Running Report

The Fradley 10k (12-Mar-06).

JJ - 50 min 4 sec  

With Tim struggling with the hills down in Hastings, I decided to take on a more local race just down the road from us at Fradley. After some initial tension when my race pack didn't arrive, I managed to register at the race itself just before they ran out of places. It was raining and windy outside upon arrival and the school hall where the race team were based was full of runners stretching and chatting away. Not being local, I quietly wandered around wondering, not for the first time, just what the hell the accent is around here anyway! A sort of bastardised Brummie, no wonder most people around here don't venture far from home! With my head full of linguistics and thoughts of "doing a Eliza Dolittle" on an otherwise quite attractive girl, I headed back to the car with twenty minutes to go to get ready. I stretched, put on my MD shirt and took a quick photo before heading down to the start...

... only to find that I had missed the start of the race! After being there well over an hour early, I started the race about 3 minutes after everyone else. After a similar "tactic" had paid dividends at the Marathon, I was pleased as now it gave me the opportunity to pick off the various chubbies and tracksuits throughout the race. The race is two laps around a nice bit of Fradley village and is pretty flat. The first 5k was completed in about 25 minutes and I was feeling pretty good. I couldn't find Eliza, but with the help of the Garmin, managed to keep up a constant pace throughout. With about a mile to go, I realised that not only was a PB on the cards, but a pop at the 50 minute barrier was realistic. So it was with some annoyance that the snow started at that point and the last mile was right into the wind. A chap appeared from nowhere with about 200-300 metres to go and started yelling at me to "race me, RACE me!! COMMME ONN!". We powered up to the race line with him narrowly beating me and the clock beating me as well as I dipped outside 50 minutes. However I quickly realised that my late start meant that I had actually beaten that guy pretty comprehensively, but thanks to him all the same. Overall a massive Personal Best and I headed home with my slightly cack medal with pride, and a highly commendable 50 minute 4 second time under my belt, a new MD record!

     
Pratting about in the car park missing the start of the race

     
My arm isn't long enough...

This arrangement has been put up for the Turner Prize  

The evidence!

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