Monthly archives: July 2012

Another Musketeers relay record has been broke – an amazing five teams took part in the Tavistock Relays.

This beat the four Erme Valley Relay team total by one and was another dry enjoyable evening.

Runners in the teams of four ran one mile each up and down either side of the town’s park.

That sounds easy, but running at 80 per cent sprinting speed for all but the last 100 metres and leave you gasping for breath for a long while after finishing. Or was that just ancient me?

The atmosphere is also very supportive and the typical Musketeer team spirit is in its element with everyone supporting and cheering each other – and even yelling on other teams!

Despite being among the smaller running clubs in the area, we still out shouted and out numbered larger club and definitely competed on equal terms and outshone in enthusiasm.

The event is well organised and attracts about 50 teams with each runner grasping a baton, which reminded us all of school sports days. None of us dropped a baton and I am sure that we acquitted ourselves well on the racing front.

Barry D certainly gave one team a fantastic start and is the club’s front runner, luckily he likes racing.

Everyone gave their lung-busting all and I came away yet again proud of the Musketeers’ effort and positive attitude – which was picked up by others at the event who cheered us on, even though we were rival clubs. It seems enthusiasm is infectious in the nicest possible way.

By Guy

A ‘lucky’ 13 Musketeers tackled the Mag 7 – a seven-mile road race round the race on the quiet country roads round Saltash.

Nearly 400 took part and as ever the Muskies acquitted themselves with pride.

Finishing Muskies:

1. Guy B 50.56m, pace162 min per mile.

2. Neil W 56.59, 8.08, 3. Darren D 58.45, 08.23.

4. Mark P 58.58, 8.25. 5. Maggie L 1.06, 9.31.

6. Bryan K 1.07, 9.35. 7.Sarah H 1.07, 9.35.

8. Sharon A1.07, 9.35. 9. Nicole B 1.07.33, 9.38.

10. Annette T 1.14.3, 10.38. 11. Dave M 1.14.3, 10.38

12. Lou K 1.18 11.12. 13. Caroline W 1.18, 11.12

The route is rarely level and predominantly hilly, whether a positive or negative incline following on regularly with little time to rest and regain your breath or maintain a steady pace or heart beat.

Most of us running the Mag Seven had also run the previous evening’s Duckponds 4-mile race and a small number additionally even ran to the start of the Mag 7 – that is more than enough running, even for a running club.

Maybe the two races was too much for a few who went all out in a serious racing bid, while others kept each other company to encourage them to the finish – a nodiv Muskie characteristic.

This is a well organised race, as is usual from the Tamar Trotters and they provided a range of trophies and prizes, good toilet and baggage services and a quality running short, bottled beer and humourous medal as just reward for a reasonably well priced race. The race marshalling, route refreshments and support was also much appreciated. It is certainly a popular race for a relatively short distance and deserves to be.

By Guy

More than 30 keen Muskies conquered the 4-mile Duckponds race at Plymstock..

That is a pretty amazing turn-out for a Saturday evening and was remarked on appreciatively by the organisers as the Musketeers seemed to dominate the club entries of 138, judging by the numbers of turquoise shirts buzzing around.

The route is far from the idyllic village green type of run the name might lead you to believe.

It is one of the trickiest routes on the circuit with hardly any straight stretches and most of it is off-road through woodland or grass and some slippery stony sections.

To add to the difficulty there are off-set fences with gaps which slow runners to a mere walk, a sleeping policeman, sharp bends, adverse camber on wet grass and a near-invisible trench to leap across.

This was the first race for a handful of runners (including Frances) and what a baptism by fire it was. I hope they are not deterred from other races by the experience – it may be relatively short, but does require constant hard work to keep going. There are many easier races coming up.

Special mention goes to our top ten finisher and fastest runner in the club – Barry Dawe. The Muskies made a good showing in more than numbers.

By Guy

An amazing turn-out of Musketeers allowed us to enter a record four teams, four times that of last year.

Two male teams and two female teams did the Musketeers proud in a record field of 91 teams with four runners per team.

Team events and relays are not a common and it is a rewarding way to run in that you do your best, but it is for your team that you are running.

This is a very popular competition as can be seen by the turn-out and that some of the fastest runners in Cornwall and Devon took part.

Last year’s Musketeers team was a mixed boys and girls and age combination which worked out very well, but the categories are single gender and age categories – so ideally we needed single gender and single age categories to make it fair. In the end we did very well to have four teams and mixed ages to make the strongest teams. This means the team is placed in the age category of the youngest in the team.

The run was 2.5 miles per person, so ten miles per team. The run was rather tricky in places with the first third of the distance down wet twisty downhill country lanes and then along a heavily puddle and muddy level trail. The route included at least three up hills of which the first was the longest and led to many walking the second. The third hill took us to the finish.

Although only 2.5 miles, it is a tough race because you go pretty well flat out for most of it. The best pace is to take the second half the faster than the second (if you have not over done the first half), knowing you have not far to go and there are team mates waiting for you. The fastest leg in the whole event was 12.33 minutes. The winning team was Torbay male, first women’s team was Erme Valley Harriers.

From the Musketeers our first team was the male veteran 40s. Despite being relatively aged, except spring cockerel Neil who finished his leg in 17.28 min, his team – Rodney H 19.33, Barry D 15.06 and Guy B 16.11, – came 48th .

The second placed Musketeer team came 66 with Mark P heroically running twice in a team of three with 18.17 and 18.40, Kev W 18.58 and Chris W 18.31. Third Musketeers team was Louise W, 17.53, Jenny K 19.14, Nicole B 20.56 and Caroline W 23.10. Fourth Musketeers team was Emily S 25.54, Sarah A, 23.40, Lorraine D 22.56 and Jane H 19.20.

I am very pleased and grateful to all those who turned out on a damp Friday night when there must have been better things to do.

By Guy