Northern stores race report

Greetings Sports Fans,

Sunday 26th saw Andrew Wiles line up against some the brightest young middle distance talent the North East has to offer in the Mens Elite Mile race that finished in the Stadium of Light, home to Sunderland Football club.

As with the most of the UK , the sun dawned hot and remaind so for the rest of the day, recording a sizzling 30 degrees to make it the hottest to date, with no wind, so almost perfect racing conditions; The course could be kindly described as *undulating* which made for slower times than one would normally expect for an Elite mile race.

In an exclusive interview with this *reporter* early in the week, Andrew explained that he was feeling confident in his racing fitness and had a definate plan in mind for the race.

Setting off and covering a quick 1st half mile {2:06} Andrew was happy with his place in the pack and wasnt feeling under pressure, confident that he could cover the leaders, should they make a break at any point - With 1000m gone Andrew found himself dropped off the back of the leading 6 athletes, and about 10 meters down, with the two leaders now making an effort to drop the rest of the runners, with only 400m left Andrew dug deep and kicked hard to get back to the runners in 3rd/4th/5th and 6th, 250m to go another big effort into the stadium and Andrew was chasing down 3rd and 4th positions, catching 4th but not quite getting the 3rd placed athlete on the line Andrew clocked 4:19, some 7 secs down on his club mate and local rival Ricky Stevenson.

Speaking this week Andrew commented that although the race was slow he felt he made a mistake by not being in the lead 2 or 3 athletes from the gun and getting detached was always going to make it difficult to place in the top three, drawing on the positive his kick over the last 400m did take him past other runners renowned for their kicking abilities.

Andrew is now seeking some fast 800m BMC track events to try and break 1:50 over the half mile distance.

We look forward to watching Andrews progress as the summer season progress's.

Thanks for watching, catch you next time, and keep it tuned to Darlington-FM-Sports report.

Report Mic (Darlington store)

A Positive Attitude

Sitting watching sport on TV is not the best way to open an article for a health conscious website, however it is a rather apt one. Not for the watching but for what is being viewed. 

Regardless of whatever sport is presented on your screen you will see a person or team who is quietly confident of their abilities and the ultimate outcome of the soon to be ensuing competition.

Some will be smiling, some silently considering the coming action and some deep in focus completely oblivious to the surrounding world. But none of them, no matter what they are about to do, are even for one second contemplating losing or not doing their best. A slightly melodramatic example of this would be the sports “entertainment” of the WWE. If you tune in you will no doubt see many athletes but one in particular wears his positive attitude as a badge of honour by not only looking powerful and confident but constantly proclaiming as his catchphrase “I’m awesome!” and then continuing to do so regardless of a win or loss. Such self confidence and positive attitude, albeit a little staged, is still something we should all at least strive to in some degree.

Now I’m not saying that we should all go around proclaiming our own awesomeness at every moment of the day but firstly recognising that you are is a fantastic first step!

Don’t believe me? Well look at it this way, you are the most powerful person in your own universe. You hold the ability to change yourself, to push yourself and to keep yourself going. Others can help you and support you but at the end of the day it is you who chooses.

Not enough? Well you are amazing in what you can and DO do.

As a runner on average everyone has as pace of about 90 strides per minute. So in an hour that’s about 5000 strides PER FOOT! If you use an average of between 100 and 150lbs for a person, and knowing that when you run and average of 2-3 times your weight is turned into pressure you can see that you take between 300 and 450lbs of pressure each footfall! That means in that hours run your body takes between 1,500,000lbs and 2,250,000 lbs of pressure per foot! This is the equivalent of 222 elephants. So yes you are awesome!

As I said at the beginning, no-one ever goes out planning to fail or not to do their best. It’s our positivity, self belief and confidence that keeps us going. Which is why staying positive is also key. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first race or your millionth, if it’s 5k or 100 miles, staying positive will only help you achieve your goals and keep you going. There are so many people who even use running as the reason to become positive. I know myself that any bad mood can be cured with a decent run and a great way to get things out my system.

