Dead Runners society race report
Daresbury Dash 2 mile race – Wednesday 25th June 2003.
Back to my old stamping ground for a race I helped to
found. Yet another race up the hill to the Firs and another opportunity to find
out how unfit I have got.
Evenin all
Tony here with a report on his third race in 5 days. Back in the
early/mid 90s I used to work at Daresbury Laboratory near my home town of
Warrington. There were a few runners at the lab and in 1992 we joined together
to form "Daresbury Accelerators" Running Club. I helped to form this
club and the annual "Daresbury Dash" 2 mile multiterrain race for all
the runners and anyone else interested at the lab.
I left Daresbury in 1995 but have been a frequent visitor to the
lab since then doing experiments at the UK Synchrotron Radiation Source. I have
even been around to do the Dash every now and then when my visits to the lab
coincide with race day. My current job at Manchester University involves a lot
of work at the Synchrotron, next week we have some more experimental time. I
just happened to be visiting the lab today sorting things out for next week's
experiment on the day of the Dash, what a coincidence :-)
After two races last weekend I was still feeling tired and a bit
sore, I just wanted to run round today and support the race. I signed up for
the race and jogged a mile to warm up, it was another warm and humid day. A lot
of the original DARC members were there to run as well as a few keen looking
youngsters, 29 lined up and the new Synchrotron Director said go.
Off we went round the lab perimeter road, usual fast start, I
didn't try to go off too hard. I passed a fast starter as we left the lab,
which put me in 7th place. Over the canal bridge and along the Bridgewater
canal towpath, I could hear heavy breathing behind me but I was able to hold my
position down the fairly narrow towpath. We come off the canal at the next
bridge and then the fun begins, cross the canal and into a field and then up we
go. Up the steep climb through the woods above the lab, I found it pretty tough
going up to the top but I ran all the way and passed two walking on the way up.
Very tired at the top, the secret of this race is not so much running up the
steep bit but keeping going at the top. Descending through the woods I lost 4
places before emerging onto the road again. Picked up pace on the steep descent
but I couldn't catch anyone, into the lab and on to the finish.
Pretty tired on finishing, 13.53 for the nominal 2 miles, 9th out
of 29 finishers. A new pw for me in both position and time, back when I was
young and fit I did nearly 2 minutes faster, still I didn't try to kill myself
today. After the presentation of prizes I did another 1/2 mile to recover. No
more racing for a while, a busy few weeks awaits me with my work, time to push
back the walls of ignorance again.
bye
tony....
Tony Bell
Midweek.
Warrington, Cheshire.
Weekends. Milton,
Cambridge.
tony.bell2@ntlworld.com
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.bell2/tonyhome.html
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