A Summer of Races

With my contract in Glasgow finished at the end of May, again I was working locally, which meant I was free to run all the local midweek races I had missed out on last year. The marathon was still in my legs, I was lacking race sharpness, and I know what the cure is….

Seeing as the month started on a Monday, my first race was the club handicapped, on a hot summer’s night. I set off last so I had everybody else to pick off, but found my work cut out chasing down, then passing, Graham Cunliffe. With persistence I shook him off, (after swapping the lead a number of times), to finish in 29:26, which is about a minute and half down from my best, but on a hot night and in my current form I suppose that was about right.

On the Wednesday I ran at Chorley, a 4.4 mile trail race in Ashley Park. This race series replaces the old 4 mile road circuit race, one I have good memories of as I once achieved a 22:06 – that’s 5:32 minute mileing – happy days! Like the old road race, the competition was good. The uneven ground, sharp corners, and kissing gate made for a fairly slow course; even so I worked hard enough for the last 2 miles to be excruciating. I finished in 27:02, and it will act as a marker to beat for next month.

Thursday night was a fell race up to the top of Winter Hill from the car park at Rivington. The course climbed for 2 miles which had everything- rough fields, steep rocky tracks, slow torturous climbs and boggy grassland all the way to the summit. The last 4 miles were relatively easy in comparison, apart from the climb up to the jubilee tower a mile from the end. My fear of the steep downhills was exposed yet again when I was overtaken numerous times in the descent to the finish line. If I was as good running downhill as going uphill I might make a fell runner.

As usual after a fell race my legs felt battered for a few days after, but that didn’t stop me entering Bendrigg 10K near Kendal. Run on quiet undulating roads with a nice surprise in the last kilometre (hint: it’s called “Heartbreak Hill”) I struggled to find top speed and finished in a rather disappointing 38:24. I started well enough but my legs went after half a mile, then I huffed and puffed the rest of the way. Four races in one week was too much for me. Hopefully it would be a good kick start to the highly anticipated interclub next Wednesday.

The Interclubs are the most competitive races I do. You always know you have to give your best, especially when so many team mates are in such good form – Lee, Karl, Peter Cruse, and Pete Waywell. Preston is one of my favourite courses (second to Wesham IC) as well. After a furious start I found myself in a running pack with Preston runners Dave Pilkington and Dave Watson chasing down Karl. As a group we worked hard to reduce the gap before Dave Pilkington overtook me coming off the old tramway with a minute to go. It took a lot of willpower and a sprint finish to hold off Dave Watson and to cross the line in a time of 28:05, only 17 seconds slower than last year, to finish 21^st. The drizzle turned into rain at the finish which drove most people to their cars and home to a warm shower. As I was on my bike I changed into a dry top, got myself a pint, found I was the first in the queue for the buffet, (for once), and sat down to watch England pummel one of those tiny European countries whose school caretaker doubles as their goalkeeper.

The second weekend of June means only one thing – Welsh Castles Relay. A fantastic blend of running, supporting, socialising, camaraderie, sunshine, beautiful Welsh landscapes and a fair amount of beer, make this the running highlight of the year. I ran the first leg from Carnarvon with an OK-ish performance to finish 8^th in 1:00:17. It is not the hardest of stages as the first and last miles are flat but the middle miles climb. There was a headwind for most of the way, which slowed me down a bit. 9.3 miles seemed a long way now I’m used to the shorter stuff. Karl Lee (4^th), Charlie Pass (2^nd), Jason Barlow (2^nd) and Lee Barlow (7^th) all had great runs on their respective legs and Wesham finished 26^th overall. Alan Glasgow was gutted when his knee went after a mile and had to pull out on the 4^th leg.

The third week in June is the Horwich Jubilee race series. I didn’t enter the whole series myself; I just ran the 5 mile road race on Wednesday and the “2 Lads” Fell Race on Thursday. Both races attracted lots of racing talent from around the region, (and plenty of Wesham vests), and I finished 25^th in the road race (29:22) and 32^nd in the fell race (38:??). Wednesday night was the harder of the two, an undulating two lap course with energy sapping climbs but a nice downhill near the finish. Although it felt uncomfortably hard all through the race and with Peter Cruse on my shoulder most of the way, I was rewarded with a time that was an improvement on last year by 7 seconds. I beat the clock but didn’t beat the biting insects who took a liking to my legs. I was scratching like a homeless man’s dog for the next few days.

