Ken's another one of our globe trotting members who knows how to enjoy a proper holiday.....

Ken waits patiently for the outdoor showers to build up some pressure....

We travelled to Toronto on the Wednesday and after an 8 hour flight arrived at our Hotel the Westin Harbour on the shores of Lake Ontario late afternoon (Toronto time). Our room on the 32nd floor had fantastic views of the lake and the CN tower. They call it a lake although its about 200 miles long!

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon was an 07:30 start on a warm overcast morning. The full marathon race has 3,000 runners and the half marathon which sets off at the same time about 8,000 with a further 4,000 joining in the 5k run walk which starts a couple of hours later. The route was advertised as fast and flat and some of it was scenic and quite pleasant to run through however some was a little on the industrial side. The crowds were enthusiastic in places but like most marathon routes there were the lonely, quiet stretches. The crowds all seemed to shout the same things i.e. "Awesome", "Come on youre looking good" and whooping like only Canadians and Americans can. There was some good banter from the crowds when they shout your name which is pre printed under your number.

All went to plan for the first 38k but then I struggled (my excuse is I ran in The Great North Run the Sunday before). however despite struggling I enjoyed the last few kilometres running back through the centre of Toronto waving and shouting back at the crowds, they seemed to think that because I had NYM on my vest that it stood for New York so I had fun pointing at it and shouting back North York Moors! However I suppose they were none the wiser.

The race was won by a Kenyan Kenneth Mungare in 2:08, a record on Canadian soil and the Women's race was won by an Ethopian Amana Gobena in 2:28. I was a little behind them finishing in 3.35.

The race was well organised and very friendly, there's a good medal and T-shirt and the hotel was pretty good too, but its one which I wont be doing again.

Regards Ken Farrell

Toronto Waterfront Marathon results

Jim, Mike, Nat & Wayne (photos courtesy of Robin Rutherford)

Conditions looked perfect as myself, Jim Bulman, Jims mate Mitch, Peter Conner and his mate Jim headed down the motorway to Newcastle. After a near miss on a roundabout, strategically timed by Peter to get the adrenalin flowing before the race we arrived at Gosforth with plenty of time to spare.

Jim and myself both had fast paced club runner numbers to get a decent start, but we decided to join Gordon Ramsey and the like to make sure we got on television. Nathanial Williams was on the other side of the duel carriageway rubbing shoulders with Martin Lel so all-in-all, it was an excellent day for the NYM Promotional Dept.

Jim went off like it was a 400m race and that was the last I saw of him but I ran my own race and did a PB of 71.34. My old PB was 75.16 so to say I was satisfied is an understatement. Jim also had a blinder coming 35th in 70.12  his fastest time in a proper half-marathon. He has done a sub-70, but apparently the course was measured by a sheep. Nathanial was disappointed with his run of 73.02 but still had the grace to shout encouragement to Jim and myself as we overtook. He still came top 50 as well so thats three North York Moors runners in the top 50 out of 50-odd thousand.

At the finish Jim, Mitch and myself felt sick and exhausted, unable to contemplate a cool-down. Luckily, Peter Conner had anticipated this and parked the car in a secret location a number of miles away from the finish, forcing us on a long walk in search of the car. Im sure this reduced the level of DOMS suffered the following day (it almost reduced Mitch to tears).

Other North York Moors members at the race (where known) were Gary Barnes (86.35), Wayne Boutell (88:41), Mark Potter (93:23), Ken Farrell (95:44), Chris Nixon (95:57), Waleed Al-Shaghana (1:47:53), Bob Howe (his 29th i.e. all of them !, 1:52:46), Ian Whitehead (2:03:52), Stephen Guest (2:10:45), and Karen Keen (3:17:26). If I've missed anyone off please e-mail rob@nym.ac

Mike Jeffries

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This was my 24th GNR and probably one of my most painful races. I had a basic target of 5 miles in 32 mins, 10m in 64 mins and then hang on to finish in 20/21 mins. I set off well after standing around in the start area for an hour, 6:28 first mile, then caught Wayne Boutell just before 2 miles, a brief chat before I headed off. Hit 5 miles in 31:58 i.e. spot on before the 3 mile speedy descent into Jarrow. By 8 miles the heat was starting to get to me a little and the climb up to 10 miles was a little painful.I reached 10 miles in 64.30 i.e. a little off target so attempted to speed up but there was nothing left in the legs so it was a case off hanging on to the end.

I crossed the line in 86.34, completing my 74th half-marathon, totally spent. After taking a week off I have started back running now, the will is still there and the spirit still intact so I`ll be back next year.

Gary Barnes

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GNR 2009 Results
 

( L-R) Paul McGough, David Wilson, Jon Parker, Di Jobson, Marie Stansmore, Chris Dunne, Adam Taylor.
(photo by Derek Parker)

It was a rare warm and sunny Bank Holiday Sunday that provided the weather for the Raby Castle 10k race. The scenery for a 10k race was probably as good youre going to get, as running past the backdrop of a castle is fairly unique for any race. Not that you will notice the views of the castle and its grounds while racing but Im sure the spectators appreciated them a lot more. I had never entered this race before but Id heard from a few people that the main thing that kept them coming back was the scenic route.

