21st March 2004

To March in March

Fast flat pre London race to gain confidence and possibly a P.B. I was warned by the more experienced but decided to give it a go anyway. The Saturday winds had abated somewhat but until you reach the Fens you forget the openness and lack of wind shielding.

I followed the signs to Whitemoor Prison and was one of the last to register , but the changing facilities were adequate and it was soon time the for the gun. ( a real starting pistol ) The first Mile with  the gale force wind at our backs was fast but soon that was to change as we turned for a second mile into the wind and then a further turn put it side on. After 3 miles I had settled and wind assisted running well but as usual too quick. The talk was all about after half way and what the conditions might be like and that it could only get worse if it rained.

IT DID. After a very short spell with the protection of a small village we turned for home at 7.5 miles. Straight monotonous flat roads with the small field really strung out would have been bad enough but with horizontal rain in a bitter wind I could hardly put one foot in front of another .This went on for about 4 miles with only the odd house and a passing car to help .A marshal appears when I expected to make a right turn and hopefully some protection to point straight on along a track , could things get any worse than my mile splits dropping from around 7.20 over 10. No ! after a final turn 1.5 miles from the finish I just had enough energy to make it home wind assisted.    

Could the split times be so erratic or were the mile markers wrong I don't know , but be warned listen to the old and experienced. I am old and now a little more experienced

Bob Ratliffe

The Stowmarket Striders results are:-