Run the Bridge, Runcorn
" A personal worst", said Gail "but at least I beat Roy". Tells you something about Roy's day.
Damian's was better, up against some class runners he finished 3rd. Rob was 13th and 1st.M45, quite an achievement in a field in which Malcolm, 23rd. overall, was 5th.M45. Hamish, running his first 5 miles was 18th., read his blog at http://hamishshaw.blogspot.com/2011/04/runcorn-bridge-5-miler-race-report.html. Graham, who led the Summer Series table coming into the race was one second behind Hamish. Tom was 25th. and 1st. M55, Andrew's PB brought him in 37th. Nick was brought to a stop by a pain in his hip which he said was like being shot (we were close to Liverpool), after three years of amazing resilience through a string of injury problems he deserves better.
It was cloudy and still when we left Wilmslow. The Race HQ at Picow Farm sounded rural but, having just passed the old ICI chemical works, it became Picow Farm Industrial Estate. As Tony said it's not the Lake District. The sun broke through before the start which was not everyone's liking. The route looked flat on the diagram but in fact always seemed to be going up or down, to me more up than down but, as the chart said we finished at the same altitude as we started, that must be a false perception.
Louise was 1st.L35and took the 60 points in our Ladies table. She was followed by Christine, Janine, Zoe, Angela, Soraya, Huma, Steffi , Carolyn, Nina and Gail.
James was first home in League 3, Tony, who was 1st.M60, took 59 points, Paul (Garnett) was third then Louise, Matt and Paul (Norris).
Patrick won Group 4 from Christine, Janine, Owen, Ian, Zoe, Angela, Huma and Don. I thought it was just me but Angie and Owen commented on how hard they found the bit from the '400m to go' sign. Looking forward to Patrick's recollections of another stunning run.
Chris picked-up his second 60 points in League 5, Soraya's warm-weather training paid-off for 59, Peter came through the field in the second half for 58 points and 1st.M70.,then came Steffi. Rod gained revenge over Carolyn for Crewe but she got a debut PB, then came Nina followed by Gail, Roy and Trevor.
Despite this being a Grand Prix race, the bank holiday weekend limited numbers and points were good.
After a silent speech from the mayor we had a novel Le Mans rolling start and then made for the Bridge. It crosses the Mersey estuary and the Manchester Ship Canal. The Ship Canal was built primarily to take the cotton picked by the black slaves in the southern United States to Manchester, whose damp climate was ideal for spinning. Tony told me on the coach back from the finish to the start that initially the cotton was off-loaded at Liverpool but the Manchester mill-owners objected to what they saw as extortionate charges and the Ship Canal was their riposte. It's an education running for Wilmslow.
Scenic interest thereafter was a bit limited. Janine and I were both targeting 7-minute miles but hers were faster than mine. Owen came through in the first mile but, after running in a bunch at Crewe, there wasn't much Wilmslow jostling in my area of the race to excite the spectators. I was having a go at Rocket Ron's >65 club record, my Garmin said I achieved 6:58 minute miles which would have given me the record but also that I ran 5.06 miles, which took it away again. Others' watches suggested that it was the course being a little over-distance rather than me meandering.
Janine was disappointed with her good-for-age marathon but is in a rich vein of form with a 5-mile PB here to follow one in the 10k at Crewe. Patrick also collected his second PBs in a fortnight.
The finish was in a pretty park. There were hot-cross buns, buttered toast, tea and coffee, all courtesy of the local council who promoted and organised the race extremely well, though they were perhaps a little slow with the results. The sun was shining, it was a perfect Easter Sunday. Driving back home we were quickly back in the cloud again and forget Spain, apparently it was raining in Malaga, Runcorn's the place to take the family for a sunny bank holiday.
Graham retains leadership of the Main table. Tony moves up to second, Patrick to third. Owen next then Ian, Chris, Carolyn, Nina, Roy and Gail. The ten have run all three races.
Carolyn says she's not confident that she'll still be top of the Ladies' table come the Autumn but race 3 and she's still there. Nina is up to second and Gail third. Last year's champion, Louise, two races, two firsts, looks a bit of a threat.
Tony takes over leadership of League 3. James is second, Ian (Smallwood) third, Louise, Gareth splits the Pauls.
Patrick strengthens his position at the top of League 4 with Owen second and Ian third.
Chris moves to the head of League 5, Carolyn's up to second, Nina's up to third then Roy and Gail.
Ian