The course itself is a 2 lap undulating route with the majority being on tarmac and a small section through the woods, this being especially challenging on account of it being a hot sunny day. The earlier 5K race was one lap of the same route.

North York Moors had 9 runners representing the club in the 10K race, Chris Dunne (36:10) was first home in 7th Place overall, followed by myself Jon Parker (38:41) David Wilson (38:47) and Marie Stansmore (38:52). Marie, Dave & myself were close together from the word go with Dave leading the way up until the 9k mark. Marie had another good run and continued her current good form. Unfortunately for Marie and NYMAC, Sarah Tunstall of Kendal AC turned up and claimed the 1st placed womans prize, finishing 5th overall in a very impressive time of 35:54. Other North York Moors runners on the day were Chris Wright (43:10), then our very own Ladys Manager Diane Jobson (46:20) closely followed by Dave Williams (46:53), Adam Taylor (48:10) and Viv Mathews (52:31). Terry Wall of Morpeth Harriers won the race in 33:58.

All in all it was good race on a challenging course. Dont expect to get a PB but what you will get are fantastic views and free entry to the castle grounds.

Jon Parker


Raby Castle 10K results

19 photos from the race

 Mermaids by the Sea
10th Apr  2009

North York Moors had an amazing 23 runners competing in the annual Good Friday Mermaid 10k Road Race at Marske. Unlike last years event weather conditions were a lot kinder with only a little bit of a head wind coming off the North Sea, unfortunately for the runners that head wind was most notable in the final 3k of the race.

Jim Bulman (32:18) was first runner home for NYMAC just 6 seconds behind race winner Dominic Shaw of New Marske Harriers (well it is their home turf). Jim managed to finish just ahead of club team mate Paul Lowe (32:29), maybe Jim was getting his own back a little bit after the Middlesbrough 5k the other week. 1  1 in the Lowe v Bulman rivalry.

Marie Stansmore (39:23 - club record) was 2nd women home behind race favourite Middlesbrough & Clevelands Carolyn Summersgill. Marie was just 1 of 6 women racing in North York Moors AC colours and along with Marie, Jayne Parkin (42:36) & Dianne Jobson (43:39) helped win 2nd place in the Womens Team Prize. In the Mens Team event North York Moors scooped the 2nd team prize just narrowly missing out on 1st prize, well done to Jim Bulman, Paul Lowe & Jon Skidmore (35:11).

It was a great turn out for North York Moors with a few known PBs set along the way by Alex Peacock (38:28) and Tom Gibbons (39:19) proving that those tough sessions on a Tuesday & Thursday Club training nights are starting to pay off. (Apologies if anyone else set a PB please contact Rob to add your name to the list).

Jon Parker

165 Photos from the race !

Mermaid_10K results

Tom & Jon hang back and wait for the leaders go the wrong way....

Jon Parker and I travelled across to the small village of Little Strickland, Cumbria for their second annual 10 mile road race. Neither Jon or myself had competed in this race before and had little idea of what to expect. We left a crisp sunny day in Teesside to arrive at a windy snow blizzard in Cumbria. Once we made the joint decision to get out of the warmth of the car, we made our way to the village hall only to find that there was no race route to be seen. We only knew where the start was (1/2 a mile away) because Jon's dad had passed it on his way over. The start was on a down-hill slope of a thin track and we both agreed this was an ideal place to pick up an injury, although luckily neither of us did.

The race itself contained a number of steady climbs and seemed to follow a figure of 8 with lots of disorientating turns. The strong side winds and snow/hail did not help either. I lost my race number half way round and Jon's was barely clinging on to his vest by the end of the race. Added to this, the course was not organised well at all. There were no mile markers (not even at half way) and not many stewards, but even that wasn't the biggest problem for the leading group of  5 runners (photo) who ended up being led the wrong way by the race car! We later discovered that the car had driven the leading group back on course, but by then it was far too late for them to make up the ground they'd lost. Luckily Jon was in the group behind the leaders (which then became the leading group) and as I was desperately following this we both managed to avoid getting lost.

Overall, this could be an enjoyable event if it weren't for the poor organisation. I'd recommend it if your looking for a challenging, fairly hilly 10 mile road race, but be prepared to get lost, especially if your in the leading group!

Tom Gibbons

Little Strickland 10 Results 2009

Tom Gibbons & myself made the hour and a bit journey down to Huddersfield to have a bash at their annual 10k road race. This was the 4th time I had done this race but for Tom it was his first. Anyone who hasn't done this race its safe to say its probably one of the toughest & hilliest 10k's around. The only flat section of the race is the last 200 metres and by that time your legs are like jelly after all the climbs & fast downhill's.

Tom had previously done the Richmond 10k, a race he had down for being the hardest 10k he'd done, needless to say he has since changed his opinion. All in all its a very good event, well organised and above all a great challenge, being so early in the year its also good race to do just to find out how your fitness is building up after all the Christmas & New Year indulgences. I would recommend this race to anyone looking to do a challenging 10k road race, just don't go there expecting a a PB.

Jon Parker

Huddersfield 10K results (link)