Wrighty's Running: March 2012

Race results

2 May, Chippenham parkrun, 10th in 19.30 (1st V55)
19 April, Horton Bull Run, nr Yate, 4.3m, 8th in 26.55 (1st V55)
21 March, Swindon parkrun, 15th in 19.59 (1st V55)
15 February, Mob match v Blackheath H, Hayes Common, 7½ miles xc, 47th in 59.25 (3rd V55)
13 December, Mob match v South London H, Richmond Park, 7½ miles xc, 44th in 53.10
29 November, Mob match v Thames H&H, Richmond Park, 7½ miles xc, 54th in 54.24
25 October, Mob match Ranelagh v Orion H, Epping Forest, 7½ miles xc, 47th in 1.01.42
1 June, Fairford 10km, 16th in 37.43 (1st V50)

Marathons:

3:33:33 Guildford 1976
dnf Isle of Wight 1977
2:58:24 Polytechnic, Windsor 1978
2:57:06 New York, USA 1978
2:45:52 Polytechnic, Windsor 1979
2:46:01 New York, USA 1979
2:35:27 Milton Keynes 1980
2:36:47 Polytechnic, Windsor 1980
2:37:39 New York, USA 1980
2:28:29 London 1981
2:29:56 Rotterdam, Holland 1981
dnf Polytechnic, Windsor 1981
2:26:58 New York, USA 1981
2:25:48 London 1982
2:31:37 Manchester, 1982
2:23:42 New York, USA 1982
2:29:30 St Jean de Monts, France 1983
2:23:12 New York, USA 1983
dnf Barbados 1984
2.32.07 (won) Isle of Wight 1985
2:42:41 Polytechnic, Windsor to Chiswick 1995
2:47:20 Lochaber, Ft William, Scotland 2009
2:54:05 World Masters, Lahti, Finland 2009

Friday 2 March 2012

Onwards & upwards for Cirencester

The regularity or otherwise of my postings is a good barometer of how many miles I'm running. This is the fourth such missive in 2012 so there must be something to write about. Last Sunday saw my first road race since the World Masters Marathon Champs in Finland in July 2009, a pancake flat 10k in the delightful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water just 20 minutes from home.

Adrian Williams illustrating Bourton's Cotswolds attractions

It was certainly good to be around the buzz of a race after such a long gap, there's nothing quite like the nervous anticipation before competing. I felt like a complete novice, not knowing what to do and where to stand in the 500 strong pack at the start. Got a few 'welcome back' and 'why are you standing this far back' comments from surprised Cirencester clubmates before setting off in the pack. Race went reasonably well, my slow start presaged a somewhat suicidal increase in pace after the initial two 1km laps around the village, not helped by raucous encouragement from spectating friends. But I survived after a bit of a struggle, annoyingly pipped for the V55 title by a handful of seconds. More importantly my Achilles, although tight for a few days, seemed to survive relatively intact.

Best news of the day was an overwhelming team win for Cirencester's men in this prestigious race. Chris Illman, Dave Bell, Adrian Williams and Bill Leggate won comfortably and with the help of others not at Bourton are really starting to put the club on the map. To beat the major local clubs such as Cheltenham & Stroud is a real fillip to the boys and there's more to come.