A scenic and challenging course through the picturesque Yorkshire Wolds, held in conjunction with The Bishop Wilton Show, is the description given to this Saturdays race - The Yorkshire Wolds Half Marathon.
This is definitely one of my favourite races, I first ran this race in 1987 (6th in 71.31) and have ran every year since 1990. I have won the race on two occasions 1992 (71.40) and 1997 (73.18). The course record is held by Jimmy Ashworth (Keighley RR) at 68.49 in 1987 and he is the only person to ever break 70 mins for the course. My winning time of 1997 is still the over 40 course record but to date I have missed out on the over 45 record of 78.09 (J Sullivan, York Street Panthers in 1997) and the over 50 record of 78.20 (S Wild, Hallamshire Harriers in 1984). Unfortunately my current form is unlikely to threaten either of these marks, but I can but try.
The course is basically flat for the first 3 miles, followed by a 3 mile climb up to 6 miles before hitting an off road section where you drop back down, hitting the valley floor just after 7 miles, run along the valley before getting back onto the roads at about 8 miles. There is then a short, sharp,steep, climb before dropping back down to the 11 mile mark where you then climb back up to about 12.5 miles, then drop down to the finish on the 'show field'. for map of course see www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bishop-wilton/742327193
Another plus point to this race is that as the finish is on the show field there is a beer tent about 30 yards from the finish line. Not the recommended warm down, but..........
This is definitely one of my favourite races, I first ran this race in 1987 (6th in 71.31) and have ran every year since 1990. I have won the race on two occasions 1992 (71.40) and 1997 (73.18). The course record is held by Jimmy Ashworth (Keighley RR) at 68.49 in 1987 and he is the only person to ever break 70 mins for the course. My winning time of 1997 is still the over 40 course record but to date I have missed out on the over 45 record of 78.09 (J Sullivan, York Street Panthers in 1997) and the over 50 record of 78.20 (S Wild, Hallamshire Harriers in 1984). Unfortunately my current form is unlikely to threaten either of these marks, but I can but try.
The course is basically flat for the first 3 miles, followed by a 3 mile climb up to 6 miles before hitting an off road section where you drop back down, hitting the valley floor just after 7 miles, run along the valley before getting back onto the roads at about 8 miles. There is then a short, sharp,steep, climb before dropping back down to the 11 mile mark where you then climb back up to about 12.5 miles, then drop down to the finish on the 'show field'. for map of course see www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bishop-wilton/742327193
Another plus point to this race is that as the finish is on the show field there is a beer tent about 30 yards from the finish line. Not the recommended warm down, but..........
Comments