Marazion after the race

5th February 2012

St Michael’s Mount is the iconic backdrop to the village of Marazion, down near Penzance, but you don’t get to see an awful lot of it on the Marazion 10k route, which takes you inland on winding country lanes. And winding country hills. Lots of them. Some of them quite steep. Not the race to aim for a 10k pb then!

The race was fully subscribed and there were 475 finishers this year. There were just 13 TRCers on the start line, half the amount that would like to have taken part. (It’s as well to note that a number of the GP races become full quite quickly, so if you’d like to take part in one let Alison know asap and hopefully we’ll avoid any future disappointment.)

There were great results for a number of us that did get places this time, including Pete Sowerby and Tony Berry picking up their second lot of trophies in their age groups this year, in only the 2nd GP race of the season. Alison Joslin ran a fantastic race coming 2nd lady in her age group, joining TRC’s Isobel Wykes who took 2nd in her age group at Storm Force. It’s already looking like it’s going to be a great year ahead for TRC and we’ve hardly got started yet!

The conditions in Marazion this year were very good; it was fairly mild (hasn’t the rest of the country come to a snowy standstill today?!), dry and overcast with little wind. It proved to be perfect for Emma Stepto, who seems to be on fine form as she broke another course record winning the ladies open in a staggering 0:34:52.  All the big guns were in the top 3 men’s open, as you can see below, but it’s great to see Pete snapping at their young(er!) heels, just missing being in the top 10 by one place.  He assures me he knows who’s number one in his age category now and he has him in his sights, so it could be another top 10 for Pete next time – watch this space!

And on that note it’s over to Hana for another of her fine reports

Stephie

Getting ready for the off - l-r Tony with Maisie, Alison, Lynne, Julie, Hana and Stephie

Squeezing in

Whilst the rest of the country grinds to a halt and freezes, I awake at 7am look out of my window and not even the slightest sign of frost is to be seen. It had crossed my mind last night what would happen if it did snow?  I have no idea what protocol is adopted re road races and whether they go ahead whatever the weather. When I played Hockey it was very simple….…if the pitch is frozen the match is off! When I played Squash, no weather would stop that game, as it takes place indoors. So can anyone tell me what actually happens with regards to running races???????

So, no snow, so no choice. Running kit gathered, porridge eaten and one son dropped off at the train station for a painfully long trip back to his base in Lincolnshire. It’s then off to meet Julie at Scorrier, where we’ll share a car to Marazion, because we are good environmentally friendly women!!!! Having said that, I’m of an age where I can actually increase global warming daily and heat the home all in one. The joys of Hormones………The women reading this will know what I mean. Oh to be 36 again!

Anyway, we arrive at Marazion, follow the bright green signs that lead us to a huge parking area. We then turn down the offer of a ride in the mini bus to the race HQ and walk there instead. This is the sort of warming up routine I like. You can talk away to your heart’s content, take in the views and have some energy left for what lies ahead. I keep having flash backs to last year’s race and that the last hill up to the finishing line. The vomit inducing agony I felt whilst running up it. Time to clear the mind, chat a bit more, find Alison (who has actually got a smile on her face this time and is looking back in good health, I’m pleased to announce) and pin race no 99 on my running vest.

I’m dressed for cold weather, warm long sleeve T, long running tights and gloves, but no hat….I don’t do HATS. Anyone want that wretched Beanie hat I got last year at the Plymouth Hoe 10? Unworn, unloved still has it’s label attached, photo on my round up of  all the STUFF I came home with from races last year.

I have a feeling I might be too hot, but it is too late to change now, and walk off to the start line with Julie, Steph. Lynne, and Alison. Sadly not enough girls to be eligible for a team prize. [Even though Diane was there too!]

It’s a bit of a squeeze getting 500 odd runners into a narrow lane, behind a start line, when everyone wants to be at the front and not the back. To make matters worse, some female in a car has the audacity to want to drive along this same piece of road as well. Thankfully she was a tad younger than the lady at Storm force, but this one looked as if she had been sucking lemons. Not a happy bunny! She passed without incident only for us to all have to move to the side once again, to allow a motor bike outrider through, followed by two middle aged ramblers. These sneaky devils thought they could just pass through the middle of us all unnoticed and continue their walk without interruption. From what I could see over the tops of other peoples heads, these walkers appeared to be absorbed into the throng and completely disappear. Did they ever emerge out the other side????? Who knows. I’ll check the missing persons reports at work, just in case! Mind you, not a bad tactic to adopt if you want to reach the front of the race line up.

It was now time for whistle blowing. One male dressed in Hayle runners gear, stood on the hedge, blowing furiously, to bring all of us runners to attention. He gave us that school teacher look, and the crowd fell silent. It was our pre race orders, with the most important one being, “it’s a left handed course, so if you turn right, you’ll get lost” I think even  I could follow this simple instruction.

