17th Feb 2008
Cold Start, Warm Finish
It was a cold start: -8C when I left the house and still -2C when I reluctantly stripped down to Wilmslow racing kit. A large crowd were huddled together in the start area discussing hats, gloves and the possibility of hot drinks at the water stations. Having earlier spent at least half an hour circling round the completely signpost free industrial estate I was surprised that so many runners had even found the start.
I quickly warmed up as we ran out into the low sun and passing the 1 mile marker I was leading a group of 5 runners. By mile 2 we had opened up a gap of 100m but the pace was still about 5:30 which seemed quite comfortable as we ran in the sunshine along flat country roads.
The route consisted of a short lap of 4 miles followed by a longer tour out into the countryside. As we looped back past the start the slight incline and headwind were more noticeable but really this was about as fast a course as could be imagined. I took up the pace and as we pushed along the group was gradually stretched out. By mile 8 I was sharing the lead with Xavier Desse from Wirral AC and with no hills to contend with we continued to clip along running through 10 miles in 55:30. This was nearly a minute faster than my 10 mile PB but it still didn’t feel like I was going to need to slow down.
Half a mile later as we arrived at the top of another shallow incline a Salford runner suddenly appeared right behind us. Somehow he had run right through the field to catch us. I pushed on thinking that surely he would break past us and I had to go with him. It never happened and having said hello he just faded back again behind us.
Running back into the industrial estate at 11 miles I think that it began to register that one of us was going to win. We agreed later that this felt slightly odd as we’d both just turned up hoping to run a good time. I still felt like I was the fresher (although photos suggest otherwise) and I tried to break away. But Xavier had got used to keeping up and doggedly closed up every gap that I created. It was a long drag up into the sun and wind and with the 13 mile marker in sight Xavier suddenly crept ahead. It was time for a sprint but attempting to change gear just seemed to make my legs turn to rubber. I lost a few more metres before finding any rhythm and by this time Xavier was already celebrating. I trundled in second and accepted the traditional loaf of Barra Brith.
It would have been nice to win but it was a great race and we’d finished well clear of quite a good field. I could hardly believe the time but the splits more or less match Helsby without the hilly miles. The showers were freezing cold but Nick would have approved of the large portions of post-race hot pot that were served up in the clubhouse.
Splits: 5:28, 5:29, 5:28, 5:39, 5:38, 5:28, 5:38, 5:32, 5:38, 5:34, 5:30, 5:32, 5:25, :54
Rob
1 Xavier Desse (Wirral AC) 1:12:42
2 Rob Downs 1:12:53 V40
Full results at: http://www.ukresults.net/2008/bakery.html
Photos at: Bryan Dale RacePhotos