November

[glaconman]

The main running event at RC last weekend was undoubtedley the Battle of Brighton. The 2nd round of a contest that knows no bounds and will, hopefully, stretch long into the future.

Meanwhile this RCer was preparing for another round-two of his own. A trip across the Pennines and through the Ribble valley for the 28th Preston 10 mile Road Race.

Certainly a very different event from the Bradford 10. That was a community event. Whereas here was a race made-up almost exclusively of club-runners. Not suprising given the pleasant but less-then-stimulating location (almost half the course was by the side of a dual-carriageway) and flat profile.

Here was a group of 365 or so runners pounding the pavements of suburban England with one thing on their minds: a PB.

The two-lap course was not the only thing that was different. I had fire in my blood for the Bradford 10. Partly because I was running round with an old friend. We pushed each other hard for 8 miles until he drifted off into the distance, leaving me to contemplate my 9 kilo handicap. There can be huge rivalry amongst close friends. Spoken or unspoken.

And there are enough races in the nearest 3 valleys to my home (Calder, Aire and Wharfe) to fill anybody's race calender twice over. In fact I doubt if there's anywhere in the country to compete with this corner of the West Riding as a hotspot of so much varied and interesting running. So why make the trip at all?

I wasn't sure. I could only presume I was there for the same reason as everybody else. So I took a deep breath and got on with it.

But I have to confess to liking this distance. I can just about convince myself that I'm enjoying it for around 45 minutes, until the mask slips and the mind-games are forced to begin. My splits were close to 50/50. Forcing myself into a corner seems to be the only way to find out how well I can run. It's just a question of not letting the wheels come off too soon or, preferably, not-at-all. And that takes some fine judgement.

For the record I did manage a PB: 63:21 in 49th place. I guess this won't end until I've run under an hour.