Saturday 4th October - Langley 7 trial

The start

Today the weather was not our friend - it was cold, it was wet and it was windy - but that did not stop 9 hardy runners from meeting in Langley at 9.00am for a trial run of the 'Langley 7'. Alison and Mel were group leaders this week (Neil was relegated to sweep car and mobile photographer due to injury - the camera did not like the rain). This was the first Saturday D group run for Karen, Carol and Lindsey - welcome!

Spirits were high after a warm up and the first mile of flat and gently downhill. The Langley 7 only has one hill ... but it goes on for about 3 miles and towards the end of the climb energy levels were depleted but group support kept everybody going. There was some very determined running today with people keen to push themselves in difficult conditions (as the photographs show).

So - well done everybody for completing the route - the big question now is do you run it, help to marshal and/or bake a cake (this race has a massive reputation for good cakes as well as a bottle of beer for all finishers).

Please contact Neil if you can help at all.

Alison & Mel

A Mel warm up

Good warm up...

the infamous 'touch the floor' move

Nice 'high knees'...

Chris at the front (near the pub)

Nina fresh from her 5K PB

Look left, look right....

I think Neil's jacket may be a bit large for Ali

WThe hill has started ... jackets off...

Near the Ryles Arms

Long distance runners

Digging deep

Rain, rain, go away ...

Approaching the bottom of Withenshaw Lane

This hill goes on and on ...

Time for a breather yet?

Nina - going well after calf mtce.

Karen's first D Group run

Ali - that jacket is definitely too large

Alison - just keeps going!

Quick 'breather' by the team car ... then up the big hill

At the top of the 'Col de Withenshaw'

In the cloud

Carol, Chris and Mel

Ali and Lindsey

Ali - ditched the jacket

Kathryn - found new energy!

Nina at the top...

Karen conquers the Col

Chris and Alison

Flat and fast

The pace now picks up

Nina and Kathryn

Lindsey's first D run

In the cloud still

Time to chat?

Chris on the descent

Kathryn and Mel

Carol and Nina

Alison - on a roll!

Lyndsey likes the downhill

Jazz hands...

In the forest

Down down down

By the reservoir - wet and windy

How wet is Chris!

1 mile to go..

Carol...

Nina and Ali

Karen ... still smiling after 10k!

Still energy left...

The finish straight

Carol

Alison at the end...

Almost there

The end ... cold, wet but happy!