Suddenly, just as Belated birthday Garmin fired up, the hooter blasted and we were off. Slowly initially, as there were so many of us in such a confined space, but it went off without any tumbles thank goodness.

Down hill we all ran, and I do like to start down hill. A bit of weaving was required and I’m sorry to say, but I actually had to use my elbow at one point to get through the throng. After about 3 or 4 minutes life became a lot easier with space available between myself and other runners. I then saw Adrian run pass and then Jon appeared in a white top, not a TRC running vest…..was he gate crashing this event or has he swapped clubs? Anyway, he was long gone before I could ask the question. [He's not in the results list either Hana - did we really see him, or was it just a dream?!]

The course was undulating and somewhat flatter than I remembered. From last year. Could it be that all the runners and cyclist who use this route on a regular basis have worn the hills away slightly……ah no, breath becoming laboured, but not as much as the person behind me, must be a hill. I was starting to think I was in a safari park, and it was a lion running after me. Thankfully it was a runner, a male runner with more grey hair than myself. His impersonation of an angry Lion did make me quicken my pace for a while. So thank you, whoever you were.

So I kept turning left, the lanes were kind to me and my pace was looking good. Maybe I could beat last years time of just over 50 minutes.

Talking of pace, I seemed to be running at a pace somewhere between 7:50 and 8:30 minute miles. I was shocked, it must be these new shoes of mine, because I don’t do any speed training to make me improve my running speed.

I’m now feeling sick. It isn’t my breakfast. It isn’t the fact that I’m running too fast. It’s a pair of males who have been clearing their throats on a very regular basis for the last two miles. When one of them burped, he said “Pardon me” then spat on the road, with no apology. I can cope with burping, but Olympic “Gobbing” is simply disgusting. Security hanky across my face and I need to pick up speed.

The course winds beautifully through the lovely lanes of west Cornwall, passing fields where a group of horses ran away from us with their manes and tails flying behind them. If only I had my camera. It was pure magic. My legs felt good, but that hill is still to come.

Run fast on the down hills, average on the flattish sections and plod the uphills, is my motto. And there is the last hill. I know it is the last hill, as there are quite a few people along this part of the route cheering runners on. No TRC supporters shouting out encouragement, in fact I only heard one “well done Truro” along the whole route. Even in Prague I heard “come on Truro” 3 times.

Now I have forgotten to mention that this was the first race in ages, that both Lynne and myself were competing in together. Last year I tried very hard to keep ahead of her, with me having to find extra energy most races to be able to do this. Just as fatigue would set in, I would hear the rustle of her race number behind me. So today, I was in fear once again. I kept thinking, Lynn is training for the London Marathon and is improving all the time, could I still stay ahead of her. The only strategy I could adopt, was to not look over my shoulder, block all noise out, sadly failing in the throat clearing area, and pray.

It must have been my new shoes. That last hill didn’t feel as bad as last year, and I crossed the finishing line 2 minutes faster in just over 48 minutes. Perhaps being almost 50 adds speed to my legs. No, I’ll go for the more relaxed approach I am taking to a lot of things these days…..other than disgusting spitting, belching males in races. So be warned men, my hormones are all over the place, and I might even be able to catch you, if I keep getting faster! Ah…I’m day dreaming again.

And I did manage to stay ahead of Lynne….this time.

So all in all:

• Parking….excellent. Lots of it and free, and a mini bus to take you to the race HQ if you wanted to save your legs.
• Toilets…..Not brilliant. Long queue but Julie and I were redirected to some in the Football club.
• Showers….I believe there were some, but not sure where. So I can not make any comments on these. I think all the TRC runners smelt the same…unwashed.
• Marshals……Brilliant. At no time could you take a wrong turn, especially if you kept LEFT! One drink station, running smoothly, but as always I didn’t stop.
• Goodie bag….Fantastic Navy blue Hoody which fits this year. Last year I foolishly opted for Medium, which allows for a lot of over eating.
• The other item in the “Duchy hospital” plastic bag was a cuddly toy. Yes that’s right… a cuddly kangaroo with a Joey in it’s pouch to be precise. This is a first! Not too sure what I shall do with this goodie, but I can think of a few lady runners with small children who may have a use for it.

Will I run this race again? I would have thought so, as the hoody is just so good.

Hana

Results

Open Competition

Men

1. Peter Le Grice, 0:32:37, MBH
2. Colin Snook, 0:33:16, CAC
3. Noel Kindon, 0:33:43, CAC

Women

1. Emma Stepto, 0:34:52, CAC
2. Stephanie Martin, 0:40:52, NRR
3. Revis Crowle, 0:40:58, ECH

Full results

Marazion 10k – 2012  pdf

TRC results

Gallery

The next race in the GP series is The Duchy Marathon on 4th March 2012, shortly followed by An Res Hellys on 25th March 2012 – please make sure you register with Alison asap if you’d like to take part!