Long Runs and Off-Road Sessions (Spring/Summer 2012 Course)
Details to follow of forthcoming sessions, when available.
Long Runs and Off-Road Sessions (Winter 2012 Course)
SESSION 5 OF WINTER 2012 COURSE: 6-SESSION COURSE
SATURDAY, 3 MARCH – 10.00am to 12.00noon
OGDEN WATER COUNTRY PARK, Ogden Lane, off Halifax-Keighley Road, Causeway Foot – HX2 8YA
Tutors: (off-road) Steve Watkins and (road) Brian Scobie
Description: Group A (the off-road runners) will be led by Steve Watkins, an England national orienteer, but also an experienced off-road runner for Baildon Runners. This session will continue the work in the opening session, providing navigational skills for fell-running over open landscape.
Group B (the road runners) will be led by Brian Scobie. This week’s session for the Road Running group will develop further the Race Pace you have been attempting to identify in the sessions so far. The intention this week is to run seven miles on the measured mile, with brief recovery phases between. Target times per mile have been established for most of those attending regularly. The task now is to deliver that pace consistently on each run, and in the meantime increase the total distance in the session as a whole by adding a mile to what each person did on the previous weekend. Runners should come equipped with a stopwatch, preferably in a wrist-watch.
The intention of the road sessions is to help each runner establish a target pace for longer road distances, and to build up mental strength and concentration (i.e. combatting boredom over the longer distances). You will be running laps at a pace set by yourself (and guided by the coach) on paths around Ogden Water reservoir.
Map – click here
Meeting location – outside the Visitor Centre on the right-hand side of the lane down from the car-park to the dam across the reservoir (the start of Withens New Road).
Driving directions – From Halifax take the A629 towards Keighley, for about three miles, and leave the built-up area at Mixenden; Ogden Lane and Ogden Water are a mile later on your left.
From Keighley or Haworth take the A629 through Denholme and the sharp bends after Denholme, and then continue for about two miles; Ogden Water is signposted on your right, immediately after the Causeway Foot Inn.
From central Bradford take the Thornton Road (B6145) for about seven miles through Thornton until it hits the Halifax Road, where you turn left, before reaching Ogden in three-quarters of a mile.
From south Bradford take the A647 Great Horton Road to Queensbury; then the A644 Denholme Road. There is a short-cut one mile outside Queensbury, on your left, along Perseverance Road, which becomes Ned Hill Road, and then Syke Lane on your right drops you down into Ogden itself.
Car-parking – general parking is available on the right-hand side as you drive along Ogden Lane from the main Keighley Road. There is a 50p fee, payable in an honesty box at the entrance to the woods, or outside the Visitor Centre.
Public transport –
a) 15 minutes’ walk (for the Keighley-Bradford bus) from the Halifax Road/Thornton Road bus-stop or 5 minutes’ walk (for the Halifax-Denholme bus) from the bus-stop 100 yards before Causeway Foot.
b) from Bradford, a 25-minute journey (also Girlington, Thornton etc.) on bus 697 (dep. Bradford Interchange, stand P, hourly on Saturdays).
c) from Keighley, a 27-minute journey (also Cross Roads, Cullingworth etc.) on bus 697 (dep. Keighley Bus Station, stand M, hourly on Saturdays).
d) from Halifax, a 20-minute journey (also Ovenden and Illingworth) on bus 504 (dep. Halifax Bus Station, stand A6, hourly on Saturdays).
Halifax bus station is about 6-7 minutes’ walk from the railway station. After leaving the station drive, turn right onto Square Road, which becomes Smithy Street and then Winding Road. The bus station is on your left.
Other information (1) – road-runners – The road-running route is on good, unasphalted, well-maintained pathways. If frosty, it could be slippery where the sun has not yet reached. Road shoes with some grip on the soles are the recommended footwear. But please pay attention to the walkers, and dogs (with or without leads). Bring a garmin or stop-watch to time laps and paces per split. You are advised to bring a warm change of clothes, and towel for a rub-down, for afterwards.
Other information (2) – off-road-runners – Bring off-road shoes (e.g. Walshes) and a compass if you have one. Wear warm kit for moor- and wood-running, including tights or leg-coverings. If the weather is potentially cold, you should ensure that you have gloves, a head-covering, full body-cover (tops and bottoms), a whistle (in case of needing attention) and some Kendal mint-cake (or similar). You can easily carry these in a lightweight bumbag. You are advised also to bring a warm change of clothes, and towel for a rub-down, for afterwards.
Other information (3) – The Visitor Centre should be open by the end of the session. If open, it has a small shop and serves ‘vending machine’ hot drinks and also confectionery; so you can get something warm to drink and something sweet to eat after your run. You can also pick up information on the permanent orienteering course, walks and other activities in the Country Park.