The 29^th Shell Four Villages ½ (Helsby)

Sunday 17^th January 2010

Pre-race massage: a good idea?

Course record: Men - C. Warren 10:04:36 (2002) Women - M Sutton 1:13:08 (2002)

Directions: FY5 3BF > WA6 0DL – 69 miles 1 hr 20 min

(1 mile from J14 on M56) (About 8 miles from Chester)

Perhaps a bit longer on the way back because we took a detour via Warrington for petrol………..despite the Race car park being opposite a garage!

Scenery: 5

Do it again: Yes. 1^st race of the year for most people as Catforth and Garstang (not actually sure if I’ve entered Garstang, so I’ve entered again today after my e-mail went un–answered!) both postponed due to the bad weather. I couldn’t do XC as I have season tickets for the mighty pool…. (Not so mighty after the Sheff. Wed debacle). Good race to blow away the cobwebs.

Value: 0

£15/£17 though I only paid £10……to Michaela…….for Kath’s number. Kath managed to change our details on the internet. Goody bag at the end contained undrinkable Frodsham beer, a marathon bar, bog standard medal and water. Peter Cruse was a bit luckier. He received a spot prize (an Assics ruck sack). I do appreciate the organisers do a great job & donate to local charities, but thought the plastic bag was better than anything inside it! My son has commandeered it for school! Race T shirts were an extra £10

Organisation: 10

From the park and ride to getting a text as you pass over the finish line with your time and position…..a massive race (1436 finishers/1986 entries), always full

PB potential: 9

Claims to be ‘flat, fast and scenic’. Wouldn’t say it was flat but course records (above) are pretty good and Dave Waywell holds O/60 record 1:20:34 (2005). Last 2 miles are downhill.

Atmosphere: 10

Race had everything – free massage, drinks and bacon butties! Marshals encouraging as were the spectators

Beginner Friendly: 10

Arrived in plenty of time and managed to park at the club house. Had a brew and a nosey about. Bumped into Blackpool’s Stuart Robinson who is clocking up 100 miles per week in training. Noticed the lady masseur was free, so I had a light massage, 5 minutes on each side. Had a couple of miles warm up with Peter Cruse and lined up quite close to the Start line. Got off to a fairly good start. I was in front of Paul Muller for ¾ of a mile (he missed the start whilst chatting on the phone to his girlfriend!)

The course was more or less ice free apart from one or two dodgy bits. I ran near Trevor Rayner for the first 4/4.5 miles until I hit the wall! From then on, vest after vest came past me and I couldn’t respond

Went through 10K in about 38:30 perhaps (not too bad), but 10M in 67 (5 minutes slower than Guys on 6^th December).

I put it down to my pre-race massage……or was I doing to many speed sessions……. or was it because I haven’t been able to do the mileage due to the weather….or was it the 6 pints I had at a works ‘pampered chef” night on Friday?? Hope it’s just a blip!

I seemed to rally slightly for the last 3 miles, but its mostly downhill and I was familiar with the route because I’d warmed up this way.

Finished with a chip time of 1:27:58 (134^th). Peter ran 1:19. Pete went for a shower and I had another massage.

1^st David Webb (Leeds City) 1:04:54

1^st female Michelle Ross-Cope (City of Stoke) 1:15:02

80^th Trevor Rayner 1:24:50 - 136^th Martin Bates 1:27:58 - 149^th Dave Waywell 1:28:52 (1^st M65) - 186^th Russell Mabbett 1:30:11 - 352^nd Nigel Shepherd 1:37:19 - 934^th Finlay McCalman 1:56:38 - 1135^th Stephen Wilkinson 2:06:21 - Last finisher: 2:48:23

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted¨ 25^th January 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor