Wooler Running Club

W.R.C Mention on BBC!

nobody@vox.com(karl) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:50:21 -0800

During an interview with Simon Pryde on Total Sport radio Newcastle, i managed to get a plug in for Wooler Running Club!

i did have a list of things i wanted to mention, but alas the nerves got the better of me and i fluffed it!

but if you didnt catch the interview, listen again on BBC iplayer using this link and forward it to around 1:47:00

interview

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More Cheviot Photos

nobody@vox.com(Divin' Chelle) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:38:45 -0800

With courtesy of Twink.

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Snowy Cheviot Conquered !

nobody@vox.com(karl) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:03:00 -0800

Words can not express just how exhausting this was, but so pleased that we ended the holidays with a bang! around 11 miles in 8 hours, 4 of them to go up Cheviot and two to come down.Those of you familiar with the top of Cheviot might be surprised to learn that we spent the walk from the stile to the trig point walking above the fence as the snow was the hardest here, but were frightened that at any moment the snow would soften and the top wire on the fence would act like a cheese wire and split us in half!

I would like to say thanks John and Rob for the walk and to Bruce a very special thanks for being the support driver, getting us up the road as far as he could! and also Chris Tait for letting 3 tired blokes jump on his quad for a well needed lift!

FOR MORE PHOTOS FOLLOW THIS LINK...

MORE PHOTOS (CLICK HERE)

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Hills, thrills and spills

nobody@vox.com(Baggy) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:35:12 -0800

Jack and blue sledge- Humbledon Hill

New Year's Eve and the snow is falling, though we are getting blase about such wintry conditions. Jack and I set out to Humbledon Hill with our sledges, checking out every hill en route to the prize descent of Humbledon Hill. I have a brand new red sledge which Jack gave me for Christmas, it is my pride and joy. I try to convince him that red sledges are faster than blue, he denies this and is in fact proved right on the exhilarating ride down the slopes.

Happy New Year

On summit with red sledge

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mad dogs and woolermen!

nobody@vox.com(karl) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:57:23 -0800

Desperate for a snow walk on Cheviot, Myself, John, Sam and Ruddy set off at 8.30 am from Wooler and followed the Chevy Route. The snow was still deep from about the Duck ponds car park, but still quite easy walk in. That changed quickly at Broastruther from there on to the top of Broadhope hill took us one hour with every footstep sinking in up the knees. Poor Ruddy really was suffering, John didnt need to shout for his dog to come back from upfront to much now!

The walk from from Broadhope to Cheviot knee got even harder with white-out blizzards and Hailstones and a biting wind! we decided that we didnt have enough time to climb Cheviot and the dogs were fed up by this point, with balls of ice hanging from Sams under body. At the crevice/gulley just before Cheviot Knee i sank in a millisec up to my chest and my feet were still dangling with no terra firmer to find below, the only thing that kept me hanging were my arms on the surface!

So down in to Langlee Valley and back to wooler, and with every footstep the snow lessened and the ice returned. 13 miles of artic walking and laughs with a friend, a good way to end 2009!

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Race Across America....

nobody@vox.com(Dolly) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:28:04 -0800

I went to school with a guy called Gordon Muir. Quite a quiet boy from what I remember. Now, he is a pilot and fitness fanatic who is currently training for the race across America. Check out his blog, http://www.raf-ultra.co.uk/ and give the local lad some support. Very inspiring too.

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Happy Christmas...

nobody@vox.com(Baggy) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:29:18 -0800

Christmas training in the snow

Pam the hat

Thanks to Chrys and Kenny for organising a great Christmas training session on Tuesday night. Chrys had managed to find somewhere not too icy and very safe to do sprint reps; the hidden molehills proved entertaining, especially when Coach Chrys took a tumble into the snow. Unfortunately the frosty conditions meant some folk couldn't make it as they were snowed in.

Kenny had arranged for hot mince pies and mulled wine at the clubhouse, enjoyed by all as we dried out by the fire. Entertainment was provided by Sarah who arrived to show everyone her bruised and bulging leg....fascinating. Plenty of remedies were suggested with Sarah favouring rest and consumption of mulled wine.

Happy Christmas everyone, training as usual on the 29th.

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Cool running....

nobody@vox.com(Baggy) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:30:49 -0800

Snowy sunrise

Two Early Morning Groups Meet

Nat, Dolly and I meet at 7am, its dark and frosty. We steadily pick our way between patches of ice through the silent streets of Wooler and up into the hills. No sign of vehicles at the Duck Ponds, we decide that the Bracken Babes have probably stayed in bed instead of braving the chilly hills. Its a slow paced run, we are cautious on the slippery ground after Sarah's dramatic fall last weekend. The ever changing colours of her knee to thigh bruise have provided the main topic of conversation lately. The anticipation of Sarah appearing and dropping her trousers to show off her injury has kept many of us on edge all week.

