Today we head off to do the Alsager 5 mile race. L remembers
that the last time we did it in 2013, I asked her to check the ditches for me
in case I'd collapsed. So I must have been injured that year as well. I think
perhaps she best do the same again this time.
We've been posted numbers but we have to collect our
timing chips on the day, which seems a bit of a waste of postage but there you
go. They also hand out the race t-shirt before we start, which is helpful if you
don’t reach the finish because you’re in a ditch.
The race is full and there’s nearly 900 here, an impressive
turn out. Conditions are cold and I wrap up warm, with running tights in case I
have to crawl out of the aforementioned ditch and walk back.
I recall that in 2013 I had to overtake L because she had
started up front with the elites. I think this was because the race set off in
the opposite direction to what we were expecting. We don’t make the same
mistake today.
It starts ok and I do the first mile in 07:52, not blinding
by any means but adequate. Then the tight calves kick in and I have to stop
every half a mile to stretch them out. Oddly my finishing time of 43:25 is
three whole minutes quicker than in 2013. I must have been really badly injured
that year.
More worryingly is that I bounced back from that poor time
in 2013 and ran 38:02 for five miles only a fortnight later. That’s not going to
happen this time.
We head home and later spend the evening in my new favourite
pub, the Crafty Crow where we also have their sharing platter between us.
(Sunday 1st February)
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