Paul was out on beers so had warned me he might not show, which justified my starting shot of right, 1 second past 7 he's late lets go.
But in order to redress the diversity balance of running fource, Ken had found a friend at the mother and baby swimming class (hold that thought those two are definitely male), who fitted the profile perfectly. Scouse, so that made up for Paul being missing. Slower that Ken. This now meant Ken was even slower than usual now he had someone to talk to as he dropped back.
Dave was there, in spite of his threat to go long and hard and I made up the four in running fource.
My initial plan to get on the Nickly line was destroyed by pitch blackness at the entry point and so Ken took us out on the Harpenden road then up Annables Lane and then right onto Kinsbourne Green Lane reverse running the Herts 10km route. Then we joined the Nicky Line as far as the travellers site and went through downtown Redbourn on a path Ken had never been on even though he had worked next to it for many years. On through the common noting the Geocache sites and nice wee museum they have.
Round the church and I must admit I'd been saving this one for a couple of miles. Hey guys look a new cemetery, so busy here they're dying to get in - Boom Boom!
Then I revealed my ploy for the day that was to continue last week's motorway theme and this time cross the M1. I've never done this on my running before was a another little ambition ticked off. Came back to the M1 on Gaddesden Lane, but I'd really wanted to be a couple of fields further on to go through the Nicky Line tunnel. But it was fine, job done.
Took a couple of attempts to get on the fields and footpaths on the other side of the Hemel Hempstead Rd as the guys did not like the way the footpaths veered back towards the M1. In the end I dont think we were actually on a footpath but really just making it up as I headed vaguely for the St. Albans road. We found familiar territory just after 10 miles as we joined the traditional Rebournbury loop path and everything was tickety boo once again. We survived the pure cross country mud bath.
Just at the tree lined section of path here we went past a kid, a bloke and two Alsatian dogs that were clutching a Tupperware box in the trees. If that's not another Geocache I'll eat my hat.
At Redbournbury Mill Dave was powering away, frustrated a the snails pace Ken and his buddy were going at and so as Dave and I pulled away from Ken and Anthony we upped the effort and got the heart beating. Dave said two words that meant so much. "The Tree". Neither of us spoke again or looked at the other, but the challenge had been laid down and I knew exactly what he meant. Just at the very top of the hill there is a large single tree and now we were going to work the hill as hard as we could. And we did. HRT hit 160 before we stopped increasing speed and I snuck into zone 5 for a bit. It only took 0.5miles to drop back to 133 (safe in zone two). At the tree we stopped and turned jogging back to find Anthony and Ken - we messed around suggesting we were of to do the hill again, but they were not in the mood for hill reps today.
By now Dave was seriously unable to go at the slow pace any more and he vanished off into the sunrise, but in doing so he missed the best bit of the whole run.
The look on Ken and Anthony's face was identical going up Crabtree Lane. They were in agony, tired and working hard to just keep the 9min miles going. I tried to encourage them, but I think it simply annoyed them that I could still speak. Ken went off along Gilpin Green and I decided to chaperon Anthony home just in case. By now he was 2 miles more than he'd ever run before and look whacked. But his parting words were, "Cheers mate, see you next week." Sterling stuff.
With those words not finished I lengthened the stride, leaned into the down hill of Crabtree Lane and joy, what joy to go a 8 min miles again. Felt like a sprint home, but was just what I needed to spin the legs at the end of a long slog.
Slowest mile over the crazy muddy fields at 10:25 and then the rest was not really that bad, but the whole thing felt painfully slow.
15.18miles cleared in 2:11. Ave pace 8:37, Ave hrt 142.
Showing posts with label Cross country. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cross country. Show all posts
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Inter Financial Services Athletics Association Annual Cross Country Championships
Inter Financial Services Athletics Association Annual Cross Country Championships
This is the longest named race I've ever entered. In fact the title contains more information that their web site - click this link to the site.
The highlight is usually the great food after, the pie, bean and chips and that was no exception this year.
When I got to the start with Andy Stubbs the craic was all about why was I not wearing the ballet socks? Is the theory not true? When a bloke I'd never met before asked me about them I thought that was pretty weird. Alan Barnes, who won the race, stuck up for me pointing out that if they work who are they to knock them?
Next major conversation point was no Paul Savage. Garry, no I mean George, was furious as he put in the performance of the millennium and nearly caught me. He was sure that a race day pace like that would have put Paul firmly in his place.
Anyway, at the start it was cold and windy, but mercifully dry. Watched the first ladies come in and gave Aisha a big cheer and saw her respond with the arms pumping as she flew to the finish.
I decided one lesson of my half marathon disaster (other than don't catch a cold) was that I prefer to run from the back. So I crossed the line last. On the way up the incline to the trees I went past Andy and spotted George running the outside line as I picked off runners on the inside. As the field thinned out George urged me to push on and not wait for him. By now the pace was too easy so I pushed on.
Some steep downhills and uphills. I ran the downs a al Malcolm Balk's skip 'n' ski technique overtaking several bemused runners in the process.
Two loops at the top of the hill. The end of each loop has a nasty climb into the trees, followed by a steep decent to a pond and then a very steep incline to the top. I took a gel just before the start and took another as a reward for the first embankment climb.
Along the park the weak winter sun shone through the white cloud and that was the image of the day.
I kicked for the second loop and felt strong moving through the field. Held back on the approach to the pond as I wanted to overtake on the hill. I did and overtook more on the down. On the second climb after the pond I drove the knees high and looked at the top of the hill - the girls were there and someone shouted for 145 - hey that me. Little boost I needed just then to get over the hill and push for home. Perceived effort kick after 60s recovery and down to the finish.
