Two Bridges Race 27/8/05Braveheart.
On arriving in Rosyth I saw Andy Eccles (Wigan) walking to the sports ground. Going into the car park one car had a Welsh flag on top of it. It was Two Bridges day, when people come from far and wide for this epic race. Parked the car and met Andy who usually finishes top 3. “Are we having a drink later” first words, I just laughed. Went to register and saw Paddy Jumelle and Steven Docherty (HELP) who advised they had stayed in a local hotel and they had a team – serious stuff. Andrew Jeske turned up to advise that since doing the Edinburgh Marathon he had done one 3 hour run and a bit of gardening. I advised my preparation was 3 ½ weeks in France then caught a cold. He asked about the sand dune, I said it only took me 15 mins the rest was wine and beer. My weekly mileage for previous 10 weeks was 21 per week.
Then John Pickard turned up. Wee John had the cold, red nose etc but was going to run so we had a team. There were 8 teams on the start sheet. 4 from the greatest country in the world (that’s Scotland) but never even gave ourselves a chance. The race started at 9am from Rosyth and I charged up the first hill in the lead, it was then downhill. John Worthington (Wigan) went into the lead followed by Paddy then Andy. The weather was perfect for running this sort of distance dry and cool but a strong wind. Andrew Jeske passed me at the Forth Road Bridge then we went out to Hopetoun House, Blackness was the first turn on the course. It turned out one of the organisers Neil Campbell who runs long distances ie The Devils Footsteps Race (42 mile) got hit by a Volvo car in the grounds. His motorbike was written off and he was injured but managed to make it to the next change of direction. The east side of the bridge was closed to pedestrians so this year we had to go down to North Queensferry then under the bridge and back up umpteen steps onto the bridge again. It was at this point I was running well below form. It was expected due to lack of training and racing but just decided to keep trying and get to Silver Sands at Aberdour. The lead runners now come face on and one of the Wigan runners ran straight into me at the harbour. Andrew was now 5 – 6 mins ahead of me and running well. Last year I was 20 mins in front at the finish. Then when I got to 26 miles I suddenly started to find my form. By 29 miles I had cut Andrew's lead to 1 minute. Passed him at Inverkeithing then put in a fast mile about 6.30 pace. I was now on my toes and running great and had moved from 20th to 12th place. Time 4.33.39.
Andrew came home in 15th place in 4.39.47 and a PB by 12 mins 18 secs on a longer course. A great effort but can still do much better if he gets his food and drink right at the stations which are 9 over the whole course (the marshals do a great job) and I got every single drink.
The braveheart award has to go to John who finished in 5.30.50. John was down 10 minutes on last year and almost gave up at Inverkeithing but battled his way to 38th place. The day was completed in the bar afterwards. I could not stay for the disco but some of the Wigan runners had gone and got changed into their night gear. One of the girls had put on a low cut top and it was certainly Two Bridges. I said to the company (which did include women) I hope she gets a prize. She was in the winning ladies team so we got another look. So come on Porto girls get yourself a team, win the shield, then you can hit the dance floor with it all hanging out.
Wigan were first team but we had managed to get 2nd place (last year 3rd). I am still in shock, how did we manage that one maybe it’s the garden work, maybe it’s the cold, maybe it is the red wine? - It is The Two Bridges probably the finest race in the world.
35.8 miles do it!
Report Graham Henry