The Running Post

Starting from the front.

2010-07-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

Starting a running race can be one the most nerve racking and exciting aspects of an organised running event.

One of the biggest mistakes a green runner might make is lining up to close to the front. The closer you are to the front line the faster and more competitive the runners that are surrounding you are going to be. The more competitive and experienced runners want to take off straight into clear air and get on with their race. If you are sensible (which most of us are) slower runners will start further back and therefore put themselves under less pressure at the start. Also, they will not obstruct faster runners. Starting further back will also ensure that you will be competing with runners who are equal or just a bit faster or slower than you. This means your pace will be consistent throughout the race and you will not burn out - but instead have a great run competing on level terms with runners in your own league.

Getting out of your league however is common place with some inexperienced runners. Check out the sequence of pictures taken with a high speed camera at the start of the 2010 Thame CPM 10k in this link.

Pay special attention to the runner waring a white sleeveless T-shirt, bib Number 709. The picture shows him lining up at the front with the elite athletes. These consist of cross country county champions, road race 10k specialists and hardcore battle scared club runners who can complete the 10k course in under 34 minutes with no shade from the sun and temperatures reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Runner 709 gets off the start line and takes the lead for the first three metres. He then gets enveloped by the runners either side - even having to be nudged out of the way by one of the championship contenders. At 200 metres nearly fifty runners have passed him and at 500 metres he realises he is out of his league and as if being shot back on a piece of elastic fades back through the field to eventually finish 224th out of the thousand strong field with a time of 48 minutes. There are many reasons for getting it horrendously wrong like this - but before i list this lets park up being a fast runner and suffering injury off the start line. An experienced runner would retire to fight another day. Simple. This guy got it wrong - as do a lot of first timers for reasons that will eventually make you a less naive or a less complacent runner. Some runners that have never taken part in a club race think they are fast because have beaten every runner they have come across whilst out training. Some runners might be the fastest runner on the tread mill in the gym or whilst training with the local Sunday league football or rugby team. Remember : building big muscles in a gym does not give you the edge over a skinny - scruffy old battle hardened running club racer.

Some runners may be just Innocent and consider themselves lucky to have beaten the crowd and got a front row start position...and in some cases runners start from the front to get into that glamorous 'race start photo'.

Starting to close to faster runners can be dangerous for you and other runners and can be very frustrating for serious competitors. The runners on the front row are animals who eat raw meat and have very hard elbows. So, when out training use a GPS watch that will give you an accurate measured distance so you can have some idea of what your time might be in the race. Check out times from the previous years races or races of the same distance. Race finish times on courses of equal distance may vary due to the type of terrain, ie, flat, undulating, tarmac, x-country, multi terrain trails, ect. Hard core hilly challenge race winners might have slower times than the same distance on flat tarmac; so don't get caught out by this. If a fast elite runner does a 10k race in 42 minutes that means it is a hard, hard, course. Get familiar with the names at the front.

To conclude : most races have signs up with start-line position estimated finish times. Use these times against your training time. Or just start in the middle of the pack if you are unsure.

Start to close to the front and you could look very silly when friends and family - and other racers check out your position on the time-sheets.

Pictures by the superb racephotographer : http://www.richk.co.uk/

Run The Sahara.

2010-03-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

The Perch 6.2 XI Run, Epsom 2010.

