Jedburgh Half Marathon 29/10/06
I’m quite new to the club having joined in July and this was my first race in the team colours (metaphorically speaking as I still haven’t actually purchased a vest yet). To be honest I was quite nervous as I haven’t done that many races and still get worried that I might not be able to finish. Should I have worried? No sir. Not after training with Bert’s group.
Like everyone else I was most relieved when Sunday dawned with blue skies and no hint of rain. Perfect conditions. Arriving in plenty of time we all ‘checked in’ and changed into racing gear. After a leisurely warm up and a few trips to the facilities we were guided to the start line and were off before we knew it.
I’m really not that good with the old stop watch but I think my first mile was the slowest. I was quite alarmed to see it took me over 8 minutes. Clearly I’d spent too much time bumping into old friends and having a gossip. From then on it was head down as I really wanted to improve on my race time from last year – 1:41. I managed to pull the time back to around 7 minutes 15 seconds / mile and then did what Bert’s been telling us for weeks – tried to match this time for each mile. Thankfully it worked and I didn’t run out of steam.
For those who haven’t done this race, it’s fairly flat apart from a sharpish incline at about the half way mark and then a longer hill at about 10 miles. As I’d done the race in 2005 I knew what to expect and I was pleased to see the return of the brass band. I wonder if they do requests…
Anyhow, I digress. The last mile seemed like an eternity although I was pleased to still pass a few people at this late stage. I’m well chuffed with my 1:34:32 although I fear future improvements will require much harder work on my part. Back to the Wednesday night training I guess. Thanks everyone for all your support on my first race and especially to Bert. Those endless reps really paid off!
Report Amanda Henderson
Janet: envelope, medals, trophy.Here is a report from Shelagh
Since I was born in Jedburgh and lived in Crailing (the brass band village) until I was 18, I love to run this race and run past my childhood haunts. I learned to drive on all these roads so I know the route like the back of hand. I didn't travel in the team bus but drove down to stay at my Mum's. She drove me, albeit very slowly, to the start and therefore I didn't have much time to register and get my t.shirt. The rush also led to me forgetting to do my pre-race Vaseline application early on. However, I needn't have worried as Peter was skulking around the car-park offering his Vaseline to lots of unsuspecting female runners!
Shelagh and her Mum after the race.The day was perfect, sunny and crisp although latterly I did end up trying to run in the shade to avoid the sun's glare. From memory, almost every race I have done this year has been in hot sun or pouring rain. I think I set off a tad too fast, trying to keep Jim Scott and Mike the dentist in my sights. As a result I went through the 5 mile mark in 35 minutes. You'd think I would learn but I never seem to and so from about mile 7 I got gradually slower. My Mum was strategically placed at the brass band, holding out a cup of isotonic juice for me each time I passed. I had Chariots of Fire on the way out and It's a Long Way to Tipperary on the way back. The band seemed to play Chariots quite often which I suppose is meant to inspire the runners but Peter said he got the Muppet theme tune and he reckons that was reflected in his finishing time!
Shelagh chats to Mike "the dentist" Lieberman, hand instinctively going to her mouth...Amanda caught me at 8 miles and I didn't see her again until the end. Derek had the cheek to overtake me on the hill at mile 11 but I soon caught him again on the down hill! I finished in 1.37 and as is sadly the usual these days, I was a bit disappointed with my time, 3 minutes slower than my fastest half this year. However, having read Amanda's report I will be expecting great things from Bert the miracle worker over the winter months. All in all, it was a great day out and good to see so many PRC runners taking part. Well done to Janet for her prizes.
Report Shelagh McLeish
One minute you're responding to a girl's request for vaseline, the next you're "skulking around the car park". However I did run like a muppet. That much is true. Also, spot the unintentional humour in the results; the winner, Russian Fedorov is reported to hail from the hometown of Musselburg. Well done to all who ran faster than ever before, well done to Ben and Janet for winning prizes and well done to the organisers for a smoothly run race.
pb
Douglas underplays the trauma of the run.
A lot of runners wore sunglasses - most because of Scott's new shoes.
Man of the match Paul did a massive PB
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson presents Janet's prizes.
Arise Sir Ben.
How to organise a group photo with the abbey in the background?
Hurray!
Photos Peter Buchanan, Kerry's Dad, others
Results here