So the question now is really what can I achieve? Every time you step out the door in your trainers a strong outlook will help you so much. If you’re race training, PB focussed or just prepping for a charity run you know what you have to do as part of your plan. Every step is one closer to your goal and feeling even better from pushing that little bit more, and what has got you there and kept you going? The positive attitude from start to finish.

The most beautiful thing about this is that being positive is completely non-exclusive. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. What you’re doing it for or even why. At the end of the day being positive can only help and support you and those around you so what is there to lose by doing it? I’m positive that it’s worth a try.

by Matt Puddy (U&R Twitter follower and well all round positive chap)

Candelighters Wetherby 5k fun run Report

Leeds Central proudly supported the Candelighters Wetherby 5k fun run, held on the 22nd may.  Below are some of the pics from the event.  For those of you wondering what Candlelighters is, then read on....

Established in 1976, Candlelighters is a charity formed and run by parents of children who have or have had cancer, ex-patients and the medical staff who treat them. Based in Yorkshire, Candlelighters provides essential services and support to children with cancer and their families.  For more info on this great cause please go to www.candlelighters.org.uk

SO there you go, a great cause, a great event and by the looks of it some great fun had by all.

Store Report from the Northern stores

Greetings Sports Fans here's some race results from Andrew Wiles & Jak Lowden.

Its been a busy few weeks for the guys, with Jak competing at the North Of England Track & Field Championships on the weekend of 18th June over 400m.

There were 4 Heats in total and Jak was drawn in the outside lane of his heat, Jak set off really well and was going great guns to 200, running effectively a time trial out in lane 8 Jak would only find out where he was when the last bend un-wound the stagger, trying to maintain form after 300m Jak was aware that the 1st and 2nd place were going to the opposition but he may hold on to third , sadly it wasnt to be :-/ Jak placed fourth and was eliminated from the competition, speaking to his coach Jak felt that his performance was below par and certainly his time of 50:65 is a full second down on his Seasons Best for the distance would suggest that a differant lane on a differant day may have yielded a faster time - So with this race now well and truly in the rear view mirror we see Jak set his sights on the Scottish Championships over 400m in a little over 3 weeks time and the search for his sub-49's continues.

Andrew Wiles racing results continue to go from strength to strength, with 3 excellant race results coming thru the end of May and into this month.

KIcking off at Stretford British Milers Club Gold Standard 1500m on the 17th May, Andrew crusied around in a tactical race to win in a creditable 3:48:66 although post race Andrews mashed ankle let him know that the victory had come at a cost, the cost being 2 very easy weeks running training to allow the ankle to recover to its normal size and shape.

Taking a trip down to London on the 11th June to catch up with some friends and test out the ankle Andrew entered and won the Bushy Park 5k in a tasty 15:07, winning by a 70 second margin from second place, the ankle seems to have been in a better frame of mind and didnt punish Andrew on this outing.

Next up Stretford, and the Trafford Grand Prix, with a race over 3K, with 29 runners in a high class field Andrew stayed out of trouble by mixing it up at the front, whilist the field jostled and barged each other for position on the first 4 laps, Andrew remained out of trouble and tracking the lead runners in the 1st group, winding the laps up Andy kept the pressure on and feeling confident with 350m to go, Andrew opened up a gap on the rest of the field and surged to the front, opening a 1 sec gap over the next athlete, coming into the home straight Andrew kicked again with 100m to go, to come home in first place and a superb time of 8:28:47, a handful of seconds down on his PB of 8:16 but a great indicator that his lack of training had not damaged his racing fitness.

Andrews next race is as at the Elite 1 mile Invitational at Sunderland this coming Sunday finishing at the Stadium of Light, with a 1st class field in attendance, this may be the race that puts Andrew on map for his England call up, local athlete and New Marske Harriers club mate Ricky Stevenson will also be taking part [he of Mo Farah cross country beating fame in winter 2010] Ricky has a 3:56:00 mile PB on the track so this should be a properly epic battle.

When speaking wth Andrew recently, Andrew commented that he feels his race fitness is coming close to a seaons peak, he is very happy that the ankle injury has settled down and allowed him to commence a proper training schedule, and is very confident of a top 3 finish on Sunday if he stays out of trouble and covers any early moves that the race leaders may throw in.

