Dewsbury Parkrun
Date – Saturday
16th February 2013
Venue – Crow
Nest Park
I don’t like
early morning running. Not sure whether
it’s the reduced length of sleep or the fact breakfast has been rushed and sits
somewhat without a home; somewhere between mouth and stomach. Any start prior to 10.30 seems to
disagree. Especially when it’s at the
weekend! But, it’s amazing what a Pacer
‘wildcard’ can do to one’s grumbling, reticent motivation.
The Dewsbury course
is hilly and a real challenge to my usual Lister Park, Bradford; four-laps of
Crow Nest Park including a small ornamental pond to navigate. Harder still,
though, the course has a number of 90o and one 135o turns
that really hinder flowing motion, particularly for big units like wildcard
caller Graham ‘Fisher-Price’, the Mighty Byrom and me; the fourth Pacer Mark ‘Grunter’
Smith would likely excel today with his stronger descents, lighter flight and
basically ‘cause he’s a faster runner!
A little after
9am the field of approximately 80 runners set off north towards the highest
point of the course. The weather was
sunny, cold and calm. Gloves, hats and
tights were still worn by most. Salted grit crunched under cushioned road shoes
as we trudged away from the start line. A
few groans and coughs signaled the displeasure of the initial 300m climb; I was
just unhappy at the early start!
After the
first 90o left and a short recovery downhill, the route then turned a further
two consecutive lefts before a little pull-up and then to the right. The café passed to the right as the field
turned left and left again at the cenotaph.
The field had completed the first ‘short’ lap and I was again pulling-up
the 300m climb. I’d moved just ahead of
the Mighty Byrom and by the time we’d circled the monument at the the summit,
Grunter Smith was already 150metres clear.
Graham Fisher-Price was somewhere behind.
By the time
we’d passed the pond and started the longer 400m climb my legs and body were
starting to falter. This was only 2
miles in so I’d clearly not recovered from the man-cold, Rombald’s Stride or 3
weetabix consumed only 45mins prior! As
the Mighty Byrom – never thought I’d describe him as thus – glided past I got
an overwhelming inkling that I might need a stop at the café toilets. Upon entering the downhill section I glanced
across to see the hi-viz orange top of Fisher-Price trudging up the climb.
As I passed
the pond to start my final lap I could see Grunter had opened up a clear
300metre gap over me. The Mighty Byrom
was at least 75m ahead as I fought off the mild stomach cramp on the climb to
the summit. I was consumed with two
thoughts on the final lap: first, reminding myself to enjoy each run even if I
wasn’t running especially well; second, a new challenge for the Parkrun circuit
that involves the requirement of a toilet stop mid-race and the aim to still
complete a sub-25mins! Simple things and
all that…
I fought hard
to complete the final 150 metre rise up to the finish line and not be overtaken
by too many. I knew I’d be outside of my
previous time on the course, but still hoped for a sub-23 mins. Grunter and the Might Byrom both had strong
runs and looked fresh at the end. I was
knocked and not quite on top form. I’d
enjoyed the race, though. Fine weather,
good company and no unforeseen accidents!
Post-script
I was
informed later that weekend of my 23.03 time – grrrr!; feels great when one
dips inside a target time, but more frustrating when it goes the other
way. When I fall on the wrong side of a
milestone time it just makes me eager to get back at the next challenge.
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