On Saturday, Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers were out for a club social run around Thirsk. This is a new monthly session called ‘chat and run’, meeting up at Thirsk clocktower for an easy pace jog to catch up and stretch the legs and explore some of the many different pretty footpaths and scenery around Thirsk. The route took them out along the Beck towards South Kilvington, a very pretty path at this time of year (and dry!) and then back along footpaths and shady tracks and via the Flatts for a cold drink.
Harriers after the monthly ‘chat and run’ social
At training this week, the coaching team took harriers through a ‘paarlauf’ session. This is a special form of continuous relay involving pairs. It’s a fun session in which each person in the pair takes it in turns to run fast around a circuit while the other person jogs or walks back. The club trains at the Sowerby Sports Village which is a fantastic facility including a 1000m track and grass pitches. At this time of year, the sports village and track is particularly pretty with grasses, wild flowers, butterflies and often a cooling breeze!
Harriers at Sowerby Sports Village enjoying a paarlauf (pairs run) training session
On Sunday, harrier Esther Harrison braved the heat and took part in the Ripon Triathlon Relay event, pat of the Festival held every year at Ripon Racecourse and managed by the Ripon Triathlon Club and Brownlee Foundation Events. Along with Clare Goacher Jones and Lucy Goacher, the team were the first all female team in the standard distance relay event, in a total time of 2 hrs 23mins 27s, and 4th overall in the competition! The standard relay distance involves a 1500m open water swim, 40.5km cycle and a 9.35k run. Esther completed the run section in 40m 2s which takes the competitors along the canal path in Ripon.
Esther Harrison with teammates Clare Goacher Jones and Lucy Goacher after the Ripon triathlon relay event