Picked off first target, but the second was race on. He kicked hard. I focused on form and watched the gap stop growing. As the downhill opened up I kicked and drew nearer, but he responded brilliantly kicking hard to just beyond my 800m pace with about that to go. Just before the 100m bridge he kicked again and I responded - the crowd started screaming - I focus on form, not a single heel strike, and I'm closing the gap, but again he responds and just makes it to the line before me. I make a note of the number to say well done to the guy, it is 101. Jog over to JPM base camp to find out I'm second JPM vet!
Spot 101 in the trees doubled up in agony. He jogs back to KPMG base camp and I offer him my congratulations. While he was faster, I'm sure my form was better and I am certain my recovery was faster.
Quick jog back to Bank of England for a shower, some sausage roll, beans and chips. A few pints, the prize giving and plenty of great running stories. Especially Carol Loader who has run land's end to john o groats and will run 3 marathons in three days. Inspiring stuff. John Clarke from team jpm was 3rd male.
I did it in 41. Alan barns won it in 30. The word elite does not do these guys justice!
Comment of the night goes to an un-named runner, who on noticing that one of the ladies prize winning teams had a Murphy theme going on (ie they all have the same surname) and looked a lot like mother and two daughters combo came up with the line "A whole new world of fantasies".
On the way back to the station Andrew says how Priory Lane would be a nice long drag from some reps. Ok says I in jest race you to the guy on the bike. Away he zooms with back pack on and everything at full pelt. How many pints did he have?
Managed to upload the route, so here it is. Also, forgot to mention that I came in ahead of Chris Burfoot. Although he watched the last runner cross the tree line as he got changed at the start, he still made up the 6min 30s start he gave them and managed to not come last. Very impressive.
This is the longest named race I've ever entered. In fact the title contains more information that their web site - click this link to the site.
The highlight is usually the great food after, the pie, bean and chips and that was no exception this year.
When I got to the start with Andy Stubbs the craic was all about why was I not wearing the ballet socks? Is the theory not true? When a bloke I'd never met before asked me about them I thought that was pretty weird. Alan Barnes, who won the race, stuck up for me pointing out that if they work who are they to knock them?
Next major conversation point was no Paul Savage. Garry, no I mean George, was furious as he put in the performance of the millennium and nearly caught me. He was sure that a race day pace like that would have put Paul firmly in his place.
Anyway, at the start it was cold and windy, but mercifully dry. Watched the first ladies come in and gave Aisha a big cheer and saw her respond with the arms pumping as she flew to the finish.
I decided one lesson of my half marathon disaster (other than don't catch a cold) was that I prefer to run from the back. So I crossed the line last. On the way up the incline to the trees I went past Andy and spotted George running the outside line as I picked off runners on the inside. As the field thinned out George urged me to push on and not wait for him. By now the pace was too easy so I pushed on.
Some steep downhills and uphills. I ran the downs a al Malcolm Balk's skip 'n' ski technique overtaking several bemused runners in the process.
Two loops at the top of the hill. The end of each loop has a nasty climb into the trees, followed by a steep decent to a pond and then a very steep incline to the top. I took a gel just before the start and took another as a reward for the first embankment climb.
Along the park the weak winter sun shone through the white cloud and that was the image of the day.
I kicked for the second loop and felt strong moving through the field. Held back on the approach to the pond as I wanted to overtake on the hill. I did and overtook more on the down. On the second climb after the pond I drove the knees high and looked at the top of the hill - the girls were there and someone shouted for 145 - hey that me. Little boost I needed just then to get over the hill and push for home. Perceived effort kick after 60s recovery and down to the finish.
Picked off first target, but the second was race on. He kicked hard. I focused on form and watched the gap stop growing. As the downhill opened up I kicked and drew nearer, but he responded brilliantly kicking hard to just beyond my 800m pace with about that to go. Just before the 100m bridge he kicked again and I responded - the crowd started screaming - I focus on form, not a single heel strike, and I'm closing the gap, but again he responds and just makes it to the line before me. I make a note of the number to say well done to the guy, it is 101. Jog over to JPM base camp to find out I'm second JPM vet!
Spot 101 in the trees doubled up in agony. He jogs back to KPMG base camp and I offer him my congratulations. While he was faster, I'm sure my form was better and I am certain my recovery was faster.
Quick jog back to Bank of England for a shower, some sausage roll, beans and chips. A few pints, the prize giving and plenty of great running stories. Especially Carol Loader who has run land's end to john o groats and will run 3 marathons in three days. Inspiring stuff. John Clarke from team jpm was 3rd male.
I did it in 41. Alan barns won it in 30. The word elite does not do these guys justice!
Comment of the night goes to an un-named runner, who on noticing that one of the ladies prize winning teams had a Murphy theme going on (ie they all have the same surname) and looked a lot like mother and two daughters combo came up with the line "A whole new world of fantasies".
On the way back to the station Andrew says how Priory Lane would be a nice long drag from some reps. Ok says I in jest race you to the guy on the bike. Away he zooms with back pack on and everything at full pelt. How many pints did he have?
Managed to upload the route, so here it is. Also, forgot to mention that I came in ahead of Chris Burfoot. Although he watched the last runner cross the tree line as he got changed at the start, he still made up the 6min 30s start he gave them and managed to not come last. Very impressive.
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