Scott, me and Alfie
Today was a day split into segments, with unexpected things happening at different sections of the course. It certainly wasn’t a day of a carefully steady paced run which was to plan.
The first surprise started very close to the start. Each day we have been set off by Scott the Race Director, who I have got to know well over the past twelve years of coming up to Brathay. Usually, I don’t see him again until I cross the finish line on the lawn of Brathay Hall. Today he magically appeared running along the side of me shortly after the start. We had a lovely natter about all things 10in10 and Brathay all the way up to mile 6, with a couple of other runners joining in. I really enjoyed sharing each other’s thoughts and experiences of the event from our different perspectives, organiser and competitor. After 6 miles Scott had to leave me and turn round to go back to Brathay and his daily 10in10 duties, still a decent 12 mile run for him. I had never expected to ever share part of one of my 10in10 runs with him and it made for a very special moment.
Next section of the run down to Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge saw me pass a few of the other runners, even though I was taking a reserved steady pace with the aim just to get round with damage limitation as it is still only day 3 and there is a very long way still to go. For a while I stayed with the youngest member of this year’s team, 20 year old Alfie. He had a sore hamstring but was running carefully to manage it, with the head of a highly experience runner. I was so impressed with is maturity.
The next section of the course from Fell Foot Park up to Bowness (mile 13 to 18) is the most undulating part of the course. The part of the course is either going up or down, never flat, I affectionately call this section the “Rollercoaster”. I didn’t expect to see anyone so was amazed when John Jardine caught me up at mile 14. I was even more amazed when by mile 16, he was leaving me behind. This was some good, strong and impressive running from John. He looked in good form and untroubled with his fastest pace ever. I had no intention to race him but I did pick up my pace to at least stay on his coat tails. By Bowness I got used to this faster 9 minute mile pace, which is well within my capabilities when running one marathon and caught him up.
I actually got into the groove with this new unplanned pace and felt strong enough to pick to pace up further.
I left John for the final section and simply focused on what I could do without jeopardising tomorrow’s run. I had got through halfway in the slowest so far in 2:23 and the second half in 2:14 giving me an amazing 9 minute negative split. Chuffed with that but cannot see me doing that too often over the coming days.
That is now 3 days done and to my relief, I have only experienced a few niggles each day in my right knee. I was expecting much more of a problem by now, so few very fortunate. I had more pain from the knee during the one run around the course at the training weekend back in January than in these first 3 days. Now to prepare for day 4.
Me and Alfie on Devils Gallop