2010-02-01T05:06:00.000-08:00

There are certain runs you can take part in that are called lung bleeders...
This gory description is by no means derogatory to the event; in fact, it is a compliment. The term is used to describe a run that tests the competitors fitness levels to the limits. The Perch 6.2 [mile] XI is run that i personally would describe as a 'lung bleeder'. This scenic multi terrain run undulates in and around the famous Epsom [horse] race course in Surrey. (And no, the run is not measured in furlongs, the runners don't have to jump hedges or, walk round the winners enclosure at the end of the race. So many jokes, so little time, etc).
I over-heard one competitor describe this great race as more like a hilly race than an undulating race. It's a bit to close to call, if i say-so myself.
800 competitors lined up on the start line, the chip timed race is started and we all surged down hill for the first 200 metres on a tarmac road with a dividing line of ice down the middle. The course then climbs up hill and around the, what i would call the rim of the basin like Epsom horse race course. We then crossed back over the top part of the tarmac road, just to see the tail enders crossing in front of us and then we made another decent into a wooded abyss. At this point the road is a private tarmac road which then tails off into a woodland trail, or path. This is when the dark bubbling clouds above us could no longer hold their contents any longer and we then found ourselves running with large flakes of snow evaporating with an icy touch on our overheating body's. This made the race that much more hardcore.
You have the feeling of running with only a few competitors at this point because of all the fast twists and terns that make any runner more than 20 metres ahead disappear behind trees and shrubs that line the trail. You round a corner to see a race marshal pointing out a change of direction with a quick word of encouragement, or round the next corner, a hiker or walker suddenly becomes a unassuming spectator, standing stock still like a rabbit in the headlights as the freight train of 600+ numbered runners race past through their forest.
Two miles to go and your legs are feeling like concrete as your lungs drive them out of the wood, screaming at your brain to stop all this madness because 'they canny give it any more captain!.' I'm passed all of a sudden by three runners as we get out of the trees and back on to the Epsom Downs. There are now two more hills to go and i manage to close these guys back down. Can i pass?. One more hill and the finish line is in sight!. A word of warning is called to the runner in front of me from a family member or friend to race for the line. I cant live with him as he makes one final kick, i do the same as i hear the menacing foot fall of a runner close behind me. The sensors on the finish mat bleep as we cross the line holding our positions. Man! you could have thrown a blanket over us it was so close.
I enjoyed this race 100%. The race was well organised by The Epsom Oddballs club and it was held on a fantastic challenging course with a great name. The Perch.

Race results.

Full race photos.

Sumerley 10k and 5k Run 2010.

2010-01-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

Weather or not you are taking part in the Sumerley 10k or 5k run, which is held on the private estate of Sumerley House near Ringwood, Hampshire, it is a great way to spend the first Sunday of the new year, taking in the picturesque estate in all it's ice coated glory.
From where i live in Bicester, i chose to drive there via the famous City of Salisbury. You then pass by the new forest to the east and just north of Ringwood are the signposts for the running event on your right.
Normally i would be taking part in such an event, but this time i chose to watch and take some photos whilst cheering my brother on, who was running in the 10k race.
The race attracted about 700 runners accompanied by various friends and families, etc. Cake stands and burger vans serving hot drinks and bacon sarnies were there to warm everybody up who wanted to take part or watch.
If you didn't fancy a bacon sarnie on site, i spotted a choice of pubs/restaurants and other nice places to pop into and relax before the journey home. Or, of course, you could travel a little further south and get some fish 'n' chips from the seaside resort of Bournemouth...

For the full race results of The Sumerley 10k and 5k run click this link.

Andy Reading Memorial 10k 2009.

2009-12-15T12:13:00.000-08:00

The day finally came. Yes, it was Sunday the 13th of December 2009. I got up at six thirty in the morning and began preparing for The Andy Reading Memorial 10k race, held just outside the little village of Chesterton nr Bicester and organised with faultless precision by Bicesters Alchester RC.
When i got to the course at about 09:30am and despite what the weather forecast had been telling me all week; it started to rain. This does not bother a hardened runner but the poor marshals who sacrifice taking part in the race are the ones who suffer what ever mother nature throws at them.
After warming up the athletics club house is a good place to go and stay warm, with the smell of coffee and fried bacon wafting from the steamy kitchen.
The rain stopped just before the start of the race. You line up on the grid, the revs are up, the gun goes off; and so do you along with up to 600 other runners. The competitors range from ex-world masters 10k champions to British triathletes and of course strong club runners - some of which specialize in flat running, which this course is. As well as the fast boys and girls there are plenty of first timers and runners who hold there own at the back of the field. This is not to say they are slow. All 445 finishers completed the course in less that 90minutes - that's how competitive it is!.
As i have mentioned briefly, the 10k course is fast and flat. The first 2k takes you on a journey through Chesterton village, this is where you might get a few surprised spectators watching you steam though whilst on their way to get the morning paper. With one bridge that crosses the M40 on the way out of the village the course Marshall's then divert you onto, The Weston On The Green airfield (not active that day, may i just add) and it's at this stage of the race that you get a chance to see just how far ahead the leaders are (unless you are one of the leaders and in that case you could look back and see the tail of runners behind you as the course takes you round the airfield). When you have finally got round the perimeter of this part of the course you then come out onto the road and head back towards the motorway bridge and finally it's down hill to the athletics club house and finish line. This last 2k is a nice blast after running the never ending airfield section and if you have got it right, this is where you can really pull the pin and check out, gaining a few extra places in the process.
I set a PB, cracking the 40min barrier for the first time.
It is well worth staying for the awards presentation after the last person has finished...and like i said : the club house is warm and...well, Mmmm, bacon sandwiches...

Click here for the results.

And click here to see theracephotographers pictures of the race.