Duchy 20, Redruth, 13 Mar 2011


A record-sized posse of Musketeers tackled the unusual distance of 20 miles in the Duchy 20 at Redruth.

This strong entry follows on from the fantastic showing and high numbers of personal bests at the week earlier in the Bideford Half.

The high entry for the Duchy 20 reflects the higher than average numbers of Musketeers training for marathons. Sharon A is on course to complete her first marathon after a strong finish in 3houra 16min – her longest ever run and something to give her confidence for the longer run.

Sharon was a little down on her self, complaining about feeling too tired at the end, but then anyone who runs 20 miles will be very tired. Also in any race of any distance, if you run as fast as you can then you will always be exhausted at the finish – it is therefore, natural and this was a significant step on her long marathon journey.

She must be pleased at her pace as well at 9min 48sec, surely she would not have expected to run that far at that pace only a few months ago – excellent progress. Our celebrity Sharon was surrounded by her beefy ‘bodyguards’ Darren, Bryan and Kevin – could be another record for the ‘most supported runner in the club’.

No such support for Graham’s excellent longest ever race (though not his longest run) in 2hours 46min, at a superb pace of 8min 19sec mile which promises a fast Paris Marathon in a few weeks. Graham’s dedicated training has paid of well and he is now ‘tapering’ down for his first marathon, he is looking strong.

Although his marathon is not until a few months yet Neal could well enter the ‘big one’ in April and complete it comfortably after finishing seven minutes behind his training partner Graham in 2h 53 at a pace of 8min 40sec and all with a calf injury, which makes it even more of a praise worthy achievement.

That mere youngster Gavin was somewhat behind the others finishing in 3h 44min, which is hardly surprising with his lack of training – just shows what a difference it makes.

The course is fairly flat most of the way, only broken by one rather lengthy and testing and cruel hill – but nothing that will kill the prepared runner ou acheter du viagra en france.

Major complaints were the lack of marshals at key junctions and the confusing mile markers and direction signs. The 20-mile race was run at the same time and on the same course -which is where the confusion lay. It would help to have mileage colour-coded (in the same way the runner numbers were) for both races – even where the route coincided.

Other than that every other aspect of the race was well organised and it is a luxury to have a hotel to change and recover in.

By Guy