At Colshaw in 2016, Simon and I had finished only 10 seconds apart. As two years earlier, I went into the lead from the gun. At halfway Simon says I was 100m ahead, I had no feel for my lead, only my watch as a guide, it said that I had run the first half too fast. Steadily, he says, he reeled me in. I was watching the kilometres click passed; 6, 7, 8. I was still ahead at 9k, tired, but starting to be confident, only for then, with just 300m to go, for Simon to overtake me. Now life, for both of us, for a few surreal seconds, was only about getting to the line first. Once there, once the race was over, who was first had become immaterial, it was a mutual victory, the competition had forced the best out of both of us, we had both won . The gap between us, 10 seconds in 2016, had, two years on, narrowed to 8 seconds. Colshaw Hall 10k, June 2018
23rd. June 2019
Summer Series, race 9
A good turnout for a race that is always popular. Pleasant country route, although the climbs in the third and eighth kilometres take the edge of your time. They are not daunting, but it is not a PB course. There was a breeze, it was dry and cloud-cover kept it pleasantly cool, excellent running conditions.
Andrew, in 17th. place, was the first Wilmslow runner home. Then we had a cluster; Gareth 22nd., Trevor 23rd. and Mike, who is having a good year, 27th.
Next Richard 33rd., James, 35th., and Jarrod, 51st.
Nicola, who was first Wilmslow lady, in 66th., Paul Garnett 75th., Paul Norris 81st. and Louisa 116th.
Diane was our second lady then Louisa, Sally and Angela.
Trevor (M55) and Mike (M50) won their age categories.
Nicola Reece (F35), Paul Norris (M60) and Ian Ashcroft (M70) were runners-up
Diane (F45), Sally (F40) and Angela (F55) were third.
Diane was first home in League 2 ahead of Sally and Mark. Ian came in just one second ahead of League 3 winner, Angela, then Craig and, league leader, Colin. Tracy clearly had a problem and finished with League 3.
Second to Angela, who has found a real vein of form, in League 3 was Kathryn, then Jan, not where she’d like to be, and, fighting her way back, Catherine.
Only Emily and Ian in League 4 and both on the same strategy, start fast and keep going. Neither succeeded. Emily was undone by a race down south on Saturday in 25 deg . Ian by an over-ambitious attempt to match his and Simon’s times from last year.
Support from Roy much appreciated.
Ian