On Thursday, Charlie Pass persuaded me to do two lads, (that’s the race before you ask), instead of the Cuerden Valley Trail 10K. It was certainly the right decision, apart from the midges. It was the first time I’d done this race. The first 1.7 miles involves the climb to the top, on tracks, tarmac, through woodland and over rough grass. Needless to say it’s 15 minutes of hurt. Near the summit the course takes a circular loop that more follows the contours of the hill than crosses them. You don’t quite make it up to the radio mast, but you run with it on your right before turning left and dropping back down. Most of the descent is quite agreeable, allowing you to run at full speed without applying the brakes. As gravity does most of the work, you just need to make sure your feet are landing in suitable places. I lost a place by turning a corner too wide but regained my place when we got onto a bit of tarmac and could make a sprint finish. Charlie had another credible run, finishing 5^th (he was 4^th in the 5 miler). I would certainly recommend this race – but did I mention the midges?

I rested Friday and struggled with an “easy” 5 mile training run on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s Freckleton half marathon, one of only a few races I pre apply for (numbers ran out months ago). Without any specific long distance training since London, coupled with the fact that I was working to 7am Sunday morning, not to even mention the warm weather, (wasn’t to bad for once, actually), I had no great expectations of myself. I felt groggy after only 4 hours sleep and struggled to even warm up. Running legend Ron Hill (check out:

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/5215401/Marathon-runner-Ron-Hill-a-running-machine-at-the-age-of-70.html ), whose autobiography I had been reading only last night, was running his last half marathon, 40 years after making the fantastic course record of 64 minutes. Unless Mr Porter invites the Kenyans over, I don’t see that record being broken. First man home, Ben Fish, was 4 minutes away, and he won the race by a mile - talk about another level!

My race was not so fast. Amazingly I felt OK once I started and soon got into my pace, clocking a sub six minute first mile. John Collier and Jason Barlow gave me company soon after and started to notch the pace up to a speed I wasn’t happy to live with for the remainder of the race, which saw me drop off slightly to hold on to 20^th place. There were one or two non-club vests in front of me; maybe they were inexperienced and possibly they had set off too fast. This eventually turned out to be the case as I passed a flagging runner after Wrea Green and a runner in front when he walked to drink at 8 miles. Once onto the long road home I didn’t feel exhausted like I had done before, but felt I wasn’t at full speed. A Vet 60 (can’t remember his name) of Stockport steadily overtook me before Lee Barlow dashed my hopes of 4^th place for Wesham (and possible team prize –given out by Ron Hill!!!) by running along side me and taking the lead. I had a plan to stay on his shoulder and offer a sprint finish at the end, but he pushed ahead and the pace was too much for me. It did drag me closer to the Stockport runner and I outsprinted him in the final ¼ mile, which was only slight satisfaction as he is almost twice my age!

I finished in 17^th place in 1:22:47, my best time at Freck by far, yet still 3 minutes of a PB. I chatted with Nigel Thompson who had a great race, coming second, and regaining the upper hand over the in-form John Wright of BWF who had beaten him on the death wish leg at the Castles last weekend. Jason Barlow showed his return to form, (oh dear - another place lost in the pecking order!), with a good run. Wesham had another great turnout in the race and had a marquee set up; hopefully it may have inspired a few new runners.

On Monday my legs were aching as if I’d done a marathon, but on the Tuesday felt good enough for an easy run. Wednesday night I had an easy choice between Harrock Hill or the Hawkshead 10K. It’s a long way for an evening run, but the Lake District scenery made it worthwhile. It was still really hot and the undulating terrain made for a challenging course. Karl Lee and Peter Cruse offered me competition, (I couldn’t beat either of them), and after getting off to a flyer (1^st mile in 5:32!) I soon slowed to a more manageable six minute a mile pace. At halfway I became involved in a battle with Peter for a mile or so before he dropped me at the top of a short sharp climb and pulled away easily. Karl was still in front of us both; Peter tried but couldn’t quite catch him up. The last few miles I slowed to 6:15 pace, and finished exhausted. Charlie, Alex and Karl just missed out on the team prize to Kendal. There is a decent barbeque after the race so with that and the chit chat I never got home until 11:30 – a long night!

