Southern 6 Stage- Race Report

Pre-race

So, it's that time of the year again. Every 6 months we all get together and boast what our possible Senstational Six or Terrific Twelve will be. In the weeks building up there is much speculation of who is running, who is fit and who is making a great comeback to try and be among the team. We all then congrugate in a park in Sutton Coldfield and that's when the talking ends, and the running starts. But first, we have to go through the foreplay which is the regional championships. This is the warm up event, the taster of what is possibly to come. There will be runners within clubs who will be fighting for a place on the big stage in a few weeks time, and there will be clubs fighting to get runners to make it to the big stage. The excuses will be plentiful, the drama intense, and the last minute drop-outs a guarantee; welcome to road relay season.

The time when the Southern clubs make their bid for the big prize on October 17th will be on Sunday, in Rushmoor Arena. A course I've run many times as a youngster and majority of the time run well on. This relay was the first race I ever did for my club as an under 13, I went first leg but can't remember where I finished. A year later I turned up on the first leg and won, and we then went on to win the race. I got the fastest lap that day and my first picture in Athletics Weekly. It was me in a vest too big, a pair of football shorts and a pair of Nike football trainers and a lad from Milton Keynes who looked the part in a proper pair of running shorts and some nice looking Nike Prestos. Those years have past and now it's a bit more professional, racing with guys a bit older. Going back there always feels good and I thoroughly enjoy it. Iron the vest and give the racers a polish, it's relay time.

Race Report

This year saw me running the 4th leg for the A team. In all of my relays so far Belgrave have put me early so I've had people to run with, but I thought "a relay's a relay, what's the difference". I set off behind Aldershot's Matt Ashton and I didn't know what I was doing! I thought to set off easy because it's two laps of a tough course and going too hard will mess you up. But I think I set off too slow then sped up but then thought I was running too fast so slowed down again. I went through the first lap in 9:12 and felt pretty wank. Then at the beginning of the second lap Samater Farah of Newham came flying past me. I hung on to him for a bit and then midway through that lap pulled away. I started my leg 24 seconds down on Matt and by the end of the first lap I think it had been increased to 30. I managed to pull back some time and was closing on him and apparently reduced the deficit to under 10 seconds, running the 6k course in 18:35.

Now 18:35 is 23 seconds slower than last year, which is a bad thing, but I don't think it necessarily is. Last year I was on first leg so had people to run with and we ran a pretty swift first lap and I hung on. Also. last year I was in really good shape. This time last year I had already done a 3/4 track sessions, a few acceleration runs and a few high intensity, long recovery sessions. This time last year I was very sharp and in good shape, and a lot further into my winter training. After last seasons winter I think a few people, including myself, were expecting a lot more from me than 18:35. I wasn't sure what to make of it when I finished, but thinking abotu it on the way home I think I made a pretty good account of myself. One thing has to be noted though, I definitely need to step up at the Nationals, whether in the A or the B team. Hopefully a few good weeks work will help with that. Well done Aldershot!!