time ever when riding I was cramping. Had to stop twice and get massages with cold water, amazing what people do for you in this event helping you out. Came into T2 happy but pissed off knowing I could pushed it tiny bit more. 

T2 – was me trying to relax and took a min as I was really worried also thought with good time here would make a massive difference in my overall time.

Run - came out felt ok and HR was low but that did not last long around a mile in massive cramp in my hand strings and quads so I had a minute and collected my thoughts just kept saying I have come this far I am not just throwing the towel in. First 8 miles was really bad - cramp was not going away and best place to get cramp is right in the centre with everyone watching you and you cannot move till it has passed. Just had to keep plugging away and walked all the hills which helped the cramp issues. I knew this was going to happen as I had missed some big training sessions... the support from the A&T feed station was brilliant and gave me such a lift each time I came round. Then Graham caught me up and stayed with me throughout the run which was amazing as we chatted all the way round and made sure we kept on target to be honest not sure I could have done it without Graham. Best thing about it is to finish with your mate  

When I came through the finish it was very emotional for me it was just everything I have been through fat man to ironman.. I have worked so hard to get to where I am now. Still cannot believe I have do it

Also like to thank everyone who has supported me 

Graham and Scott - training mates 

Jon - for all his support throughout training and IM just being there and making me eat when needed

Lorraine and Hannah for the support throughout the day and to put up with all the training we have done

Lynn and A&T feed station crew massive thank you when things are shit it is good seeing all your friends

Massive thank you to Suzanne and Dave (aka chief mechanic) without Dave my bikes would not have been ready truly the best!

Lastly my family and my kids - they had to put up with weekends of long training and their understanding my goals 

Thunder Run 2017 by Jackie Price

 

When your facebook messenger is backed up with 10,000 messages about head-torches, tent arrangements, burgers, bop it, whether sun cream or wellies are required and a surge of Tim’s spreadsheets, then it can only mean one thing – Thunder Run ishere!

 

27 of us made the journey to Catton Park for Thunder Run 2017.  Linda had been ruled out of the first team due to a late injury but she came as drinking/support crew and luckily for her, she didn’t have to endure the mud bath that was this course. Stu MJ roped in his colleague Jenni, her twin sister Sarah and Sarah’s boyfriend Stu for the weekend. 

 

As always, the first to arrive and secure our pitch was Tim. He secured our usual spot on car park B and the Mass Debate Tent was erected in the centre of our pitch. Thankfully Rob, as always, provided every possible piece of camping equipment required and made sure we were all well catered for. 

 

Everyone pitched their tents around the main tent, or in Jon’s case he threw it up and cracked on with the beers! Our tent was pitched on an ants nest so quickly relocated. Phil SG arrived with a child sized tent that resembled a dogs kennel (and with Stuart MJ was convinced led to an underground lair), couldn’t withstand the rain and meant he had to sleep in his car.

 

In no time the tents were up and the beers were going down nicely. It was soon time to go and register and find out what colour t-shirts we had this year. There was a sizing issue with the woman’s t-shirts that meant they were at least 2 sizes too small and most certainly did not keep the girls guns under wraps very well. Jenni and Sarah were certainly not the only twins in our teams!

 

We made our usual trip to the A&T ASBO topless bus for an obligatory beer and for Rachel to do some retail therapy in the shops. We then made our way back to our pitch. The beers and fizz were flowing nicely with Tim’s special custom made TR playlist (featuring mainly Tim’s songs and David Guetta’s lesser known brother David Gutter) playing and it was all very civilised – but not for long. The heavens opened so it was an indoors BBQ, more beers and fizz and then it was cards against humanity time and from there it all quickly plummeted downhill. The lesson learned here is that you need to exercise caution when playing this game because you might innocently answer one of the questions and then have your winning answer as your nick name for the rest of the weekend! 

 

Some of the gang headed down to the start line entertainment whilst the rest of us just drank the tent dry. Party Dave was out in full force and the Ironmen amongst us showed their endurance skills went beyond swimming, biking and running. Everyone was getting a bit worse for wear and then we had a visit from a fellow runner who was most perturbed that we were still partying when he had to run in the morning “Are you all idiots?” bellowed through the tent and when Ian’s response was for him to “reveal yourself” this led to a very amusing altercation that resulted in him going off threatening that he was complaining to security. The ASBO boys were left partying and then eventually crashed out about 2am with Dave taking all the chairs out and Ian falling into his tent onto Phil R’s head. 

 

There were some sore heads the next morning with Mike, Ian and Dave certainlypaying the price. I think Mike may still have a hangover now!

 

Chris S had ordered our custom made vests and t-shirts in A&T colours and these were very popular and looked great.

