[Main photo credit: Woodentops]
From Will Worboys…
After an 11-year hiatus since my one and only other attempt and following a move to the area, it felt rude not to have another go at the Baildon Boundary Way Trail Half Marathon.
My memories from the last time I did this race in 2015 were pretty hazy, but after being marched 10 minutes down the hill from the HQ to the start, it all started coming back to me. This being my first half marathon and longest race since 2018 I started with some trepidation, but a nice easy first mile with plenty of downhill lulled me into a false sense of security… Until the first climb into Esholt Woods, which was frankly ridiculously steep and with my legs feeling suddenly very tired just 1.5 miles into 13 plus miles, I knew I was in for a tough morning. After this there was a reprieve for a while as we took in the fragrant (but flat) delights of the vast water treatment works, then onto the canal.
Things became a blur after this but I did work out that the route has changed slightly since the last time I partook. A mean little extra climb into Thackley wasn’t included in 2015 according to my strava, meaning that the run is now around half a mile longer. That is only a tiny part of my excuse for being around 45 minutes slower in 2026 than previously. The other excuses include; lack of hill training, lack of fitness, getting old, and just not being very good at running.
None of these un-attributes can be pointed at the other Harriers who absolutely excelled in this event. Jack Cummings led the way winning the race again, followed in second by Oli Murphy and Nick Kealey in fifth. Not forgetting Jane McCarthy who was third female despite telling me she was using it as a training run for the 3 Peaks!
Anyway, as we left the canal to head up into Shipley Glen at around 9 miles, what had been tough but just about runnable became a not very leisurely uphill hike over technical terrain towards the moors above Baildon. The rest of the race was an uncomfortable Jeffing session while being constantly overtaken by a steady stream of people running, walking and crawling, who then disappeared into the far distance ahead of me.
The views however were excellent, with the skyscrapers of Leeds in the distance, not to mention the chance to pretend to be a racehorse on the section that follows trainer Sue Smith’s gallops. I didn’t feel like a thoroughbred racehorse in any way by then, but I was very grateful not to have a little man with a whip sitting on my back. This thought gave me the lift I needed to see me home for the last mile or so mostly downhill to the finish (I’m choosing not to re-live the trauma of the last hill). As I crossed the finish line I decided that I may do it again, but probably not for at least 11 years!
Big respect and mentions to the other Harriers who finished what is a really tough but rewarding race; Finn Maxwell, Matthew Kennedy (3rd MV50), Andrew Overend, Ashley Winter (4th MV45), Adam Gerrish, Mark Judkowski (3rd MV55), Mary Fairclough (5th FV45), Paul Atkinson, Alexandra Lewis (2nd FV55) and Nigel Illingworth (thanks for the lift).