I checked my watch, 39 minutes. Jo had been on my shoulder at the beginning, Owen had been ahead but dropped-out, Penny had nearly caught me on the second-lap hill but I now felt safe. I reckoned a couple of minutes and we would be back on the canal tow-path and my 2nd. Group 4/5 50 points would be in the bag. The group in front of me hesitated as the path split, I checked when I got to the same point and followed them and the orange arrows.
Two minutes passed, we were starting to climb “is this right?”, I shouted, “Yes” was the reply. The climb got steeper, wasn’t this where Penny was close?
“Are you sure we’re right?”
“I’m from East Cheshireit is definitely the right way”.
As we got to the summit the first of the group turned and we all stopped and concluded we were repeating lap 2 instead of peeling-off for the finish. I turned and ran back, giving the bad news to about six groups of runners who had made the same mistake. These included Rod, Peter and a very muddy Clare but not enough Wilmslow runners to give me comfort. I went back to where we had initially hesitated and found arrows in both directions. I pushed-it along the tow-path hoping to minimise my loss.
How bad was the damage – Penny, Jo, John, Catriona, Louisa, even bloody Trevor had all finished in front of me.
I followed Penny the other Thursday on the Graveyard run. She magically combined no sense of direction with amnesia for a route she’d run many times. I pointed with the appropriate arm as she looked back whenever she approached a junction, but she could not see. I shouted, but she could not hear. I’m not entirely happy running behind Penny, I feel my rightful place is in front of her but I would not like anyone to interpret a trace of bitterness in the comments above.
Lest you think I was exaggerating or Penny was just having a bad day she took the lead from the club-house on the Thursday prior to Daisy Nook. We were doing the Bollin/Mottram/Alderley route but she first, until shouted-at, went to turn right up Kings Road and then, when we got into the Carrs, continued towards Twinnies Bridge . This, thankfully, allowed someone else to overtake her.
The purpose of all this – Penny, not I, got the 50 points because, as she pointed-out with great glee, I went the wrong way.
You cannot blame the organisers of Daisy Nook for the crash on the M60 (though personally I do). Rod and I left the M60 onto the A560, which was also stationary. In desperation I took a random right turn, a cul de sac. Rod, now with A to Z, recommended the next right only for us to be blocked by a boat doing a 3-point turn. Passing the boat we then felt, with Rod’s navigation and the sat. nav., we had made good progress through the centre of Stockport until, 3 miles later, we found ourselves again behind the boat. Back on the M60 at Portwood we arrived in time for registration.
Kate had a map to the start but we met Sally Price, very late because of the crash, and gave her the map for her to register. We then simply followed the runners in front of us, unfortunately a group of girls who were nothing to do with the race. We plodded back up the hill to where we’d left Sally and got to the start on time. Sally we never saw again, she’s probably still out there somewhere in the same blackhole as Jo’s Tim.
I cannot deny I enjoyed the hot-pot but there are some things you should do once in your life, like watching an episode of Big Brother, just to be certain you never, ever want to do it again, so be it with Daisy Nook.
Ian Ashcroft
I would like to be associated with the remarks of the previous speaker! (particularly the bit about not doing it again..)
I basically followed the same route as Ian. Stuart had and an ECH rival had pulled maybe 50m ahead of me and I lost sight of them as we entered the trees. I followed the big arrows up the hill, reassured by the glimpse of a ECH vest ahead – unfortunately this proved to be a different runner. After reaching the top of the hill, and unsuccessfully trying to engage an out of breath Trevor F. in conversation, I retraced my steps. I felt bad about leading at least 10 others up the hill although the 2 from ECH were all for pressing on. We milled without finding any other arrows.
I wandered about for a while before thankfully spotting Ian Smallwood leading a fast moving group across the bridge. Now here was a man with orienteering skills who’d even managed to decipher the map to the start. A beacon of directional confidence in a sea of confusion. “Follow them!” I shouted and like black knights we charged off down onto the towpath.
At least I got to overtake a few people in the last mile of a race which is novel for me.
But (injuries aside – I hope Kate’s legs are OK) I thought that this was a nice route and a good Summer Series race organised by a friendly club. Just a pity they hadn’t put a marshal or a sign at the crucial point.
Shame that the hot pot didn’t come out quicker but I’m sure that my portion has all gone towards re-building the Bishop calf muscles
Rob
Ian’s comment that I pointed out “with great glee” that he went the wrong way needs to be put into perspective.
Picture this. I’m standing with other Wilmslow runners from group 4 waiting for the race to begin and someone from ECH is explaining the route to us, telling us briefly about the two loops we’ll be doing. It sounds a little complicated so I ask, “Will there will be marshals?” Yes, he assures me, there will be marshals. To which, Ian quips, “That’ll be no good for Penny. She’ll still get lost. She needs her own personal marshal.” Uproarious laughter from other members of the group. Even I thought it was funny.
But you know the saying, “He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Penny
Or rather. “He who laughs last has the better laugh.”
My translation skills are nearly as bad as my navigational skills.
Penny
I thought it was: “He who laughs last, laughs loudest”.
Thanks for making us all laugh!
Trevor
And now we know why Catriona didn’t get lost – she is her own Marshall!
Trevor
For my Friend and Fellow Competitor, Ian Ashcroft
There once was a runner named Ian
Who dreamt of his name up in neon
But then one fine day
He went the wrong way
And gave 50 points to this peon.*
Penny Hinke
*According to the OED, a peon is a person of low rank.