Hi
I am on the search for an elite level hill runner to join a team of five competing in the Hebridean Challenge, a five day adventure race, along the Outer Hebridean archipeligo, in July 2004.
The race comprises of extensive hill running, mountain biking, road cycling, sea kayaking, and sea swimming, but as the race follows a roughly relay format, then each discipline needs its own 'expert'.
We are a young team, all under 25, but last year our runner was 50 and showed most of us a clean pair of heels, so we're not fussy on age, and experience is very much a benefit. In the past two races, we have been very competitive on the cycling stages, but have not had a top runner or kayaker to pull us up the rankings. This year we hope to break the top 5...hopefully!
Full race details are on www.hebrideanchallenge.com and I can be contacted on en9jdl@bath.ac.uk or 01225 830160
I hope this wets someones whistle!
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Martin Cox - loosely associated with the Uni but a top (and I do mean TOP as in international) hill runner and also no slouch on the roads (winner of 2003 Snowdonia Marathon) - spends a lot of summers running up the Alps but may be interested - he is currently working behind the bar of the White Hart in Widcombe but people at the STV will no doubt be able to put you in touch.
Failing Martin, there's various people in City of Bath AC who have a fell running background and fall more nearly in the elite category than I do - we have a weekly newsletter and I'm sure the editor would be only too happy to include a request similar to the above - contact on: ray@brigden21.freeserve.co.uk
Or you could always join us on a Tuesday night and you too could become that fell runner!
You may know Richard Hooley or Ewen Malloch who were our runners last year. Richard had incredible endurance and navigation, and Ewen runs like sh*t off a teflon shovel over shorter distances. The other members of the team averaged 2nd or 3rd on all the bike stages, so we are hoping to grab a runner an kayaker or similar ability. Hopefully they'll be able to take on the likes of Brendan Bolland, and Steve Birkinshaw, or maybe keep them in sight at least!
Coxy is an asociate of mine, although I have it on good authority he can't read a map for buttons, but more likely he will be out ripping up the Alps in July.
I will contact you club editor on the email address, thanks for that.
I am interested in really improving my running, and hope to do a 1:20-25 bath half this year, so tuesday night sessions would be really good. What's the score with coming along?
Tuesdays - we meet in the STV (downstairs by the entrance to the gym) for a 7pm start - there is a slower group and a faster one, doing perhaps 7 - 8 miles - it's as fast as you want to make it, because we regroup every 10 mins or so. Just turn up and give it a go - ask anyone to point me out and I'll make sure you feel at home. First Tuesday of each month is a measured 5k time trial (2 laps round Uni - hard!!)
Much as I'd like to give the event a shot I don't fit the bill as an elite runner but there are a few people in the club who do.
Good luck with your search.
I look forward to hearing from your club mates, but in the event I don't hear from any of the real whippets, I will certainly comeback in your direction.
Can you suggest anywhere else I should post my appeal, as I don't know of many running websites, due to most of my racing being on the bike.
http://www.cosmics.org.uk/hillbasher/
http://www.carnethy.com/
http://www.shr.uk.com/shr/index.asp
http://www.ae401.dial.pipex.com/
Which team were you in?
It migt be worth e-mailing Martin Stone - I am assuming he is still involved in the Heb - he may have a few decent contacts.
I think there was another uni team in 99 as well but we were a mixed team so were in a different category.
Now I am in the corporate world I have always fancied entering a team in this race and getting the company to pay for it but no luck so far.
In my first Heb we only got our team sorted the week before the race, wheras last year I had it sorted in November. I'm going for somewhere in between this year!
www.carnethy.com is an edinburgh club full of people who do things like that really well.
I'd really love to do this event, but unfortunately, I'm not quite 'elite' level... However, if you can use a 69' half-marathon runner/ 2H24 marathon then I could be your man... I'm ok on the fells, but I definitely run downhill better than I climb.
I can also kayak some (I'm a level two kayak coach, and I'm doing my 4 stars sea kayaking in April), but I don't think that matters (the race is a relay right?). Anyway, let me know if you're interested...
Not sure I'd be able to fit your bill being female (keen though!) but noticed you were in bath and keen to bang out a 1:20-25 bath half and wondered who you run with.
Am member of a club in bristol but keen for someone to run with in bath around 1:25 half pacing..
Why the hell do we bother?
Why not post an advert on the sleepmonsters site. Somebody is bound to have a use for a 'slow' runner like you who can kayak. Bet you are tasty on a bike as well.
Best of luck.
Are you running the Bath Half this year?
Andy, yes I'm running Bath again this year. Training's been going quite well over the last two weeks, so I guess I'll be trying for a pb again this year.
After the FLM though, I have no plans yet as to what I'll be doing -it always feel like there's no life after London :-(
I do quite a lot of other stuff (kayaking, surfing, boating & -albeit very occasionally- climbing) so I think I might try to get into adventure racing.
I've done a bit of orienteering & nav., but it's always going to be my weak point. I do fancy the idea though...
Are you guys doing the Hebridean challenge?
Sorry to be part of your run of bad news, and I hope I can help cheer you up a bit. I have contacted the organiser of the Heb Challenge and he is willing to put you, and the other guys who contacted me, together as a team. Their were some cracking runners, so chances are you would be a very competitive team. I would expect you should hear from him in the next day or two.
Good luck
Keep smiling!
John
No need to be sorry... I mean, a competitive fell runner will be much better suited to the Heb. Thanks for contacting Jon Brooke on my behalf. I've received an e-mail of him, and I might well see you there.
Nick