Some smelt PBs on a 'fast, flat course', others, with a dawn start for a one and a half hour drive sought easy Series points. The former were well rewarded with a mass of PBs, the latter disappointed by a healthy Wilmslow turn-out.
The course is not the most interesting, doubling back and forth along the same roads adjacent
to the promenade. The advantage was that you frequently were able to see how everyone else was doing. As I struggled into the wind along the promenade just past the 6-mile marker it was good to see Rob, Malcolm and Jim speeding in the opposite direction towards the finish. It was also interesting to see James and Mick and Chris and Simon shoulder-to-shoulder mile after mile.
Rob was 5th. and 1st.M45, Malcolm 10th. and 2nd.M45. Jim was 23rd. and 2nd.M40, Andrew
25th and 3rd.M40 , Mike 28th, Robert 41st., Graham 50th. Mick was 61st. and 2ndM60. Good to see Rob Gilbert racing again.
Diane McVey was our first lady, 4th. overall and, after a steward's enquiry, 1st.L35. Sharon
was second Wilmslow lady, then, Diane Bygrave, in her first 10 mile race, followed by Janine, 2nd.L40 and Christine 2nd.M50. Wilmslow were the first ladies team.
Diane McVey took the division 2 60 points from James, followed by, league leader, Allan. Tony
carried-off the M65 prize. Then came Richard Hiron,a PB, Sharon and Richard Lawson.
Diane Bygrave won division 3. I was happily putting my more than disappointing effort down to 'cycling legs' only for Janine to waltz-in as division 3 second with a PB. Janine had cycled the same mileage in France in 3 days that had taken me 8 days in Tuscany. Christine was third, Patrick fourth, then Gavin, Nicky and Andy,'marathon legs'? Chris won his battle with Simon but it took a PB.
Simon's superb 2nd.M65 gave him a big division 4 win with a brilliant PB by Carolyn taking her into second. Huma is missing from the results and struggled with a thigh injury but I think she was next. Catriona made light of a lack of training and a total absence from racing. Don held-off Janet who was closer every time I saw them, then a much-improved Gail and Trevor.
Ian
At the start I had a position a couple of rows back from the start line. Due to the delayed start I had chance to notice there appeared to be a few fun runners at the front. When we started the fun runners flashed backwards very quickly. Why do they do that?
After turning the cones for the first time I could see Andy W and Jim around 10 metres ahead along with a small group of runners. I gave a push to join the group and then benefitted from not having to drive through the head wind on my own. The pace was quick and I had to push a couple of times to keep in the group.
As we turned to head Jim was leading the group and he upped the pace, spreading the group, and at which point I fell off the back. Andy W was still with him but I knew I could not keep the pace without suffering later in the race.
Ian’s review notes the twisting course made it interesting to see where other club members were in relation to your own position. As the race wore on I could see Jim had pulled away from Andy and I had 100m or so gap to Andy. Behind me I could see Rob was not far behind followed by Graham and Di McV. Thanks to all other WRC runners who shouted encouragement as we passed travelling in opposite directions.
On the final straight leg back onto the sea front I upped the pace to chase down Andy who was still in front by around 200m. There was no chance of catching but I would try and close the gap. This final push saw off an Eryre Harriers runner who had been at my side, or in front, for over half the race. Along the sea front I also caught and passed one more runner. I was hoping for under the hour but missed out by 15 seconds.
Mike
It was good to see all the happy smiling Wilmslow faces as we kept passing although it did seem that any words of encouragement were increasingly mumbled as the miles passed – mine certainly were!
I agree, it certainly was a thumbs up from me, that was pretty much all I could manage in the later stages of the race!! But then there was the other extreme – Chirpy Catriona, she certainly was full of beans, at one point she was singing to me, think it was mile 5/6 “We’re on our way too amarillo”, very funny – thanks Cat!! Great day, great race and great company 🙂
Can’t remember competing in a race that had as many hair-pin turns around traffic cones! Indeed when you consider the whole course was coned, I bet there was close to one cone for every runner. Traffic cones as finishing memento’s – now there’s an idea!
Despite the fact that flat road races are not usually my scene, it was a very enjoyable race. Excellent for spectators and for seeing other club runners at the various turn-around points on the course.
I’ve just dug out the results of the Llandudno 10 in 1989 – it makes an interesting comparison. More in the newsletter if I have time!
Really enjoyed seeing the front runners in a race I was competing in and unlike the XC , not when i’m getting lapped . Saw Rob entering the long home straight as Simon and I were leaving the prom still with three and a half miles to go . Simon kept accusing me of running within myself , I probably was but seeing Matt increase his lead on me at every turn , chasing an extra point seemed futile so I kept accusing him of using me as a wind break . Great day out . I’ve just read Ian’s tables report , does anyone have a parashute I can borrow , I’m in free fall .
Normally a flat 10 mile is a race from hell for me, however I found this great fun. How often do we get to share a race through the miles with each other, normally I get to see Rob, Malcom and Jim at the start of a race and then at training the next night!! but on this course I got to share their races 5 or 6 times, watching Chris and Simon battle for miles, Carolyn and Huma, Gail, Cat, Don and Janet jostling positions everytime I saw them. Great fun and really interesting to see parts of other WRC runners races I would’nt normally get to see.