Dunham Massey 5k
Friday May 25th.
The two previous midweek races had been very cold (Chester) and very wet (Goyt Valley), Dunham was a hot 24o. If you weren't running there was a pleasant cooling breeze, if you were there was a headwind all the way up the long 'Mulsanne' straight. I suspect my splits were not untypical in that, reversing the normal pattern, my two fastest ks were the off-road ones; 2 & 4. A number of us also felt 'chesty', putting this down to the dryness of the air, but I suspect we are drifting now from an objective analysis of the conditions into the area of lame excuses, although I haven't quite got round yet to marathon legs, which I fear will be trotted-out until the Christmas Handicap.
Rob was our first runner, and the race's first M45. Graham followed-on, immediately behind Rob, 10th and 2nd. M45. Trevor was 17th.and 2nd.M50. Jim was 25th., Mike a second behind him, Andrew 30th. ,with Robert only 4 seconds behind him. Mick was 57th. and 1st.M60.
All the way through the field there were close finishes, it would be interesting to hear more from the participants, please 'comment' below.
Louisa was our leading lady for the first time and the race's 1st.L35. Diane was second in both categories followed by Christine, 1st.L50, just ahead of Janine by 3 seconds.
Jeremy repeated his Whitley division 2 win. He was followed by Graham Taylor and Paul Garnett, only two and eight seconds behind were the Richards. Geoff was 2nd. M60.
Louisa was also, for the second race in succession, first division 3 runner. She was followed by Peter, Steve, Diane ,Gareth and Alan. A difficult day for any division 3 runner looking for points; 18 runners. Jamie, Christine, Janine and Nick, testing his calf, were separated by only 7 seconds. Given the numbers, there was surprisingly little jostling early-on for positions in the division 3 relegation/division 4 promotion sector of the race. Amanda came through at 2k but she was not on one of her more expansive days and it was only in the final straight that she put pay to Huma and Owen. Simon frightened me at 3k, I accelerated to return him to his rightful station and by 4k was with Huma, but she then surged ahead again. Owen had a good look back as he turned into the final straight, on his debut here I had sneaked passed with 10m to go, I managed to overtake Huma but, although he was fading, Owen found enough to hold his place.
Although Sally made it 4 division 4 wins out of 4 races, mid-season promotion surely beckons, the real battle at the top looks like Huma and Simon. She made it 3-3. Rod ran over 25 minutes for the first time. Judith made a strong debut. Gail held-back to help Dodo.
Ian
I was hoping to go sub 18, but a 7 second PB will do until Hollins Green. I knew I had to keep contact with Mike and Andrew and this helped keep me going up that long drag three times. I even thought I may catch Andrew on the final straight, but he finished strongly and I had nothing left up that hill into the wind.
As always a great Race Report. Now,about these Christams Handicaps……
During my warm up lap , or rather during the run up , the long up hill straight into the ‘headwind ‘ which felt gale force , my thought was to just get round , points and times irrelavant . Where does the adrenalin come from at the start of a race ? Congested start , early on the up hill one or two yougsters were getting under my feet , one actually stopped for a drink after about 500 yards and almost tripped me up , I soon got into a rythem and found my position . Ahead of Ian , Owen 5 yards in front , passsed by Sally at about 800 yards didn’t think I would see her again and so that’s how it remained . Huge relief as we turned left at the top of the straight , again , as we turned at the top straight for a second time , I had passed Owen by this time but hadn’t noticed I was closing in on James . As we went down the hill for the second time I lengthened my stride , passed James , then Sally who looked to be running well . I thought I was bound to see her again , then Nicky and I then found myself on the shoulder of JP . Now do I go passed him now or wait untill the last sraight . Sally and Nicky were not going to give up a point that easily so decision made , passed him . Now hang on , turned left at the bottom of the hill , left for the last time at the final turn , ressisted the temptation to look over my shoulder and up the hill . I thought I could gauge my lead on the seconds that passed between the shouts of come on Chris and come on John or Nicky or Sally , but there weren’t any . I focused on Kate in front , if I could close the gap on Kate I would hold my position . I managed to hold my position , then my thoughts turned back to times , 22.15 , I am pleased with considering the heat and points , where did all division three turn up from .