Thornbury Running Club

Well after Monday night’s race, I must admit my legs were stiff, added to which I was in a training course on Tuesday and Wednesday so, my first chance for a recovery run was last night. I went out for a steady run round my usual 4 miles around Thornbury. It was a struggle but I needed to get through it and went round in 25 mins.

And so to today. I had a plan to go to training with the B&W squad, I hold my hands up and admit I have been slack… no very slack and haven’t been since I locked my keys in the car back in April (too much racing). But unfortunately I was delayed whilst the hound got his monthly injections. I didn’t get back to Thornbury until 6:50 and I still had to walk him. Anyway I soon changes my plans and decided to join my old team mates at Thornbury Running Club. It is like I had never left, same people standing in the same place whilst the club Captain gave the weekly update on results, and future club events.

Anyway, I have to admit there is a secondary reason why going back to TRC was not a difficult decision as tonight was the second of their summer handicap race. It is designed so that the first person over the line is not always the winner, that all depends on your handicap time and how well you have improved. I ran this race once last year, and have held the course record (29:36) ever since until a few weeks ago when my time was equalled, so today I felt I had to go back and regain the record.

Lets be honest it hasn’t been the best of weathers tonight, in fact I don’t think it has stopped raining since 2pm. The course they use is a reverse of the Oldbury Fun Run course plus an extra 1.5k dog leg at the end over footpaths/bridal ways.

With a few people I didn’t recognise I decided not to shoot off at the gun. One guy went a bit to quickly in the first 100m, but by 500- 600m I had settled into my pace and overtook him. I never really looked back, but I carried on pushing myself not wanting to let off the pace, and that, quite boringly, was that. The bridle ways caused me a few issues with regards to grip and there are a few gates to manoeuvre through. There were two good points to take from tonight: Firstly I pushed myself round the course without needing any competition, and secondly, tonight has shown just how I have improved in just over a year as I now have regained sole ownership of the course record in a time of 27:20 (I think!!). I can get that down by 20 secs in the next one.

All in all it was a good evening, spent with good friends, thank you to TRC for letting me join them tonight (well they are still my second club)