Sixth in the National

Lies, damn lies and statistics ... sometimes a headline can be misleading by not quite painting the picture the reader thinks it portrays ...

No I didn't run last month's 125th English National XC Champs at the iconic Parliament Hill Fields in London, although I have many memories of the place, from the sublime (Ranelagh's team medals in the Jan 1976 Southern Junior - yes, 36 years ago!) to the ridiculous (a shuffling road runner like me should never be subjected to the tortures of nine miles hard labour through deep mud as endured in Julian Goater's 1981 National - he glided across the glutinous stuff to win by two minutes ahead of such luminaries as Dave Moorcroft, Steve Jones and Mick McLeod). And I certainly didn't finish 6th there.

Where's the mud?

My National was the Masters National at Bath University last weekend. Why, given my poor state of fitness? Well I knew the course was flat(ish) and bone dry, thus could wear trainers; it was 8km, a nice distance to contemplate; there would be lots of fellow old timers to talk to about the old days and all our current ailments (!); Claudie fancied a trip to Bath; and I'd had it in my mind that at 55 I should start doing some of these events.

The start line on a beautiful sunny day was full of contrasts, eager youngsters (why are V35's now accepted?) at the front and knarled old veterans hiding at the back, most with various bits of tape, knee bandages and supports holding them together: I was definitely in the latter group and felt very at home with Kinesio tape holding both Achilles' together.

The course was dull as dishwater, three laps with an out and back within the lap, all on mainly flat grassland with a couple of drags, but good for spectators. As anticipated, I struggled to sustain a decent pace throughout, sharp turns tending to lose any momentum I'd generated. With age groups pinned on the back of vests it was easy to see one's opposition; I appeared to be surrounded by V55's throughout. I managed to outlast some of them but was taken in the last mile by old adversary Mick McGeogh from Cardiff (lovely man, has run every London Marathon bar one with a best time of 2:17; he often used to run alongside the lead woman in the 80's (usually Grete Waitz (RIP) or Ingrid Kristiensen) so got lots of tv coverage for the most ungainly of running styles - he and I running together must be quite a sight!).

So, as the headline states, I was 6th? Well no, not really. I actually finished 80th (of 159) but if you take out all the fast young boys (at least I have more hair than Adrian) I was classed as 10th V55. Still not 6th, I accept that, but when you get to my age you try to dress things up as best you can ... ahead of me in my age group were three Irishmen and one Welshman (the aforementioned MM), so elimate them and I was 6th in the English National. I rest my case, never believe a headline.