Race Review - Little Eaton 5 - 29th June 2014

I couldn't turn down a 5 mile run in my home village were I was brought up. I turned up and painlessly registered and stood around chatting to the fellow members of Team Derby Runner and other local runners. I also ran into my Strave.com Nemesis! He is always smashing my course records and stealing my 'First' positions. But he does make me go out and try and beat him too, so it s good healthy competition!

We all line up for the start of the race and it is a wonderful relaxed environment with people still chatting and the marshal giving friendly pointers to look out for on the course, once the briefing has ended there is a short countdown from 5 and we start our run. I comfortably sitting in the top 10 as we round the first corner. I know the village very well and happily maintain a steady pace up the first small hill. I'm running a decent pace and its a beautiful day. After about half a mile of flat running we hit the big hill of the race at as the tarmac ends and we hit the trails I catch up with a runner who is struggling with the hill and breaks into a walk. I manage to keep up a steady jog and pass him. He then picks up his pace to run and comes past me. We exchange positions like this half a dozen times, but a steady pace wins on this occasion and I stay ahead of him as the trail flattens out and moves onto pasture land.

I picked up another position here through the long grass and was now sitting in 4th position after a couple of fast downhill runs through the grasses I end up back on the road and can hear another runner close by on my shoulder. As we reached the half way point and water station I stop for a cup of water. My shadow overtakes me and I end
up about 5 meters behind him once I restart running. The course is once again on beautiful rolling hills, footpaths and some beautiful rustic bridges over streams and brooks. It is such a beautiful run, which is a great distraction from my burning lungs and aching legs.

As I climb the last hill another runner sneaks past me, knocking me back into 6th position, we have a cheerful exchange of banter and he even holds the gate open for me. I know this is only a village run, but it is wonderful when runners are good honest, people, out to enjoy themselves, and at the same time as being competitive. I try to not lose any distance now that we are on the long final downhill section. Its not until the course flattened out and went on a lap around Little Eaton park that I was with a few meters of the man ahead of me. His family were cheering him on loudly and insisting they he doesn't let me overtake him. I'd love to say that I backed off, generously, to allow him to shine in front of his family, but in all honesty I just couldn't match his finishing pace and watched him cross the line a couple of seconds ahead of me.

We shook hands afterwards and I sat and watched the rest of my team mates and friends cross the line. This is a great race with a very challenging course. Very well marshalled by Little Eaton Hornets Bravo team, Bravo!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Eaton-Hornets-Running-Club

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Race Review - Belper Harriers Derwent River Relays - 28th June 2014

I love the fact that i can see part of this course from my front room. This was a truly unmissable race for me, and was stoked when Team Derby Runner put in 2 teams for this one. Because this race is very civilised, one has time for a hearty breakfast, a Parkrun, a healthy lunch, and still have time for a little light gardening before things kick off at 2:30pm.

I wondered over the road, met up with the team and pottered around chatting and generally larking about before the race. I was given the task of bringing our male vets team home and running the 4th and final leg of the 4 x 5000m relay. We watched the leg 1 runners head off, some practically leaving burn marks on the rugby field as they scotched off the line. Those of us not in the first couple of legs continued our chatting and glanced at our watches as the first runners came back onto the field for the hand overs. Knowing looks and appreciation of those whippets charging in, clocking up 15/16 minute times where made around the watching runners along with rapturous applause and cheering.

Once our third leg runner had been out 10 minutes or so I waited at the hand over area, eagerly awaiting the sight of the blue and white vest of Team Derby Runner. As he he came running round the final bend running strongly, the marshal readied me, and held his arm across the line. As Wesley crossed the line, the marshal instructed me to "go", and I headed off for a pacey lap of the rugby fields.

The lap round the rugby fields was a nice flat warm up, before getting a little more rural, as the course went behind the local supermarket on to open meadow meadow land were the long grasses whipped your legs as you ran past, passing was a bit tricky due to the narrow paths cut out by hundreds of dog walkers over the years. It was a pleasant run, and I was pushing myself to try and keep up a 4 minute, kilometre pace. The run is great taking in heart of Belpers sporting heritage, passing the Belper Meadows cricket club, Belper Hockey club, Belper Meadows Tennis Club, and Belper Town Football club. A quick run on the roads before a sharp turn back on the trails.

This route takes me on my regular training run route, I love it, running along side the beautiful river Derwent, lined with a huge variety of trees and bushes, the paths are flat and well maintained. You can here the crowds an
d runners on the other side of the river as you pass the rugby club. Wonderful marshals hold open a kissing gate that would have been a real pain to navigate, and brought all the runners to a complete stop. A quick jog up some steps and i'm running over the river bridge that usual signifies the start of my warm down and trot back to my front door. But I have to keep up the pace and keep pushing all the back to the Rugby club.