Karl persuaded me to try the Mid Lancs track and field at Witton Park on the Saturday. I agreed, providing I was free. Not having done “the track” before I feared the likes of the Blackpool and Preston superstars would be out and I would be annihilated or lapped or something! Well there were a few fast lads, but in the races I entered, the 1500m and 3000m, there was a variety of standards. I completed the 1500 in 4:51, not a fantastic time for me as I’ve done a sub five minute mile, and the 3000m in 10:09, which at 5:27 a mile was not bad. Alex brought his tent and we sat around in the sunshine waiting on the grass slopes around the track until our races began. It was a pleasant afternoon, but as soon as we finished, it became cooler, the heavens opened and we all ran for cover inside the tent for 40 minutes whilst the rain cleared.

Sunday’s race was our very own Sotos 10K, organised by Peter and Kirsty Waywell and Simon and Sue Eaton. It’s the second year of running, and judging by the numbers, (up on last year), it is likely to be “must do” on the racing calendar. Kirsty has told me she is expecting to raise a fantastic £2000 for Sotos. If conditions are right, this is a potential PB course. Last year gale force winds slowed runners down; this year temperatures of 26/27Celsius meant that times would be down. It was another furious start, with me again recording a first mile of 5:30. Peter Cruse again overtook me, this time after the first mile, and I was not strong enough to go with him. On the turn by Rossall School, I found myself creeping up on Karl Lee. He was looking over his shoulder and I knew he was in trouble and soon I was level with him and pulled away without any fight. I was just outside the top ten and kept that place until the end. The concrete walkway on the way back was like an oven and the distance horizon never seemed to be getting any nearer. I felt I was running well, but I never looked at my watch, so I was disappointed to come in at just under 38 minutes. The heat obviously took more out of me than I thought. Alex Rowe came 3^rd, in a great 35:05, and Wesham took the team prize. I got £20 of Sweatshop vouchers.

To round off June, and take my race count up to 13 and race miles to 79 ½ miles, I ran in the Predictor Race. The idea of this is that a course is selected and you have to estimate what time you will finish in. John Whiteman picked a good route of two loops from the church in Kirkham, (should be included in our Monday night runs). It was the only race of the month I didn’t put complete effort into a race. I calculated my time on my training pace and it came in handy that I regularly ran 4.9 miles, usually within 34-35 minutes. My predicted time of 34:37 was just 9 seconds out, and in no way assisted by the help of the church clock!

On Wednesday, 1^st July I ran the 3^rd in the series of the Chorley night series. Last month I had taken away a time of 27:02, so could I better it this time? I was certainly in better shape, but it was still really hot and I was sweating before the start. I was unusually nervous for this one, as I knew I would need to run hard because a good time could be achievable. I set of steady and then ran hard, moving quite high up in a quality field of perhaps 10^th place. Through the woods I was really able to open my stride and keep any challengers at bay. The last two miles seemed especially hard, and I was very grateful to come up the last climb and see the finish banner. Due to the heat my time was slightly down from last month, (according to the post race banter, everybody else was as well) but I still considered it a job well done and was pleased.

Thursday was the Caldervale Supper Run, but I was tired from the previous night which told when I reached the top of the second climb about half way and could not stride out well on the downhill. The third climb felt excessive and I plodded up it. I was under no pressure as Dave Watson from Preston had 5^th place in the bag in front and I could hear no one behind. The last half mile contains a mad dash downhill, (not for the faint hearted), before a flat section back to the finish. I declined the free supper on account of my other half saying she would be making my tea – when I got home she said she was too tired to do it!

