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If
you have tackled something grand, exotic, fast or
slimy, tell the Club about it. Even 20 words might
persuade someone else to enter (or avoid) the same
event next year. Send stuff to web
janitor, |
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Your Race In Your Words Sharon Jeckells
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Terry Simms and I took part in the Canmore 8km, which is in Alberta, Canada and approximately 4270ft above sea level, which is great if you're altitude training (and not great if you're not!!) The west of Canada is experiencing above average temperatures for September at the moment and today was no exception, with the gauge hitting around 30c. Not conditions that we're used to when running in the UK!! The course was mostly flat, with some parts on road, passing pretty chalets and houses and the remainder on trails, through woodland areas and along side the river. The course was quite easily the most beautiful either of us have ever run, with amazing scenery around you at every step. The locals seem to favour the run/walk method, which allowed both of us to feel like elite athletes, as we picked off runners as the km's clicked by. I know I should have been walking it, but followed the locals by jogging and walking (and therefore being careful with my health!!). Terry seemed to be a bit of a celebrity, with several people asking about his ankle weights before the race (his knee pads rolled down!) and also afterwards, when a young local asked Terry how long he's been running and what training he does, as he couldn't keep up with him! |
I also felt like a celebrity as I crossed the finish line to a huge cheer &endash; but that was because I was beside first man from the half marathon, which had set off about 30 minutes before us! I completed the race in 53min and Terry followed just behind in 56min. The post race food was also as amazing as the course, with watermelon, banana, orange, apples, bagels, cookies and muffins all available for the runners, along with loads of water and coffee, the hall looked amazing with all this on tables in the middle! So was there anything wrong or missing in this race? Just the support that we're used to &endash; there was no Trev on his pushbike or supporters on the final bend &endash; it made us appreciate you all that little bit more! So would we recommend this race? You bet!! The course, the scenery, the marshals, the food were all fantastic. Accommodation can be arranged at favourable rates if you fancy doing the half marathon, 8k or 4k in 2007!! |
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Your Race In Your Words Debbie
Marsden's |
My preparation for London went well, with some good 20 mile-plus runs. I avoided getting a cold, and injured! A few niggles, but what runner doesn't have a niggle? It was a glorious start to the day - not a cloud in the sky. I started on the Green start, so the start wasn't as congested as the previous year, which was a bonus! I started off nice and steady and past 10K at 45minutes. I stopped for a wee at 7 miles, (but I used a loo!). I started to get stitch and abdominal cramps at 9 miles, but tried different techniques to get through it. The crowds were amazing and helped through the bad patches. |
I got to half way (1hr 37) and my race plan was to pick it up from here, but I was struggling! However, I continued and made myself finish. My time: 3:29:10 . I came 93rd in my position age group and hope to raise over £2K for Children with Leukaemia, making my grand total of my money raising efforts to over £10K since starting running 2 ¸ years ago. Thank you to everyone that has helped with the training and sponsorship. |
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Your Race In Your Words Steve
Ellis' |
After an early night, I got up at 4.45am, to give me enough time to digest breakfast, energy bar, chocolate and energy drink. It only took 7 minutes to get over the start line and I was immediately able to run at my intended pace. The stretch from the Champs-Elysées to Bastille was like a dream. I just couldn't stop smiling. I had a difficult patch at 16km, once we'd left the city and entered the Bois de Vincennes. I fel much better when we returned to the city. Through half-way in 1:56:40, and the crowd was amazing. The stretch along the River Seine, and the sights and atmosphere, were incredible. I passed Notre-Dame, and saw the Tour Eiffel and it was just an amazing experience to be running amongst all this architectural beauty |
Through 30km, I was well up on my 4 hour ambition, but I reached 32km and felt really ill. A kilometre later I felt much better, so was this the 'wall'? Anyway, 35km - my thighs were tightening and my feet were hot. We had left the city buildings again and were running through the Bois de Boulogne. This was the furthest I'd ever run, and although I wasn't speeding up I was passing people everywhere. I avoided the wine station at 40km(!!!) and finally picked up the pace. My feet were burning and I was hurting all over now. I put in one last effort as we came out of the Bois de Boulogne and attempted a sprint down Avenue Foch to the finish. I have completed my 1st marathon. I am a marathon runner. Official time: 3:53:13 (13,220th of 28,857 finishers). |
