Lymm 10k, Summer Series Race 3

After an arctic month, a forecast of 13^o must have seen very pleasant to the rest of you, Sally was even complaining about the sun coming out as we were about to start. What none of us wanted was the gale that was threatening to blow away the route makers that marked the early and late kilometres round the Grammar School field.  

Much muttering about £20 for a 10k race, would the course justify the extortionate price-tag?

As at Crewe, it was Groups 3 and 4 who dominated the Wilmslow contingent, but a few of the stars were there. Jim finished 6th. and won the M>40 category. Andrew was only one place behind him and second M>40 and Barry was three places further back and completed a Wilmslow M>40 clean-sweep.

Rob was 16th. and now looks fully recovered. Nick is beginning to look as if he is through, what is it, six years of injuries, he is also looking as though he's lost the weight inactivity had put on him, he was 2nd. M>50. Graham, whose knee looked to have finished his running, is now persistently putting in strong performances. Craig was only two seconds behind and he and Graham both recorded 40:46 on the chip. Richard made it three Wilmslow in a row with Mike, another working his way back from injury, two places further back. That made it 9 Wilmslow in the first 27.

Sharon Johnstone was the race's 2nd. lady then came Paul Garnett, Gareth and, having a much better time this year, Paul Norris. Tony was 2nd M>60, not bad given he's over 65. Then came Matt and Louisa, continuing last year's battles with only 5 seconds between them. Good run-out for Janine in preparation for next Sunday.

Kate was 1st.L>45 and Nicky 2nd., which would have made her 1st.L>50. Alan had a bit of clear air between himself and Andy but it was much closer of the chip time. Sally despite not liking the conditions put in a respectable performance.

Zoe seems to have bounced-back from child-birth, not only remarkably quickly but as a stronger runner. She finished in front of Sharon Jones who was disappointed with her run. Clare's on the way back, her Crewe was better than Wilmslow, this was better than Crewe. Simon, who'd been below par at Crewe, set his stall out early, he was ahead of me before 3k and, unlike Trafford, I wasn't going to catch him again. Huma had 60 points at both Cloud 9 and Crewe behind her, but this was a faltering performance, she teased me by walking two or three times on the second climb of the hill, but then re-started and sprinted back ahead. Nina, who had not been optimistic at the start, ran really well catching Carolyn, who is in good form, a PB at Crewe, on the playing fields. Sue ran solidly without ever having quite enough to threaten those in front of her.

Soraya's back, given the misery of the last eighteen months this was superb, she's probably still at the stage that she may start the next race and find that her legs are dead  but this was a performance to build on. Elspeth is getting better all the time and as is Judith. Not a happy day for Roy or Don. Cat's racing on no mileage and does well to achieve what she does.  Gail perhaps lacked the threat of Trevor to inspire here. Martin's very much making the lanterne rouge his own, but it is great to see him back out racing regularly.

Pretty shopping basket but I don't think I was alone in thinking that I'd have preferred to be down the road racing at Whitley. But, as the Bear will doubtless point out, it is only by being willing to experiment and try new races that you find the good ones. Two big pluses of Lymm were chip timing and a fast results service that also gave 5k splits, the organisation generally was excellent.

Ian