I am sure you will want to join me in wishing Andy good luck for Sunday and the race of his career to date.

Blue Lamp Foundation 555 Police Coast-2-Coast review - Mic (Darlington)

On Wednesday 25th May the team meet on the very edge of the sea at Whitehaven harbour, and were meet by a senior Police-officer from the Cumbria force, and a member of the of the Cumbria Traffic Police, who was there to provide a Police escort to the team out of Whitehaven for the first 10 miles of their adventure.

So it was, a cold windy, gray damp day that the 5 hardy Police Officers (3 lads and 2 ladys) set off from Whitehaven in Cumbria on the first leg of their 5 day adventure to run the classic coast-2-coast route to the ultimate destination of North Shields.

This event was organised to raise funds for the newly formed Blue Lamp Fundation to support Policeman who have been injured in the line of duty , and also to raise monies for the Help for Heros Charity.

The 5 team members had been training very hard for this event over he last 6 months , and had come together from different parts of the UK to take part in the event, this meant that the team members individual training had to be done on thier lonesome, in some pretty trying and horrible weather thru the first part of Jan and Feb of 2011.

Key to ensuring that the event went off as planned was due in no small part to the planning and recce of the event and subsquiant routes, and it is a tribute to Simon Bagge the Event Director that the event ran as smoothly and as effectively as it did - Simon put a lot of out-of-hours periods of toil to ensure the team, the support crew, and family members knew exactly what was supposed to happen where and when during the 5 days.

Without the support crew being available at dedicated RV's during the daily treks the team would not have faired so well, with the weather on day 1 and 2 being closer to winter wet weather than Spring/Summer sunshine.

The team completed the event successfully on Sunday May 29th as planned.

I think most people would agree that to run across the coast-2-coast in 5 days is a fantastic achievment, congratulations to Simon, his team and the ever faithful support team.

CaniX Column - CaniX updates

For those fans of running with dog's below we have two updates direct from CaniX. Have a read and if you are interested on learning more then either contact Gilly Wight in the Leeds Central store or go direct to the www.canix.co.uk  site

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CaniX Column

In this month’s column by Eileen Cook, who runs CaniX UK (competitive cross-country racing with dogs), with her husband Richard looks at exercising puppies safely. The couple have 2 fully grown Siberian Huskies and a young Husky puppy, called Chilli, who will be trained up for the 2012 European CaniX championships in Britain.

Taking on a puppy is not something you do lightly. When awake, puppies are full-on and require constant attention – when asleep, it’s hard to believe that little ball of fluff can get up to such mischief e.g. your 5 kg puppy does not cause problems when it jumps up at you, once it is 30 kg you may not feel the same.

With this in mind, it’s easy to think that with such an abundance of energy, your puppy can be – or even should be – exercised extensively. While the mind may be willing in the young dog, we as owners have to be aware of the long-term damage of over exercising a puppy.

Be mindful that dogs have soft growth plates in their arms that need to harden up before you push them. That’s why at CaniX, we recommend that dogs under one year old should not enter 5km races, and those younger than two years old should not compete in races of 10km or over. Large breeds may mature later so consult your vet if unsure.

Remember also that keeping your puppy happy is not just about physical stimulation; it’s about mental stimulation too.

Provide it with toys and enroll in a puppy-training class, which can provide mental stimulation through training – while also providing you, the owner, with tips on how to teach basic commands. It will also give your young dog a chance to mix with other puppies. Most vets can provide a list of reputable dog trainers and puppy classes.

Putting the care, time and effort into training in the initial months will pay-off with a rewarding, loyal and trusting friendship between you and your dog.

For more advice and info on running with dogs, visit www.canix.co.uk

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At CaniX, we know every dog is a champion, pairing up with their owners to compete in cross-country races of different lengths. There is no other sport where dogs work in such unison with their owner to cross a finishing line.

