My Forum

All good points and I agree that 3 hours cut off isnt necessarily draconian however races dont always go to plan no matter how good the training. The hills come relatively early in the race and as someone has pointed out the last 4 or 5 miles are relatively flat. This means that if the wheels start to come off on Stonegate Road there's up to 10 miles still to get round. I'm guessing you didnt do the second half in 2.24 Nykie and there's the rub. Do you risk further injury by trying to beat the cut-off at all costs or do you simply give in?

OK, I've been persuaded that cut-offs are necessary. I still feel 3 hours for this particular race is a little skinny though, especially as the event is primarily to raise funds for charitable causes. Intuitively 3.5 hours feels right to me however I can see that we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

What I do feel strongly about though is that races that operate cut-off times make this clear. Here RW could play a part. In the Events profile all sorts of useful information is given about any given race: water-stations, traffic-free?, profile etc. Surely it wouldnt be too much of a stretch to include whether or not the organisers apply a cut-off time.

Liverbird. I can confirm officially that you are not the slowest person in the world.

Tony the tash, that's just insane. The only way I'd do Leeds half quicker than than BM would be by doing it on a push-bike. Even then it'd be touch and go.

Hi Sticky88. I've done the race a few times. It's a friendly race and there's  more road-side support than you tend to see in other 10k races mainly because a large part of the race goes along Meanwood Road where there are a large number of residential houses on either side of the road. 

In truth it's not the most scenic of races though the first bit is a circuit of Leeds city centre, but it is flat and they always seem to get the good weather (though I didnt do it last year).

Suspect if you put your mind to it you could get a fast time but its such a huge field you'll do well not to get caught up in traffic.

You'll enjoy it. I always do.

I'm surprised there are still places though. It used to fill really quickly. 

Hi Cougie. It isnt the easiest of courses but I take your point.

However, the entry fee has increased by 27% from last year and the number of entrants increased to 6000 so if there is an economic reason for the cut off I'd be interested to hear it.

I've no problem with the roads being re-opened. I'm happy to run the back end of any race under my own steam. That's how I train when all's said and done . I'm not even bothered about not getting a goodie bag/T-shirt. I've got draws full of race t-shirts.  It's the fact that I wont have an official time that grates.  

Hi Red.

Enjoy that wine! 5.00.50 is only 51 seconds from 4 hours something and I'd kill for that. 

 Hi HL. OK, I accept that a cut off is necessary. It's just that 3 hours for Leeds HM seems a little harsh.

Mathschick. It was great that the organisers let you finish and if it wasnt for the fact that I've secured sponsorship I'd have been happy to take my chances. What I'm not prepared to do however is ask sponsors for money if there isnt even a record that I've run the race.

As a compromise, I'm going to give it a go but I'm not going to get any more sponsors. I've  told those who have  sponsored me already  that I shant be collecting any money on the basis that I wouldnt like to guarantee that I'd finish with 3 hours.