The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Co-Skipper · #1 Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 67

I ventured back close to my old stomping ground of 3 years to run round the Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage. Runners World had this race down as a pancake-flat, measured 5 mile race, a PB course.

Well to call it flat and a PB course falls foul of the Trade Descriptions Act. There were 3 sharp climbs per 2 mile loop rendering a PB all but impossible. To be fair, I did not handle the hills greatly - I felt stronger than I did at Mersea all round and was able to stay with the chasing pack on the flat parts - but lost valuable time on each hill to the rest. Tomorrows session would therefore be just perfect!

Now to the measured 5 mile course. Well I'm not sure who measured it but it must have been someone under the influence during the previous night in Stevenage. The course eventually measured at 5.26 miles. I knew the game was up when I went through 4 miles in 25.30, and I was a full minute ahead of that when running badly at Mersea.

I finished in 31.50 and 13th place, out-sprinting a Ware Joggers athlete up the final slope - like 2 tired horses completing the Grand National. The performance did feel good and the time over the true 5 miles was probably strong considering the hills - but obviously it is hard to tell exactly how good due to the bizarre measuring systems.

Co-Skipper · #1 Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 67

http://www.races.fvspartans.org.uk/jubilee5.htm