While humans get to race in stunning scenery, the dogs get to play in the great outdoors, making it a win-win for all that take part.
For Crufts, we developed a 2km sprint race that went from the main arena out to the lake and around it.

Rescue dogs, pedigrees and cross breeds enjoyed the blast through the fresh air, and in the process, helped promote healthy living for humans and canines alike. Every age, shape and size of human and dog took part, as they do in the many CaniX races held across the UK.

Like all CaniX races,CaniX Crufts had a friendly competitiveness about it, meaning some took part for the fun of it and others took part to win - but everyone had a great day out.

The support from the audience was amazing. If you were there cheering us along, thank you, maybe Richard and I will see you at a CaniX race near you.

Unfortunately there is not enough room here to print all the winners, but they know who they were, and results can be found on the CaniX website. Richard and I again congratulate them. To everyone else who took part, we want to say thank you, you all made the event the huge success it was.

To find out more about CaniX visit www.canix.co.uk

The Brathay 10 in 10 challenge - by Noel Jones

On May 13th 2011, 13 of us lined up with varying degrees of trepidation for the start of the Brathay 10 in 10 challenge. We were setting out to run around Lake Windermere 10 times over 10 days. In recent years multiple marathon feats containing much larger numbers are becoming common, so what makes this one special?

For a start it is 10 officially measured road marathons. Add in that it is the same undulating course each day and you can begin to see why it is such a challenge. The final piece that makes it so special is that it is all in aid of the Brathay Trust, a charity that works to improve the life of young people by building their confidence, showing them that there are alternatives and empowering them to make their own life changing choices.

We are based at Brathay Trust’s HQ, a beautiful hall on the lakeside near Ambleside in Cumbria. Our entry fee has bought us comfortable youth hostel style accommodation in the woods and every thing we might need is laid on for us. We have full time support in the form of Aly and her husband Mac. Aly has completed the challenge twice and knows well what we are going to be putting ourselves through.

The course is the one used for the Brathay Windermere Marathon and if we get through to day 10 we will be joined by around 1000 other athletes taking part in that event. It is a beautiful course with the first half going out through woods down the West side of the lake. There is just one significant hill in these first 13 miles but none of this part of the course is flat. The first four miles to Hawkshead are uphill and need to be treated with respect (on the 6th day I paid dearly for not doing so, which I put down to mental tiredness). Newby Bridge is the turnaround at the South end of the lake and marks the halfway point, although it is actually half a mile shy of it. The next 7 or so miles are where the race is made or lost. There are a series of hills that are not too daunting but they need to be run up if you are looking for a good time. If you can get to Bowness on Windermere in one piece then you have cracked it! There is one short sharp hill remaining at 22 miles but walking up it will not cost you much time. The course has one last cruel trick up its sleeve though – the driveway up to Brathay Hall has to be climbed before rounding the corner to the glorious view of the finish line with the lake in the background.

To get us through 10 days of this we have The Body Rehab and their team of physios. They dunk us in ice baths, massage out the tightness in our muscles and strap up our injuries with RockTape. By the third day most of us have some tape on and by the last day we look like rejects from a multicoloured mummy convention. The hills and the camber in the road are taking their toll but no one is giving up. Our motto has become 13 out, 13 in.

Our race nutrition is provided by Team Nutrition in the form of electrolyte energy drink, boosted by a carb reloading drink for the later miles (starting the refuel for the next day) and some gels that I liken to rocket fuel.

Completing the list of sponsors is ASICS, who have supplied a full set of running kit including top of the range Gel Nimbus 12 shoes. I got on well with these during training and a visit to Up & Running in Milton Keynes gets me two more pairs for the event itself (not only were they a good price but my running club card got me another 10% off).

If you’d like to read a day by day blog of my experience you can do so here http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/blog/noel-jones-10-in-10.aspx (for all 10 days you have to look to the archive section on the right). We were also filmed in action by Cumbria Live TV and these marvellous mementos can be seen here http://www.cumbrialive.tv/brathay10in10/

I’ve met some really inspiring people and made some good friends along the way (pic below). I was touched by the generosity of my friends and work colleagues, some of whom I have only talked to by phone and never actually met! I was told this experience would change my life and I think it has. I now truly understand teamwork and the bonding that arises through shared adversity.

