Up!

Race start!

The Ipstones 5 was another new race for me this year and not just a new race but a new place too... I'm still getting to know the area around Stoke-on-Trent and the little village of Isptones on the edge of the Peak District National Park was an unfamiliar destination. I knew two things about the race... one, it is part of a fundraising day at the village fire station and two, it goes up! I've had a good few weeks of training since launching myself on the comeback trail, so I was hoping for good things.

Race sign-up was efficient and I then completed a short warm up to prepare my legs for the hilly miles to come, especially the promised 1 mile up with which the race starts. The field seemed smaller than many of the NSRRA races I've completed, but there were still plenty of familiar faces as we lined up at 3.30pm outside the fire station to get underway.

Downhill: #636 thanked me for waiting
until after the photo before overtaking!

It was a tough slog right at the start of the race with the immediate hill climb, but I tried to keep a steady pace and just after the first mile marker - a little wooden signs in the shape of a fire engine - we reached the high point of the course and I could catch my breath. First two kilometres completed in almost 12 minutes, which meant I would have to push on if I wanted to break 45 minutes, the notional target I'd set myself.

The downhill kilometres which followed were indeed a lot faster - I completed the next four at an average pace of 5:08 minutes per km and was back on target for sub 45. I would have liked to have gone a little bit faster still but yet again I struggled with the changing terrain, particular on the steepest downhill section on a gravel track. Fortunately, there don't seem to be any photos of me from this section - the scared rabbit look isn't a good one!

About 6kms into the race, after "hurtling" down those gravel paths as fast as I dared, my left hamstring started to protest strongly. I don't know if I over-stretched whilst trying to keep my balance on the downhill, or it was something else entirely, but I know it was hurting. I've had aches and pains in races before and felt tired, but I don't think I've ever really felt "injured". It was hard not to focus on the pain in my leg. Should I stop? Or slow down? Or ignore it and hope it goes away?

Home straight, downhill, "sprinting" face
with my pony tail bouncing up and down!

I pushed on, grimacing with every step. Then there was one more hill which was a real struggle, my kilometre time sneaking over 6 minutes again as I faltered to a walk for about 10 seconds. But I didn't stop and the very steep, but thankfully short, climb was soon over. Just over 1km to go then, most of it downhill. For the last part of the race, I tried to ignore the pain and finish as strongly as I could, trying to hold my position and not let any Ws sneak past.

Soon, I was rounding the last corner and could see the finish line up ahead... where Mr T was helping with the responsible job of spotting the first runner in each of the NSRRA groups. Fortunately for me, I'd stayed ahead of the other W runners and my name went down on his list as he cheered me over the line. I'd also managed to break my 45 minute target and my official time was 44:42. On the race front then, job done and I was really pleased with my efforts on the day. My 12th NSSRA race (the minimum requirement for the competition) and I've managed to get maximum points in Group W in 10 of them.

However, once I stopped I felt the pain in my hamstring again - I had managed to block it out for a little while - and headed over to the physio who diagnosed a hamstring strain and recommended at least 2-3 days of rest before testing it out with a gentle run. The ice packs would be required when we got home.

The Runner's Reward: 10 Cans of Cider

I caught up with Mr T and a few other runners, finding out how everyone else had faired on the up and downs and cheering on fellow Potters Trotter Anne Davies, who managed yet another PB. Then the presentations were underway and I discovered the immediate significance of Mr T's role of spotting group winners - I won a prize! There had been a mug at Uttoxeter but for this race, my prize as group winner was a crate of beer - under instruction, I picked the cider!

My hamstring still feels sore so I'm in reluctant rest mode, but I hope to be up and running again soon. I need to practice those downhills!

Happy Running!

LizT

PS The Dark Fruit Cider was lovely - I managed half a can on Saturday night!

PPS Thanks to Kirsten Owen for the lift to the race - really appreciated - and congratulations to her for another fabulous performance for a big course PB.