Club Series, race 12
Thursday July 5th.
Rudyard Lake used to be a Summer Series regular and those running it for the first time may question why it has featured less frequently in recent years. The setting, round the lake, is excellent and the course is varied. Even at rush-hour, it is only a 40 minute drive. The first half is down a disused railway track, flat if a bit bumpy. We have splashed along it in a downpour, but this year it was more the problem of cowboys; eating dust. At the end of the lake you turn, now on tarmac and start the slow ascent to the cage, the wailing of the piper a siren pulling you up. Thereafter the course undulates over a roughish track until you descend to the Hotel and the Lake. After the oppressive heat of Race the Train, the Half and the Alderley 10k, running was much more pleasant, it was 24 deg. but much of the course is in shade and there was a cooling breeze off the lake.
James, back to his best, 1st. M45, took the 100 points for his 16th. place. Matt, 3rd.M40 was 43rd., Paul, 2nd.M60, was 50th.
Janine, 3rd.F45, was our first lady and also the leading League Two runner. Kate, 2nd. F55, was next. Does she really have an arthritic knee, I think she needs a second opinion? Then came Nicola, Jan, Cat and Catherine.
Tony, 2nd.M70, and Steve followed Janine in League Two.
The wounded, Kate and Chris, led our most competitive league, Three, but Nicola was not far behind. John, 3rd.M65, only just beat Jan and Catriona.
Catherine is much too good for me and the rest of League 4, so, as usual, my focus was Simon. He was much closer at the turn than when he jumped me with 300m to go at Colshaw and he duly overtook on the climb. With his vision problem, he lacks confidence on rough ground, a weakness I then exploited but life has it justices and it was I, not he, who fell. My hand was painful but the fear Simon overtaking me again was my major concern.
For Roy this was the longest race he had done for many months and the whole of the Wilmslow contingent waited to cheer him in.
I finished bruised and bleeding from both knees, but, for me, the most enjoyable race so far.
Thanks Ian.