CAAC 5 Miler – Edinburgh AirportIn the post marathon malaise of not really knowing what you’re up to runningwise, or what your next target is (or should be), I stumbled across the CAAC5. A five mile jolly near Edinburgh Airport organised by Corstorphine AAC. Only after I signed up did I realise that it’s really for the fast flying stealth-like runners, and you really need to be hammering out 5 minute mile pace to get anywhere. OUCH! Never mind five, I don’t think I’ve ever managed 6 minute mile pace – ever. My plan, or rather thoughts, was to go for around a 6.25 pace, which is really my maximum race pace (I don’t seem to do 6.15 – need more gears).
However this may not even be possible as I did a killer 12 mile (3) hills session early on Saturday, followed by a fast paced 11 mile ‘recovery’ run with Mel on Sunday morning. This pretty much wiped me out, and I felt like an empty husk for the rest of the weekend, but still decided (foolishly) to do the Inverleith Park Tuesday Lunchtime session. Luckily it was cats and dogs, so there were only 3 of us, and I’d beaten both of the other 2 the week before, so fortunately didn’t feel under any pressure to perform, my legs still feeling very tired and unresponsive. The upside was that afterwards, they felt much better, and maybe they just needed a good stretch? Odd how that works – “Tired? Just do some vigorous exercise in the rain, that’ll sort you out. Fresh as a daisy”. Yeah, if only.
One man and his Dog
Got there early, which made me a bit jittery (or was it just too much freeze dried coffee product during the day), and met up with Steven Darcy, Scott Rogerson and Scott ‘ Stormtrooper’ Hutchison. After registration we had to jog up to the start point, which wasn’t far under a mile, which you really had to see as a warm up rather than an additional 20% on to the run.The start point was at the crest of a hill, which meant windy, cold, and a bright low sun against a dark Scottish sky. And it also gave an indication that it wasn’t exactly a pancake flat race. There goes the 6.25 plan!
The apologetic nervously polite boy marshal, was doing well to control various cars, dogwalkers, a loose sheep which had strayed onto the road, and 122 fired-up runners who had just automatically stooped, as the 19.30 BA Shuttle from LHR came into land, drowning out his health and safety message of considerable import. We then had a thoughtfully nice count down from five (four, three, two and a one), BLEEP! And off we went.
Cold Comfort
For myself not a great starting position, too many folk in my way and I was a bit wound up, and in poor judgement , literally leap-frogged between two runners (very, very poor racing etiquette), and got a ‘Jesus Christ’ as they were elbowed aside. I felt really, really, really bad at this, but was too far on to apologise, so decided to make tracks away, which became a manically paced 5.48 first mile, as I tried to ‘hide’ within the leading pack.I had actually though my garmin read 6.48 and remember thinking at the time that it was very hard going. I pulled back into the second pack, in with the women elites, but the field was very, very strong, and a few of them powered ahead. However, at the first hill I caught again with the two, and overtook them using my newly learned ‘Bert Logan Uphill Ubermeister Technique’. I was surprised at how well I managed the incline, and reckoned, either I have a reasonable skill for this part, or else I’d just used up a ton of energy. However at the top, with the two elites effortlessly gliding past, to my dismay, the latter theory was confirmed. ‘Plenty more hills here’, I thought in a vain attempt at cold comfort.
The miles went past quickly, 2 and 3 were 6.32 and 6.35, being undulating but still fast, (garmin reckons 230 ft of climb). It was just about hanging in, and not letting anyone (read ‘too many’) overtake. I knew I had to keep pushing in the middle miles, but it was a real pain not knowing what was around the corner, and some parts had a real Lasswade10 ‘rollercoaster of a ride’ feeling about them.
I became aware that I was cat and mousing with another runner from mile 2, losing on the flat, and regaining on the hills. Through mile 3, still the same game. At the end of mile 4 was a long slow hill (a paltry 7.09 pace). I actually remember thinking ‘ fab’, knowing that I could push ahead and shake her off. But she determinedly held on in a terrier-like manner and wouldn’t let go. The final mile flattened out onto the hill crest again, and I could hear the fast surging feet of the terrier behind me. ‘No way – you’re not getting it.’ I still had energy left, and used it effectively in well placed counter surges (This is the first time I’ve ever had the energy to use tactics such as this). I could hear the grunting behind me each time I did this. The runner broke pace, and dropped back (Hannah Waugh, Kilbrachan, 31.55). Now I could smell the finish.
Ghosts
Two quick 90 degree bends brought the sun behind me and also the long shadows of the looming pack. ‘No chance guys, I’ve had this before’, my legs were screaming at me, as I pulled them up higher and really extended them out. I could now feel the effects of the earlier surges and the energy vacuum they left, I so wanted to stop, but determinedly gritted my teeth and pushed harder. This was hard work. I could still see the long cast sprite-like shadows growing scarily closer, and then the pacey thudding rhythm of a fast finisher. I so hate fast finishers. ‘No way pal, this one is mine’, 200m to go, and I am then right up into the red and sprint mode, throwing my whole weight forward, angled 45 degree attack position, thighs up high, driving down and back, countering the overstriding stretch of the other leg, then right back up again after each foot strike, using every single kilojoule of power. A chicane twist to the finish and I’d nailed it.A 6.07pace ‘fast finish’ final mile. 31mins 41 seconds (Nae luck Frazer Munro, Carnegie Harriers 31.43) which at a 6.26 pace which wasn’t too far off my target. Splits , a bit messy, were 5.48, 6.32, 6.35, 7.09, 6.07. Not bad given the topography, but I really paid for the fast start, and losing 40 seconds on mile 4 is fairly unforgivable. Aside more discipline (a lot more), I need to work on fast tempo runs, and address my speedwork on the flats, which is where I seem to lose most ground. Saying that it’s probably the fastest I’ve ever run , but all for 38th place! A tough field right enough!
Mr Darcy was in quickly behind me with a very good fast run, as was the Stormtrooper (with a cracking 6.01 final mile), and not soon after, Mr Rogerson who got a new PB. Well done mate! We didn’t wait to see if we got a rostrum team prize, but somehow I doubt it. However a good array of very respectable times, and a really enjoyable if demanding race. Jeff Farquhar of Pittreavie, took the mens with 26.24, and Issy Menzies of EAC took the womens with 30.08.
The Architecture of the Sandwich
Post race I was delighted to see some homemades, and grabbed a few sandwiches, momentarily pausing - almost placing a triangular cut one in my mouth, which I then consciously removed and replaced it with the square cut I was holding. Why? In my recent facebookmania, I’d been discussing the ‘social-economic semiotics of the triangular cut sandwich, versus the square cut’ (in relation to the post race buffet). The thesis: Triangular being more aesthetically pleasing, less angular and orthogonal, more refined, easier to eat daintily with a 45 degree corner being offered to the mouth as opposed to a ninety, the longer edge exposes more filling hence looks more appetizing , representational of the trinity and easier to cut, going from corner to corner (with no guessing of the mid-point), ensuring uniformity and neatness. Square being a hearty, wholesome doorstop……..’Ian, you’re hungry, just eat the damn sandwich!’
Report and Photos – Ian McMillan
Sandwiches – Corstorphine AAC
