Membership fees

Despite the name, the club participates in all disciplines of running, fell, cross country and road and welcomes applications from runners of all abilities to join us. If you are not sure if the club is for you, why not come to one of our training sessions or one of our regular pub runs. You will be under no obligation to join, but you will get a feel for the club and a better idea if the club is for you. You can merely turn up to a training session unannounced, but it would be better if you contacted our club secretary first (details on the contacts page) and let him know that you will be coming and he will make sure that whoever is leading the group will look out for you. If you are an absolute beginner to running, you too are most welcome to join us in one of our sessions, but please contact our secretary first and he will make sure that you will have a programme with which you are comfortable. Membership fees for the club are as follows:
  • Seniors
  • For members over the age of 18
  • £10/year
  • For runners of all abilities over the age of 18
  • For runners participating in all disciplines of running, fell, cross country and road running
  • Regular training and coaching sessions provided
  • Apply
  • Juniors
  • For members under the age of 18
  • FREE
  • For runners of all abilities under the age of 18.
  • Regular (weekly) training sessions led by experienced runners/coaches
  • Advice about how to train properly so juniors can develop as athletes
  • Apply
  • Non-runners
  • For non-running members
  • £5/year
  • For supporters of the club and club members
  • Support the club and all the senior and junior runners
  • Apply
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Friday, 21 June 2024

Summer Spine Race - 16 June 2024

This week, something quite amazing has happened.  John Boothman had entered this race quite sometime ago and during the London Marathon, he picked up an injury to his leg, which he has been nursing ever since.  Now you do not embark on a 268 mile race with a dodgy leg, but having already paid the quite considerable entry fee for this race, John decided to give it a go and if his leg became troublesome, he would pull out. 

In addition, the recent heavy rain made the going heavy for the summer spine race.  The race started and at the first check point, John was in 18th position.  He kept gaining places and by the time he got to Hebden Bridge, he had moved up to 9th place.  He had all his usual problems of his body adapting to the food, bur remarkably enough, his dodgy leg was not giving him a problem at all. What was giving him a problem was his feet.  Generally the ground was very wet and this had seeped into his shoes causing him all sorts of difficulties.  In addition, because of the heavy going, his time was quite slow for a summer spine.  But something remarkable was happening.  Although, he was going much slower than normal, he was continuing to gain places  and he kept slowly moving up through the field.  By Middleton, he was in 5th place in the men's race and 6th overall.  Shortly after that, he gained two more places and was in a podium position.  He is a 61 year old man and before the race, a podium place was not even considered to be a remote possibility.  But perhaps there was something about the conditions which suited John which did not suit many of the other competitors.  John, by his own admission is not a speed merchant in these events, but he does walk very quickly. Perhaps the quick runners found the conditions too energy sapping which either slowed them down or caused them to drop out.  There does look to be a high number of drop outs and once everyone has finished, we can have a look at that aspect. 

For part of the race, John found himself running along with Steve Maloney.  It was a good thing that they were working together and helping each other along, but they both must have had it at the back of their minds about that third place and which of them would take it.  By the Hadrian's Wall John had built up a lead over Steve.  Not a huge lead, but a lead nevertheless.  When John arrived in Byrness, which is the last check point before that evil climb over the mountain range to the finish, John did not stop for a rest, which would have been the most sensible thing to do before that final ascent.  It was as if he had unwittingly found himself with a podium place and that there was no way that he was going to give that up lightly. Maybe he felt that if Steve Maloney once more caught sight of him, it might spur him on to chase John.  John was very tired, but with great determination and a great deal of adrenalin at the thought of being third, he pressed on.  His pace on the ascent was quite remarkable.  He did not know where Steve was, but it was as if he wanted to put so much distance between them that Steve would eventually give up all thoughts of chasing John.  Once over the highest point, it was all more or less down to the finish except for The Schil.  He seemed to romp up it and then his pace quickened considerably with the organisers constantly having to revise down his estimated finishing time as he ate into those last few miles.  Despite the exhaustion and the very sore feet, he managed to jog over the line for the cameras. 

What started out as a race where there was a distinct possibility that he might have to drop out, turned out to be a performance of a lifetime and a podium place in what must be one of the toughest, if not the toughest challenges for an ultra runner.  And all from a man in his sixties.  John was very tired and very sore at the end, but when he has recovered, he will no doubt let us all have his account of what must have been one of the best races in his life. 

John's account of the day

 

About us

The main aims of the club are to increase the participation of running in Barnoldswick and to keep organised running as accessible as possible.