A race report (no photos) for Eyam Half Marathon 20/05/12
A half marathon in a rural location with over twelve hundred feet of ascent. Hills and tarmac combined would typically inspire zero enthusiasm from me. I ran Eyam as it was included in Saddleworth's Club Championship. It was also something different from the fell running, a break from the norm. Finally it would be a challenge. Past forays into the thirteen miles of tarmac treading totalled only two. The Great North in 2000 and Wilmslow in 2010. Both popular events, the latter super flat and fast consequently popular for PB's. Not that I was fast by course standards. I was twelve seconds under the two hours. Marginally faster than in 2000. I was ten years younger then mind. Some positive signs. Funny tale about Wilmslow if I may digress for a moment. Vicky (the girlfriend for those who don't know me) like most supporters and followers was stood at the finishing line or somewhere near to it. I had no chance of seeing her amongst the hundreds of folk assembled there but thought she might see me crossing the finishing line around the anticipated two hour mark. She didn't. So as I took a slow walk back to the car which was about a mile away at the end of Kings Road, Vicky (she later informed me) remained at the roadside cheering on those runners even slower than me whilst keeping a watchful eye out for me. Until that is a guy dressed as a sausage crossed the line and the blue inflatable finish banner was let down. Only at that point, some three hours having passed since the starting gun was fired, did she think I might have finished. I had some how slipped through unnoticed. All my fault of course because I had taken my windproof top off rendering me unrecognisable Anyway, back to Eyam.
Having had an enjoyable visit to Eyam in March, as documented in a previous blog, it was with pleasure and anticipation that I made the return journey. Together with Mark and Gaynor (fellow Sadds - members of Saddleworth Runners) I headed over to Derbyshire. Talk of race tactics and nutrition plans provided conversation points on the way. Parking was at the top of the village in a field. Wet but managed to get on and parked. Quite a task to accommodate the anticipated five hundred runners in a small Peak District village. Well that was the maximum number of entrants at any rate and the weather at least was not going to influence the drop out rate. On the topic of weather, conditions looked good and promised to remain that way. It wasn't raining, there was not much wind to speak of and it was not too warm. Just right. Pushed a little for time it came time to head down to the start line in the centre of the village. Managed a brief warm up on the way, stopping off at the baggage area to deposit the kit bag. I wasn't long stood at the assembly point when the starter gave instructions for everyone to begin walking through the overhead gantry which I thought was the start line and along Church Street away from the centre. Around the corner the starter stopped everyone and set us off.
First off was a loop through the village. A short way along Church Street was the first mile marker. Confusing after only a few hundred metres. There was the inevitable keen temptation to go off too fast along the village roads. It was an interlude before the climb out of the village. Returning to a short section of Church Street the mile marker made sense. First mile completed. Followed by a right turn leading to the hill out of the village. A steep sustained climb it was tough going. At the top of the hill was a left turn onto an easier gradient but the way ahead was still up. At the turn further along the route at Sir William Hill Road the road levelled out. Across the valley to the right the leader/s could be seen led themselves by the timing vehicle. Now there is a sight which cannot fail to dishearten you. After gaining over five hundred feet in around three miles it was a steady and gradual descent over the course of several more miles all the way down to the turn at The Plough near Hathersage. The lowest point of the route. Over six hundred feet of steep ascent led back up to the top of the first hill. The best supporters were found here. Two ladies at the bends where the way was steepest were shouting at anyone walking. The sun was out and things were heating up. I made good progress and was making up places all the way to the top. It's a good feeling too finish well. The descent back to the village was a joint pounder and a thriller. I tried to keep my footfall as light as possible. My legs were like noodles at the bottom. After the descent came the long and painful run in to the finish. I longed for that finish. I did manage a sprint to the line helped along by the slight declining approach. A good crown was gathered.
This was a great race which I would strongly recommend to anyone. It is my diary for next year. The route was challenging but runnable throughout. The ascent added to the resulting satisfaction. I struggled with pain in my left knee which I felt when descending when I was slightly hyper extending the joint. My time was 1:49:38 (174th place) which I feel is a respectable time. 30:02 behind the fastest time on the day. A time which got me thinking about running later in the year on a flatter course to see what sort of PB I have in my legs. Oldham Half is in the diary for the end of the season but that looks just as mountainous as Eyam. Truth is I don't like tarmac. Other positive aspects from the day - the organisation was excellent, roadside support was fantastic and the tee shirts are worth wearing and will not as some others have end up stuffed in the bottom of a drawer. I have one minor issue in retrospect - I thought bottled water was wasteful when you only drink a few sips when passing a drinks station. Not wanting to end on a negative i'll add this. I don't like tarmac because I get bored and it hurts but I still enjoyed the race and will run it again. Positive testimony in anyone's book.
