SOUTHPORT MAD DOG SEASIDE 10K Sunday, 6^th February 2011

This was what you could only call “interesting”. If you like barking like a dog, running into some pretty severe wind and getting a decent return for your money, then this is for you.

I picked this race as my first competitive run since my operation as it is pancake flat, so I stupidly imagined it wouldn’t be too challenging. How ridiculously naïve of me! Southport promenade in February always gave the major risk of being windy and it sure didn’t let me down, sadly.

Angela and I had a nice early start, 7.30 in the morning saw us hopping in the car with the hope of a nice gentle return to racing. We made great time to Southport and were parked up and ready to go get our t-shirts pre-race for 9 a.m. This was done with no hassle as the organisation was spot on.

After heading back to the car to stay warm, we decided to get our timing chip attached to our laces and get the old Wesham vests on - my first time since last October and it felt good. I actually started to feel like a runner again at this point.

Ten minutes before the race we started the warm up routine to music that the race organisers had provided. The woman leading the warm up was a bit of a sour puss. She did about three different moves and then constantly moaned that she had got up to do this. Yeah, so had we! We also had to run over six miles as well, while she was merrily scurrying off home to continue to be miserable no doubt!

The announcer who sent us on our merry way was far more jovial. He wouldn’t let us get under way until we all had barked and howled like dogs, twice. I quite enjoyed that bit; you can’t beat howling like a dog before a run. Then we set off, out the school and left onto the slightly uphill road to the promenade. A slight cross wind gave us a warning of what was to come but nothing had prepared me quite for the battle ahead.

We turned left, (south), once we reached the promenade and that is when the pain began. The next three miles turned into a never ending slog into the teeth of the wind, regularly stopping you stone dead in your tracks as another super gust smashed against our scantily clad bodies. I was steadily going past people at this point. Running in Fleetwood had given me an advantage, I smugly thought to myself, as I passed fellow competitors from farther inland. I knew Angela was pretty close behind me and was expecting her to fly past me soon; I had to wait a while longer for her to scoot past me though.

As we finally got closer to the turn off the promenade, I could feel my breakfast really trying to make a break for freedom. At this point I realised that I was nowhere near being 100% race fit and that I had to get my head round just keeping going nice and steady. I mentally forced myself not to stop and try and throw up. I told myself that a drink, at the rapidly approaching water station, would make me feel better.

I tried to also think of other things other than my own self-inflicted suffering. Was Troy hurting just as bad up near the front of the pack and was Angela hurting close behind me? Of course you never believe anyone can be feeling as badly as yourself, or am I just a wimp?

We finally turned inland slightly and headed back towards the start, only three more miles to go and the wind was now on our backs, I should have been flying. Only problem was my legs had become so tired fighting the wind that I really didn’t have anything left in them. It really was time to just slog out the second half of the race, accepting that this is all about getting my race fitness back.

We soon flew past the pier with a real good strong bit of wind behind us at this point. I was actually moving pretty fast or so I thought. It was round this point that people started to go past me on a very frequent interval. My legs started to calm down again now and I really concentrated on getting into a decent running rhythm.

We headed further inland next and the strong wind that had been pushing me along was now partly blocked out by the golf course that we were now tucked behind. Suddenly Angela appeared by my side, looking much stronger than I was. I managed to splutter something like “go get them tiger” as she eased past me, though I doubt any living being could have made out what I was trying to say. She got about ten yards ahead of me and stayed at that position then for the rest of the race. Maybe I upped my game a bit at that point to try and stay in contact with her or more likely, she felt bad passing me and slowed down, ha!

Suddenly we passed the 7k marker and I felt that my suffering was nearly over, though I must admit those last three kilometres felt like a hundred miles for my tired old legs. It was a nice easy run in to finish, along a street, passing the rest of the golf course and then round the school and in to the finish line. Never was the beep of my chip being recognised ever been so welcome. I was knackered!

Angela had come in with a chip time of 47 minutes 51 seconds and I came in with 47 minutes and 57 seconds. I think we both did well in the circumstances, especially as neither of us has had a massive amount of mileage in our legs lately. I don’t know where Troy finished; although it goes without saying he was a long way ahead of us.

The only real complaint people seemed to have was that the text message you should have received immediately after finishing took nearly an hour to arrive. That wasn’t very helpful as you needed this to claim any spot prizes. The organisers have already emailed to say that all spot prizes unclaimed will be posted out. Not bad as it is only the following morning after the race.

I felt the race was ok value as it was chip timed; you received a medal, t-shirt and got a goody bag as well. The goody bag had a drink, chewy bar, and all kinds of other things in it. The organisation went very smoothly, with lots of marshals on the single loop course. The only thing I would have changed is the direction of the run. I would have sent it the opposite way to avoid the run into the wind while you were on the promenade; it would have been a bit easier running against the wind while a little more inland.

Angela and I would certainly do it again; it was friendly, well organised, easy to get to and a nice simple flat course to run.

Written by: Charles Colby

Submitted: 7^th February 2011

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor