"Think of St Levan and Lamorna comes to mind. If I see the race director is Sam Peckinpah, then I’m off. Of course, the original Straw Dog was a sacrificial object
and when we reached race HQ, I thought the plot was being followed with me as the wimpish Dustin Hoffman character confronted by a gaggle of Sky Blue supporters.
As the Sarge and co were getting stuck into me about my teams performance, a twelve bore shotgun would have been more useful than the number 451.
The wimpishness started when we leapt for joy when Mike offered to drive us there and save us the problem of getting lost or stuck behind a “dracder”.
Saw Ian at the car park dressed up in race kit but he revealed he was only fun running. This must be the largest warm up area with the smallest toilet in the racing Calendar and I’m assured by Helen that I may be treading over munchkins in the fun run if I’m not careful at the start. Trouble is, Martin and I are discussing the merits of something other than a starting pistol when it goes off and I’m facing the wrong way!
The first mile is like the Keirin in reverse. At the first mile marker its seven and thats way too fast for me with the two hills to come. Now all the fast oompa loompas in the fun run steam past and the ego is the size of George Dubyers brain!
And the second of the hills endorses that and I’m sure gravity has succeeded and I’m going backwards. Two fellow hashers (alcoholics who run) go past me and I’m
Dustin Hoffman again. A nice steady third and a chat about fishing with an MBH and I’m feeling a bit better.
Some nice Marshals assure me that “your Carn ladies are very fast out in front” and that makes me realise this pedestrian pace isn’t up to it and at least the last two miles are a sprint to the finish.
Go past the two audacious hashers and there’s Helen up ahead. Try to catch her but Its no good, you are not going to pass anybody on the big green Slumberland
Mattress that doubles up as a sports field. Evidently cross the line at such a flying pace that Carole says she missed me and I have to pose for the picture.
Cheer Wendy home over the line and then realise we were the last two Carnies Home. How cruel this sport can be. One race you’re the first, the next you’re the last!
A lot of people thought this was a hard run but I must disagree and say I thought It was a very good one that we ran badly. The surface was a bit firm but there are plenty of stretches where the speed merchants can let loose and its a friendly finish.
This one is good enough for GP status apart from parking facilities and it was nice to have a race and stiil have the rest of the weekend to look forward too.
Great to see Kensa and Paula back and in fine fettle as well and it was a throwback to previous years good results. Obviously a few months cruise around the Gulf at Her Majesty’s request have done Kev the world of good and we will miss Mark when he flies off to the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Chris obviously has a new tactic of watching us squirm as he comes past us from the back and the Phoenix is back to his best now he is injury free. Peter, Paul and Debbie must have kept each other company going round singing Puff the Magic Dragon no doubt. Helens run with Sam on Wednesday was duplicated again which left Dustin and Susan George at the rear which according to Sam Peckinpah is a traditional position in Lamorna."
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