Monday, 26 January 2009

5 went mad in Dorset !!!


On Friday, I headed off down to Dorset via South London & have to say 5 in a hyundai coupe is rather compact - was like Tetris trying to get us into the back - my head was on the ceiling & i'm 5ft 11, Nick is 6ft plus !!!


We finally made it to Portland & checked into the YMCA - rumours aren't true I wasn't dressed as a Cop, Nick didn't don the full Indian head dress but were rather worried about James in his string vest - he's lived in London too long !!!


We headed off to the pub for dinner & lasagne proved a popular choice & there were a few pints sunk & a few tales & jokes were told - all in really bad taste (as usual !) .


Race day Saturday @ the sailing academy (an excellent venue) - We headed out of the car park & within 400 yards our first challenge arrived a 45 degree incline stretching for almost half a mile - i managed to run 3/4 of it but then decided to conserve some energy which i needed as just 400 yards later there was a pyramid style knoll to clamber up almost on all fours !!!


over the first 4 miles alot of people flew past me, but i kept to my own pace & just kept going, i had some good chats with a variety of folks. Once at 8 miles there was no one within 400 yards behind me & the nearest ahead of me were 200 yards & to mentally keep me going i decided to try & reel in as many as possible & keep score, plus 1 for everyone I went passed & minus 1 for anyone passing me.


With about 10 miles gone we hit chisel beach & that seperated the men from the boys - everyone struggled & i didn't see a single person run the whole 1.5 miles - i ran 3/4 of it & I struggled less than most - rhythm was the key the running the pebbles.


the race was 2 laps & with all the folks i overtook on the beach each time i managed to get myself up to a score of 39 passed, not a single person came passed me & i was pleased to finish in 4 hours 37 - 12 mins quicker than last year in 33rd overall - a tough marathon but an enjoyable one.


After Portland we headed off to ledbury to crash at Philip's a fellow nutter & one of the greatest blokes i've ever met a true warm hearted Gentleman. We had a wonderful pasta meal with a a bottle & half of vino before turning in for the night.


Day 2 saw us make the short journey to Gloucester for a rendez vous at a Leisure centre & were greeted by all the "usual suspects" - there were at least a couple of dozen 100 club members & of course Mick n'Phil & I got to meet Fetchie's Fireman,Trin & Zoom plus fellow Brathay competitors Steve, Mark & Adam (briefly).


The race as it was last year lacked organisation although it was an improvement on 2008, with not knowing how far I had run the finish line caught me by suprise - i was aiming for sub 4 hours 30 & amazingly broke 4 hours.


The event was sadly marred by the death of one of the competitors as i came through 12 miles i saw the Paramedics finally having to give up CPR on a competitor, i hoped & prayed my first thoughts wouldn't be realised but sadly they were :( RIP


i think the weekend was a good warm up for May & best of all i had a good time with some great like minded people.


Best wishes


"Fox on the run"

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