Carry On Running

Thornbury Running Club puts on three handicap races during the year for club members. I like them because it gives everyone a chance to see how much they have improved (or not) and it gives the slower members a chance to win something on merit rather than just by being there.

Yesterday was the second winter handicap race, 5k round the roads of Thornbury. Fellow blogger Phil was there, as Thornbury is his second claim club. I am 5’ 2”, Phil is 6’ 6” (approximately. I can’t usually see as far as the top of his head). He runs a bit faster than I do, as you may have gathered as his blogs mention distances and times while mine talk about cake and alcohol. 

For most of the race I could see one person in front of me and hear two behind, one of whom was the sweeper.  This was an improvement: last time I was the last runner and couldn’t see anyone after the first half mile. It was one of those days when I felt as though I was working hard but the finish time didn’t show it: 33 minutes, my third worst time on the course. The two behind me arrived soon after and we all had names taken, compared runs. A minute or so later another runner appeared, surely not in the race? He ran easily but fast, down the slope to the finish. The long legs gave him away: Phil had been first finisher and had run round the course again as a training run.

The stats are fun: height difference 1’ 4”, age difference about 30 years, pace 10-something (Jan) and 5-something (Phil)………….. If only we knew the number of steps we’d each taken: Phil’s long legs must have taken far fewer paces then I did.

We each have a challenge for next time and for once it’s the same: get back to the finsh before the other person. It will be a good one as long as Phil does twice the distance.

Well done, Phil.

Happy running!