Sunday 9 November 2008

AGE GROUP WIN IN LANCASTER AND MORCAMBE 1/2 MARATHON


RACY TRACEY MAKES BIG SPLASH AT MORECAMBE HALF!
Five of us made the epic trip to Lancaster in atrocious conditions, blustery wind and torrential rain!
Steady Eddie drove Rob Mcgrath, Sarah Reynolds [ spectating] Tracey Peters and myself to the Salt Air sports stadium for the start of the Lancaster and Morecambe 1/2 marathon.
Once again the rain miraculously stopped just in time for the 11 0' clock start!
I found myself at the front after a 100m, as I had run the Ashurst X/C the day before my plan was to try and run at my hoped for LONDON MARATHON pace. I slowed down and let the fast guys past and settled into a steady effort, MAN on a mission Rob came cruising by on a quest to break 80 mins for the first time as a V40. A lot of the course was on cycle tracks which run along side the picturesque Lune river, the early miles were into a direct headwind so I found a big tall lad to shelter behind. By the time we got to 7 miles we started to get the wind on our backs and got blown along at a fair old speed! I was feeling quite good and in the closing miles I put the hammer down sweeping up runner after runner in front of me. The last 400m was on the running track and i wound it up, flying past my rival for the 1 st v 45 just before the line! 1.22.13 on the clock, very pleasing after yesterdays hard x/c.
Rob Mcgrath stormed round to finish in a new v 40 p.b. of 78 mins and 11th place.
Tracey Peters was running really well until she fell head first down a water logged ditch at 8 miles, opps!!! A friendly Scottish runner stopped to drag her out, now battered,muddy cold and wet and looking not unlike a swamp monster Tracey bravely battled onwards with the kind encouragement and support of the Scots chappy. and if things couldn't have got any worse for the poor girl, the heavens opened up and sent a deluge of hell stones smashing down upon her freezing body just as she entered the running track for the final 400m. Tracey finished cold and dejected just missing out on a new p.b.
WE all thought the combination of cycle tracks, dirt trails and scenic country roads was great fun, apart from a very cold and damp Tracey! But as they say, you can't please all the people all the time!
RESULTS

4 comments:

Thomas said...

Two races in one weekend = you're nuts!

Mike said...

Great job Rick!! Very strong 1/2 after the X/C race. What's your target time for the marathon?

RICK'S RUNNING said...

I WOULD LIKE TO RUN AS CLOSE TO MY P.B. OF 2.48 MIKE!
nuts!!! THOMAS, WELL ARE ANY OF US RUNNERS NORMAL......

Grellan said...

Great race Rick and congratulations on the age group win. You're on fire, especially for a nutter.