Noel Jones

CROSSING THE FINISHING LINE: A GUIDE TO THE DAUNTING TASK OF MARATHON RUNNING by Ryan Spencer (Watford store)

“I could never run 10k” is a common phrase uttered by non-runners, beginner runners, even intermediate runners! Yes, you probably could, you just don't realise it. In fact there's probably bigger distances you could run, you just don't realise it. I believe there's a lot of capabilities people could tap into themselves... if they just believed it!

The furthest I've run is 145miles from Birmingham-London along the canal, non-stop. For me, it was partly the physical training (which is obviously important), but the mental training is equally important, if not more. Took a month or two to think a lot about the event, and convince myself it is achievable. If others could complete the event in the past, then why couldn't I? And if I (and numerous others) could run that distance (or even further!) then a lot of people can run 10k, or whatever the desirable distance is. The body is capable of amazing things, people just don't realise it.

I find a lot of what is achievable is what you tell yourself you're capable of completing. A completed 5k for the first time could be the stepping stone to a 10k. More training would be necessary but convincing yourself you can do it plays the biggest role. Just a brief period to think about and being positive about completing it will make a huge difference.

For example, people looking to run a marathon for the first time may complete a half marathon for the first time, and be doubtful they could do a marathon. “I could never run that distance again! How am I going to complete 26.2 miles?!”

Before setting out on those 13.1 miles the mind is told what lies ahead, and near the end of the race/run starts winding down. Whereas at the start of a marathon, the mind will know there's 26.2 miles ahead and will no doubt 'breeze' through the 13.1 mile mark knowing there's more to go. Obviously the pacing would be that bit slower to allow for the extra mileage and more training would have been done.

The same can be said for those having done a 5k – the mind would be ready for upcoming 10k so would 'breeze' through 5k!

Another thing mental training helps with is a kind of duping effect. In the weeks building up to an event, particularly longer events, is to spend a little time each day for a couple of days visualising your success. Break the event down in your mind; think about the beginning part of the race, thinking about pacing and enjoying the event. Over the next few days, keep visualising yourself progressing in the event, doing well and enjoying it. But being realistic at the same time, ie if running a marathon, see yourself at 18 miles still going, feeling tired and possibly a bit sore, but good to keep going. All these thoughts should be positive, duping the brain so that at each of those visualised points of the race your mind will take you back to those thoughts, hopefully flooding the mind and body with the positiveness it was fed in the weeks before.

In addition to all the above, there are energy supplements (that definitely do work if used properly, they're not just a gimmick!) and having the correct running footwear to prevent potential injuries, all assist with the achievements.

Finally, turning to the physical side of things, the more steady training that is done, the more achievable the goal will seem over time. When starting the initial training for an event, the body will probably tell the mind it doesn't feel it will be able to cover the desired distance. Combining the mental training and the regular running training will strengthen the body as the weeks pass and be able to cover more distance, boosting confidence at the same time. Working in a running shop I see evidence of this almost on a daily basis.

If others can cover the distances, why not you? Just try it. If it's not for you, fair enough, but at least it should be attempted. You will probably surprise yourself!

Ryan Spencer

Forces March 133miles May 25th -30th 2011 by Sylvia Jones

A few months ago I came across some runners taking part in an amazing event, the Brathay 10 in 10 Challenge.  While following this on twitter I was pointed to another event called the Forces March.

This took part on May 25^th -30^th 2011 between Ilfracombe and Bulford Camp and it is a mind numbing 133miles in length.  

One of the runners, Sylvia Jones, has written this review.  Read and be inspired.  I know I have been.  

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If you want a challenge, to travel through some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain and don’t mind a few nights in fields under canvas then this is the event for you. The Forces march follows in the footsteps of men from 6th Airborne Division who took on the immense challenge of walking the 133 miles from Ilfracombe to Bulford in August 1942 following a month of training on the North Devon coast. The money raised by charity Project65 goes to support veterans of UK armed forces. www.project65.net.

