Dead Runners society race report
Keyworth Turkey Trot, Nottinghamshire sunday 14th december
1997.
This was a busy race
weekend, on saturday we were on the south coast where Shelley finished third in
a ladies only race. Next day off for the traditional pre-Xmas DRS encounter at
the Keyworth half-marathon.
Afternoon
all
The morning after Shelley's 3rd place in the Worthing 5.x km we were
off to the races again, north from foggy Cambridgeshire to Nottinghamshire for
the Keyworth Turkey Trot half-marathon and the now traditional DRS encounter.
Keyworth is the workplace of the Dead Runners Societies top geologist, Dr Paul
"PJ" Henney and we were to be racing on his lunchtime training route including
the infamous "Hills of Death".
We arrived about 35 mins before the
start, met up with deads PJ and Bob Thurstans. Did about 3/4 mile jog before the
start and then lined up with PJ, a cold sunny day with only a slight breeze. I
was wearing my DRS singlet and the "tasteful" shorts I bought in Sacramento,
loads of people were overdressed for the race (IMHO) wearing tracksters and hats
and rainsuits.
Bang and off we went, my race plan was to stick with
PJ for as long as possible. Down the hill from the start and out of Keyworth, it
was pretty crowded in the first mile, we were gradually working our way through
and chatting away. 1 mile in 6.47, kept going hard downhill to 2 miles
13.13/6.26, from running this race in 95 and 96 I knew what was coming.
Sure enough at 2.5 miles the first big uphill started and we were passing lots
more runners on the way up, 3 miles 20.09/6.56. Tough going to the top of the
hill but I was able to hang onto PJ. 4 miles 27.13/7.04, passed 2 people of
horseback around here. At 4.5 miles we passed one of PJ's friends who was
spectating to be told that "Keith was 2 minutes ahead". Immediate increase
in speed from Dr Henney, had to work hard to hang on. 5 miles in 33.44/6.31, I
was still in contact and feeling a bit better, PJ was gradually slowing. We
passed 2 ladies running together around 6 miles 40.33/6.49 but they soon
repassed us and I thought PJ had shot his bolt!
At around 7 miles
47.21/6.48 we came to a bend in the road and I speeded up and went ahead of PJ.
My bid for glory didn't last long as PJ soon came back at me and then slowly
pulled ahead :-( I kept going hard but PJ's move was decisive. I lost a place
around 8 miles 54.01/6.40 to a man in a London marathon shirt but I was soon
able to reel him in and I started racing in earnest now. 9 miles 1h00.41/6.40
and I was going flat out and gradually passing runners, making no impression on
PJ though :-( 10 miles in 1h07.13/6.33, I was feeling pretty tired but it felt
exhilirating racing along like this trying to pass runners and hold off runners
behind.
Into the "Hills of Death", up the first hill, passed a
horse and carraige! Felt uncomfortable on the descent and then up the 2nd
hill. Over the top at 11 miles 1h13.53/6.40, feeling really tired by now, lost 2
places just after the mile marker. I recalled a steep descent after 11 miles
from previous years but it didn't want to come, still racing as hard as
possible, a runner in red was working really hard to stay with me. Finally
around 12 miles 1h20.48/6.55 the steep descent back into Keyworth, I felt a bit
out of control, my quads were starting to complain. Down the hill to 12.5 miles
and then a left turn. Back uphill for the last 1/2 mile to the finish, who
thought of this course anyway?. My red shadow dropped away as I started the
climb, passed 2 more runners before 13 miles 1h27.34/6.46
and then turned
into the road where we started to see the clock hadn't passed 1h28 yet. My best
1/2 marathon of the year was 1h28.28 but I cruised in to finish in
1h28.15.
Pretty tired on finishing but I had a bit left in the tank. PJ
was there at the finish, he'd run 1h27.07. Into the school to get a drink, nice
hot tea to drink as well as the usual orange squash and water. I met PJ's friend
Keith who had run 1h25.
I was able to jog back down the hill to the
car to get some warm clothes on, my legs didn't feel too bad. After running
1h25.00 in this race last year I could only just walk so I definitely didn't go
flat out but I was pleased with my run. I missed Bob at the finish but I
understand he just broke 1h35.
I waited for "the beautiful Shelley"
to come in and she jogged round in 2h09. Not bad after her race on the saturday
and that this was her longest run since her injury in the summer, she hadn't
been past 7 miles since then.
Off into Nottingham after the race
for some food and then Shelley dropped me off at Nottingham railway station.
Train to my home town of Warrington. Monday morning off to the big city of
Liverpool for a 2-day chemistry conference at the now (in)famous Adelphi Hotel.
I've not seen the TV series about the Adelphi but I know why they are making a
documentary about it!
Finally back to Cambridge and "the beautiful
Shelley" last night :-)
bye
tony....
tony bell ageing
student and marathon runner
cambridge university department of
chemistry
amtb2@cus.cam.ac.uk
Tony@shells.demon.co.uk
http://www.shells.demon.co.uk/tonyweb.html
**"Nobody
expects the Spanish Inquisition"**
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