ERR 1 Hour Report by Simon Walker
The ‘1 Hour Challenge’ has been a total new running concept for me – not knowing where the finish line is but knowing when the finish is.
In a way it unclutters the running experience? I will be on my feet, putting one foot in front of the other for one hour, end of. Gone are the complications of measuring the route, pace, thinking about PBs… It’s just running, like a child, though the fields and back in time for tea.
So far 41 of us have been seduced by the one hour challenge and most of us ran further, second time out. Several barriers have been broken – 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 miles per hour – done! The next one is on June 14th (next Sunday) I wonder how many of us can edge a little further? I wonder who’s going to break the 10 mile barrier? I wonder who’s going to debut? I wonder who’s going to enjoy an hour out there, just free?
This report is about the May 10th version. This was a peak of road-quietness (not the same now is it – a lot more care required, some feisty drivers out there?). I chose the long downhill through Long Hanborough and then along Low Road to the A40, which still has a lot of ‘down’ and ‘straight’ then along the A40 and back towards Freeland, which included an uphill finish. I’m not sure I even saw anyone? It’s all a blur? It might have been windy?
I did enjoy it though and was in the enviable position of a guaranteed PB as my debut on April 12th had been laps of the garden, a kind of meditation with lots of corners.
Well done to all who have taken part, so far. I was thinking it will be fantastic training on June 14th for the Ridgeway, a couple of weeks later. Massive THANKs to our brilliant racing committee for the idea!