I overtake a runner as I enter the finishing area and try to put on a sprint finish for my team mates. I cross the line, stop my watch, and try to recover, the marshalls at the finsh direct me to water, bananas and a cup cake! once i've inhaled the gorgeous little spongy delicacy and taken on some water, i look down and see my time was 19:50. YES. My first sub 20 minute 5km and on a tricky mixed terrain course with styles, steps, sharp corners. But on closer inspection my GPS recorded the course a little under 5km and my pace was 4:05 minute kilometres. I am still really happy with my speed and couldn't have run any harder on the day, so i'm super happy with my result.

Hats off to Belper Harriers for putting on such a great event!
https://belperharriers.wordpress.com

Race Review - Hairy Helmet - 20th June 2014

The Hairy Helmet Real Ale Realy. Is one of my favourite summer races, it brings together the local running community from the super quick club runners, to the marathon runners, to the obstacle course runners, fell runners, Parkrun'rs, fun runners, and every type In-between.

The format is a simple 4 x '2 and a bit mile' relay you enter your team of 4 and you each complete a lap, passing over the timing baton at the Start/Finish line. It's a great format that is incredibly inclusive and friendly. Most runners bring their families and friends down, as there is always a BBQ, beer and someone to cheer on.

I had managed to get on two teams this year, one for my family and one for my running club, Team Derby Runner, after injury stopped one of the TDR runners competing. But my mate tried to enter to late and couldn't get his team in. So he took my spot in my family team at the last minute.

So I was now just running the third leg, for my TDR team, I watch my teams mates and friends set off in wave 1 and and took some time to do a little stretching and taking on water and then went over with my stepson to the change over area, and stood in wait to watch him set off. Once Izaak had gone out of site I joined the melee of waiting running craning their neck to spot their team-mate come round the corner.

I was lucky as my team mate has a shock of bright red hair, Rob rounded the corner looking focused and running well. I shout and wave to help guide him into the change over area, I start to jog away as Ron Weasley firmly puts the baton in my hand just before I cross the line and start my lap. I latch on to two club runners from Sinfin and Heanor, who are setting a really good pace and we battle together swapping position almost constantly for the first mile. This first mile has all the uphill sections and you start to feel that rancid metallic taste in your mouth as you try to maintain the pace up the steeper sections. I manage to pull away on the downhill section but the enthusiasm and increased speed is short lived. As we hit the flatter final mile one of the guys pulls away a 20 meter advantage, and I don't have the legs or lungs to bridge the gap.

As I enter the meadow area of the park you can see the finish line and have about 800m left to run. The crowds and marshals are incredibly supportive and encouraging. With only 400m to go I try to step up the pace and empty the tank and gain an extra few seconds, I spot Jordan in the sea of runners, waiting for the baton in their hand. I pass the baton on and watch Jordon smoothly run off at a blistering pace. I duck under the course tape and bent double try and regain my vision, breathing and stability. This isn't a short race, isn't a medium distance, definitely not a long race.

The distance of this race, means you can't sprint it all, but you have to taste blood in your mouth, running much faster than you would like to, and right on the edge of vomiting. But it is over pretty quickly and the atmosphere and event is outstanding, an amazing BBQ and a free beer for every entrant. After my run I chilled with the family and friends, and spent another hour eating hot dogs, drinking the splendid beer and chatting to lots of other runners who are passionate about the local running community.

Huge thanks to the teams involved

Website: http://www.hairyhelmetrelay.co.uk/
Organisers: http://www.derwentrunners.co.uk/
Beer: http://www.derventiobrewery.co.uk/
My Team: http://www.derbyrunner.com/

Race Review - Ramathon Half Marathon - 8th June 2014

This was the first half marathon I was going to race, I had ran a half marathon before, but that was just to keep my sister company on her first marathon. Now that she is a seasoned marathon and half marathon runner she doesn't need me to keep her company, so I was going to try and put in a decent time today.

My pre-race preparation went completely to the dogs when I woke up an hour later than I wanted and only had 55 minutes to get to the start line. Kit on, breakfast scoffed, kit bag grabbed, half arsed roll on the foam roller. 45 minutes to get to start line. Drive to the event village, and find the road already closed. 20 minutes to get to the start line. Sod it, I knew the race didn't start until 10 am and no runners would be out, so I sneakily moved the cones and went through the closed road. The car behind me did the same and kindly replaced the cones. Parked up and headed to the Derby Runner tent to pick up my race number. 12 minutes to get to the start line. I spot a fellow Team Derby Runner,
"Hey dude, where is the team tent?"
"Over by the finish line, 5 minute walk that way"
"Cheers, good luck in the race"

I start running against the oncoming runners and spectators heading for the starting pens, get to the team tent drop my bag off and our Team Captain is standing there with my race number in hand and 4 safety pins already opened, primed and ready for pinning to my vest. 8 minutes to get to the start line. time for a couple of jokes about making my way through the back markers, and pre race nerves,
"which way are the loos?"
"Just round the corner mate, you've got plenty of time"
4 minutes to get to the start line. After a quick stop off at the loo, it was a gentle jog back towards the starting pens.

I scan the pens looking for my sister to let her know I was here when fellow Team Derby runner Rob yelled me over. 45 seconds before the race was due to start at 10am. I vault the pen barrier and join Rob for some friendly "what time do you call this" banter. I need those 45 seconds to attach my racing chip and for my watch to find a GPS satellite signal. The race started about a minute late which was a bonus as my watch takes a while to get a signal, and my watch, like me, wasn't to be rushed and waited until we were moving towards the starting mat before pinging success and letting me start the clock on today's race.

I go out steady still chatting to Rob about pace and tactics for the next 13.1 miles, and the tactic was simple, run every mile in roughly 7 minutes and 30 seconds. We both had fancy enough watches that displayed our pace, all though mine was set to kilometres rather than miles so i was aiming for around 4 minutes and 30 seconds for each kilometre. This is how the first 5 miles went, chatting about running previous races, and the pace was steady and we were having a jolly good time. Rob's hip hurt around the 5 mile mark and indicated his chattiness would decline. This was fine by me and I happily looked around fields and trees and we progressed. We soon noticed we where catching up with runners we had started near, but our pace was still steady.

Rob's steady pace tactic was paying off, we reached the half way marker and Rob pointed out "This is where the race starts" and he was right we were still fairly comfortable and picking off runners who had gone out a bit quick, and were now suffering in the heat and struggling to maintain their earlier pace. I always burn off the start line at races and then just keep going through the pain and slow down towards the end. This works Okay at Parkrun, which is only 5km, and even in obstacle races where I can get a slight rest on the obstacles, but in a half marathon pacing is a genius tactic!

I'm taking a cube of energy from my 'Cliff Blok' every even numbered mile marker and my energy levels feel Okay. At mile 8 my legs feel Okay and my ITB hasn't flared at all, this is going pretty well. when Mile 9 hits I am starting to struggle. 10 miles is a long race for me, 10 kilometres is my regular race distance and training distance, so I'm now in unknown territory. I'm now struggling to stay on Robs shoulder, negative thoughts start to creep in, overwhelming desire to slow up and even walk come to mind. I know that if Rob pulled away 5 or 10 metres I would drop my pace and never catch up again. At this point Rob lets me know;
"Don't let me slow you down, go for it if you like"
"I wish, I'm struggling to keep up"

So Rob must be feeling the pain too, but we keep our steady pace going, picking off another runner every half mile or so. This is keeping me motivated, we are still 'racing', we are still gaining places, moving up leader board, little by little. We only have about 5km to go. "Just a Parkrun to go". The scenery is very familiar now we are definitely on the way back to the event village, the crowds are getting bigger and we both skipped refreshments at the final water station.

At the 12 mile marker, all I could tell myself was "only 10 more minutes, then you can stop". We had discussed picking up the pace for the final mile, but that was a long time ago, the heat, the exhaustion was kicking in. entrenched in our pace, we couldn't go any faster. However we were still nicking a final few positions. The marshals were increasingly supportive and formative of how far until the finish. My replies, and thanks to the marshals were less cheery and a little more than a grimace and raised thumb. We hit the 400 metres to go marker earlier than I expected and tried to push for a fast finish. With 3 or 4 paces it was clear i wouldn't keep up that speed for 400 metres so dropped back to the usual pace and waited until i could see the finish line before dropping the hammer and emptying, what little was left in, the tank. There was three people between me and the finish line, Rob and 2 other runners. I started my finale and pulled past Rob, encouraging him to make these final 2 runners with me. He stepped it up and a glance over my shoulder saw him take them both following me over the line a single second after me.

HUGE thanks to Rob for dragging me round at a steady pace, my usual method of burning off the start line and holding on for as long as possible would not have working at this distance and in these conditions. HUGE thanks to the other Rob, captain of Team Derby Runner for having safety pins and race number ready for me.
HUGE thanks to all the marshals and race directors for putting such a great event.
HUGE thanks to all the members of Team Derby Runner for there support and advise over the years i've been running with them,
HUGE thanks to the bacon butty stand. Amazingly simple. One massive hot plate of bacon and a stack of bread rolls. No choices, no options, no thought needed. Walk up say "Yes please" and swap £2.50 for a bacon butty. You need simple choice-less,  quick, delicious, food when you could quite happily eat anything at this point.

Time: 01:39:00
Position: 177th