The Grandmaster

Though I loath trying to run cross country, I do enjoy the atmosphere which is just like the Inter Club Series. It seems more of a team game. The technique for cross country obviously escapes me as I just plough through the mud. The ever so reliable Smart got me to Blackburn with plenty of time so that I could watch our Ladies race. I still can’t work out why they run separately and only ran half as far. I know that it does not benefit them as, in any road race; they would run the same distance as the men. John Houghton got me laughing before the start. I had gone into the changing rooms to use the toilet. John told me that Buddha, (Les Endean), would not be running. He had strained his back bending over to sign his entry cheque - good lad John! My attempt at racing was just that, an attempt. I hated every yard, especially the ‘Saucer’ - something I never use at home.

I can’t keep using races as glorified training runs so every race now is exactly that, a race. Racing is like solo Chess with your mind competing against your body - the longer the distance, the tougher the mind and body game. I have had a few training runs with the usual suspects but missed the Garstang 10K because I was down in London for 5 days. I took all my gear but never ran a step. I don’t enjoy solo running no matter where the location.

I had entered the Helsby Half months ago as it is always a sell out and I love the course. The plan was scuppered as I hoped to go with Caroline but she had been injured and would be putting all her energies into her favourite cross country the previous day. So I had a spare number which, although paid for, was told you cannot swap or give away. My old chestnut - one day someone will tell me why the names cannot be changed on the day. It is hardly rocket science as they usually have a lap top with all the information to hand. A consequence of not allowing numbers to be changed is obviously that the results get cocked up. It won’t directly involve the majority but, if you are in the winning minority, it can be a real pisser. Preston Harrier, Anne Sweeney is running well - enough to have won five prizes in her last five races. In three of these races she did not receive the prize she should have done because men had finished in front of her using Ladies numbers. Yes I know, if everybody stuck to the rules, the men would not have run with ladies numbers but that is no consolation to Miss Sweeney. If I buy any type of ticket/number for my hard earned, I deem it as my property and the only time it seems it is not is when it’s a cheap airline ticket or some race numbers.

Helsby was all I imagined - ‘NOT’! No matter how much you love a course it is always more difficult during the race than you remembered it. There was the usual good turnout from the club and, in a couple of month’s time, they will send me a little results booklet. I still have the little booklet with 80:07. This time I will need to turn a few pages further on to read 90:08 but at least I will still be getting the booklet although I am getting nearer and nearer to the obituary pages at the back!!

I can only hope the mind starts giving the body a better game ‘cause at the moment it is a one donkey race………

Written by: George Kennedy

Submitted: 22^nd January 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor