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Ginny’s Summer Six.
Report – Ginny Davis
I hadn’t raced since the Leamington Half of which I only managed half. I’d been told me this was a lovely race so I entered.
The whole of race day was focused on the race – when to eat and what, when to walk and where. By 6pm I was pumped with adrenaline.
Mary Arden’s House’s car park was a burst of colour. I sought the yellow and blacks and enjoyed the pre-race chatter. Striders and Kenilworth Runners were out in force. All the usual suspects as intimidating as ever.
The first to greet me was Jane Kidd of Kenilworth Runners. She is one of the fastest runners in the country in the F65+ age category and regularly runs 10k in sub 45 mins.
As usual, imposter syndrome took me by the hand as we walked to the start and guided me to the back with the slower runners.
Kevin Zwolinski had described the route which he knew well having laid it out. Not for nothing is he named St Kevin in my book (so-called for having encouraged me up Alveston Hill during Not the Roman IX way back when it was cold). So we left Wilmcote with a steady uphill for about a mile – uphill enough for it to seem further and be a relief when it flattened. Then I happily careered down the following steep incline, blissfully ignorant that that was the so-called cheeky little hill at the end mentioned in the race blurb. Lisa Stevens was not far ahead and I decided to try catch her up.
We meandered around pretty lanes to the encouraging cries of marshalls, came upon a water station (very lovely), and Lisa remained strongly ahead.
After a while my playlist ran out, the skies darkened, heavens opened and I decided it was time for the beer promised at the finish.
I’d lost sight of Lisa who was storming towards a PB. I did encounter David Maundrell though. He and I had had a bit of a mini head to head at the Sphinx 5k so I debated whether it was worth overtaking him since I’d done that in Coventry only for him to sprint past me on the home straight. Then came the cheeky little hill and my only rival was the desire to walk or preferably sit down. I won that battle and ran to the top, but honestly, you wouldn’t have called it running.
Then came the downhill home stretch. There were a few bends and I longed for sight of the finish.
Back at Base Camp I was surprised to be handed the first in category envelope. What could possibly have befallen Jane Kidd, I wondered and looked about for an ambulance. Turned out nothing at all. She’d come home in just over 43 minutes but her entry details weren’t accurate.
By now the rain was heavy and the skies were black but my long suffering husband and dog were waiting patiently. I’m not sure there were any other supporters at all. I’m very lucky.
Huge thanks to Sarah for organising such a great race. I enjoyed it.
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