Not so many flies this year but hot, hotter even than two years ago. Trevor again sported his foreign legion head-ware and Tony came as a pirate. It was the best day of the summer so far, ideal as Don said on the website for a day-out by a pretty Welsh llyn. With hardly a breath of wind, perhaps not everyone’s idea of perfect running conditions but personally off-road, undulating, but not too steeply, and hot, would normally play to my strengths but a succession of injuries over the last 15 months, none yet completely healed, have left me weak, vulnerable to recurrence and out of condition.
Damian not only won but broke the course record, Tom was 8th and 1St M50.
Diane was first lady, Janine second lady and 1st L40. Motherhood seems to have boosted Sarah’s running, despite few appearances at training.
Di was also first in Division 2, she might now be threatening Allan’s place at the top of the table. He followed her in. Then came Nick, enjoying his first season for six years not blighted by injury, Richard and the two Pauls, Chris and Tony.
Janine at last got a deserved Division 3 60-points with Andy second not far ahead of Patrick. The course favoured strong-man Chris ahead of Sarah. The boost that her magnificent Manchester Marathon gave Sharon has been tempered by an arthritic knee, a problem that’s not likely to go away, but she managed to edge-out Simon. His devotion to success knows bounds, a night on the North Wales coast rather than the long drive, another superb run brought him another M>70 prize. Carolyn could not stay with him and was disappointed to be seconds outside her time of two years ago. Nevertheless she secured the Division 4 60-points ahead of Huma, who is still struggling with her foot and contemplating Ramadan at the worst time of the year for a runner.
Nina was seconds behind Huma and only just ahead of the star of my bit of the race, Gail. The glory days of PBs had been brought to an end by shin splints but when that cleared the revival never came, a blood test identified the problem and, if her Freckled Cow performance is any guide, her dietary change has produced the solution. Her best run for ages took her ahead of Julie, Don, Judith and Ian. In contrast it all went wrong for Roy, who has steadily improved through the year but was probably brought-down by the heat. Judith slowed after halfway and, through miles 5 and 6, I had ambitions to catch her but the sight of the dam revived her and remembering her sprinter credentials she picked-up her pace again.
Too much of me in this report but to finish on some positives. I beat Trevor, I didn’t aggravate either the ligament or cartilage damage from Roaches, we had an excellent picnic on the mountain pass between Dolgellau and Machynlleth and I did push myself; Anne had to drive all 3½ hours down to Pembrokeshire.
No yoghurt this year, a disappointment. It’s a great race but for many, with heavier commitments, I would imagine an impossibility, but its only 1 of 22 races, I’d like to see it included in future years.
Ian
Well done Gail! x