RACE 17 - MAIDENHEAD 10 - 23 April

Firstly, a few reflections and a couple of photos, from last week. Once I'd managed to summon up the energy, helped by  Starbucks chocolate coin and a banana - both from our goody bag, I limped up to the bag drop area.  There I found one of the women runners chatting to the volunteers manning the bag drop, extolling the joys of running with a mile-wide smile.  Drawing me into the conversation, she asked whether I'd found the run 'therapeutic?'  I'm afraid I was less than ecstatic with my answer, mentioning the pain of the last hill up to the finish. However chatting away, I kind of began to empathise with her viewpoint - it was fantastic running through the woods, with the sights, smells and sounds. One of the photos shows my utter concentration whilst on the run - actually it doesn't - it shows why I prefer running through the countryside rather than pounding the pavements.  The other photo shows me chasing no. 776 and by the way, my legs aren't that stumpy, it's the perspective and the fact I'm running up hill - honest!  

Changed in to dry clothes and sandals.  Normally I wouldn't consider wearing sandals but my feet were really appreciative.  Thought it was only 'dude' types - tanned, bleached blond hair, boardie shorts etc. who could get away with it - however was complimented on my foresight by another lady runner and they really take the pressure off the blisters!  Another thing learnt and will become part of my post-race habits.   

There's a really good book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall which explains or at least attempts to, the joy of running.  Talking with some of the people I know who did the marathon on Sunday, apart from the pain nearly all of them are already planning the next one.  They also explained how energised they felt, sleeping better, more focussed etc. I guess one of the main joys of running is that it has much less emphasis on 'kit' as while you can spend ridiculous amounts - all you really need is some trainers, t-shirt and shorts.

MAIDENHEAD 10 - the race I thought was in kilometres not miles.  Bit disorientated getting up on a Friday to race.  The race HQ was in an office park just outside Maidenhead, sited between a railway line and an airfield.    As you can see its a fairly standard office park in design terms, though the grounds were pretty nice. 

    

The weather was beautifully sunny which made for a hot run.  The temperature was 21C according to the car's thermometer.  Got there early enough for the obligatory pre-race cup of tea.  While warming up waiting for the start of the race, realised that there were some very professional looking runners and a vast number of runners from clubs.  All proper running vests (sleeveless) shorts (split up the side) - all a bit intimidating.  While there were some obviously looking to just do it for fun, the majority looked raring to go!

With this in mind I didn't go too near the front at the start.  In fact it took me 30 seconds from the gun going off to cross the start line.  So starting off slowly for the first time around the office park and then off up the main access road.  As we were running up the road we saw the first runners coming back down at a fair-old pace.  Sportingly many of the runners cheered and clapped the runners on. At this point I began to select a runner to keep pace with.  This time is was 535 from Clapham Runners (Mike Scofield) who kept changing places with me up until mile 8.  He would draw ahead, I would reel him in and overtake, the he would reel me in and so on.  


At the top of the access road we turned round, went back down to the office park, did another circuit and then back up the access road.  This time we headed off across the fields.  I must admit when I saw the race layout I'd assumed that these would be normal paths.  They weren't - they were asphalt tracks.  It was was lovely crossing the fields but the absence of tree cover meant that we had long albeit hazy views but also no shade.  This became the norm.  Even down the country lanes, due to the orientation of the course, there was minimal cover from the sun which was becoming increasingly hotter.  Whenever there was even minimal shade the runners would all veer towards it for respite.  Fortunately the organisers had set up a number of water stations which were vital.  


We ran through a small village and houses that lined the road and some of the residents were out cheering us on.  Its great how complete strangers cheer you on and shout encouraging things.  Even the traffic on the roads seemed benign - passing runners at a snails' pace with big smiles on their faces - although that might have been smugness in that they were sitting in air-conditioned comfort while we were just sweaty messes.

About this time I'd narrowly moved ahead of my pace-maker so chose another.  Past the airfield and then up what must have been a slight incline over the railway line but boy did it hurt!  The feet, and thighs were painful by now with about two miles to go.  Across some more fields and back to the office park access road for the final water station.  As I couldn't remember whether we had to do yet another lap of the #**~ *^/#**  office park kept a steady pace until I heard someone shout only 400m to go!  I didn't have to round it - just part way round, so I sped up (a bit) and managed to overtake two runners.  This photo of me near the finish is the only one so I had to purchase it as it is the first one of me in race colours - namely the Prostate Cancer top!  I'm glad I waited for the medium size (the smallest men's size) as any larger and I'd have been swamped.

Over the line for a medal and a Mars bar!  Again I was knackered partly due to the heat and partly as I've already mentioned I don't really like road running - its just too hard on the aged bones.  Then off to the car which one of the marshals had commented on its liberally bird splattered state to get my feet into the sandals - major relief, and some money for the celebratory bacon sarnie and cup of tea.  The medal was a nice touch - the last thing I need is another race t-shirt as I've dozens, and the swan which is in the centre of the fountain which is on the main vista of the office park is represented on it.

Driving home which I was dreading as it was Good Friday was almost as quick as driving out there early morning as everyone seemed to be coming out of London.  The M4 was chocker, so was the south circular but everyone going in the opposite direction - joy!  

Result: 272 out of 929 runners in a time of 1:17:11 (gun-time) - 265 out of 929 in a time of 1:16:39 (chip-time) which means it took me 30 seconds to cross the start line.