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Elton John |
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I spent the days
leading up to Coniston telling
myself that the race is much easier than Dent.
The truth is when your not 100% these races are just various degrees of Black. Yes, Dent is harder but Coniston
is no stroll. Lynne came up with me
so that we could make a day of it. How long would I take, she asked? Well the
race starts at 11.00 so between 12.30 and 12.40, the 12.30 was just foolish
ambition. The opening 3 miles went well then the fast bit after the Land Rover garage was great then the
air came out of the tyres. I really wish I knew what the problem is but the
next 8 miles where a struggle. The worst part was between 10 and 12; I now
think it’s a mental problem. The last 2 miles were far too quick for any
physical trouble. I finished in 1:39, a full 12 minutes slower than three years
ago. After the race I walked away vowing I will never run beyond 10 miles again
but, less than 7 days later, I am booking a room for next year’s race. Yes it
is a mental problem but, then again, all runners are a bit bonkers.
I was looking forward to the first of the Inter Clubs at St Annes. I would be working the 
four days leading up to it and would be
going straight from work. I knew all about the debate regarding the food and
accepted that we, as a club, would not be putting on a buffet. I started a
thread on the Message Board; not to
open up a debate but to ask would there be food on the night. The thread was
removed because the discussion was now closed. Looking at other boards the debate
over food is still alive with other clubs reconsidering their decisions to ‘not
provide’ food. I will not be using our Message Board again as I am not happy with the way it is being
censored. On the night I did not go back for the buffet; I headed home
which is what I will do for the rest of the Series. I cannot accept other’s hospitality and not return the
compliment.
The race is always
one I enjoy except the bit between 3 and 4 miles which are a bit of a drag. The
start was very fast and I am always concerned as we filter into the narrow
footpath with the exposed benches to the right and the lifebuoy stands to the
left. I always take it easy at this part. Peter
was on my shoulder at the mile marker we both checked our watches 5:45.
Seconds later Peter said, “He can’t
believe how fast they have set off” I said “It’s us that so slow.”
One of the big pluses of these races is that you always have others close
enough to race against. I have my list of who I don’t like beating me which
always acts as a spur. I enjoyed the race and for the first time in a long time
was happy with my effort. This is probably the first time I can remember
feeling satisfied that I had tried my best I hope it’s a stepping stone.
I had planned to
run in Ron’s Tour of the Fylde but
the death of Dave Clarke changed my
plans. Dave was the organiser of the
Calder Vale 10 on Good Friday - so Calder Vale I must do.
Through my
freelance work writing for the Gazette
I had got to know Dave. I would not
say he was a friend - he was someone I knew. 
I had his land line and his mobile phone
numbers which he gave me. I always chatted more with Diane than Dave because Dave was usually behind his laptop. I
would stand patiently awaiting the first couple of pages of results if it was a
big race the first page if it was a small one. All I needed to know was who the
various winners where in the race and the age categories. If I had ran in the
race I would always have some snip bits to pad up the article. Dave was always pleasant, never rushed and
polite. He had a dry sense of humour there was nothing about Dave you could dislike.
He and Diane were a double act, opposites but
as a couple, inseparable. When I was first told more about Dave’s real world away from running I was not at all surprised. He
had a caring job and he is one of the few that could, and did, make a
difference to others lives.
I don’t go to many
funerals; like most I hate them but I felt I should go to Dave’s. The final song at the Church
which, as you would expect was Elton
John’s ‘Funeral for a Friend’. I
found this ironic as it was a song written for a young motor cycle messenger at
Elton John’s record company ‘Rocket’, who was tragically
killed in a car collision. Dave was
a messenger and, as such, a friend to everyone in the sport of running. It was
nice to see so many clubs represented not just the immediate locals. There were
runners from Clayton,
Written by: George Kennedy
Submitted: 5th April 2007
Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor