GARSTANG HALF MARATHON Sunday, 24^th September 2006

Do it again: Yes

Scenery: 9 - Undulating, scenic one lap course – not for the faint hearted!

PB potential: 1 (not a sniff!!!)

Atmosphere: 5 - 170 odd runners but found myself isolated on the bulk of the course. Brian and Janet Wilkinson were on the worst course hill giving encouragement. Tempted to walk here, but felt I couldn’t bring disgrace to the Wesham vest! ….especially when the Secretary and his wife were watching!!

Organisation: 10 - 40 marshalls on the course, some with a wicked sense of humour, (“There’s no hills in Garstang!”). Another marshall towards the end said he’d seen my rave run photo and clapped me until I was out of sight. It kept me going for the last 2 miles. Initially gave the race 9, until I went on the internet to check my previous time in 2004 and today’s results were already up!

Value: 9 - £8 to enter and nice glass memento. The rationale for no team prizes is that the organiser believes it adds half an hour onto the presentation and sometimes there’s a dispute and it left them a bit more to spend on the ornament and individual prizes. After seeing the memento tonight at Carr Hill, even Finlay wished he’d done it, (he was expecting a plastic pen!)(2004?)

Beginner Friendly: 0. Sorry! The host club is very friendly, but the course isn’t!

Don’t know if it’s writers block or an inferiority complex after reading Russell’s Sierre - Zinal, but I can’t think of much to say about the actual race! I’ve done it numerous times over the years – though I missed it last year as I was doing the Berlin Marathon.

We had the usual impressive turn out, especially the ladies. (15 men, 8 ladies). The race started on the main street and Nigel Thompson (LSARR) and Steve Myerscough took the lead followed by Peter Butterworth, (Clayton) and Lee Barlow. I’d had a good warm up, but couldn’t seem to get into a rhythm. I was behind Joanna Goorney (3^rd), for about 3 miles and I ran with a runner from Burnley for a while, before getting left behind on my own for the remaining 9 miles! *

The injured George Kennedy and Kirsty Waywell were out on the course - getting wet, taking photos – good one of me overtaking a disabled scooter!

Had a brew at the finish with Simon Eaton and a chinwag. We reckoned you could knock two minutes of your time for a flat course.

The race would have been ideal preparation for next week’s Budapest Marathon for Peter and Julie Cruse and I, had it not been cancelled due to the recent demonstrations/riots. We are still going as we’ve paid for flights/hotels etc.

Lee Barlow and I went straight home…… (We weren’t invited to tea and scones with the Chairman and posse at The Priory!)

Joint 1^st Stephen Hargreaves/Nigel Thompson (both LSARR) 1:19:52

(I think they did a “Cars” (Only people with children will understand that – it’s the new Pixar film!)

3^rd Steve Myerscough 1:20:35

4^th Lee Barlow 1:22:18

11^th Peter Waywell 1:25:00

17^th John Bertenshaw 1:26:51

18^th Dave Waywell 1:27:10

19^th and 1st Lady: Amy Green of Keighley 1:27:24

20^th Simon Eaton 1:27:55

21^st Peter Cruse 1:28:19

29^th Martin Bates 1:33:14

31^st Peter Gleaves 1:33:34

33^rd Joanna Goorney 1:34:54

43^rd Jo Frodsham 1:38:34

55^th Kath Hoyer 1:41:56

57^th Sarah Sherratt 1:42:21

61^st Alan Taylor 1:43:11 (the 1^st Alan Taylor in the race….another Alan Taylor came 94^th!!)

71^st Nigel Shepherd 1:44:15

81^st Stephen Wilkinson 1:47:25

90^th Julie Cruse 1:49:17

93^rd Jon McLeod 1:49:48

99^th Louise Williams 1:51:53

118^th Julie Murphy 1:57:05

122^nd Paul Carter 1:58:43

133^rd Pauline Weller 2:03:26

145 David Wells 2:16:34

Wesham made up 15% of the field.

* He couldn’t understand why anyone supported Burnley!

Footnote

New full member, Julie Cruse is currently undergoing therapy after walking into the showers to see a naked Chairman!!! (She was in the ‘Men’s’ and left after quarter of an hour!!)

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 25^th September 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor