Alport

Alport on Wed 11th Aug 2010

A much smaller turnout than last year’s 45 with only 25 toeing the line this year - maybe it was the weather which comprised heavy grey clouds ominous of heavy rain!  Almost everyone who ran last year was quicker this year and there were quite a few novices out this year.

“It’s a poor man who can’t win his own race” was the cry from Mr Harmer – and at the time, looking around the dishevelled congregation, I thought it might be on but with just a few minutes before the off some competition arrived. Jon (Morgan) fresh from his 32 miles the previous weekend and yours truly with no excuse for tired legs ran together until Oyster Clough and then the youngster’s legs showed their youth taking 20 seconds out of me over the final mile.

But the most interesting events occurred just behind us – Tony Heron in 3^rd place and Ashley Kay in 4^th place (who has run the race twice before!) independently managed a 180 on Cowm’s moor and re-entered Alport valley woods – how they managed to find each other in the woods is a mystery we may never solve – but that’s the beauty of Pertex bids – inexplicable events and total incompetence!

... which allowed everyone else to move up 2 places and record some good runs despite the very heavy rain which held off until Jon and I arrived at the finish soaking everyone else behind.

Looking back at previous years, this was the 25^th running of the race and so 25 starters was quite apt.  The first race in 1986 was won by (Vet at the time) Andy Harmer in 60.43 with myself 10 seconds behind.  I lowered it to 60.40 a few years later and a route change making it approx 15-20 seconds quicker coincided with Alistair’s Landels 60.25 run a few years after that – we agreed to be joint record holders.  I don’t think anyone else has managed to get under 61 mins except Alistair Cory-Wright’s 60.50 when I ran 60.40.  Next best is Mark Hayman’s 61.07.

Tim Tett