21 Bingley runners, from 17 (yes 17s can do this distance in Trail events) to 70+, gathered amongst the 337 in the fields below the Baildon Rugby Club for the start of the Baildon Boundary Way. A small diversion made the route a little longer (0.2m), added an extra climb and a steep woodland descent. Perfect weather – dry, cloudy, cool with only the lightest of breezes, but underfoot was very mixed. The BBWay has quite a lot of hard surface – road, stony track, and canal towpath – interspersed with softer fields, woods, and moorland running. This year the soft was very soft, very wet, very muddy and very slippery including the steep woodland descent in the diversion at the back of the Esholt waterworks all adding to the interest of the day.
Tom Gomersal was out first finisher in 12th place overall earning him a prize for 3rd M35. Sarah Flaherty was our first lady home 62nd overall, 9th lady, and 3F35; a great run obviously not hindered by a prior week skiing. Eliza Findlay, age 17 and in her longest race to date, was close on Sarah’s heals, in 65th overall and 10th lady. We gathered another 3 age category prizes with Shona Stone 1st F45 (75th, 12th F) , Becky Weight 1st F55 (129th, 26th F) and Peter Ellerton 1st M65 in 178th place. The Ladies team prize was not ours this year with Stainland Lions ladies in 1st, 3rd and 13th. The first man was Joe Baxter of Pudsey & Bramley in 1.22 and the first lady was Margaret Beever of Stainland Lions in 1.40 (15th overall).
Shona, Becky & Sarah – prizewinners. Photo by Amanda Dean. Great running photos from Woodentops at http://www.woodentops.org.uk
Our results for the day (and my friend Mandy from Hull) were :
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | |||||
| 12 | GOMERSALL, Tom | M35 | 1:38:17 | |||||
| 18 | GARLICK, Kevin | M35 | 1:40:49 | |||||
| 29 | CHEYNE, Oliver | M35 | 1:44:02 | |||||
| 38 | GOLDTHORP, Dominic | M35 | 1:46:31 | |||||
| 62 | FLAHERTY, Sarah | F35 | 1:52:35 | |||||
| 65 | FINDLAY, Eliza | F | 1:52:51 | |||||
| 74 | TRUSSELLE, Greg | M35 | 1:54:19 | |||||
| 75 | STONE, Shona | F45 | 1:54:23 | |||||
| 111 | CARRERA VIVAR, Marisol | F45 | 2:00:59 | |||||
| 129 | WEIGHT, Becky | F55 | 2:03:53 | |||||
| 146 | FINDLAY, Sophie | F45 | 2:06:40 | |||||
| 162 | GREEN, Mary | F55 | 2:09:34 | |||||
| 168 | REES, Emyr | M45 | 2:11:08 | |||||
| 177 | JOHNSON, Mari | F45 | 2:12:56 | |||||
| 178 | ELLERTON, Peter | M65 | 2:13:00 | |||||
| 200 | HENRY, Joanne | F35 | 2:17:17 | |||||
| 246 | BLAND, Ian | M55 | 2:28:50 | |||||
| 266 | JOHNSON, Don | M65 | 2:33:30 | |||||
| 283 | FIRTH, Faye | F35 | 2:37:40 | |||||
| 286 | FINDLAY, Jake | M45 | 2:40:48 | |||||
| 302 | HOLMES, Rebecca | F | 2:48:49 | |||||
| 143 | DEAN, Amanda | West Hull Ladies Road Running Club | F55 | 2:06:11 | ||||
Full results at https://www.baildonrunners.co.uk/baildon-boundary-way
I will let our runners (in no particular order, and thank you all for your contributions) themselves fill you in on the rest of the event :
Dominic Goldthorpe
It’s always a great event. Best bits for this year: Firstly, the organisation. The event is always well organised and smooth. It must take time but its a credit to the club how well this event always runs. Secondly, the weather, can’t be ordered, but it was great!
Loved the goody bag, nice to see some races changing from the usual t-shirts,. For those of us who do runs like this regular, I expect we’re getting a huge wardrobe of t-shirts with various different runs emblazoned across the front. The torch will be really useful for those nights runs and … in the winter but quite relieved that I won’t need it for winter runs for quite some time!
Joanne Henry
It’s the first time I’ve done the Baildon Boundary Way. A very well organised race. It was great to see supporters along the way, Ann-Marie Roper, Lisa Pearson, Phil Hawkswell (thanks for the jelly babies Phil!), Tony Kingham to name a few. They really kept me going.
Shona Stone
The mud was hard work and along with having been a bit under the weather, I was much slower than last year. It was great to have a good number of Harriers run with and the support of others out on the route was much appreciated.
Marisol Carrera Vivar
My thoughts about BBWay. Porridge for breakfast and a cup of coffee before wearing my Bingley top and old shorts for the long race.
