Dave Neilands reports . . . .

Conventional wisdom has it that if you pull or tear a hamstring time off is between four and eight weeks.  Conventional wisdom has never applied to Garstang Running Club's Peter Gelderd, having "done" said hamstring at the Parbold Hill Race, which required him to drop out of the race, he was "racing" again seven days later at the Standish Trail Race, or rather stop starting at the race.  This is an experienced athlete, who many years ago when approaching his first ever half marathon was unsure of his ability to last the full 13 miles.  His solution, to build his confidence, was to run the race distance the day before, "to ensure he would be able to get round the next day".  To this day he can still not work out how he finished the actual race, less than 12 hours later, "very tired".

Richard Roberts was one of 452 runners who did complete the Parbold race - 7 miles over farmland across 3 hills around Parbold, incorporating narrow tracks, steep hills, stiles, ditches and walls, or as the organizers put it a proper old fashioned cross country race.  Richard finished 41st at Parbold and 18th out of 163 competitors at Standish with Mr Stopstart finishing 123rd , which makes one wonder what ailments the 40 people behind him were suffering from!!

Richard Jones is in training for the London Marathon, which this year for those who do not know is held in London, and as a leg stretcher he finished 44th out of 102 runners in the Catforth 5K and then got some decent miles in at the Blackpool Half Marathon where he finished 174th in 1 hour 31.30, closely followed by Tim Warner in 179th place in 1.31.57.  Philippa Olive finished exactly 600th in the large field of 1095 in 1.51.09.

The cross country boys, but sadly no Garstang ladies, were out again at the Mid Lancs event at Astley Park Chorley where Mike Whyatt was the bridesmaid, finishing an excellent 2nd, followed by Tony Pritchard in 94th, Al Hartley 117th, Tim Warner 147th and Pete Gelderd (this was before he had his stopstart problems 155th out 175 muddied finishers.

It seems that Dave Barraclough and Denise Hughes had had enough of the cross country mud, preferring instead the roads, and steep ones at that, of the Blackburn Winter Warmer 10K.  389 other runners had the same idea.  Dave finished 128th in 45.32 minutes and Denise 318th in 57.13, perhaps she would runner quicker if she listened to some decent music on the way round, well anything but Queen!!

(25/2/07)

 

[BACK]