Lytchett 10 14 February 2010
Paul Teck reports on a race with a
record WAC turnout and a handful of PBs.
After getting permission from my other
half to enter this race (You do realise it's Valentines Day - I
never said that!!! Jill), I warmed up briefly with my two daughters
(which normally consists of running to some far away tree and back) then
lined up for the Lytchett 10 Mile road race. I found myself competing
with 354 fellow runners. Twenty-nine of us were WACers, which, as Ian
pointed out, was a record for the club for a race over 10k. The
conditions were perfect, not too hot and not too cold.
|
Team photo at Lytchett |
The first mile consisted of a loop.
This took you out of the school grounds and into the village of Lytchett
Minster and then back into the school where you started from. It was at
this point I got a little worried as I had not seen the first mile
marker, and thought I was not doing very well, but luckily I spotted the
two mile marker not long afterwards. So it was with relief I
concentrated on what lay ahead.
|
Paul leaves Lytchett school
grounds after completing
the first mile loop |
The next mile or so was steady, and
slightly undulating, up to Lytchett Matravers. I was joined by fellow
WACer Rich House as we turned left for a loop around the outskirts of an
estate, and then rejoined the main road which runs through Lytchett
Matravers. After tackling the first short sharp hill on this loop, Rich
helpfully remarked (because he is a paramedic), Dont worry, if you
collapse I will be able to resuscitate you. Thanks Rich! With this in
mind, I decided to up my pace a bit as I knew at some point I was going
to climb Dolmans Hill and wanted to make up as much time as I could on
the straights/downhills, knowing I was going to slow down on the uphills.
The next couple of miles were
undaunting consisting mainly of flat and then a welcome downhill section
before you reached the bottom of Dolmans Hill at about the six mile
point. Having never run this course before, I knew about this hill from
what others had told me. I decided to take it easy but surprisingly,
from a personal point of view, I didn't find it as bad as I feared so
perhaps all the fartlek training I have done recently was starting to
pay dividends as I made steady progress. Before I knew it I was back on
the main Lytchett Matravers road and onto the final stretch.
The last three miles or so were mainly
on a slight decline. I paused briefly to take on some water at about the
7-8 mile point, and it was at this point that you could make up
some good time if you had the legs for it. I decided to keep it steady
and try to keep the same people in front of me and within sight. The
last mile seemed to last an age, but I reached the finish in 1:14:50,
which for me is a PB.
In short I found this an enjoyable race
which was well marshalled with plenty of encouragement from both
marshals and spectators. Wendys lovely chocolate brownies and
valentine-shaped cookies were most welcome and delicious at the finish.
The glow in the dark laces were something I've never had as a momento
before, but my eldest daughter has already claimed them, even though she
doesn't run (yet!).
Paul Teck
WACers results were:
17 Jerry Shield 1:02:12
20 Anthony Clark 1:02:47
34 Craig Dixon 1:06:51
36 Eric Gilbert 1:07:15
50 Andrew Olden 1:08:30
55 Adrian Mead 1:08:45
72 Jon Braund 1:11:01
75 Steve Guy 1:11:06
77 Graham Whiffen 1:11:18
106 Paul Teck 1:14:50
120 Paul Grist 1:16:36
121 David Wild 1:16:47
124 Philip Whitehurst 1:17:10
128 Kevin Elliott 1:17:34
130 Ian Kennedy
1:17:41
149 Rich House
1:19:13
192 Carol Howe
1:23:42
209 Georgina
Hougham 1:24:50
212 Jools
Maskell 1:25:04
238 Annemarie
Fachiri 1:27:11
248 Michele
Whitehurst 1:28:12
265 Kelly
Williams 1:30:49
267 Julie Mead
1:31:01
286 Wendy
Kennedy 1:33:06
309 Robert
Caines 1:36:42
314 Clare
Horsley 1:37:33
315 Andy Horsley
1:37:33
340 Julie Gosling 1:48:34
354 Lee Longmore 2:03:12
