Banstead 5km TT Run

[Marek]

I cycled up to meet Paul H for the Banstead Woods 5km run this morning. Was quite a cold morning but there were still plenty of people of all different shapes, sizes and ages queuing up for the start. Paul showed me the hill on the course and then Huw turned up to give us some encouragement, or just to laugh at my poor running style.

After a bit on an intro from the commissaire we were off, a slight drag up on the first section but not too bad and I got into a nice rhythm. For the first 1km or so I could see Paul H up in the front, I was in about tenth place and was feeling ok. Took a couple of turns through the forest and then had a nice downhill section. On this section I noticed that I could catch up a few of the leading guys as I seemed to be running quite quick on the downhill section.

Then we turned and we were onto the hill. Its only about 150m long but is quite tough and I got up this ok, managed to catch up with a couple of guys on here and decided to try to stay with them. On the drag section again now for the 2nd lap and I was still feeling good so I decided to push myself a bit quicker and got away from the 2 guys that were with me. There was one guy up ahead who was quite a distance and so I tried to bring him back. I gave it some again on the downhill section but he was still quite some way ahead of me and still looked like he was going well.

Into the last 200m and I put my foot down and gave it my all in a final flourish. I wanted to go under 20min and just about did that with a time of 19.37 which gave me 7th place. Paul H put in a much faster time of 17.56 which gave him 3rd.

We then rode the club run together, for a bit until I had had enough of killing myself trying to keep up with Paul on his TT bike so I scooted the short way to the cafe.

Great fun, I would really recommend this for anyone who fancies having a go at running whether your a beginner or advanced they cater for everyone. Even have photos and results up on the website by the afternoon.

http://www.parkrun.com/Default.aspx?tabid=225

Cheers

Marek...

[Sylv]

Funny that I just can't imagine you running Marek - I will have to join you sometime to witness it. A very decent time by you! (and Paul goes without saying)

[Antloony]

Yep well done Marek and Paul, impressive results there from a big entry list.

[huw williams]

Good events these - you'd be amazed at how much infrastructure and organisation there is in place for such a short event. Dozens of marshalls, timekeepers, volunteers and car park attendants... there's even loos in the car park with soft paper All for an event which takes just half an hour even for the slowest runners. Very impressive.

Anyway having just set a very tough post majorca running programme for Marek which is intended to get him up to speed for a triathlon in August i had a sudden attack of the jitters when I realised that, like Sylv I couldn't actually imagine the lanky Pole actually running. Having never seen him run and basing his programe on treadmill training times I had a sudden fear that I might be condemning him to an early grave so I thought I'd better go have a look at the East Grinsted Express in action. Fortunatelyall fears proved groundless as he proved to be A) very quick and B) Tactically savvy. Heading out quite steadily, holding a position inside the top ten before finishing strongly and picking up some places to finish 7th in a sub 20 - very smart (ARE YOU WATCHING STU? HE DIDN'T DIE ON LAP 1 AND GROVEL HOME!!!

Up front was a startling demonstration of speed and control which was worth the entry fee (if there had been one) to witness. Belgrave Harriers' Richard Ward was in a different post-code. By the time he came down the long back straight (after after about 6 minutes running) he was the only runner in sight. Behind him PaulH was having a cracking race with long-time adversary David Freeman which Dave just about came away with but Paul pushed him hard all the way (and I bet Dave didn't jump on a bike and ride to Charlwood at training group speed afterwards either).

Excellent performances from the lads then and if you get a chance one saturday morning go along and give em a cheer. Starts at 9 from just above the main car-park at the bottom corner of Banstead Woods

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="huw williams"]Good events these - you'd be amazed at how much infrastructure and organisation there is in place for such a short event. Dozens of marshalls, timekeepers, volunteers and car park attendants... there's even loos in the car park with soft paper All for an event which takes just half an hour even for the slowest runners. Very impressive.

[Paul H]

Im friends with Chris Phelan the organiser so can ask him how he manages to gets his volunteers.

I guess the main reasons are the following:

He is a member of South London Harriers and they use the event to recruit members
There are mums and dads available while their kids do the event
There are always loads of injured runners who have nothing to do
Its only 5k so doesnt take much time and is at a convenient time of day
Standing in a nice woodland setting is nicer than standing by the road with angry drivers

I helped marshal a SLH event a couple of weeks ago on farthing downs and took the wife and kids and all had a good time. Im not sure next week will be as much fun standing by the A25.

[Michelle]

Well done you blokes, in all sounds like a day chock filled with exercise. I am sure you both made up for it with cake cake and more cake later.

However I am sure it is nothing to the enormous wheel of saturated fat and sugar in the form of danish pastry coverd in an inch of icing I saw Hal stuff in his gob yesterday after the SL race.....