The August bank holiday saw lots of Harriers in action in many different races, both in Devon, Somerset and across (or rather, 'in') the channel. On Friday the Dawlish Coasters staged their 5 mile 'Forest Flyer' race, on Saturday the Killerton Park runs continued, on Sunday there was the staging of the Langport Runner's 'Battle of Sedgemoor 10k', and on the same day, in the Channel Islands, the Guernsey marathon. On the Monday, the Bampton Quarryman's 10k trail race in North Devon rounded off the proceedings. Read on for more detailed reports on Harrier performances at these races.
Dennis flies around the forest in the 'Forest Flyer 5'
After a day of incessant rain, runners participating in the Forest Flyer 5 mile race in Haldon Forest would have been praying for the downpours to ease in time for the 7pm kick-off... but they did not. This did not deter the 129 entrants who tackled the race, amongst them Dennis Gildea for the Harriers. Dennis followed up his strong run in the off-road Dalwood 10k from a couple of weeks ago with a another solid performance in the Haldon forest. With the paths saturated, making the turns slippery, Dennis ran hard to gain a well deserved 18th place in a time of 34.24: a good time on a boggey and slippery trail course.
The event was won by Red Venom runner Sam Hopton in a time of 28.25. Veteran runner Karen Cook of Southwest Road Runners was the first female home.
Adam is the king of Killerton!
On the Saturday Adam Miller continued to show excellent form in the weekly park run 5k event held in the grounds of Killerton House, near Exeter. The course was a little tougher this week owing to the previous day's heavy rainfall making it slippery in places, but this didn't stop Adam from storming around to clock 18.11; a time which was just 10 seconds off his best for this course and which was good enough on the day for 1st place overall. Well done to him!
Adam, Jon and Mike do battle at the Battle of Sedgemoor 10k
The very next day after his park run victory, Adam was all kitted out and ready to run again. The destination for this Sunday bank holiday run was Langport in Somerset and the race, the fast and fairly flat 'Battle of Sedgemoor 10k'. Adam was joined on the start line by fellow Harriers Mike Musgrove and Jon Garrity for this popular 10k race. Our three Harriers did the club proud, all of them finishing high up the pecking order and all setting fresh PBs!
According to Adam: 'The course was reasonably fast, starting on the flat in the town of Langport, rising to the 1.5k mark, then dropping down to the 3k point. The course undulates a bit from then on but is mainly flat with a downhill finish. Rain held off, although the slower runners got caught in a heavy downpour.'
Mike Musgrove headed the Harriers home in 26th position overall, 7th in his category in a VERY strong male vet 40 field (Mike's time converts to 78.46% on an age-graded performance!), and in a new PB time of 36.02. Anyone who's seen Mike race will know what a hard task master he is on himself and will fully appreciate his disappointment at not dipping in under the 36 minute mark. He was, however, pleased that he managed to do what he set out to and clock a new PB and, being only 2 seconds out, it's surely only a matter of time before he runs a sub-36.
Just 39 seconds and 4 places behind Mike was the super consistent Adam, also racing home to an official new race PB of 36.41. I say "official" as Adam has actually run a faster 10k in the first part of the Bath Half-marathon in March, when he was in super form during his London Marathon build up!
The third Harrier home was Jon Garrity. Like Mike and Adam, Jon went to Langport with the goal of setting a new PB and so he was understandably thrilled to storm home in 39.16, knocking a chunk off his previous best of over 40 minutes. Jon was in 55th place overall, meaning that all three Harriers finished in the top 12% of the 450 strong field.
The overall race winner was Steve Galliard from Bideford AC in a time of 31.39. The top female athlete was Emma Pallant of Aldershot, Farnham and District, in a very fast 33.40.
Mike, Jon and Adam at the 'Battle of Sedgemoor 10k', where they all set new PBs!
The marathon in Guernsey was grrrrrrrrr-eat!
Whilst Mike, Jon and Adam were turning on the after-burners and speeding around a fast 10k course in Somerset, I, Ellie Sutcliffe, had headed over the water to Guernsey for the bank holiday weekend to take part in the island's marathon.