All three of us do fall during the outing today, but luckily sustain no more harm than the denting our pride. The wind is bitter cutting through our many layers, but the glorious sunrise warms our souls. As we return along St Cuthbert's Way we spy more runners; of course it is those Bracken Babes frisking along having breakfasted on mince pies and coffee at the hillfort by Harehope Hill. Now why didn't we think of that...

Gains Law Dec 09

Sunrise

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Simonside Cairns. First Loser.

nobody@vox.com(Adam) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:57:04 -0800

It was some of the super photos from 2008 that tempted me along for a pop at this one this year. Although it was obvious that the same magical snowbound conditions weren't going to form the backdrop, I was still keen enough to set aside the 3rd leg of the Borders XC series in favour of extra distance and more testing terrain. Had some idea what to expect after Hillforts & Headaches on New Years Day- but all of the 'outback' section of the course behind the ridge was virgin territory for me. I hadn't gone out with Nick and Don for their recce which, by their own admission, had been (at least in parts) something of a headscratching session. They had managed to ascertain though that it was (surprise, surprise!) "A bit muddy!"

A record field dispersed from Rothbury at 11 bells and got stuck in. Initial leading pace didn't seem too crazy and I was content to sit at the back of the first dozen or so and concentrate on my own headgame of quashing initial enthusiasm/nervous energy, to avoid blowing up later. All the climbing in the first 3m seemed to flit past and I hoped that the steady progress I was making wasn't going to be echoed later with an equally steady descent back through the ranks. I was focussed on running economically and looking at who and what was ahead. At about 4m I was vying for 3rd place, and then 2nd, no-one more surprised than I. A bit further on and I was in what felt like a comfortable 2nd place with only the leader and another 6m or so ahead.

Whatever tussles we were having with fellow competitors, we were all in the same boat as far as what was underfoot went. And in some parts it might have been useful to actually be in a boat. The middle third of the route was ready to engulf the unwary. The footpath was dotted with little duckboard bridges here and there which spanned the swampier parts of the morass. As numerous 'tales at the finishing tape' told afterward though, you were probably safer to pitch straight on through the worst of it than take the footbridge options for thereon lay a very good chance of sliding headlong rather than feet first into the drink! I had one 'near miss' and one forward sprawl. As well as this there was a tricky section of cleared forest with some nice ridge and furrow undulation round about Selby's Cove, heather covered sheeptrack- scratchy scratchy, a punishing rocky scramble up to Simonside itself, some pleasant grassy track (!) and leg sapping hard flagstones and actual tarmac too. The whole package. Of course, special mention should be made of the "Grotto Trot" a festive detour of a couple of hundred yards into the darkness of the wood wherein there were fairy lights and music playing, courtesy of the race organisers and a generator. Brilliant stuff!

With the Grotto and Simonside approaching I was still feeling chipper and increasingly surprised. Could it be that race leader James Buis, 200yards or so ahead, was slowing up? Phil Sanderson, (I'd wondered where he was! And failed to recognise him in passing too! Sorry Phil.) who was marshalling at Selby's Cove, hinted so. "You're going faster than him," he said as I made the stile. I started to think I could catch up and then, on breaking clear of the woods of the Grotto section, found that I had. James still had the edge. He'd either held a bit back over the previous mile or so, or was just keener, because he put 20yards on straight away up the Simonside scramble. I held on though. He drew away to about 100yards up but seemed to be taking it quite steady on the descents on the ridge and by Lordenshaws I'd almost got back with him. Round the Hillfort was where he racked the pace up though and put me well and truly in his wake over the last 2m which he covered a full 2mins quicker in decisive fashion. I'd had a good dig but felt the pinch over the harder ground on the run in. One of my calves was tightening up so I had to be content with second and a steady run in for home. Far from disappointed though, what may well be my last race this year had turned out to be one of the most enjoyable.

Eventually everyone was gathered in and a prize list as long as the race itself dished out along with soup and rolls in the Newcastle Hotel. I took home a Christmas pudding for my efforts. It might just cover the calories burned up whilst swamp-trotting! Full results, photos, other reports and blogs links via NFR website. A shout out to WRC teammates Nick, Don, Kenny, Glen & Jack and my thanks to the organisers and all involved in hosting this great race.

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Haven't the foggiest...

nobody@vox.com(Baggy) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:04:50 -0800

Saturday Morning Run

Sounds like its been pretty busy in the hills this weekend, all sorts of strange folk running in the mist on Saturday and a record breaking attendance at the Simonside Fell Race on Sunday.

Sympathy and cake needed for Sarah who slipped on icy ground, mid-conversation, on the slopes of Harehope and now has a bruise the size of a melon (watermelon mind, not a smaller variety) on her thigh.

Congratulations to the 6 valiant runners, Kenny, Nixdown, Ronaldo, Jack, Glen and Adam who all did extremely well at Simonside. Hoping Adam might tell us what its like to be a hero, leading the field, 2nd runner to cross the line, in a wooler vest, wow.... what must that feel like??.....haven't the foggiest.

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