Run, Chris Run! A 56 mile one-man sponsored run for West Yorkshire Hunt Saboteurs.
FINAL RUN UPDATE. Hi Chris here. I started my run at 8.30pm in Potterton, leeds on friday night and arrived safely in scarborough at 2.20pm on saturday afternoon. It took me 17 hours and 50 minutes to run the 65 miles, (i didnt even stop for a number two!), and whilst i enjoyed the journey, the sight of family and friends, a row of sandcastles and the finishing banner along the sea was a really welcome sight. Taking my trainers off and plunging my feet into the cold water was heaven.
I couldn’t have done this alone and it’s testament to the teamwork and solidarity that exists between sabs that i felt so supported. Sabs from west yorkshire came to cheer me on, as well as some from nottingham, manchester and sheffield. Special thanks to C and G for cycle support and being my sab-navs. I must also thank Nutmeg Cafe,(best vegan food in scarborough) for staying open late to feed us all and for making my favourite – blueberry cheesecake.
Sabbing is never a solo effort and neither was this run. A million thanks to everyone who sponsored me. That cash will make a huge difference to the group and our ability to get out there each week once the cubbing season starts. Its not too late to donate so if you haven’t done so yet, now’s your chance! go to westyorkshirehuntsabs.wordpress.com and click on donate. Thank-you!
If you’ve ever wanted to be more hands on or thought about coming out yourself, please contact us or your local group. It’s not as hard as it sounds!
It really isn’t. I’d just like to finally take this opportunity to rattle on about some thoughts Ive had about running and sabbing since reading a great little book called “born to run” by Christopher Mcdougall. It tells the story of the Mexican tribe that are known as the Tarahumara Indians – renowned for their long distance running abilities. I’ll start with a quote ; “That was the real secret of the tarahumara; they’d never forgotten what it felt like to love running. They remembered that running was mankind’s first fine art, our original act of inspired creation. Way before we were scratching pictures on caves or beating rhythms on hollow trees, we were perfecting the art of combining our breath and mind and muscles into fluid self-propulsion over wild terrain. And when our ancestors finally did make their first designs? A downward slash, lightning bolts through the bottom and middle- behold, the running man.”
Quite often you hear sabs, (including myself) say that it really isn’t fair – the hunt have got horses. Consider this – humans actually have longer strides than horses – we run more efficiently. Every october, a few dozen runners and riders face off in the 50-mile Man against Horse Race in Prescott, Arizona. In 1999, a local runner named Paul bonnet passed the lead horses on the steep climb up mingus mountain and never saw them again till after he’d crossed the finish line. The following year, Dennis Poolheco began a remarkable streak; he beat every man, woman and steed for the next six years, until paul won it back in 2006. What does this tell you? we are designed, and are very, very good at running long distances.
Bear in mind that starting at age 19, runners get faster every year until they hit their peak at 27. After 27 they start to decline. how old are you when your’e back to the same speed as your 19 year old self? 40? 50? nope – its 64! and the same is true for women. Furthermore, The “playing field” between the sexes levels out dramatically in endurance running -at the 2007 hardrock 100(mile long race), Emily Baer beat ninety other men and women to finish 8th overall while stopping at every aid station to breastfeed her infant son. What does this tell you? Young or old, male or female, pretty much all of us can run long distances and there aint much in it – which means it shouldn’t be that difficult to stay together.
Anyway – i need to stop there – sorry if i rambled on too long – thanks again – gonna get some photos up asap – chris : )
PS Just want to make it clear that I don’t in any way approve of racing with horses ( and neither does wyhs) – I only included the horse v human race to illustrate the capabilities of human endurance.
Older posts – in order
At the end of July Chris will be running all the way from Leeds to Scarborough, a whopping 56 miles. He hopes to get there in just one day, arriving at the seaside just before the chip shop shuts.
This feat of madness is to support West Yorkshire Hunt Sabs as they run after the hunts that are still running after the foxes, despite this cruel and barbaric practice being banned in 2005.
Please sponsor Chris as much as you can afford – it’s a great cause and every penny raised will be spent saving wildlife.
You can send in the money online via our donation facilities (credit card, debit card or transfer all via paypal), through bank transfer (contact us for details), or you can pop the money in at one of our events.
Click HERE to donate
Chris’s Running Blog
*8th of June 2011*
Had my first proper training yesterday – ran 15 miles in just over three hours. It was very scenic along the transpennine way and to start with the going was good, belting out Faithless and Fugazi. Towards the end I ran out of songs and ended up with some weird dance track – note to self – download more tunes!
The most I’ve ever run before was three miles so as predicted my legs were really achey next day.
I saw a few squirrels playing under the shade of a massive old tree and also watched a heron swoop overhead. So graceful! Bet he could get to Scarborough before me too!
One of my friends has agreed to bike alongside me on the big day which will be a huge help. He can carry spare water and a first aid kit plus some emergency flapjack. He can also keep the Forrest Gump / midlife crisis jokes coming at least as far as York!
I am starting to get a few sponsors – I hope we raise enough to make it worth while. 56 miles is an epic run!
Thanks for the support. x
Chris.
——————–
25th of july
Hi chris here – just to let you know how everything is coming along with the run. A million thanks to the kind people who have sponsored me so generously.
I’m really looking forward to it now – a fellow sab from south yorks will be riding his bike alongside me all the way, and we will be met in scarborough by a posse of family, friends and sabs. We are all then going to camp out together (after we’ve eaten lots of chips!)
The thought of running 60 miles in a day makes most sensible people shake their heads in disbelief, but i really feel that its not such an unachievable feat. I just remember watching the hunt ride away and thinking to myself, if i really wanted to i could stay with em all day long! A few friends recommended a book to me called “born to run” and having read it, and honed in on some of the techniques the author talks about, i feel ready to run! I’ll be posting more about that later.
Ive done a handful of longish runs, the longest only being 30 miles, but i feel confident that ill finish the 60 with no major problems.
For me, this run will be a challenge but also a pleasure – I’ve had support from so many lovely people and when i finish i’ll enjoy a paddle in the sea and a bag of chips.
For the fox though, running for dear life from a pack of dogs is a terrifying ordeal – ending in sheer exhaustion – and if the sabs aren’t there, being ripped apart.
There is still time for you to sponsor me – it’d be amazing if we can raise £1000.
