The Usual Suspects

The temperature was top of the list of topics of conversation as I arrived in Cheadle for the latest in my series of NSRRA races - this was to be race number 9 of the 12 I need to complete to be included in the annual competition. The sun was out and even at 10am, it was already hot and getting hotter. It was a relief to know that at least this race was one of the shortest on the calender - just 4 miles, although with a challenging climb after the first mile (or so I'd been told).

Milling around before the start, I spotted many of familiar faces from previous NSRRA races, including plenty of other runners from Potters Trotters, Hanley parkrun and also the other members of Group W. In general, runners from the same club tend to hang around together before the start, but there's always a bit of conversation with runners from other clubs too.

The race itself was pretty much as expected (thanks to the advice from those who had run previously) - a fast slightly downhill start, the horrible hill, twisty-turny country lanes, a very steep downhill, then hanging on along the flat-ish section to finish with a sprint across the field. I started well with a sub-5min kilometre - I had remembered my Garmin for this race - overtaking a couple of Ws in that first section.

Elevation chart - can you spot the hill?

Then to the hill climb - it was tough, especially in the heat and bright sunshine, but it was manageable. I slowed considerably - with over a minute between my first downhill km split and the third km which included the main part of the climb - but I didn't stop running and overtook a few runners, including another Group W runner who I'd been following since the start. I didn't recognise her from other races and found out later that this was only the third or fourth event she has completed this year. A rival, yes, but not one of the usual suspects!

Trying to Catch Up...

As we reached the downhill section, I was tiring but not exhausted and managed another sub-5min kilometre. However, it wasn't quite fast enough as I was overtaken by several runners including the Group W runner I'd passed on the uphill climb. I kept pace with her for a while then she pulled ahead on the flat, only for me to catch up again as we reached a slight climb somewhere in the last mile. However, I  didn't have quite enough speed to overtake her and she stayed in front as we closed in on the finish.



Tired but happy(ish)!

The end of the run involved a sharp turn from the road into the park area and around 50 metres across the grass to finish. My Group W rival was just a few metres ahead and I tried to increase my speed to catch her but couldn't - she stayed strong and finished about six seconds ahead of me. My time was 35:11 and I think I was 8th in my age category (LV40). My run was good enough for second place in Group W, though, and I now have 448 points from my 9 races.

Overall, I was really pleased with my run. I felt faster and more confident than at Berryhill and Stone and actually enjoyed the "race" aspect - trying but not quite managing to catch one of the other Group W runners at the finish. But there's still room for improvement - I know I wasn't as strong on the hills as I was earlier in the year and lost some time there. But this was a run I enjoyed and topped off a good week of running all round - the first week since the Potters 'Arf I've been able to run more than 20 miles in a week.

But now it's time to focus on a different challenge - next Sunday, I'm going to part of the National Lottery Anniversary Run in Olympic Park. I can't wait!

Happy Running

LizT