I entered this event with my friend and fellow Bedford Harrier 83 year old Iva Barr. As a back of the pack marathon runner I was a bit concerned about how we would manage and if we would keep up. I needn’t have worried. The whole approach is informal whilst the facilities and support are organized with typical military efficiency. Project65 go out of their way to help you to reach your goals for the event be it running or walking, one stage or the whole route. The other competitors, a mixture of military and civilian teams together with individual entrants were very friendly and we enjoyed the tea and banter each evening in the mess tent.

Iva and I categorized ourselves as walkers even though we planned to use a mixture of marching and running to cover the distance. The first day started with ceremony at 10am by the Deputy Mayor and Town Crier of Ilfracombe and we began to climb the first of many steep hills to be tackled over the next 5 days. The runners started at 11am each day and it was very sociable as they caught us up and exchanged a few words.

The first day we covered just over 27 miles. Whilst the Forces March bills itself as 5 marathons in 5 days the length of the stages are determined by the distances between campsites. The longest stage was about 30 miles and the shortest 24. Water stops also varied in distance and quality from large bottles of water to top up your canteen to glorious spreads of fruit and cake provided by the local British Legion. Support cars were out on the course all day to provide assistance and extra supplies of jellybeans and bananas if needed.

I was able to draw on Iva’s extensive marathon and long distance walking experience and learnt to pace myself taking the uphills steadily and trotting the downs. This meant that although we started as the sweep car driver’s best friends at the beginning of the week, we moved up the pack as several of the other participants suffered injuries or blisters through inexperience. Despite this, the busy roads on day 3 and 4 meant that I got mentally very tired concentrating on the traffic and Iva was having trouble with her balance. On day 3 I had hauled her out of ditch and we didn’t want her to fall over again. The lovely St John’s ambulance crew were keeping a close eye on us but at Castle Cary, half way, on day 4 we came to a mutual agreement to stop for the day. A support car took us on to the next campsite where we took some well earned rest, a proper meal and even a (small) glass of wine.

The organizers have no problem with you starting again the next day. This is a personal challenge not a race. Suitably refreshed and fortified we started the final day in good spirits. The final day had the feeling of festival about it from the start. We were saluted by British Legion flag bearers in one village and celebrated by a christening party in another. Poor little Georgie seemed to think Iva was the Queen! After the final long hill up to the Forces festival ground in Bulford we were escorted like royalty past the finish and to the stage to be presented with our dog tags. One of the disabled competitors was waiting with cups of tea and we were finally able to relax and celebrate our 121 mile achievement in front of the live music stage.

In summary if you want a real challenge without having to jet off to the desert (and don’t underestimate just how hard a challenge this is). To walk or run in beautiful countryside, meet great people and don’t mind roughing it in a tent for a few days. If you are relaxed about distances and times, make completion of the event for a great cause your goal then this could be the one for you.

www.justgiving.com/sylviajones www.justgiving.com/iva-barr

Picture of Iva (left) and Sylvia (Right) at the finish with support crew (my husband Noel - far left) and Danny Greeno (far right) Chief Exectutive of Project 65.

Salomon Trail Team News - 03.06.11

Below is Salomon Trail Team News care of Matt Ward (Salomon Community office).  

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Salomon Trail Team News - 03.06.11 - Tom Owens continues phenomenal 2011 form at Zegama

'Disappointed' Owens finishes runner-up to Kilian Jornet by seconds, as Ricky Lightfoot suffers in the heat...

Up against some of the greatest mountain runners in the world, Tom Owens celebrated his debut at the great Zegama-Aizkorri Maraton Alpina race (part of the 2011 2011 Skyrunner® World Series) in the Spanish Basque region on Sunday with a superb second place, just 35 seconds back on three-time winner, and Salomon team-mate Kilian Jornet. 

After 42 gruelling and severely hot kilometres Tom was overhauled in the last kilometres by Kilian. It was yet another great day in the mountains for Tom, which has seen wins for the glasgow-based athlete at the 57th Three Peaks Race in Yorkshire, the Carnethy 5 race and round one of the 2011 British Fell Running Championships in Northern Ireland. 

