From Rumana Chowdhury…
“No no, I’m not running the Ilkley Half this year. Yes I know there was a heatwave last year, but regardless, I always find it hard, I think I’ll have a break from racing and try to do some proper training for it next year. Oh, what’s that, a letter in the post for me? Oh bloomin’ heck…” And so it was, after telling every Harrier I knew that I was categorically not doing the Ilkley half this year that my race number turned up in the post, not quite sure how I had managed to completely forget signing up for it… However it turned out that a couple of weeks of training, not running in a heatwave, and winging it worked out well for me this time (PB, yay!) The cold and rain at the start line was soon forgotten as it turned out to be great conditions for running, the marshals and crowd support was absolutely fantastic (I spent the middle part of the run counting up how many spectators I knew that I’d seen – 43!) and the sheer number of Harriers taking part made it a wonderfully sociable and enjoyable event from start to end. Well done to everyone involved, especially 1st female Sally Armitage!
From Alex Hyde…
So Sunday saw an amazing 88 of us Harriers complete the Ilkley Half with yours truly coming in towards the rear. A couple of recent injuries meant that I hadn’t trained anywhere near enough but I was determined to complete the course and was so glad that I did. The dreaded cramp hit me at 11 miles in my left calf meaning that I completed the race pretty much on one leg, but the encouragement all along the home straight carried me over the line.
Weather conditions suited runners far more than spectators but the support from the good people of LS29 was as fantastic as ever with massed crowds cheering us on throughout. Hats off to the organisers for putting on a superb event once again, and a massive debt of gratitude to the amazing marshals who braved the wind and rain to make sure we were all kept safe.
Looking forward to 2024 to put myself through it all once again!!
From Sarah Hayes…
I’ve done this race each year since its inception in 2019 (except of course in 2020 when the event was cancelled during the pandemic). In previous years we’ve had glorious weather for spectators and marshals, but it’s been sweltering for the runners , especially that final few miles along the Nesfield road. So this year I was glad to wake up to an overcast sky and persistent drizzle and was hoping for a more comfortable run.
The weather however did not deter the spectators who were out in force cheering us along the route. The support in particular along The Grove was amazing!
It was great to see so many Harriers out on the route participating, spectating and marshalling. It was a real community event. Some great result from the huge number of Harriers that took part (88). My improved time this year I’m sure was helped by some great training sessions with Helen Waddington during the Saturday morning efforts. And this race was made all the better for me for crossing the finish line with fellow Harrier Rumana Chowdhury!
From Kate Williams…
I haven’t run a half marathon for over 5 years and was gutted I had to withdraw from the Great North Run in September because I managed to tear my ankle ligaments a week before (the dog’s fault!). I was running it in memory of two friends who both passed away unexpectedly, a long time work colleague/ friend in July 2020 and a university friend in July 2021. I promised I’d do a ‘Great Yorkshire Run’ instead of GNR to do my friends and my sponsorship justice, so when a friend suggested Ilkley half and I realised it was in July I decided that it would be my Great Yorkshire Run. I’d raised over £1000 pounds for the Music Therapy Team at Sobell House Hospice and the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team pie fund. I’ve really struggled with losing two friends, particularly so close together and so young (both in their 40s), getting back into my running has helped me massively, joining a running club again now I’m settled after relocating has helped too (I need to get to more club sessions though!).
Now I’ll be honest, after doing all my longest training runs on silly hot days and struggling despite getting up very early I was relieved to see the forecast for Sunday was wet(ish)! I was so excited to be running again and feeling fit enough to enter a race I just couldn’t wait to get out there and enjoy it. I’d trained hard and I’d trained consistently (since March anyway), have become a morning runner (I’m so not a morning person!) and have rediscovered my love-hate relationship with running tracks (thanks Neil & Mark!). It really didn’t disappoint, what an amazing day to do my first race as an Ilkley Harrier! I felt like I grinned all the way round the course (except for the last km), it’s my kind of course with all those Yorkshire flat undulations. The organisation of everything was impressive, no massive queues for bag drop or the loos which was really good, incredibly well marshalled all the way round too.
Standing on the start line I felt a bit emotional but really excited too. I put myself in the 2-2 ¼ hour start area and waited for the gun. I was determined not to get carried away and go off too fast, I knew that I’m way off PB fitness so, like all my long training runs, just planned to take it steady and run to feel. Most importantly though I just wanted to enjoy doing what I love again, because I can. There’s something about the sound of so many runners feet hitting the tarmac isn’t there, just getting into a rhythm?! The crowds were awesome all through Ilkley, some friends were out cheering but I just had no idea how much extra support I’d get wearing my Ilkley Harriers vest. WOW! I started being aware of people cheering a rabbit/ donkey a couple of miles in (there was some comical confusion over its ID), it was close behind me. I decided I needed to keep it in my sight, my friend Dom’s words last time I did GNR coming back to haunt me. His parting shot as I left the office “just don’t get beaten by the Cookie Monster, imagine the indignity of being beaten by a Cookie Monster”. All I could think was being beaten by a donkey is far far worse than being beaten by the Cookie Monster, I needed to beat the donkey. I needed to do it for Dom. The miles seemed to go past incredibly quickly, my watch was telling me I was pacing pretty consistently, I’d found my inner Forrest Gump, and the donkey stayed in my sights until mile 12ish. I was still feeling good at this point and was passing people who were starting to struggle but decided to just keep on with my plan of keep it steady and enjoy it. A few of us had joked that if the donkey was still in our sight at the golf club we’d take it on. It had started to ease away by this point and as I got to the 1km to go mark the horridest stitch kicked in. I knew I just needed to keep running and get to the finish, I wanted to enjoy the crowds and support in the last bit of the race because I knew it would spur me on. When I was running regularly before I always found a bit extra for the last km of a race and picked up my pace, I realised I was empty & felt shocking (my race pictures proved this, they’re awful!), there was nothing left for a bit more pace or a sprint finish, empty. The support along Denton Road was superb, the vest got me lots of shouts again too. I really wanted to enjoy this bit but I just needed to get over the line so I could stop running and stop hurting! I finished in 2:09, my second slowest half but I think the one I’ve enjoyed the most (even though the donkey beat me). I absolutely loved it, so much that I’ve signed up for the GreatEST Yorkshire Run again next year ……… I have unfinished business with that donkey!
