White Horse Half Marathon Results
A decent ERR turnout for an event which was full months ago. Well done to Jane, and also to Ian (with his lady pacemakers) for their PBs. Let me know if I’ve missed any jokers. Denise won the wine, and her report follows the results.
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Back in December when this race was put in the club championships, I gave Graham huge amounts of grief as this clashed with my 18 mile tapering run I already knew was scheduled for that weekend.
Even so, my race secretary, (Graham), entered me so I sulkily took the view that I could run 13 miles then add 5 miles on the end. As the race got closer and my running was showing a marked improvement, I started to consider the flat course may be conducive for a sub 1:40 (a PB for me), so I started to embrace the race more fully, after all, an eyeballs out half marathon was the same as a 18 mile taper….and then 5 days before the race I was ill. I’m talking big ill, head down toilet, in bed for 5 days ill.
Only on Saturday night did I decide I could actually complete the distance, but a big effort, I was sure would leave me back in the same place, so the plan was to run 9 min/miles and be grateful I could do it.
Sunday morning came, and a very small group of ERRs gathered. Despite the warnings to enter early, only a few of us managed to get in. All three long-league men decided to play their jokers, a shrewd move, as the big guns were absent. Jogging towards the start, who should go past us, only Danger Mouse , this obviously prompted the question to Ben where his Bananaman costume was. His excuse was a club championship race should be taken seriously, but we all knew the flying super hero didn’t want to lose to a rodent wearing a white polar neck jumper.
So we positioned ourselves at the start, all us girls behind Ian and Gareth, because it was a training run and Ian would control us. Marie had her 9.30/mile pinned to her top, I was definitely running 9.00/mile, Katherine, was going to stick with me. Lesley, had only just recovered from being dressed by us as she was late arriving. Just behind was Elaine and Jane Bishop, also claiming ‘training run’ status.
The gun went, and Ian and Gareth went charging off and us girls followed…first mile 8.00 mins. Katherine could be seen disappearing in the distance, Lesley in hot pursuit. Marie and I sat firmly behind our “control” and continued to run at 8 min pace…best laid plans… Eventually, our pace slowed to a more steady 8:15 min but the Eynsham train was well and truly in full motion, Ian leading, with Gareth, Marie and myself in tow.
Mile 5, to gel or not gel, would the stomach be able to take it?…yeah, go for it, apple or orange flavour? (please be apple), orange…yuk!
Mile 8, Marie had made a conscious decision to back off, good move as the pace was increasing to 8:07. I asked Ian when he was going to do his next marathon, response, “when I do a good half marathon”. This seems quite a good one, I thought.
Mile 10, another gel, (all good practice for London), apple flavour, much better, stomach is behaving. Pace is still at 8:07 Gareth has fallen back slightly and John Bishop has been reeled in.
Mile 11 and 12 it starts to be a bit undulating again, but the finish isn’t that far away….”What is your PB Ian?” “1:52”. We’re way inside that, just need to keep going.
The lane to the finish is one of those you can see meandering along way ahead of you, heads down, we charged along, picking off runners as we went. The 400m sign…looked at the watch, just turned 1:47. “Right, come on Ian, we get under 1:48..Go!” We went round the corner, all the earlier finishers were there “Ian’s PB” I shouted….”Come on Ian” they all screamed back!
Did he do it? Course he did 1:47:51…Big smiles.
(Note: I’m not sure the 400m sign was in the right place as Christine Ohuruogu does 400m in about 48 seconds and she is the Olympic Champion).
(Note 2: above time is based on Ian’s watch not the official time)
So what did everyone else do?
Ben kept a safe distance in front of Graham, “I nearly caught him up”. Katherine,” just enjoyed running free “after too many weeks with a chest infection and was second V45 lady, whilst Lesley wasn’t far behind. Gareth followed myself and Ian, with Marie just behind again, never really achieving her desired pace of 9:30, more like 8:40.
John Bishop was next, but revealed that he had also been ill the day before, so was feeling a bit rough. Fortunately, for the Bishop household, Jane had achieved a PB, and was ecstatic, she couldn’t believe she maintained 9:00min/mile for so long.
Our last runner was Elaine, “I feel really good, and I could do all this again!” she commented. “Well your opportunity will come next week!” She finished well within her target time of 2:30 and was also very pleased with herself.
For me, I was really pleased with my day. I ran 13 miles after 5 days of being ill. I was able to take gels and the body didn’t react, I got to practice running at my marathon pace, and I helped Ian smash his PB. I believe he’s announcing his marathon comeback in the next few weeks.
Incidentally, Danger Mouse was extremely quick and would have put Bananaman to shame.
Denise