Weather conditions were as perfect as the organisation, marshalls, extra toilets, not queue at all, everything was running very well, although my legs were feeling tired at the end of the canal, so last few miles were crucial to stay positive and not letting any negative thoughts in my mind.
I feel that the diversion made the race this year a bit harder, I did not mind the mud much, although legs were getting heavier (nothing to do with the chocolate I eat in daily basis) that took some time off from my previous year. 1:48:55secs. I managed to finish the event in 2:00:59secs, so a big difference from last year, my legs are very tired today I suppose am not getting any younger and the lack of training paid the bill on Sunday.
A fantastic idea of the Head torch, really loved it. Congratulations to Baildon Runners for their great work. I will be back next year.
Mari Johnson
Having had time to reflect (and hobble around with a mysteriously sore left big toe), I can honestly say that I loved running the Baildon Boundary Way. Quite often when I’m out running, when my mind wanders I start to get self-doubt niggles. I definitely had moments of that on Sunday morning, but what spurred me on were the non-running Bingley Harriers who were so well placed (particularly Tony Kingham at 8 miles, and Ann-Marie Roper, Lisa Pearson, Phil Hawkwell and John Smithurst at 10 miles) to offer encouragement. They were fantastic. For me, the highlights were running full pelt downhill through the muddy woods to the canal without going over, reaching the drinks station after the first moor climb and the lovely springy grass by the horse training track and finally getting the opportunity to admire the view. I don’t think I really have any low points – tough points certainly though! The climb up to the woods was a killer, but a strategic gel on the canal section saw me through, and despite my best efforts at copying the chap in front, I managed to go knee deep in mud on multiple occasions. All part and parcel of a fantastic varied run.
Becky Holmes
Well… I did it. It hurt like hell. Eventually, very slowly I got round. My will to live left me at mile 5. My tummy was cramping. Probably should have forced down some breakfast. Its official, I am a road runner, and I don’t like hills. It’s also official that I have completely ruined my beautiful new trainers. Hahah. Thanks Phil, Lexi and Bruce for running a little bit with me. It really helped. Never been more glad to see a finish line in my life. Here’s to spending the next hour or so trying to get the mud out of my toenails. #atleastIcompleted#newheadtorchwasworthit #stillshaking
Sarah Flaherty
I really enjoyed it, although the last few miles definitely hurt! I was spurred on by the knowledge that Eliza and Shona were hot on my tail…
High point for me was coming down through the trees in the mud at top speed and staying on my feet.
Low point the climb up to the road over the moors where I just seemed to step in every bog going with my legs screaming at me.
Race was very well marshalled and the support from Bingley Harriers was amazing – seeing Tony on the canal was really nice and then Anne-Marie and Phil (with jelly-babies!) and then John.
Goody-bag with torch was unusual and a good idea. Winning a prize was the icing on the cake!
I’ll be back next year
Amanda Dean
The Baildon had grown in length (0.3miles), climbing (150ft) and mud this year! Becky came in at 2:03 and me 2:06. We were both about 11mins slower than last year. Becky took 1st FV55.
I was very happy with my result – not great but better than it could have been and I thoroughly enjoyed a steep, muddy downhill where people were crashing into trees to stop themselves … made me laugh! Mary took a fall and scraped her elbow. She seemed OK. Came in at 2:09
Bingley girls did well with prizes in FV35, FV45 and FV55 – photo attached.
Oliver Cheyne
Great race. Never run it before but have trained on the route a fair few times. Lovely fast course, but was glad to get off the canal path (I don’t do well on flat terrain!). The Marshalls and support was fantastic and provided a big boost especially when passing Roberts Park. My son Leo was very happy with the headtorch in the goodie bag at the end!
Very well organised. Great turn out from Bingley. Definitely one to run again. Also a really good intro for anyone wanting to do some trail or fell running.
Tom Gomersal
It seems they’re fairly generous with their prizes, and I would have expected one of the M45 runners ahead of me to get that prize. Thanks for picking it up. It was much muddier that I remember from previous runs, but nice to have a small fell-like descent on the diversion. Impeccably organised and marshalled as always.
Mary Green
Loved the head torch. Organisation great bar freezing cold showers / bowler not on
High – Cheering in from Phil/ Steven etc at the Saltaire road bridge – I rallied well over the moor. Low – long slog on canal and little trip
Mud down the wood / roots etc bit of a challenge. Quite happy with my time all things considered !
The Findlay family
We all thought it was extremely well organised, excellent Marshalling, and fully efficient in all aspects. I wasn’t there for any prize giving – perhaps a few more categories of teams..mind you that may just be so Eliza and Bingley got something..;-). Even the weather was spot on…