National Road Relays

Not so much a race as a time trial really. I got in the pen and was chatting with Matt Almond (Coventry) while my stomach was turning over with the fear of the unknown in how I would run today. I said good luck to Matt as his incoming runner came up the hill; in fact everyone seemed to be leaving just a handful in the pen. James Kelly soon came around the corner striding up the finish having not run for weeks due to a stress fracture so I jumped out and toed the line waiting for the pat on the shoulder from the lady official.

Before I knew it I had the little tap and I was out and running down the short hill before taking a left around a 500m or so loop before hitting the climb up. At this point I was already breathing a bit but the legs weren't not too bad....then I felt my foot! I had agreed to help the team but of course worried about my foot going up the hill so tried to land a bit different to help it which seemed to help, even though the rest of the ankle now hurt. 

I passed a few women as I went through the middle part of the road where people usually gather but by the time I went through people had already started to move to the other part of the course as I was around 5minutes off the leaders. I started to hear breathing coming up behind me and thought 'o crap I am going to start getting people flying past now' but a few seconds later it was just a girl on a bike! I kept pushing thinking every second could count for the team but the legs were not exactly flowing, I was soon going back down the hill towards the pond. I then saw the next guy ahead off me.

Again as I hit the pond with the sound of sympathy claps opposed to the usual whispers off "Belgrave are leading" and deserted as supporters had again moved to keep up with the leaders. I soon passed the guy in front and set my sights on a girl ahead and aimed to catch her before the final hill. I pushed into the hill but felt like I had nothing, I could hear what I thought was sp8y (Neil Speaight) voice in the distance so tried to push again. Near the finish line lots of people started to shout and although I wasn't looking around I heard Polly (Mark Pollard) really shouting which helped my legs push to the line and the chance to sit down!

As I crossed the line I saw my watch say 15.24 which I was instantly relieved with, being back 3 weeks and running 9.49 3k, then 16.20 5k (although slightly long) it was at least respectable and pleasing to be getting visibly faster each week. I was however wrecked and hoped I had done some good for the team....it was then the usual battle with sp8y for fastest leg between us, which he comfortably beat me with 15.07. It was a quick change and get out on the course to cheer on the team mates, Matt Almond joined me along with James Kelly so could catch up while we warmed down....very slowly!!

 Simx