46th is Not Too Shabby

Despite spending three years at university in Leeds I’d never entered the Abbey Dash until this year.  The Dash has been going 32 years and has a big reputation for being one of the fastest 10k races in the country.  It starts and finishes in Leeds city centre and is an out and back course along Kirkstall Road, turning at Kirkstall Abbey (a ruined monastery built in 1152).

If you’ve been a regular reader of my reports you’ll know that 2017 has been my real breakthrough year.  I’ve set PBs at every distance I’ve entered, with only the 10k (31.55 from 2016) missing.  I ran two great 10ks in May (but it was too soon after London Marathon for my legs) and then the Bedford 10k in June (when it was very hot); all three were between 32.11 and 32.21. read more

Bearbrook 10k – Club Champs Race

Bearbrook 10k

Sunday 6th August was the date of the Bearbrook 10k, which this year was the LBAC Club Championship race for that distance.

Over the years there have been all sorts of weather with a particularly memorable time a few years ago when Hurricane Bertha came to visit.

This year however, the conditions were much calmer and pretty good for a run up a hill and down again although it was getting a little warm out there towards the end.

There was a big turn out of 21 members from the club racing, but the victorious two were Andy Inchley who is edging ever close to a sub 35 minute 10k again with a time of 35:07 and Vice Captain Jo Sharples, who finished in 43:19 before then running the 14miles back to Leighton Buzzard as part of her marathon training! Andy also picked up second place in the v40 category. read more

The other Leighton 10 (k)

Leighton 10k

by Jenny Rawdon

As the mummy of three children I don’t get the chance to enter many races. I’ve dabbled in a couple of half marathons over the last few years but my one and only 10k race was over 7 years ago, which oddly enough was the old style Leighton 10k. This was pre children, relatively flat and I managed 51 minutes 44 seconds.

I joined LBAC about 9 months ago along with Suzy B and ‘our’ Leanne at the recommendation of my friend Lisa Bowyer. Lisa’s ‘project’ was to get us to all enter a race together… cue the Leighton 10k, which now, much to my dismay contained the dreaded Shenley Hill. read more

A Sunday of Top Times

By Andy Inchley

Sunday seemed to be the day for it. It was chilly, but not the biting December days we sometimes get, nor was it pouring with rain, which could easily have been the case. Our team of Buzzards spread themselves across three events in the hope of strong performances and fast times. It’s far to say though that I don’t think the results achieved were quite what was expected.

The more low key event of the day saw Simon, Ben, Amy F and Alison testing out the new tarmac around Houghton Regis. The Fun Runners had kindly arranged with the builders and the council that we could have a 5K race on the new bypass before it opened and they invited runners from all the Leighton clubs. It was unfortunate that it clashed with the Winter Half but there was no choice and all four of the LBAC reps running well with Simon and Ben coming home first and second. read more

Leeds Abbey Dash 10k

By Maria Williams

Well, like the true athletes that we are it was a steak meal and fairground rides in Campbell park the night before said race. With a whole five hours sleep, we set off in darkness along the M1. Our journey of two and a half hours flew by. It must have been all the bitter wind pushing us up the motorway.

We arrived in Leeds to find the car park we were told was a good place to park was closed. After one way streets and road closures, u turns on tight roads and turning right on a no right turn road, we found another car park. This one was filling up fast and the queue for the pay and display machine was bigger than a toilet queue at a the race. It was nearly my turn to put in my money when I realised I was 70 pence short, how embarrassing, though a kind man gave me a pound and I couldn’t thank him enough. Runners are great. read more

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