debbie g
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Mersea 5 and 10 milersI have to tell you Benfleet's ladies were awesome today at Mersea. In the 5 miler my good friend and training partner Gail Dawson now running 1st claim for Benfleet  was 1st lady and Catherine was 2nd lady. With Jacqui turning in a good performance too Benfleet would have been assured of the team prize - sadly there wasn't one!
In the 10 miler there were just 2 of us - myself and Vanessa but we made our mark. I finished 3rd lady my first ever top 3 trophy placing To say I am chuffed is an understatement!
Nes was 5th I think but she was also 1st over 35 vet. I was looking to break 70 minutes but the wind thwarted me - I was just outside 70:08. There are more 10 milers later in the year though..... 
The men turned in a good performance in the 5 miler with Graham Booty 1st home in 28 mins followed by Keiron and Morgan who had a blinding run. Another massive PB methinks!
Not many of us there but I think we made our mark with the ladies walking off with 4 trophies! 
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Co-Skipper
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Well done to Debbie, Vanessa, and all Benfleet's ladies - as well as Graham and Morgan in the 5 mile race. A set of superb runs throughout.
I was very disappointed with my own effort. The course was described as flat, slightly undulating. This was probably true although there were a couple of nasty slopes - one in the first mile, and a longer drag into the wind by the open creek on around the 3 mile mark.
Graham's group of around 5 athletes drew away from around half a mile in, and I crossed the first mile a few metres adrift of them in 5.34. Already though, it felt as if the energy had drained away, with the strides and form becoming cramped and erratic. Although miles 2 and 3 were taken in 11.40 and 17.40 respectively, mile 4 proved to be an absolute disaster as the pace slowed to 6.40 for that mile alone. This took me well over the projected 30 minutes.
Whether this over-tiredness feeling was down to the hill, the weather, a negative attitude, a virus, or current fitness is anyone's guess. It certainly did not feel like the normal fatigue. There was just no energy or spark there. The last mile, mainly downhill to the promenade was done in around 6 minutes through pure anger and gritted teeth.
When an athlete ahead went straight on to begin his 2nd lap (he was doing the 10 miles) instead of turning left to the finish, you didn't know whether to be happy that you had gained a place, or humiliated that you had been outrun over your only lap by someone doing an extra lap. I thought I had earned a bit of pride by running away from my closest pursuer with 400 to go - but alas, he also went straight to begin his 2nd lap, while I scrambled to the finish. I am unsure of the time but it was well over 30 minutes - and about a minute from the target.
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debbie g
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Thanks Keiron. I wouldn't say it was a flat course but as a hill hater I have to say I class this as a fast course mainly because the hillier bits are drags which I tend to run better. And yes it was a bit windy and I lost pace on the drag too but I ran it better than most and gained quite a few places there. And don't worry we all have bad days - I think 2007 was my continuous bad day!!!
Got this pic taken last night of 3 of the ladies trophy winners
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debbie g
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Mersea Results are up now at last
5 MILE
3 0:28:24 BOOTY, GRAHAM benfleet rc All Men 571
7 0:30:33 MCGILL, Keiron benfleet rc All Men 628
10 0:32:13 DAWSON, Gail benfleet rc All Ladies 616 1st Female
12 0:34:12 STUNT, Catherine benfleet rc All Ladies 604
16 0:34:42 REDDISH, Morgan benfleet rc All Men 596
18 0:35:29 WATSON, Jacqui benfleet rc All Ladies 598
10 MILE
22 1:10:00 GIBBINS, Deborah benfleet rc 45+ Female 417
30 1:11:16 DODDS, Vanessa benfleet rc 35+ Female 432
Talk about frustration! I knew I started my watch before the hooter and stopped it beyond the finish but didn't dare hope I gained some seconds. To run 70 minutes dead is a slight disappointment 1 second quicker and I would have had my sub 70 ! Still I can report this is a 7 second PB so got to be pleased
And I didn't realise you took a 3rd place too Graham - congratulations belatedly! Unfortunately no trophy for 3rd in the 5 miler only 1st and 2nd. Still you have been collecting a few lately Graham and who needs a trophy when you can beat Adam Hickey!!
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