Onwards and across

Since the marathon I’ve taken it relatively easy though not as easy as I would have had I raced the whole distance not just 30k and run the rest. Mondays post marathon 3 mile leg warmer out and back on a standard route along Setmurthy road felt easy enough. This confirmed in my mind that the bad run on Sunday was not due to fitness.

Lambfoot Loop 10K – Tuesday 24^th May

Start of the Lambfoot Loop 10K

Initially I’d thought to run this one easy but by the time the gun went I found myself up in the top five so thought what the hell. As usual Carl Bell started to pull away with the Keswick trio of Russell Maddams, Phil Winskill and Ian Davis running as a group behind. Carl continued to pull away up the first hill towards embleton with Russell and Phil now ahead of Ian in confident pursuit and me a comfortable fifth. The positioning remained until the start of golf course hill where the inevitable change happened – the hill did its make or break on the top three. By the turn at about 6K Phil and Russell were still together with Carl quite a way back with Ian next and to my surprise me and closing the gap!


Phil and Russell neck and neck near the turn

I was almost incredulous (thanks steve) when I passed him with less than 3K left but I couldn’t loose him, every time I kicked he responded until the last 200m where he showed his class and pulled away from me eventually beating me into fifth by 5secs.My time of 37:00 on that course was very pleasing and to be only 5 seconds behind Ian when the previous week it had been 30 was very encouraging.

Ian Davis, fourth place in 36:55

Russell eventually won the race in 33:55 a clear 38 seconds ahead of Phil (34:33) with Carl finishing in third place in 35:09. Even more impressive was that Russell had only nine day earlier won the 33 miles Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon!

Carl Bell finishing in 3rd in 35:09

Ellie Ulyatt from Derwent was first lady and junior in 44:28. More photos can be found on the Derwent AC Facebook page, and full race results on the Derwent AC website.


What now?
Did a 3 mile run on Wednesday morning, a fartlec session with Derwent AC on Thursday and a steady 3 miles this morning. Tomorrow morning is a possible interval session then it’s of to Northumberland for a few days with hopefully a lot of coastal walking (maybe reccy some of the coastal marathon route) but little running. Should be refreshed by next Wednesday and the Carlisle Tri 10K which is a PB potential course if everything goes right on the day…

The coming few weeks
The next big thing is my planned Hadrien’s wall run in mid July, there is still a lot of planning to do and some reccying to carry out but I feel confident that I can do it and in a reasonable time, before that there are few more races including the Coniston Trail marathon which also needs a quick reccy oh and I’m supporting Jane on her BGR on June 17^th. Just need to get that online fundraising sorted out oh and...