Nos Galan 5k

I managed to get to Mountain Ash having got lost on the way and at one point I was driving over the Brecon Beacons. I was working till 4pm in Swansea but still had an hour once I arrived at the park and ride. I went to pick up my number in town and paid the most I have ever paid for a 5k (£15) but it was sure to be a good field and decent race which fitted into the plans and as I was going to a house party after I would save money on drinks in town.

There were some familiar face around putting their numbers on with Matt Janes, Craig Hopkins, James Thie, Simon Lawson, even Matt Almond who I haven't seen for ages, good to see him back after some time out. I warmed up and set off around the course to see what it was like, I saw Matt Janes on the way round so ran with him; it went out down a road.....around a cone, back into town, two sharp rights within 10meters and then head out to the cone again. It wasn't a hilly course but a very sharp turn round a cone 3 times was going to slow me up with my long stride and lack of pace kicking out so the plan was always to try and sneak away and push from the start.

After the warm up and strides the fireworks went off and we crammed into the very small start line (about 6people wide). I remember the guy screaming "Get back over the line or times won't count" or something like that which we will talk about later. The gun went and I got jammed in a bit with lack of a burst. About 200m down the road I saw a gap and like in cycling I thought if I get away really early they may let me get a gap as I have no real form having not raced. I got about 10m I think and could hear one person chasing me, so my idea of being let to get away was gone. By the cone I was caught by Matt Janes and then going around it I was caught by the group.

We headed into the town and I tried to get a good position but lost a few places but settled back in. Matt was still pushing the pace and my plan was to push again after the cones, the problem came when I got stuck in the group and couldn't get out and you really need to be at the front for the turn. I literally walked up to the cone and around it while the first 6/7 where now going the other way. By the time we hit the town again I was about 6/7secs off the group and couldn't quite get on the back again.

Heading into the last lap I past a couple of runners who came out of the pack, I then caught a couple more before the turn and was hoping a couple more might fall off too. Round the cone for the last time I seemed to lose ground again and knew that was it although I kept trying incase they really slowed for a sprint finish. I got caught right on the line but was more shocked with the time on the clock (14.26) I thought with 3 nasty turns and the corners in the town and with no real 5k training there was no way I just ran that time.

It soon turned out it was short because the cone was moved, I don't really see this as an excuse as the turn point should have been marked with spray and cone put in the right place before the start. You can't leave cones down a random street on New Years Eve, especially in the valleys and not expect someone to move it. For such an expensive and hyped up race the least you expect is a correct course.

As I warmed down with Simon Lawson (Haven't seen him for ages) and we kept getting abuse from groups of guys (or girls, not to sure to be honest) like I have never heard at any race event before in my life, I couldn't understand most of it although I do know I wont be making any trips to Mountain Ash for a day out and maybe next year I will just ran a session from home and get to the party early next year rather than pay £15 for a short course in the back and beyond getting shouted at during a warm down.

Think I ran about 14.50 in real terms which is good enough at the moment.

simx