When I told friends I was running a marathon on Guernsey their reaction was one of shock: 'Can you fit a marathon into Guernsey?!' But yes, in fact you can! The route heads out of Footes Lane athletic stadium, on the outskirts of St. Peter Port. It climbs uphill for the first 5 miles to the airport, which is the highest point on the island, and from there you drop down to meet the coast road which you follow for the next 16 miles as it twists and turns around the island's many inlets and bays. The route is truly stunning and the support from the islanders, who turned out in droves to cheer on the runners, was second to none. Only the last 4 miles were in a more built-up area and traffic became a problem. The winner, Nils Strik from Holland, who set a new course record in a blistering 2h30m47, even collided with an impatient driver who pulled out in front on him. Fortunately no harm was done.
Prior to the race I had a bit of a shock when I read in the race newsletter that I was favourite to win in the ladies' race. Considering the generous prize money on offer, I found this rather incredulous and the race director chap clearly didn't know my previous record of perpetually finishing 2nd in marathons! It also put a tremendous amount of pressure on me to produce the goods on race day! On the day, however, I felt in really good form after a solid summer's build up and a week's taper, and so I decided to go for it.
Due to the first 5 miles being uphill, I worked hard to not do my usual trick of tearing off like a loon. Once I hit the highest point I stepped up the pace and then on the long stretch on the coast road there was a pleasant tail wind to help me along, so I could 6.45 m/m quite comfortably.
There were only 150 something entrants, down on numbers from last year, but there were a handful of good male competitors from overseas. I ran almost all of the race completely alone, which is how I like it as I can concentrate on my own pacing without getting caught up in mini-battles on route, and I slowly picked off 3 other male runners along the way. I felt strong until mile 22; it was only after mile 23 that my pace dropped to 7.20 minute miling, but by then the finish was within spitting distance, so I dug in. The cheesy motivational signs - 'Pain is only momentary, quitting lasts forever'; 'Winner's don't wait for chances, they take them' etc. - that the marshalls had put up in the final 6 miles didn't really help, but they made me smile!
In the final half mile I turned a corner and saw another runner ahead, in fact this was the only other runner I'd seen since mile 20. He seemed to be struggling and I was gaining on him, so I used this to help me pick up my pace in the final stretch. We entered the stadium neck and neck but he put on a faster sprint finish than me and won our little battle! I later found out that he finished 5th overall and I finished 6th and 1st female in a new PB time of 3h03.49, running my first ever negative split! I was utterly thrilled, but then found out after that I was less than 3 minutes off the female course record, set by ultra runner Heather-Foundling Hawker in 2009, and I kicked myself for not pushing a bit harder in the last 4 miles! Oh well, it's just an excuse to use my winnings to pay for a trip back next year and have another bash at what was a superbly organised, super friendly and very special event.
Anyone up for making it a Harriers' holiday next year?! :-)
On the long stretch of coast road on Guernsey. The views were stunning!
I'll never forget this moment!
Bampton Quarryman's 10k trail race
Anyone who has run with Mark Thompson on a club run on the common will know how much he loves his off-road running and also how darn good he is at it. In fact, he makes it look effortless as he bounds off on his tip-toes like a fairy on fully charged Duracell batteries, whilst the rest of us are left flogging ourselves to death 100m behind, trying to keep him in our sights... it's quite sickening to watch!!! Small wonder then that the Quarryman's 10k trail race in Bampton, Devon, attracted Mark to cross the county on bank holiday Monday to tackle this tough off-road route.
The course, starting at the Quarryman's Inn, Bampton, is hilly, as you would expect for a race on the edge of Exmoor. It passes over Bampton Common and the terrain underfoot ranges from tracks to open fields and there is also the added challenge of 3 stiles to negotiate. These obstacles did not phase Mark though, who bounded around the 10k course in 45.52: an impressive time for such a tough route. This was good enough to bag him 8th position overall out of the 58 finishers. Bravo!
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