Those are the risks but I put a brave face on it as I grab a
cup of tea and a bacon roll, thankfully not at usual airport prices, while L
disappears off into the Departures Hall to check in at Desk 25. It might be a
daft idea running around an airport but it’s also pretty cool.
L is in Wave C (which she refers to as C for Chubbies) which
is practically nosebleed territory and well ahead of the back Wave F (F for Fatties). I think it's called self deprecating humour and she's not being un-PC, I hope. She's almost in with the Elites unless they’re in Wave E of course.
Everyone has been told that they're not allowed to publish the
route probably something to do with the Official Secrets Act but
I think the real reason was probably because it was a bit dull. I’m not sounding
bitter am?
It’s mostly on the access roads and around the main car park.
The upside is that L passes me four times. It’s just me as we left the boys at
home because we knew we’d have to get a undogfriendly shuttle bus in from Jet
Parks 1 and 2.
The route could have been better as with 2000 runners
the two lap course with the second lap being only 4k as opposed to the 6k first
lap means the lead runners easily catch the back of the race and have to swim
through the tide. Not good. Everything else though is immaculately organised
and the race t-shirt is also rather nice.
The airport have also stated that no photos or videos are to be taken
during the race and that airport security marshals will be in place around the
route and will take action against anyone who does. Well clearly everyone,
spectators and marshals alike, forgot about this as photography was rampant.
Having kept my power dry all morning of course and I can now
ignite it in the evening. Hence I have booked an SQT session at the Velodrome.
This is the last Sunday night session of the year before we are kicked out
while the pantomime takes over and its fully booked. The session has a touch of
Christmas Party about it, this is if you can imagine a party for hardened
trackies who are a tad peeved about their sessions being cancelled and want to
knock lumps out of someone because of it. They even wheel in an especially psycho coach to help take the session.
Although they do need two anyway because due to the panto
stage being in the middle of the track you can no longer see across it and they
need a coach each side in radio contact to maintain safety.
It is easily the most evil velodrome session I’ve ever done
but also equally the best Christmas Party I’ve been to. The new guy introduces
something I think he called the Six Day Six but I can’t find anything about on the web. I think it was just pure unadulterated evil that he made up himself
but then it wasn’t really out of character with the rest of the session.
L doesn’t quite have to carry me into the Exeter Arms
afterwards but it wasn't far off that stage. My ever supportive father joins
us. Then I have takeaway curry while L saintly has a Subway salad.
(Sunday 27th November)
No comments:
Post a Comment