From Jon Denniss…
Back in April, following a lacklustre winter and a bout of flu in January, I was lacking motivation and running felt laboured and slow. My wife suggested I focus on something a bit different to get out of the rut – so I decided to train for the Ilkley Half.
Having never followed a formal running plan before, let alone raced more than 5 miles on the road, I gave careful consideration to my training plan, choosing the first one I saw on the internet. 12 weeks to my sub 1:20 goal – perfect. I was worried about all the flat speed work in the plan, since for years I’ve been plagued by hamstring problems from any such running. Nevertheless, I followed the plan as best I could through the usual setbacks, and my hamstrings miraculously started to co-operate.
Entering the last week before the race I was feeling confident in my running, but I started to think about where things could unravel. In previous races I’ve struggled with the head game – either with pre-start nerves resulting in ill-fated fast starts, or with doubts and thoughts of quitting mid-race. I watched a bunch of distinctly American YouTube videos on mental strategies for runners, and thought about my plan for the race. I learnt to get on the start line, take 3 deep breaths and then strike a power pose…right. I wasn’t to waste energy worrying about things out of my control, like the weather. I was to focus on setting off at 3:45/km and running at that pace, AND NO FASTER.
Four days before the race I saw the forecast for 40mph gusts, and I started worrying about the weather. Two days before the race I had convinced myself that even though it was obviously going to be a complete disaster, the training had been a success, I was enjoying running again (though maybe I’d had enough of the A65) and I’d just see what happened in the race. Maybe I could draft someone, or form some kind of peloton.
On race day I warmed up and positioned myself on the start line. Thoughts of Theresa May precluded the power pose, so I settled for just standing there thinking “3:45, 3:45, 3:45…” instead.
After a brief delay we were off, along Denton Road and up to the bridge at a nice, measured, 3:06/km. I felt good, though a bit surprised that there seemed to be at least 40 or 50 runners aiming for the course record. Maybe my watch was suddenly faulty, or I’d misremembered the target pace? After all, my legs were telling me that today they felt totally fine to run 13 miles at this pace, faster than they had ever run even one mile before. Maybe I should just go for it?! Fortunately, my American YouTube guy’s voice soon cut through and I reluctantly reined it in to a more sustainable pace.
The rest of the race was fantastic. Great support through Ilkley, and although I didn’t find anyone to draft or form a peloton with, the not-as-bad-as-feared headwind running out to Addingham was mitigated slightly by the psychological boost of steadily picking off runners ahead of me who I guess were paying the price for fast starts. More great support in Addingham and a high five from Jeff Green at the Bolton Abbey roundabout, and still I felt good as I turned back towards Ilkley. I was about 45s ahead of my target pace, which would be a nice buffer on the already factored-in buffer for the Nesfield hill. Running on my own now, with just glimpses of the runners ahead on the straighter sections, I began to count down the distance to the finish, still thankfully free from thoughts of quitting or slowing down. The hill came and went, and I started to think about going for broke.
The short downhill before the golf club seemed a good launch ramp for a last effort to the finish, and I picked up the pace to something I thought I could sustain. At 400m to go the pain really kicked in, but there were people shouting at me so I had to pretend to hold it together. I heard the announcer at the finish talking about a duel between two approaching runners, just before a runner from Saltaire Striders who I’d last seen at Bolton Abbey flew past me with 150m to go. I briefly attempted to chase, if only to live up to the commentary, but I had absolutely nothing.
I crossed the line 23rd in 1:17:56. Really happy with my time, but even more so to have executed my plan successfully. Thanks to all those involved in organising and volunteering or supporting on the day – the event was fantastic, flawlessly organised and a great route. Well done to all runners.
From Iain Young…
This was my first road run since my long term injury earlier this year, having already signed up through early bird entry only a year ago I was uncertain to run in this year’s Ilkley Half due to match fitness. Only a few weeks ago me and my family have been through a very difficult time over a close family bereavement which had brought sadness to everyone. I then made my decision to run the Half Marathon and raise money for Martin House Hospice for Children and Young People who given much needed support and encouragement. Over £1,350 has been raised and I’m grateful to everyone who has helped to sponsor this wonderful charity. Donations are still ongoing
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here. I was pleased to have completed my run at 1h:36m:20s. Big thank you again to Ilkley Round Table for their efforts and organising this event, with volunteers and spectators cheering us on.