Owls Count

Even though I arrived in plenty of time I failed to warm up properly. The mass start ensured a fast early pace, even if I took most the way to the first control to get my map under control in the strong winds. The first few controls were about maintaining a good pace in the pack.

My first real problem came going out of 11, where the course gaffled. I just could not work out which direction I was meant to go and wasted 30 seconds sorting the problem out. Going out of eighteen, and under the M60, I followed a group who crossed the river. I was going with them until my brain realised that they must be on a different course, since my next control did not require crossing the river I had to quickly back track. Continuing from here my calf started to tighten and I struggled to maintain a good pace in the last part of the course.

Overall I am pleased with my run - I managed to remain navigating well even at a reasonably fast pace. The course offered a good challenge and a decent run around Stockport. A photo of me near the finish and my route - or at least some approximation of my route, as I cannot really remember where I went at some stages.

As I was heading up to Stockport for the weekend, for the orienteering and to visit family, I decided I would also get up in time to run this 5k race. Originally I had planned to travel up on Friday, but plans changed and I ended up driving up on Saturday morning - meaning a rather early 4am start! Breakfast was cereal and coffee at a service station on the M6 and followed by a pre-race tea and banana on arrival with family.

I arrived at the park reasonably early, which meant I had time for a decent warm up and to scout out part of the two lap course. The park races are low key, which meant that the start was someone going: ‘Start on my whistle’ and then whistling, which caught most of the field by surprise.

I started a little too quickly, but soon calmed my pace down - settling into a comfortable pace. I was surprised at one point to be told ‘10:19′ at one point, which I realised 20 seconds later was my first lap time - I had simply not recognised that we had gone round once. The second lap was a little slower. I had one moment where I thought I might be going to wrong way when, suddenly, I was on a path and unable to see any other runners in front or behind.

My time was 20:48, which was quicker than I expected. I reckon, based on that time, I can do sub-20 at the moment - I did not go full out and could have gone faster at the end. There are a couple of photos of me. I recommend the event to anyone in the area - each Saturday at 9am - though possibly on more sleep than I had had!

A rather good Father’s Day outing - with most of the family running. The course went round the town I lived in for ten years.

I started at a good pace and after 600m realised that I was just behind my brother. I ran down the main hill with him, but he pulled away just after 2km. Through town I kept a reasonable pace, but felt as if I was struggling a bit.

Through Stour Meadows was difficult - it was a choice of single file or running through the long grass, which meant the pace was dictated by those in front. I felt strong going up hill and stayed about 50m behind my brother the whole way along the old railway.

I was glad of the water at the beginning of the Milldown, even though I was carrying my own. I was then relieved to get out of the Milldown with there being no sign of the leaders coming back the other way. During the next section of down and up I maintained a reasonable pace, but could not get any closer to my brother who was 100m ahead of me by this stage.

Coming into Tin Pot Lane I was told that it was ‘Not much further’ and ‘All downhill from here’ - both of which I knew to be true, but were really good to hear! From here it was a case of raising the pace in to the finish.

My time surprised me. I finished in 44:50 - which was a minute or so faster than I expected. Also, I felt as if I could have gone faster.
My km splits were: 4:20 - 4:00 - 4:40 - 5:48 - 4:39 - 5:54 - 4:19 - 5:08 - 3:49 - 2:11
I ran a lot more evenly than those suggest. I would guess that the 5:48 and 5:54 extra time should be in the last two kms.