The weekend’s race was the Tockholes fell race near Blackburn. I travelled down with Charlie ‘second place’ Pass; I think we were first there. Darwin Tower didn’t look that much of a monster, but the course seemed to be either short and steep or long and never ending slight gradients. The official course distance was 5.8 miles – weather anyone ran that distance is debatable! Most runners went wrong at least once and I recorded 6.2 miles. Chris Whitlock came back fuming after putting in an extra mile! Even Charlie went the wrong way after the first mile that left me just 5 yards behind him when he got back on track. It didn’t stay like that for long and was soon out of sight. On the slow drag up to Darwin Tower I saw Alex walking in places -could this be my chance to catch him? I closed slightly, and when we finally got to the top I was a stones throw away from him. I was so knackered that over the summit all I could manage was a slow trot as Alex moved up through the gears and sped off. Trying to run down Aggies Staircase was frightening, and I waved one fearless runner past me as I tried not to go down the fell head first. I made the places up that I lost on the descent on the tracks and fields with more tolerable gradients, and finished strong in 46:41, (around 15^th place I think).

On Monday night it was my chance to get a good time at the Club Handicap Race, and I set off with Karl Lee. I pushed the pace at the start and then worked hard to try to drop him. He was having none of that and we raced side by side until the dodgy farm track where Karl dropped off slightly. I kept the pace to the end and finished in 28:37, 49 seconds faster than last month, and 41 seconds of my PB.

All well and good; I was improving. To put a box of spanners in the works I got told I would be working down in Essex for the next 5-6 weeks – so that would really screw up my racing.

Two nights I wasn’t in London was the following week. On Wednesday I ran the Horwich 5 miler. It was a warm night but not sweltering. After a weeks rest I fancied my chances. I made it hard for myself at the start; I only had a fiver for the race and it was six pounds, so I said I will go back to my car and get another pound. It was 7:13 and I thought I had loads of time, but I’d parked my car down dogging lane, a fair treck away, and by the time I got back, gave my owed pound to the organisers, I made the crowded start with just 2 minutes to go. Needless to say I could get a good starting position and had to make my way through the crowds. I‘d forgotten what a challenging course this is; it just seems to be overloaded with uphills. I tried to catch Peter ‘in great form’ Cruse but could only get within 4 or 5 seconds of him before he pulled away and I got stomach cramps at the end trying to hold my bowels in! The last mile was an agony, and not just from the running. I nearly had to miss the finish and go straight to the toilet. Not surprisingly I didn’t break last month’s time.

The following night I ran the Cuerden Valley 10K(ish) trail race. This race seems to grow in numbers every time I run it. Wesham, again, had a big turnout, but it also seems to be big on the Rossendale calendar as well, judging by the top 10. My legs had been unusually sore all day, so I was worried a little on how I would cope. The afternoon had seen heavy showers, so the course was wet and slippy, and I had only packed my racing shoes in the morning. The downhill start was furious, but once we reached the river at the bottom of the valley the runners were strung out one by one. I counted back that I was in 12^th position. I overtook three runners at about the mile mark, but felt I was running outside of my capabilities and felt fatigued and my breathing was heavy. At the road crossing young Joe Johnson of Rossendale harriers was perched on my shoulder. I’ve had quite a few head to head battles with Joe on this course, with him always coming out the stronger. He pushed me for about another mile, and I struggled to hold him off. I was stronger up the hills, but he recovered faster and once over the top he sprinted out and was away easily. I was very tired by the top so subconsciously must have slackened the pace slightly.

The pain continued unabated, and had to question myself if I would make the distance. How will I keep going? I plodded on, losing a place to a Bowland runner at the road crossing, glad to let him take the lead and hang on his shoulder. I think this mentally eased a bit of pressure. I was 11^th and if I could finish in that position I would be happy. The valley road seemed long; then a short climb until the field no one likes; then more climb until a road at the top. The route through the wood was awkward with steps spaced badly for running down. The wooden sleepers were wet, so with minimum grip on my shoes I stepped carefully down them. An unattached runner came hurtling past, but I regained my place on the ups. I felt a little better now, and ran a more easily. I saved my efforts for the last hill, my ambition now to keep my place. I huffed and puffed up this hill, glad no one was on my shoulder. Before too long I had the big house near the finish in sight, and desperately tried to pick up the pace. It didn’t happen. I saw Paul Muller in the distance - obviously he had gone off track! Round the house I just hoped the runner behind wouldn’t try a sprint finish or I would be had. Luckily he didn’t and I finished in 39:16. Not my fastest time on the course, (38:43), but still 4 seconds fastest than when I won it once, (the fast lads must have been on holiday!). I got talking to the unattached runner who finished 4 seconds behind me, who told me he was racing me last night as well! His name was Brian Yates, and told me he was looking to join a local club and had been in touch with Brenda. He told me of recent PB’s, but what stuck in my mind was, on a first attempt, he finished a marathon in 2:54. At Windermere! I told him Wesham was the club for him. He said someone had been putting Wesham literature through his door, and Bates, who was talking with us, said it was him! Bates had e-mailed me after the Sotos 10k to ask me if I had talked to Brian who finished just behind me and I said ‘no’. We persuaded Brian to run the Interclub on Monday; a definite point scorer for Wesham.

