Running log

The Bradford Athletics Network’s autumn enhanced training sessions kicked off at Penistone Hill, Haworth, on Saturday with a navigation and map-reading session led by top orienteer Steve Watkins (Airienteers OC and Baildon Runners).

Sixty runners from almost all the local clubs have signed up to five strands of courses, each lasting six weeks.

The first focused on off-road running technique but each brings together some of the country’s top practitioners and coaches.

This Saturday’s session, at 9.30am from Baildon Rugby Club, Jenny Lane, is in two parts.

The first section will be led by Vicky Annis, a physiotherapist from Leeds Carnegie Sports Injury Clinic. She will offer injury-prevention advice tailored for off-road running and a series of drills designed to assist preparation and recovery.

The final hour consists of a talk by the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Group, comprising survival and basic safety tips.

Meanwhile, Darren Bilton (Leeds City) ensured there was no grandstand finish for the WETHERBY 10K at the town’s racecourse on Saturday.

Bilton set a new course record of 31min 53sec over road and farm tracks to beat the nearest of his 380 rivals, 16-year-old Marc Scott (Zetland & Richmond), by a minute.

Former record-holder Gary Dunn (Thirsk & Sowerby) was third. Chris Gibbins (Bingley Harriers) came home 13th in 36:24, followed two seconds later by Matt Nowell (Bradford Airedale).

Pauline Munro (Bingley Harriers) fared best of the local runners, cantering home first among the women in 38:04.

Mark Nolan (Pudsey Pacers) managed an excellent 42:25, having warmed up the previous day with a 43:50 effort at the PENISTONE SHOW 10K near Sheffield. Skyrac’s Guy Good was 90th of the 267 finishers in 47:27.

The ROBIN HOOD MARATHON in Nottingham saw Kevin Ogden (Spenborough) secure a magnificent fourth place in 2hr 44min 29sec. Morven Wallace (Pudsey Pacers) was 348th of 1,567 finishers in 3:42:35.

The half-marathon run on the same day attracted over 6,000 runners – including Mick and Dawn Hogan of Eccleshill Road Runners, who finished in 1hr 43min and 2:32 respectively.