As some of you know I do enough writing in the day to be left with any energy to scribe for other esteemed publications, but under pressure from your newsletter editor here are a few reflections on a fast and furious Bowden 5K.
As seasoned observers of the Summer Series will know, scoring highly is as much to do with who isn’t running as your own performance, an art extremely well practiced by the Bear in recent years.
With that in mind, all augured well for Bowden when early reports suggested that group 1A would be notable by their absence for a two-lap blast around some posh houses. And so it proved when, after the customary rush from work to reach an evening race (and after being insulted by a miffed Bowden resident who wanted to know why people were parking within 100 yards of his posh house), one found onself in the unusual position of pre-race Wilmslow favourite.
As such a bit of psyching out of the opposition was in order so I put in some particularly fast spurts in my warm up, not that there was much need for warming up on a balmy evening. (Contrary to some views, I always find such conditions quite conducive to good runs over shorter distances).
So off we went and as Andy Norman disappeared very quickly into the distance (to record a sub 15 minute time) I settled in to what I thought was a steady pace although kind friends suggested afterwards that I went off like a bat out of hell. After going through the first k in 3 minutes I realised they were right.
Things did slow after that but not enough to stop me taking 30 secs off my PB and going under 17 mins for the first time after eight years of trying at the club. I just about recovered my breath to see some epic battles develop behind as Graham and Jeff tussled for the 49-pointer, and behind that Tony, Ian, Ray, Mick and Mike seemed determined to all come in holding hands. Rod Coombs had an absolute flyer behind them (answers on a postcard please) while other notable performances included Katy Green running well just weeks after the birth of her second child and Kate Sutton scoring a PB too (although I don’t believe this was a post-natal performance).
For those who don’t know the race I would say it’s the best 5k around (although I am now biased) as it is more interesting – if that is possible – than most other races at this distance.
All in all a thoroughly satisfying night – my first (and surely only) 50 pointer, a PB, and a good pint of Pedigree to wash it down after. Cheers!
results: http://www.ukresults.net/2006/bowdon.html
Jim
It’s nice of Jim to believe (even momentarily) that I am capable of running 18.38 . Alas its not true. My number (287) was obviously inadvertantly mixed up with number 288, who was Kenny Knass of Stockport. She must be really cheesed off with being reported in the results with my time of 21.52. Still, maybe its an omen ?
And now the poor girl has had a sex change – her real name is Jenny Kass.