J Love the Hills and they’ll Love you Back

Bluebell Trail 10 Mile – 1st May 2011

The Bluebell Trail is a lovely scenic race that just ‘takes your breath away’ in more ways than one. Organised by Stainland Lions over in Halifax, West Yorkshire, an area that is renowned for being extra hilly, and this, together with a distance of 10.3 miles, is not a race where you can expect to achieve a personal best ... In fact you’re more likely to get a personal worst!! L Race Headquarters are at Heath Rugby Club, Geetland in Halifax and don’t be too surprised if you spot runners taking a walk over the rugby field to check out the unique river crossing that’s at the end of the race. The start itself is just across from the Rugby Club in a small scenic park with an idyllic stream running through it. Straight away you’re taken out of the park and into lovely woodland. Don’t expect to see too many bluebells at this point; the majority of these flowers appear later on in the race.

Running through the lovely woodland at start of the race

Brave runners approaching the river crossing

Team Wesham at the Bluebell Trail

“It’s all done in the best possible taste!!!”... hee hee!! J J

Soon you find yourself running down the side of the canal and into another park then on to Trooper Lane. A hill not for the faint hearted. Trooper Lane is ¾ mile up and up and up!!! It has got to be one of the steepest hills I have ever run, but it’s so worth it when you reach the top as the views are spectacular. The route then drops you back down a small ginell. And so the race goes on, through kissing gates and squeeze stiles, over fields and ladder stiles, down some more hills then up even more hills again... until you eventually drop down into ‘bluebell’ wood and finally back onto the canal with an interesting ‘sting in the tail’, but it’s such good fun you just can’t miss it.. As you approach the unique river crossing there is a marshal holding a big hand with a pointed finger. Just like something out of The Kenny Everett Show, if you’re old enough to remember him - not that I am, of course, hee hee!! J

So you just take a deep breath and go for it!!! J J

I’ll never forget the first year I ran the Bluebell Trail. When I got to the river bank there were two guys who just grabbed hold of me and literally threw me into the river... but don’t worry everyone, there’s a rope that stretches across the river that you can grab onto .. and grab onto it I did ... for dear life!! J

When I finally returned to tackle the course again a few years later the organisers had erected a very sturdy ramp with bars to hold on to, so no more throwing me in the river …. Oooh... I quite enjoyed being ‘man handled’ though... ha ha!!

Of course, it’s just as steep to get out the other side and doesn’t help matters when you have all the rest of the Wesham lot laughing and hackling you because you’re one of the last home. Not that I mind, because that’s all part of the fun too! J

At the finish you get a nice goody bag with yummy snacks and chocolate, then its back to the Rugby Club for home made cakes and a cup of tea or coffee. This is FREE to all runners... hmmm... now that will attract a few Wrinkly’s... I’m sure... hee hee!! J This race is a ‘must’ for anyone with a sense of adventure and a sense of humour, which I know you all have in Wesham!! .. J

Next years race it’s on Sunday, 1^st May 2011 and it’s also a Club Age Related Race … I wouldn’t miss for the world... would you? J

Baildon Boundary Way Half Marathon – 10th April 2011

Another one of my favourite off road races is the Baildon Boundary Way Half Marathon. A spectacular and scenic race over in Baildon, West Yorkshire that I would love to do every year, but every other year it clashes with Coniston 14. Sadly is the case next year, but, for me, it will have to be the Baildon Half. I realise that most favour Coniston as it’s in the beautiful Lake District, however, Baildon Boundary Way is just as beautiful, if not more so, as you get to run through the countryside and not round it. Race Headquarters are at Baildon Rugby Club and the first year I ran this race it started in a field close to the Rugby Club then the course takes you through more fields towards a main road. It was so funny and bit scary because in the start field there were some horses that got a bit excited as we ran off, and proceeded to run with us .. all the way down to the road! For safety reasons the next time I ran the race we started on a quiet side road. Oh well, it didn’t spoil the race whatsoever. The route itself takes you onto canal tow paths, through spectacular woodlands and past streams, over stiles, through kissing gates, into fields and finally .. another ‘sting in the tail’. At the 10 mile mark the course climbs up onto the fabulous Baildon Moor, although you feel like you’ve run the whole 13.1 miles at this point! L Not too worry though, here there is a marshal with some Jelly Babies and M&M Chocolates, whoop whoop, - yes chocolates! J J .. which gives you that little bit of energy you need for the last 3.1 miles! J

Clear, well defined paths take you over the moor, then back up to the Rugby Club for a heroic finish in the field with everyone cheering you on! For anyone who doesn’t fancy a run, you can come along and take part in the 13.1 mile walk, so watch out for that if you’re interested. Back at the Rugby Club there’s cakes, butties, tea and coffee to purchase at a small price. Again, another race that’s a ‘must’ and if you can’t make Bluebell, then give this a go, it’s one you won’t forget in a hurry. J

Beaverbrooks 10K Fun Run – 8th May 2011

Okay, just in case you think I’m trying to kill you off with my first two races, I’ll ease back down a bit with this fantastic little 10K race that takes on Blackpool Promenade. It’s an out and back course, so you get to see all the front and back runners, and as the title says it’s FUN... so you can’t get much easier than that? J J Race Headquarters are the Hilton Hotel on Blackpool Promenade and, on the morning of the race, the area comes alive with runners in fancy dress and Radio Wave to liven up the atmosphere playing music with live commentary. The race itself attracts around 3,500 runners each year with just as many spectators and as you can see from these pictures.

We Wesham girlies know just how to have fun!

Our first year we dressed as fairies, with team name of “Wesham’s Flirty Fairies”. We had such a good time we decided to do it again! Our next fancy dress theme was Hawaiian girls, with good sport Mike Walsh, our team name was “Wesham Waikikians”. On our third year we chose cowgirls or squaws, with an appropriate team name of “Wesham’s Wild Wild Women”, but we didn’t get ourselves organised in time so didn’t have much of a theme. Awww!! L

I remember telling Jenny Salt, “wear something sexy”... Jen turned up dressed as a chilli... “Well”, she said, “I am something hot”. What is she like? She did get the most attention though. The crowd kept shouting. “Oh look, a tomato”.

Poor Jen, she spent most of the run shouting back. “I’m a CHILLI!!!” J

Last year we Wesham girlies got our heads together and, not only did we succeed one hundred percent with our army outfits; we had a fab team name of - “W.A.G.’s”... Wesham Army Girls – then, to top it all off, we came second in the team results... How’s that for success? J J

As for next year’s fancy dress theme, well that’s going to be a surprise, so as they say... Watch this space!! J

Written by: Kath Hoyer

Submitted: 28^th September 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor