Bourton 10k, 24th February 2008

A PB-fest as Bourton lived up to its reputation, and a steward's inquiry into Sandra's result as she was wrongly directed to the finish and only ran about 9k (so we agreed that she should be last but still get her points). Jane L won the wine and her report is below...

Oh no I've won the bottle of wine and I haven't even written the committee meeting minutes from 3 weeks ago. Now I know what I'm going to be doing this afternoon. The housework will have to wait, I've got a report to write.

I never thought I was going to be running the race as I was one of those that left it too late to enter. Just as well I thought as I will only be returning from a weeks' skiing the night before and with London Marathon looming probably ought to be running longer anyway. But when Jenny decided not to run (because FLM is looming), I couldn't resist the offer of the number; 10ks are probably my favourite distance. On the way there, Linda described the race route; two laps of the village followed by a run out for 2 miles and then back finishing with 1.75 laps of the village again. We'll be lucky if we don't get dizzy I thought. Ben thought he might be in with a chance of lapping Tony who had run 19 miles the day before and decided to play his joker.

The race was started by a cheerful man who managed to scale an enormous structure (I was going to put erection but thought better of it) so that he addressed us from a great height. We weren't sure whether it was because we could actually see him or whether it was because he was so high up that we could actually hear what he was saying. Something for Derek and Tony to think about for starting the Eynsham 10k, but Tony might have to get over his fear of heights first.

For us at the back, the start was a bit slow due to the volume of people, but perhaps that was not a bad thing. It was an enjoyable race, with plenty of opportunity to see the faster runners running back, or in one case walking back - Tony aggravated an old war wound. However, he was seen later shouting abuse from a marshal's car. The 1.75 laps confused a few people at the end and it was a bit disconcerting running past the finish line and seeing lots of ERR runners already home. Most people, though, were glad they had run, with eight of 16 running pbs, including the bionic Kate Williamson who was first ERR lady back (43:35). Ben was the first ERR man back, but perhaps it was wishful thinking on Sheila's part that she noted his time as 32:24 (real time 36:24).

Overall, it is a flat course around an attractive village and good for supporters. Apparently there were showers available if you were prepared for a bit of a walk but none of us were, and there was no water station ('Bourton without the water' as Pete says). The cakes were good though.
 

Jane