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Area
Final of Derby Runner Cross Country
League
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Your Race In Your Words Ian Murdey doesn't hang around on street corners Alsager
5 |
This race was not what I expected. As someone whose geography is really quite poor, I had no idea where Alsager was and imagined that it would be a smallish town with a smallish race involving 200-300 runners. I even had thoughts about bringing home some prize money. I had no reason to alter these preconceptions when we arrived at 9.15 to find a tight course with a surfeit of sharp street corner turns. The race started on a small residential road where even 200 runners would seem a large crowd. I was delighted to see that prizes went down to 10th place and started to plan my winning strategy. Imagine my disappointment when it was explained to me that this was a race that attracted 1000 runners and had an expected winning time of sub-24 minutes. Turns out it's one of the top two 5 milers in the country. At 10.45, fighting for a place on the start line, 200 still seemed like a large number of people to be squashing into such a small area. Mind you, 1000 seemed like a lot more; I guess the lady who tried to reverse out of her drive, just five minutes before the start, must have had the shock of her life. Of course, a large crowd in a small area makes for a manic start and, with road works after 800 metres taking up half the road, this start was extremely busy. Normal race tactics were abandoned as the first mile was spent weaving in and out of the crowds. In the second mile my plan was to find a group that was running at my planned pace, around 5.15-5.18 per mile, but this was proving difficult. In local races you have some idea of who is at your level but here most faces (or backs of heads) were strangers. Luckily I managed to latch onto the back of a runner who was gradually accelerating through the groups. Would you believe it? Out of a thousand people, the one person I chose to follow turned out to be my training partner Matty. |
Aside from having to stare at the back of a head I'd seen enough of over the preceding few weeks, this was no bad thing because I knew he'd run a good pace. Together we worked hard to get to a fast moving group of around six runners that we felt could work with us to the finish. Unfortunately, as we got to them at three miles, the group broke up and we were left running in ones and twos for the final last couple of miles. If you're looking for a fast time, this is the down side of running in such a big field over such a short distance. Groups don't have time to form before the race is over and you have to have the confidence to pace yourself. I finished in 24th pace with a time of 26.29. Although I had been hoping to go closer to 26 minutes (and win!), I was reasonably pleased with this performance. Overall, I thought the race was OK, well marshalled and organised but probably too big for such a tight and twisty course. I would recommend picking up your t-shirt before the start, the queues afterwards were huge (mind you, one runner in the queue already had a t-shirt on, I don't know what he thought he was waiting for). Allow plenty of time to leave; where we parked no-one got out until the last runner had finished. There are other, equally good, 5 milers closer to home that can produce fast times, such as Wolvey or the Joy Cann - but it makes a refreshing change to run out of county. Thanks to Dave our coach for driving, supporting, and providing coffee and doughnuts on the way back. |
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Your Race In Your Words Wind up Steve Ellis - he goes faster ASICS
Watford Half-Marathon |
As training towards the Paris Marathon I sought a thirteen-mile event in early Feb. So while some of you were frolicking round the Charnwood Hills Race, I pounded out a gruelling half-marathon on the Cotes du Watford. Cassiobury Park was crisp and sunny, promising just the right sort of preparation for Paris in the Spring. There were 2 separate starts, and your correspondent managed to get himself in the wrong one! The paths in the park made for slow running but once on the open road, there was no congestion at all. The start was fairly flat, but then the race became rural, scenic and undulating. A nasty hill at 3 miles gave a taste of what was to come. My plan was to 6 miles in 48 minutes then try to speed up from there. Anyway, through 6 miles in 48:05, I then up the pace. I'm OK until 9 miles when there was this monster of a hill. It was probably 200yds of maybe 1 in 5. I got over the top, then tried to press on, but my legs wouldn't respond. I eased off a bit, then tried again, but my legs were shot. They were happy to do 8 minute miles but no faster. |
That is, until they gave up the ghost completely at 11 miles. A fellow competitor who I'd had a chat with at 7 miles and then dropped, caught me up and reminded me how slow I was going by immediately dropping me. Red rag to a bull I went in hot pursuit, finally getting back and overtaking them, crossing the line in 1:46:11 for 731st place out of 1734 finishers. The Watford Half-Marathon is a well-organised race and highly recommended. Mainly closed roads and Police at major junctions. But it isn't a PB course. However, I would definitely do it again. |