 

For some (Jon, Brendan, Pete and Tom) 24 hours of running was simply not enough so they headed out for the local park run first thing Saturday morning. 

 

Clare went missing and was located in the tent trapped in her wellies. Thankfully, Phil R was able to assist with removal, whilst we were just crying laughing on the floor.

 

Sue and Dave made sausage and bacon for everyone’s breakfast and then Dave’s beloved white board come out for team running orders, tactics and inspirational messages for Tim.

 

Next it was time for the annual log photo shoot in our new TR t-shirts. Rob (assisted by Ethan) was this years photographer and thanks to the woman’s t-shirts this looked more like an FHM cover than a group of runners. A few of us then did Dave’s annual walk over the course before heading for the start.

 

Timbo was all set for his epic challenge and Stuart MJ hit the start line for Team Hobo in his kilt, Phil SG got going for Team Hob Nob in his hot pants and Dave was first for Team Hobble in his signature lycra bad boys. This trio were quite a sight!

 

Tim (for the first time in his life) was last over the start line and then we all started to rack up the tough 10k laps of this course for the next 24 hours.

 

Tom F was fresh from ironman and did 2 super-fast laps for the Hobo’s before heading off for a week in Benidorm. Some of the first timers seemed totally shell shocked by the course (and Pete’s reaction to it comprised mainly of words beginning with f). Everyone soon got into it with Sarah having to make an emergency purchase of some new trail shoes that certainly didn’t look new for very long.

 

The sun was shining and we were able to gate crash a front row seat to cheer on Tim and all the runners, chill and catch up on the Love Island gossip and whether Jamie and Louise Redknapp were going to split because of Strictly or whether they could work it out. Clare started much deliberation as to what the shelter for a car on the drive is called and warned us never to mess with her mum!

 

At 3pm the rain started and then it did not stop until Sunday morning!!!! It was a 24 hour whirlwind of running, rain, mud, mud and more mud! Powered by pot noodles,Lucozade, Kay’s cakes, costco flap jacks and brews, we all did our laps as the rain and runners churned up the ground to an atrocious mess. “Unrunnable”, “ridiculous”“brutal” and “an absolute joke” were some of the descriptions that I heard whilst waiting in the run queue and these were certainly accurate! The night laps were like something from Blair Witch meets Marls Pitt, but still a firm favourite with everyone.The last few laps were bonkers but make this event what it is and everyone give it their best shot and seemed to embrace the slippery mud bath. The support on the course is just amazing. We had hoped to give Tim a new message of inspiration each lap but after 2 we gave up on this as the rain was just washing them away.

 

Chris W and Stu MJ finished their laps at 2am and then partied on and completely demolished a full bottle of tequila. 

 

Tim tackled the course solo and was an unstoppable force and showed the gruellerwho was boss. He clocked up an amazing 15 x 10k laps (94 miles!!) in 23 hours 28 minutes with the odd break for brews, pizzas, change of trainers and copious amounts of Vaseline. He came in at an amazing 5th place after a sprint finish that meant we missed him coming through the finish line.

 

Hobo, Hob Nob and Hobble all clocked an amazing 23 laps (With Sue, Claire M, Clare J, Pete, Jon and Dave doing 4 each).

 

Hobo (Stu MJ, Tom, Sue, Jackie, Jon, Chris W, Stu R and Pete) came 47th with a time of 22:59:39

Hobble (Dave, Claire M, Ian, Clare U, Neil, Rob, Eddie and Jenni) came 50th with a time of 23:46: 27

Hob Nob (Phil SG, Phil R, Rachel, Chris S, Mike, Brendan, Tracey and Sarah) came 51st with a time of 23:51:15

 

After all the drinking and running (past tents) was done it was time for showers, clearing up and the skipping of Jon’s tent and contents, before heading homeward bound.

 

Thunder Run 2017 was, as always, an amazing experience. We certainly know how to put the fun into thunder run and it is a miracle we have survived another year without getting banned. Same time next year?

Turnslack Fell race Sat 29th July at 14:30

The next fixture in the fell champs is Turnslack in Littleborough.  With 2000 ft of climb, this is slightly longer than recent races at 8 miles and classified as "M", so there's an extra bonus point available in the champs.  Be sure to keep an eye on the weather in case of kit requirements (always come prepared!) and I hope to see you there.  There are further details at the link below.

http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?id=5063

Date for your diary - Gill Pimblott Memorial Race 2017; Saturday 19th August

I have agreed the date with Gill's Dad (Alan)

Shaun has got an idea in mind - race the train / train driver and the race will be open to Club members plus friends & family

It's for a great cause so please try to make yourselves available

Shaun will post more detail closer to the date

Mystery Race - Report

On a glorious Wednesday evening you all turned out to see what my Mystery Race was all about.   39 of you showed up in your blue tops which for me was a great sight.  

