BATTERSEA CIVIL SERVICE 10k

Wednesday, 26th April 2006

 

 

Martin’s Race Ratings:

Overall score:             9

Do it again:                 Yes

Scenery:                      8

Pb potential:               10 (but beware wandering dogs)

Atmosphere:               8

Organisation:              9

Value:                          10!!!

Beginner Friendly:     9

 

 

This was my third 10k in five days and I’ve a marathon on Monday! I’ve not done a Civil Service race for a couple of years and was looking forward to seeing a few old faces. I travelled down with Malc Eadie, Nick Hume and Colin Laidlaw. Malc picked me up and we met the train at Preston. We were lucky to get a car park space as the car park was full. Bumped into an unusually smart looking Finlay McCalman on the platform. (He was on his way to work). On the way down, Colin was saying he couldn’t understand what I was saying. (This is from the broadest Scotsman I know. He makes Kenny Dalglish sound coherent!)

 

Arrived and Euston for 11:30. The race didn’t start till 3 p.m. so Colin and I went for a walk down the Kings Road. (The main road in Chelsea). We had a coffee here and watched the world go by. It was a lovely spot. Nannies were taking kids out and, behind us, there appeared to be a public school as the children were running round a running track. It was a gorgeous day.

 

I was talking to Helen Smethurst, (Belgrave and Defra), at the start and she was kicking herself as there was a trip to Barbados on offer. The only stipulation was that you had to live in London and they needed four names and they only had two! What’s wrong with people!! I mean, what’s wrong with being a spendthrift like me! I met Steve Groom (Hassra Admin. Manager), and he handed me my Hassra vest. He had presumed I wasn’t running today with the marathon only being five days away. But he hadn’t allowed for the tenacity, (stupidity?!) of a Seasider!

 

The race was four laps inside the 185 acre Battersea Park. I set off with Angela Allen. I wasn’t sure if she was running with me or if I was running with her! I nearly told her I couldn’t run 5:40 miles anymore, in case she was misjudging her pace. At this point, she left me, never to be seen again. After the race settled down, only one person overtook me – Paul Collingwood, (an Arsenal fan who did 3:02 in London on Sunday and claimed he walked the last mile!) Neil Adshead (I.R. and Southport Waterloo), drew alongside me at the start of the last lap and it spurred me on. I think I pulled nearly a minute on him. I started lapping the stragglers and finished 28th and strongly on the track. People had been shouting lap times on the 1st at 2nd laps and I think I did 9:33 and 18:38.

 

I was pleased with my run. The race was won by Phil Parry, (Vet 40 Bristol and West/M.O.D) in 32:53. Malc Eadie was 2nd in 33:53. Colin was 39:10 and Nick did 39:40. Helen Smethurst was 3rd Lady in 39:03. Angela Allen was the pre race favourite and didn’t disappoint. She was about a minute in front of me.

 

1st Team: M.O.D.

2nd           Hassra

3rd            I.R.

Vets 1st:   M O D

2nd            I.R.

3rd            HASSRA and I was surprised to be a counter and received a medal from Sir Anthony Battishill (former Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue)

 

It wasn’t till we walked back through the Park that I realised how nice it was. I’d completely missed the boating lake during the race!

 

No time for a pint this year as the race started later to allow time for a 3k race and a 1 mile walk on the track. I grabbed a Burger King and caught the 6:08 home. I think it was the first time I’d been on a train in the U.K. for a couple of years, (sorry, had to get that in!!), and I was really impressed with the modern trains and how polite the staff were.

 

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 27th April 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor