Steve H reports:

Let’s see? Once again my day had started off bad, with my bowl of Porridge deciding to explode in the microwave, don't you hust hate it when that happens! The guy on TV. was harping on about the severe weather that had hit the South-West with thunder and lightning striking at 11am, the same time as the start of the race! Great! So Jo Trestrail and I decided that if there was any lightning we would stand next to Chris Beresford, being that he’s so tall he would be struck first, providing he wasn’t wearing his fluorescent pink rubber croc’ shoes! So I packed my water-proof jacket, wellie boots and Velcro gloves. (No, that was the other trip to visit the sheep in Wales.) I actually packed my water-proof jacket, trainers and vest and walked down the road to meet my lift.

            The journey to Launceston with Chris Beresford and Jo T consisted of a less serious talk of the current affairs i.e. yobs, binge drinking and blue-rinse, i guess you had to have been there. The weather wasn’t looking too severe and spirits were high! We arrived at the race early.

            All the Carnie’s met in the race H.Q.  Donned our numbers and were all set. I decided to head down to the start and have a quick look. The start of the race was in an industrial estate next to what I thought was a food factory. The factory was giving off a very strange smell of pop corn or perhaps the smell that someone had just dropped one! Can’t complain though, after watching the Olympics I bet some of the runners in Beijing could only dream of inhaling a nice trouser cough, rather than the toxic fog that seemed to engulf much of the city! So I had quick warm up with the stars, Jo Friday and Dangerous Dave Buzza. Not that I know them or anything, they just happened to be there warming up too! I spotted one guy drinking from a small plastic bottle that had flames on the side, later on when he started the race, he was on fire (oh dear)? Also one ladies warm-up consisted of smoking a quick roll-up before she started, each to their own as they say! Another regroup with my fellow Carnies and we were ready to start. No sign of severe weather but we gathered round Chris, just in case!

            "3, 2, 1" and we were off. For the first time ever, the race was under way and I could actually see the very first person, only for the first 200 meters though. This only meant one thing, I’d started too far up front, so I kept to my pace and within the first mile I’d been overtaken by all the fast people. My race plan was the same as in other races, which was keep my heart rate at a constant high, which has worked well many times before. This time though I was struggling to keep my heart rate high enough as I couldn’t seem to get my legs to work properly. I put it down to not having enough rest earlier in the week, as I’m Marathon training at the moment “any excuse!” I hear you cry! As I approached the 2nd mile I was going well but my mind was trying to think of excuses as to why I should slow down, luckily my brain couldn’t come up with anything at the time (story of my life) and I just carried on running. The whole race just seemed to be downhill! Then around the 4 mile mark we hit “the hill!” which for me was a blessing in disguise, as I wasn’t able to run up it and I needed to take a breather. So I walked and jogged a couple times until I had reached the top. I was finding it hard to get back up to pace, but when I looked behind me I could see a familiar face, unfortunately I don’t know his name or club, I can only describe him as, the man with the super-noodle hair-cut, he was closing in (sorry, your probably a very nice person!) he had beaten me on the last mile at the Launceston Half, so I had no choice, It was kill or be killed. I soon accelerated and was off, leaving the super-noodle hair guy for dust!

The last 2 miles were as tough as the rest and it was tightly packed down towards the industrial estate finish. As we entered the last stretch I could smell the food factory, only this time it was the smell of yeast and not the smell of an under burp! My brain had managed to start working again and it managed some cheesy hero saying like “come on, are you a man or a mouse” which was pretty lame but enough to push me over the finish line. The race was complete with no severe weather by the way! I hung around for a moment to catch my breath and watch Janet Ritchie finish in great time and Dave Mounter who sprinted so fast across the finish, he was just a blur!

            Well done to all the Carnies who raced, I hope you enjoyed it as much as me. Well done the Launceston Road Runners who put on a great event and thanks for the bumper goodie bag with all the treats, which I preferred more than the jim’ll fix it style medals that have been dished out in previous events! Thanks to Jo T for the lift.

Steve Hole

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE . . .

Long time passing.

Twelve members of TeamCarn (get the marketing in early for 2012, I’m sure Blaythorne can play
host as we have a cosmopolitan membership) made the trip to Launceston on Sunday for the
third running of the Treggy 7 and the 11th round of the Grand Prix. The usual suspects really
and well done to Steve Hole and Janet as first Carnies home. We didn’t stay for the prizegiving
so I am not sure if we medalled (the new verb!).
Nearly everyone seemed pleased with their performance and there were numerous PBs as well
as cracking debuts.
The weather was very kind so that mad downhill run did not produce any casualties although
Wendy swears Chris forgot about the sharp left at the bottom as he did his Cool Runnings
impression.
I did not see one person run the hill back up so at least everyone has learnt how to save energy
and a carbon footprint in amongst the muddy ones.
There was one awful moment when I smelt a delicious roast cooking when doubts about the
need to run around country lanes when you could have a couple of pints, pig out on the roast
and fall asleep in front the telly (are Sky showing Birmingham v Coventry?).
That lovely 2 mile downhill finish was welcomed by all and it was nice to see so many people
cheering home others.
All in all a good day out despite the long distance for a 7 miler but definitely becoming a popular
race on the calendar.

Steve Marks