The Olympic tortch route in reverse

Wednesday 21^st March

Distance: 1.52mile
Time: 19:12min
Avg Speed: 4.75mph                             
Avg Pace: approx. 13.37min/mile
Calories Burned: 206

Well here I am on my second run of the week. This one was brought about because of a motor vehicle. Long story short – I recently purchased a car this became a need when I realised I was losing money because of my inability to get to work placements, since being made redundant I have been doing casual teaching supply work (substitute teaching) and the busses are not the most reliable. So I purchased a little run around. I bought it last Tuesday and on Thursday the starter motor started showing signs of reluctance to work hence this morning I left it at the mechanics shop. I then ran home to wait for the inevitable call telling me of the wallet busting expense. My run home from the mechanics served to prove one thing, Headingley is definitely up on a hill and coming up to it from Meanwood on unworked legs proved a challenge. I actually ran (in a reverse direction) part of the Olympic Torch Route due on 24^th June this year.

The history of Headingley is that most of the big houses (and there are a lot of them) were built by Victorian business men, mill owners and the like. They tended to choose Headingley for its elevated position, high on the hill top they could look down the valleys to where they could see the houses of their mill and factory employees in Meanwood, Burley, Kirkstall etc. There are in fact some stunning houses in Headingley mainly built along the A660 corridor. Sadly now though, as the houses are too big to be viable for families plus the demographic of the area most of them have been converted into flats or bed sits. Nevertheless if you ever come through Headingley and have the chance to ponder a while take a look at some of the beautiful properties that can be seen there. A particular favourite of mine is 57 Headingley Lane, not a particularly beautiful house but an interesting story behind it. Built by Robert Arthington known as the Headingley Miser he died in 1900 and left over a million pounds at a time when millionaires were very rare. His money was made through the family brewery (sold when the family became Quakers) and very wise investments coupled with an extremely frugal lifestyle. He built the house for love but was thwarted in his pursuit and as a result he settled into the life of a recluse living in just one cold, sunless room of the house, sleeping wrapped in his overcoat, a lonely sad character but one who gave vast amounts of money to charity both in his life and death.

Another favourite property of mine is Springbank House, the former home of Charles F Tetley, the grandson of local legend Joshua Tetley the brewer. It was also lived in by Sir James Kitson a prominent local business man and member of the Liberal Party indeed it even hosted a visit to Leeds by Gladstone in 1881. In short Headingley is a wonderful mix of history and modernism; the history of its wonderful houses and former residents, the modernism of a vibrant youth and hopeful future. It will also, as I mentioned previously, be host to the Olympic torch relay on Sunday 24^th June when the torch will be carried aloft along part of my route today, to Meanwood via Kirkstall Lane, up North Lane along the, Otley Road and down Grove Lane along. And I intend to be there as this is my Headingley, my Leeds, my Yorkshire, my England, my UK, my Olympics and I am proud to be part of this community, county and country.

As usual I post here my reason for doing all this training. If you want to read about the MDC its work, outreach, campaigns and research just log on to www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then please log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thanks you to all of you who have donated already.



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