Garstang 10K

 

After an absolutely splendid meal at JtE’s on Saturday evening I paid the price for eating too much and hardly had a minutes sleep in preparation for Sunday’s 10k. I met up with EtU and Unfit YJ and later we were joined by SN who improved the appearance of our group considerably.

The race starts and ends at Garstang High School at Bowgreave. It’s always struck me as slightly perverse that you run over 6 miles to finish up where you started. More sensible people like Christina and Anne finish up at the same place simply by going to the cafe and having a cuppa’ without moving a muscle, apart from those around the jaw area.

Now for some really riveting reading! From the school on Garstang Road you run south for about 400 yards before heading east along Calder House Lane to Ray Lane. Now how did I remember that? Having  gone under the railway line you then turn North and eventually complete the loop back to Garstang road. You then go south past the Police Station, Bowgreave Rise Care Home, the school, and Garstang Golf club before heading east  to Smithy Lane, going under the railway line again. Then you head north before turning west passing the Kenlis Arms, over the motorway, under the railway yet again before returning along Calder House Lane leaving you a short steepish run to the finish. There you are, I’m sure you’re all the wiser for that.

There were 445 runners. Ridiculously unfit YJ was first home of our group in a time  of 51:05(257th place) followed by myself in 52:57(286) followed by full-of-beer EtU in 54.49 and SN in 55.43.

After a clean-up and some food, having thought the prize-giving was over, I headed to the hall to see if I could get the results and came across YJ who was waiting for the old-timers prizes to be announced. It’ll come as no surprise to you to learn that the Disastrously unfit YJ was 1st M70. When I tell you that he’d run 8 or 9 miles on Saturday morning and 3 miles a few hours before the race, and was giving up to 2 years advantage to some of the other over 70’s you can appreciate how appallingly unfit he’s become. How has he let himself get into such a poor state? It’s up to us to encourage him so that he can at least get back some semblance of fitness. The alternative is that he’ll turn into a couch potatoe and become a Blob!

          

                                                At the start(Couldn’t find the others)

                                                  Yes you’ve guessed; At the finish      

I went up the ramp today and at the last second remembered the snow buntings. I went to the advised location but couldn’t spot them. Have they got fed up waiting for the snow or were they hiding from me?