Race report Paul Tranter

With only two weeks left until the Leeds Marathon it was time for another long run. A quick search for local races threw up another opportunity to run a 20 mile race with It’s Grim Up North Running (IGUN). This time, an out and back route on the Aire and Calder Navigation from Skelton Lake Service Station and, just like Knaresborough two weeks ago, this was another venue change, though at least it happened before entering and had only been up the road at Temple Newsman.
As with many Grim events there were choices of 6.7 miles, Half Marathon, 20 miles and full Marathon. I’d entered the 20 mile race and last minute Pamela decided to enter the Half Marathon. Starting a race at a motorway service station might not sound like living the dream, but it was actually very practical. Plenty of parking, which Grim had arranged for free. Lots of clean toilets. It was pretty quiet at 9am on a Sunday morning. And more food outlets than you could shake a stick at for pre or post race carbs. There were a lot of carbs on offer, though the full English breakfast was tempting….. If you haven’t been to Skelton Lake Services (and why would you?) it is actually well connected to a network of footpaths and cycle tracks, including the National Cycle Network, so it was only short run from the edge of the car park through the green grounds of the service station (it has a play park and lots of outside benches) and onto the trails. Incidentally it also has an RSPB viewing platform on the second floor, something I worked
on when the services were being built.

Once out of the service station grounds it was a stony track out to Skelton Lake, up over an old railway bridge to cross the River Aire and onto the towpath of the Navigation. Apart from the bridge it was very flat, just two elevation changes at Fishpond and Woodlesford Locks and the turn around point was just before Lemonroyd Marina. Underfoot conditions were good. Lots of tarmac, hard compacted trails and just one tiny bit of mud and one short, rough, stony climb up over the bridge. The out and back was 6.7 miles, so run twice for the Half Marathon and three times for the 20 mile race. For a canal side run it actually felt quite varied. Enough slight twists and turns to keep the view a surprise, plenty of shade from the trees, lots of suicidal ducks and the odd cyclist, dog walker and family to try and avoid. Tranter family consensus was that it was a ‘good’ run. Pamela was happy with her Half Marathon time and first in age category placing and I managed to improve my time from 10 days earlier by about 12 minutes, though I felt pretty exhausted at the finish. Still, another first place, chunky medal and enough crisps, cake, pop and chocolate at the finish to eat your own body weight.

Half Marathon Results:
First place and first male was Ben Jarvis of Holmfirth Harriers in 1:18:23 (he was really
going for it)
First woman and sixth overall was Savannah Westerby in 1:45:54
Pamela was 9th woman and first Otley AC runner in 2:25:25
Full results here: https://my.raceresult.com/337912/
20 Mile Race Results
First place and first male, Paul Tranter, Otley AC in 2:58:22
First woman and fourth overall was Emily McGeown in 3:19:56
Full results here: https://my.raceresult.com/337912/