As is often the case in these situations the story of the race is best told by those taking part. Speaking after his return to the UK, Tom described what appears to have been a titanic battle against arguably the world's best off-road runner, alongside the sweltering conditions:

"Last weekend I had a shot at the Zegama race, part of the Skyrunner World Series. A race I’d heard fantastic reviews on and have wanted to do for a while. The race started off steady and there was a bunch of runners for the initial run out. The French Skyrunning legend, Corrine Favre, had given me some really good pre-race advice “the race starts after 20km!”. So I was happy to conserve energy and stick in behind, especially as it was mega hot. I concentrated on getting fluid on board at every opportunity as there were drinks stations every 5km.

The atmosphere on the course was unbelievable with Tour de France ‘style  support on the climbs and spectators surrounding the runners on the climbs - deafening at times and totally inspiring!

I reached top of first main climb just behind the leading few runners and quickly took the lead on the descent and tried to open it up a bit. The lead then switched between Kilian Jornet and me until the top of the 2^nd climb with former pro cyclist Aitor Osa catching on the second big ascent. I then led to the base of 3^rd climb through the large section of pasture running and Kilian and myself opened a gap on Osa. I felt good and wanted to stride out and apply more pressure. Frustratingly I started to get cramp in both hamstrings and calves due to the fluid loss. Running was difficult and I really had to control things and prevent total seizure!

By the base of third and final big ascent Kilian powered past me and opened up a gap. I was starting to feeling pretty wrecked and felt like I was going backwards. However I was surprised to catch him again after the technical running on the final descent. I went past him but couldn’t open a lead. It’s one heck of a long last descent – over 13km – with lots of runable sections and a few small climbs. Kilian showed his strength again, passing and pulling away from me on the small climbs. 

By the last 5km I was red lining and trying to prevent total leg cramp age. Blisters were developing on both feet due to the constant pounding and heat. 

I finished in 3h 58m14s, just 35 sec behind Kilian. The reception at the finish was amazing – absolutely unforgettable...

Miguel Heras demonstrated his strength to gain a couple of positions in the latter race stages and storm into third position. Ricky Lightfoot (2009 champ) didn’t have his best run having only recently having returned to full training following a bad achilles injury. However he stuck at it in tough conditions when many top runners dropped out to finish in 4h 33m – much respect Ricky!

Although it is disappointing not to win, I was proud of my efforts and to run well in tough conditions and delighted to finish second. I had pushed it pretty hard in the heat and was totally caked. It was exciting to be at the sharp end of the race with Kilian Jornet – in my opinion the Worlds’ No. 1 mountain runner. Kilian showed real experience, maturity and strength over the race - he is a great and very humble champion.

This result will boost confidence for future overseas races. I’d recommend the race to UK hill runners. The course has a bit of everything with tough climbs, runable bits and technical sections. I’d love to go back, especially now I know the route – this will definitely help!

The hospitality of the Basque people and support from back home was wonderful– thank you! And of course a big thanks to Salomon for providing the opportunity to run!"

Full results can be found here.

For blog updates and more team information visit www.salomonrunning.com/uk and www.salomontrailteam.com

Tom Owens crosses the line for a fantastic Zegama debut

Tom follows Kilian on one of Zegama's brutal climbs

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Salomon Trail Team line up for 2011

Rob Hope

Ricky Lightfoot

Angela Mudge

Tom Owens

Ron Samuel

Andy Symonds

Nick Swinburn

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As always the team wishes to thanks all of its sponsors for their continued support in 2011. Salomon for the world’s best off-road running products, Suunto for helping the guys and girls time, measure and navigate their way to continued success, and Sziols for protecting their vision on the way to winning!

For further information on any aspect of the Salomon Trail Team’s athletes, products and racing activity, please contact team PR manager Matt Ward on +44(0)7515558670 or email matt.ward@cyclevox.com

Matt Ward
PR, Salomon Trail Teammatt.ward@cyclevox.com
+44(0)7515 558670www.salomontrailteam.com