Ivybridge 10k – 12 May 2012
The first real test of 10km speed this spring/summer came in the Ivybridge race and attracted a fantastic 34 or more Musketeers. This enthusiasm for racing is certainly catching.
This amazing turn-out, including first-time racers, is very encouraging to see because it can mean Musketeers have set themselves targets for the future. Runners have also seen how their training has prepared them and what they now might need to do for future races.
It was a perfect evening for racing and many set themselves ne personal bests for that distance or for that course – there is nothing more rewarding. Others were merely racing for the first time and looked as if they enjoyed it. Others found it hard going and suffered for their cause, but will return strongly. In Musketeer fashion some sacrificed their good times to run with others and encourage them.
If you are really keen you can aim for the next 10km race and try to improve. There are some flatter 10kms such as Exeter or Torbay and maybe St Austell and Plymouth.
Ivybridge is enormously popular because it is close to home and has a second half which is largely flat and some downhill – perfect for that phrase negative split, meaning you run the second half a of a race faster than the first half. In this race that pacing can be forced on you as the first half is hillier with one steep incline under the bridge. Now that many more Musketeers know the route for the first time, they can pace themselves for next year.
The Musketeers in finishing order: 1 Guy B 39m 52s, 2 Eroy A 43 55, 3 Neil W 44 52, 4 Chris A 45 48, 5 Mark P 46.01, 6 Louise W 46.07, 7 Chris MP 46.09, 8 Darren D 46.14, 9 Chris W, 50.11, 10 Nicole B 52.09, 11 Linda K 52.36, 12 Graham K 52.37, 13 Lucy S 53.17, 14 Ieuan J 54.02, 15 Sarah H 54.44, 16 Sam G 55.35, 17 Thommy W 55.36, 18 Richard B 55.58, 19 Michael P 56.11, 20 Joanna S 56.23, 21 Donna B 57:10, 22 J B 57.13, 22 Sharon A 57.13, 23 Annette T 59.07, 24 Bryan K 59.07, 25 Kate S 59.07, 26 Julie B 1h17s, 27 Damian M 1h 18s, 28 Nicky H 1h18s, 29 Jodie M 1h31s, 30 Helen S 1h51s, 31 Lorraine Davies 1h2m07s, 32 Caroline Erickson 1h3m59s, 33 Kerry Jackson 1h9m39s, 34 Kathy WG 1h14m18s
Apologies for anyone I have left out.
By Guy