The Wesham IC has always been good to me; I’ve had plenty of cracking runs on this course and tonight was no different. I eyed up the competition – the usual suspects; Lee, Karl, Pete Cruse, Brian Yates. As soon as the gun went I got a good start, using the full road width to get into a good position. I overtook Alex, so I knew I was going well. Once over the two bridges I surveyed the field in front of me. Preston had a pack of 5 or 6 runners, along with Charlie Pass, chasing the runner of the moment, Stuart Robinson (overall winner by a long shot). Brian Yates had set of with a bang, (he later dropped off), and was running on the tails of the Preston lot. In between were a number of Blackpool runners. I knew for a fact that this wouldn’t be my finish position, so sure enough Alex, Barry Norman and Jason Barlow took there positions in front of me. Karl Lee had a pop for about a mile before I hung onto his shoulder and he dropped away. Blackpool’s John Wright and Lytham’s Nigel Thompson also took their rightful positions in front of me but I still felt I was in a good position should I manage to keep the pace. After two miles the pace felt torturously fast, so I divided the course into segments to get through it. I was engaged in a three way battle between Blackpool’s Luke Berry and Preston’s Mark Lee and they worked me very hard to the finish. I managed to keep the pace through the pain before out-sprinting like to the line. I finished in a time of 25:32, 4 seconds faster than last year, for 18^th place. Very satisfactory.

Due to work I had a break from running until the August club handicap. I managed to improve on last month’s time by one second, but had to work incredibly hard for it. I was more impressed with the final results; Karl, Brian Yates, Lee, Gary and even Alex were below me!

It was another two week gap before I raced again, at Dave Waywells 10 mile race from St Annes. As usual I left it last minute before checking what was on offer for the weekend, but it was a pre entries only. I made a last minute call to Dave, and he kindly accommodated me for the race – what a top man. Three things bothered me: I had not trained for a 10mile race, so I new a good time would be hard to come by; the wind seemed to be blowing across the course in a manner that suggested the return leg would be harder; and I’d had a skinfull on my stag night on the Friday night. I set off steady, (six minute mileing), not realising that the wind was pushing me along. I raced with Lee up to halfway, before turning into a gale force wind which knocked my time down to over seven minute mileing. I worked with Lee and we took it in turns to shield each other from the wind, but another runner overtook us, Lee going with him. He beckoned me to keep up, but I couldn’t, and was left alone to battle the wind. I plodded on, knowing that this would probably be my slowest 10 mile time in years. I kept to a steady pace to the end – there was no reason to blast it. I finished in 64:55, tired and sand blasted.

The last of the Horwich races was on a hot and humid evening the following Wednesday. I got a better start than last time and was a few yards behind Peter Cruse going up to the road. I did a decent first mile of 5:50, but upon the return loop, into the wind and up the unforgiving climbs, I dropped to 6:30 a mile and the pain was unbearable, (and I still had another lap to do!). I even considered just doing one lap, (well, I could say I got confused!). Pete had pulled away enough so I wouldn’t catch him, and I was left alone without any competition in my vicinity. My second lap times were similar so I calculated I would be over a minute down from my best time of the series which I got two months ago. It was indeed: 30:24. Oh dear. Everyone agreed it was a “slow” night. Even Nigel Thompson complained he was a minute or two down so at least I wasn’t on my own. I was a little disappointed but concluded that time is not always an indication of effort.

Written by Steve Myerscough

Submitted: 27^th August 2009

Edited by Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor