Langdale Road Races - Brathay Xmas Pud 10k - Dec 7th 2019

Not Pretty...but running isn't just about running

 

This month brings to a close my first full 12 months running for Hyde, I'm not new to running, not at all, but I have been re energised since joining up to the club late last year, and really enjoyed the journey of 2019. The cherry on the cake was being presented with the Strider of the Year Award at the clubs annual ball, never did I imagine I'd win something like this, I wasn't even sure I knew enough people at the club to attract the votes! But just goes to show how supportive the running community is, and really couldn't have had the year I've had without it.

 

The Langdale Christmas 10k was my first run for Hyde in December 2018, so I was looking forward to going back 12 months on an improved runner. All Brathay events have a special place in my heart, since taking part in the Brathay 10 Marathons in 10 Days in May 2018 (read about it here Brathay 10 in 10 ) , they organise the famous Windermere Marathon, Brathay 5k, Langdale Marathon, Langdale Half Marathon the Langdale Christmas Pudding 10k and recently the Ambleside 60k Ultra as well as multiple cycling, hiking and rowing events all in aid of changing young lives in support of the Brathay Trust Charity.

The importance of the race was also increased 10 months ago on a night out in Manchester,  Sarah my wife and Rick my Brother had made a deal (beer involved) that they were both going to take up running and entered the 10k also, a deal supported by photo evidence and reminded continuously throughout the year, the deal was honoured , and both arrived fully trained and ready to race on a wet morning in the Great Langdale Valley, Sarah had even joined Hyde Village Striders and completed the Stride Out Programme, whilst Rick had trained on the streets of Gee Cross himself. I was so proud of both their efforts to get here ready to run and another reason to look forward to the event. So this wasn't 'just' a 10k,  it was a 10k which meant a lot to me, also one I felt with my recent times I could compete in.  Cue a nasty chesty cough taking hold in the few days leading up to the event...…

The Deal

We arrived at registration about 10:30am and collected our race numbers, I still was not sure if I was going to race at this point, we grabbed a quick coffee and went back to the car to get changed, fix numbers etc. It was cold and rainy, perfect conditions for a cough …. I decided to have a warm up and threw in some pretty hard efforts to see how my chest reacted, ok actually, coughing a bit, but not as bad as I thought. I'd been checking my heart rate all night also which was normal, so I thought fuck it, I'm going against all the correct and sensible advice and I'm running today, lets do it. And I'm going to try and mix it up at the sharp end for good measure. We sat in the car as long as we could to stay warm before finally moving over to the starting line, we wished each other luck and Gem took our final warm layers and we got set in the starting area. I positioned myself right near the front, just one row of runners ahead, I was freezing as I waited for the final race briefing to be complete by Scott Umpleby Race Director, unusually for races they called us forward to the start line early, and a quick count down we were away!

You can probably just make me out in the above picture in the pack, the Helm Hill Runner and eventual winner Pete Harrison at the front went out bloody hard and put in a 5 min mile against the undulating road,  with or without a cough I couldn't live with that pace and tried to settle into the chasing pack group. I managed to jostle around a bit and soon settled in and brought a few runners back settling in about 5th on the road, but I was suffering.

I sat in with a couple of Ambleside AC runners, one being Sarah McCormick who was first female and second overall last year, something she went on to repeat this year. I was hoping to stick with her for longer, it's well known in running that women generally pace races better than men, men tending to go out hard and fade. So it had been my intention to learn from her pacing, but just couldn't hang around for the lesson and got dropped by the Ambleside duo about 3k in.  My first few miles were 5:33 and 5:50, ok it was undulating, but no more than I was used too, I just felt shit. I really felt like stopping, which is not usual to be honest, but my moral took a bit of a punch when the two Ambleside runners left me. It wasn't pretty either, I was slavering like a race horse, the amount of slobber I was producing was actually embarrassing as I ran past supporters and photographers, I was obviously having a clear out by putting my lungs under pressure whilst carrying a chesty cough.

I got my self together again and managed to settle in, as we ran into Elterwater the route climbs sharply, it's amazing how hard hills are after 4 miles of fast road racing, the route is lose stone under foot at this point. I did manage to stick with the runners around me up here however, and even gained a place or two which I'd previously lost. We then make a noticeable turn and head through some farm land on bridle tracks, which thankfully had now levelled off, I hit the 8k mark and was feeling as good as I'd felt for the whole race, I could even see I was closing in on one of the Ambleside Runners.

The final 2k was simply a battle across the undulating roads to the finish, trying to close down a couple of runners ahead which I couldn't quite do, whilst preventing anyone passing me, which I did manage to do. Once I could hear the announcements of the finish line area I just gritted my teeth and pushed all the way in whilst trying to sort my face out,  I came in at 37 mins and 20 seconds 6th male and 7th overall from about 800 starters. Putting that into context I finished 58th last year in 43 minutes . So a real mixed feeling when I crossed the line.

I felt awful on finishing, was presented with my Christmas Pudding by Aly Knowles of Brathay, then headed to get warm. I was glad to see Gem waiting to tell me my face needed wiping ! My attention then immediately turned to the other Warburtons out there today, once I had some warm clothes on we waited for both Rick and Sarah to appear over the horizon.

It was great to see Rick coming in smiling and looking comfortable at 50 mins and 2 seconds, brilliant effort for his first 10k road race and a very lumpy course, and certainly not looking out of place.

Then a short time later Sarah came in absolutely buzzing and waving her arms about, cars beeping and people clapping in 1 hour 27 minutes and 6 seconds! I know how hard Sarah has worked for this and fully deserved this excellent result! In fact, from the three of us I looked the worse for wear on finishing, maybe I'm the one who needs to learn to enjoy races from time to time

This was my last race of the year, and what a year its been, super pleased with my times, but running isn't just about running and times. It's about enjoying it,  community and support, as well as seeing others getting involved and the change it has in them is unbelievable. I can't wait for next year, some big dates in the diary and will we see more from Sarah and Rick? I think we will.  But for now, that's me for 2019, I'm full of a cough and cold now so will take some time off running this week and try and get myself fit. The only thing left to do in the lakes after the race was of course, Beer and Pizza.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all

Wilmslow Festive 10k - 24th of November 2019

The event was sold out, so it was a long shot, but started asking around and got lucky to pick up a spare place from Elizabeth Mason from the club Hyde Striders, (thanks Liz), and it was on, it was nice to have a surprise race in the diary, one I'd forgotten all about and not entered, so had no time at all to over think it and worry etc.

I'd arranged to pick up a couple of club friends Joe and Dylan, on the way down we chatted a bit about 10k tactics, This was only my second 10k road race, with the other being the Langdale 10k in the Lake District last December clocking 43 mins, so whilst I was sure I would be quicker than that, I really wasn't sure how to approach it. I thought perhaps double my 5k pace, add a bit and go with that, I arrived at about 35 mins with that crude calculation. Also, after listening to Joe's race tactic of  "just go out really fast and try and stay fast" , I thought that sounded like a solid enough plan for me, so tactics were drawn around that statement and those calculations...

We hung around a bit and had a nosey in the Run North West shop who organise the event, I was amazed by the scale of the event, thousands of runners knocking about. It was like the who's who of local running with some top runners and well known names about. About 10 - 15 mins before the start we headed back to the car to get changed and moved to the start area. It felt like a really big event once in the starting area.

I don't know what it is about races, but you get yourself set and suitably positioned so as not to hold up the faster runners and so not to get penned behind steadier runners, yet once the start is imminent it seems you've been shuffled back 5 or 6 rows....  I can only think people join the pens from the front, does anyone know ? We didn't have time to complain or worry however, there was no messing about with announcements or delays the race gun went and we were away, and away fast! It felt like the first 300m or so we had to bob and weave a bit to find some space and move past a few other runners before settling in, I needed to jump on the kerb for a short while before rejoining the road once there was a bit more space.

I checked my Garmin, I was moving @5:25 pace which is a bit keen I thought, but thinking of the 'go fast and stay fast' tactic myself and Joe were deploying I guess this was spot on. I caught up to the lead woman group and sat with them for a short while, they were getting huge support from the crowds which had turned out to support the race, I hesitated about pressing on, but felt good so moved on from the group hoping to stay ahead. I had to run straight through some pretty deep water puddles in order to take the best line on the corners, but my wet socks were becoming less and less of a problem and the run heated up. I went through 5K in 16:49, with my 5k PB being 16:40 I was really moving. I felt ok through, I was picking up some runners who were starting to drop off which always helps if you can do it, I sat with runners for a few seconds before pushing and trying to catch the next

.

About 8k in I was in-between runners trying to make the jump when  I started to feel the heat, my hamstrings were feeling sore, I thought they'd recovered from Conwy, but the pace of this race was highlighting the cracks. I'd gone from racing aggressively to trying to survive in just a few seconds. The little voice in my head started visualising reasons I could stop, I thought if I can just make the gap to the next runner I can hold on and just sit in a while. Suddenly the runner in front of me stepped off the road holding his hamstrings, that runner was my goal! I very nearly stopped myself and held my hamstrings. I was now on my own with the next runner even further up the road. The course starts to undulate a bit and the runners ahead seem to slow, this allows me to get back amongst something of a group, it felt like I'd been rescued and I gained my control again. All of a sudden a 400m to go sign appeared! Wow I thought, I'd been that involved in my own mental battle to continue I'd forgotten about the battle with the distance and we were nearly done, I just about managed to muster a sprint finish with a Sale Runner and we were home. 34 mins and 06 annoying seconds. Blimey, 10k's are hard, basically just as fast as 5ks and twice as long. Seems obvious that, but true....

I was amazed by my time, running hurts, but I'd surprised myself today , I'd beaten 35 mins which I'd have more than taken if offered before the race. The top seven runners ran sub 30 minutes today, which is unbelievable. I finished 38th and v40 7th, from over 4000 runners very pleased and very shattered. Joe came in not long after in 37:20, also a great time.

If I look at what was missing from my training this year it's 10k and track work, so I'll be looking to improve on that early next year for spring marathon training. The Wilmslow 10k was a brilliant event, they do a summer event also. So if you are looking for a fast 10k, look no further! It gets very crowded near the end and a bit chaotic , so I think next time I'd arrange to meet back at the car rather than the race end. But having said that it's nice to cheer other club runners on and have a catch up with friends.
I've got another 10k in the Lakes in a couple of weeks, at least now I know how I can go about a 10k with this experience under my belt...that's right, double my 5k pace, add a bit and just survive.

race results