little havens 5k

david thomson · little havens 5k

looks to be a pretty flat fast course to me (from the poor map ive been sent).
hopefully my legs will be up for a fast one ?

mikemoreton

You will get a pb as I heard its not a measured 5k.

correct me if I am wrong though

david thomson

results are up
http://www.phoenixstriders.org.uk...avens%20Basildon%205K%202009.html

not thrilled with my own run but considering ive been out for a bit cant complain too much. didnt enjoy the narrow start having to fight my way past people in tennis shoes starting on the front row .and also having to fight my way round all the back markers who seemed to suddenly change direction at the last moment and were given no help by the marshals.

david thomson

Gary Pitman

I'm happy with my time 20.09 my watch clocked it as 3.13miles. The backmarkes held a few people up on their second lap. Bit of a warm one as well.

Co-Skipper

In the end, I had to be happy with a PB of 9 seconds, coming in at 17:46 and 14th place. Like David, I found the start rather frustrating with a forest of 15-17 year old legs ahead of us in the front row.

The course started and finished in a small field near the Sports Centre, heading up the small slope, before heading out and back towards the Cross Country grass route. The lap finished by running along the river and up towards the town centre exit before loppoing back the field.

I felt like I went off far too quickly. This was probably in a bid to pass all the front-row starters that were falling back in the narrow sections, where waiting behind them would have cost valuable time and momentum. The watch read 6.51 at 2k, and I soon paid for that early pace.

Most annoyingly, the shoe-lace worked loose at the 3k marker forcing me to stop for a good few seconds and secure it - allowing the first lady, Tracey Ranson to come past and open a 5-sec lead. I just couldn't close that down over the last lap although she was always clearly in sight. Having got the better of Tracey at TCC 5k I would have been confident had it come to a sprint. She gained another place on a plate when a Southend athlete dropped out at the very next corner.

The last kilometre was spent nervously looking over the shoulder at Dave Thomson (and probably costing more time), who was gradually closing in to around 25 metres. With 400 to go, I heard an athlete advance to my shoulder and I tried to respond, fearing the worst. It turned out to be another athlete however, who kicked off the last corner and drove hard for the line, with me determined not to let him get away, one stride behind and getting alongside as we crossed the line together in 17:46. I think I was eventually given the 14th place.

I would mention 2 athletes in particular for their good performances although everybody contributed well. Although he admitted he was disappointed, Dave Thomson was a constant threat - and I certainly knew he was there all right. And Matt Cops seems to be getting stronger by the race and has to be satisfied with this one. Overall, a very enjoyable local event that surprising (given the course) yielded a PB.

Co-Skipper

I would also echo Dave's sentiment about the lapped athletes - you would literally come across them 3-abreast at times, taking up the whole path. In a complete world of their own, in the middle of their chats - seemingly unaware that the leaders were coming to lap them.

If only it had been like Formula 1 with the waved blue flags...

david thomson

thanks keiron , well done on your pb obviously you would have been quicker had you not made the pit stop , gone off so quick , or been on a faster course. i went off too quick myself though i was bang on the pace i wanted for the 1st 2k (7 mins) just wasnt quite up to holding it. thought i was closing on you most of the race but very gradually but you went away in the last 400m or so.