I gave my race briefing describing this a PACE RACE.   I asked you the members to predict your time to complete the course that measured 3.9 miles long.   The shock and horror of your faces when I asked you to run without watches was hilarious.  The route given was from Ginpit down the trail path - turn right at the bottom and then head on the busway to Holden Road where Chris Scholes would be waiting to greet you with a Dingbat card and then back again.   The idea of the Dingbat (catchphrase) was to give you a chance to earn a 10 second grace on your predicted time.  Only 5 of you managed to solve the puzzle given.  (I don't give bonus points away easily)

On completion of the course you were greeted with some nice goodies whilst trying to give your answers to Jane and Emma.  Myself , Rachel and Alex tried desperately  hard to workout the time differences between your results 

I wanted this event to everyone a chance of winning rather than fastest person winning, the results didn't let me down.   

Special Mention must go to Olutayo Adebowale who was only 3 seconds out on her prediction yet the overall winner who was 5 seconds out but got the bonus right was Craig Bradbury.   Well done to you both.

Thanks to all those who helped me to put this event on   Louise,Rachel, Alex, Emma, Jane, Jo, Chris and Gabby

Hope you all enjoyed it.  

Captain CB

Full results have been processed and are attached:-(if the link works-if not i'll upload to website later)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3dV6TMEOHRuY0p6RmNnVC1VUmM/view?usp=sharing

I will update league tables this week and upload to the website.   If you have any queries please let me know. 

Captain's Mystery Race - Wednesday 6:30 GINPIT

Final reminder that it is my Mystery race on Wednesday.  This is a club members race only and i'm asking all participants to wear a club vest or T-shirt please.

The race briefing will start at 6:30 with the race starting at 6:45

There will be a £2 race fee

Footwear :- bring road and trail and decide after the briefing.

Presentation will be held in the car park 5 mins after the final runner has finished.

CLUE 2

This man might be your friend or foe !!

#bonuspoints

Bull Hill fell race report 

In my opinion this is one of the best local fell races, since in one small race it manages to combine most of the key elements of fell running, including its own mini-fell, bottomless bogs, rocky & uneven surfaces, some good descents and plenty of great views.  So if you’re not sure whether fell running is for you, you’ll have a pretty good idea after doing this one!  

7 A&T runners made the 1 mile trek to the start line, to set off up an initially deceptively flat road, which soon banked upwards and around a couple of bends, onto the moors.  At this point it levelled off and we followed a narrow trod across the moorland.  Though with Dave’s (evil) Monday track session still in my legs I was blowing by this point and was glad that I had no opportunity for overtaking.  Luckily there was then some brief relief with an easy downhill down a path, before we got to the waterfall and the mini-fell, which is a shock to the system and proper hand-on-knees stuff.

Plenty of undulations then followed, until we passed the monument to the Pilgrim’s Cross at the top of the hill.  You’d expect it to be all downhill from there, but no, they continue to knock the stuffing out of you with false promises of downhills, each followed by another rise, interspersed with boggy ground.  Eventually you end up on a tricky narrow path which contours the final descent, eventually ending in a stream to ford and marshalls telling you that you’re nearly there (liars!).  A sign showing “400m to go” is for some reason placed what seems like about a mile away, and this is followed by a “200m to go” which somehow feels even further from the finish than the 400m.  However, this is all explained by Einstein’s slightly less well known Special Theory of Fellativity, which explains how the inclusion of mud and a hill in the last 200m of a fell race distorts space-time, causing time to slow and distances to increase.  At least it must be something like that.  One women summed it all up nicely, as she finally spotted the finish and decided to walk the last 50 yards, “F*ck it!” she stated emphatically.  I couldn’t agree more.

Anyway, we were all safely home and performance of the day must surely go to Kerry, who knocked an amazing 11 minutes off her time from last year.  Well done Kerry and everyone else who took part.

The race results can be found on John Schofield and the fell champs have been updated on the A&T website.  The Run the Moors chaps have also been very efficient and have updated their champs too.

Next race is Turnslack on Sat 29^th July somewhere near Littleborough.  Details can be found on our website.

PARK RUN - Take over update.

I now have a full list of volunteers and pacers  for this Saturday at Pennington Flash.  
Please could I ask that you all arrive for 08:30 for a quick briefing and photo. Please could you wear some form of A&T kit, as the whole idea of this process is to promote the club and to attract new members.

Thanks

CB