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Heavyweight
1453 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:22:27 AM
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I have had this on my ‘to do’ list for a couple of years as although I could never call Felixstowe home my parents retired here and I spent several years visiting and know the town well. Ten years on from my Dad dying it was a nice bonus that the route covered part of a favourite walk of his.
We decided to make a weekend of it & which did not get off to the greatest of starts due to typical M25 & A12 jams and because I forgot to pack any of J’s cosmetics. In my defence I loaded two of her bags into the car & didn’t realise a whole other suitcase was needed for the toiletries!
Lovely weather on Saturday and we had a bit of a tour round visiting a few coastal towns and my childhood home. Concentrated on hydrating properly ready for Sunday including a couple of pints of God’s own tipple (Adnams) unfortunately this led to a bit of a disturbed night, which may be due to any one of age, nerves or prostate!
The first decision on Sunday was whether to go ‘full-English’ or not in the b&b, decided that would be a bit too much, but did enjoy the bacon, eggs & toast.
The start of the race is along the sea-front and continues in a 6.5 mile surprisingly rural loop that is run twice, with the finish line a couple of hundred yards up the prom from the start. We spent a nice relaxed hour or so soaking up the sun sitting on the beach listening to the “comedy” duo on the PA who were both in-explicably in Ozzy Osbourne wigs?
The aim for this race was to come in at less than 8mm miles, and I wanted to bank a few minutes on the first lap and hang on during the second. We started off at a brisk trot down the prom with the sun & wind at our backs.
After a mile the course turns inland & gently uphill towards the golf course & ferry. A further left turn takes you quickly into a rural lane, more uphill and the wind in your face.
The course rises to a peak at about 4 miles & then gradually slopes down through the town for the next 2.5 miles. The first lap went well and I got name checked by the PA duo going across the finish line for the first time. I completed the first lap in around 49 minutes which was a couple of minutes ahead of schedule & everything felt fine.
At the start of the second lap a couple of people came past and I tagged on and let them pull me round the next few miles. I probably drifted slightly on the second lap as I was recalling doing the walk with Dad. Past the pond he helped restore – which was still looking lovely and then the hill was crested and we back on the downhill into the town and finish.
At 12 miles I knew the PB was safely in the bag so typically I didn’t push on from there. Running along the final straight I noticed a surprised J in a flurry of newspaper, sunglasses & camera – she wasn’t expecting me quite yet. I crossed the line in 1:42:23 which was ten minutes quicker than Windsor last week and felt so much more comfortable.
Finished 113 out of 467 with the winners time of 1:17:59
Splits: 7:29 7:28 7:33 7:39 7:47 7:36 7:29 8:13 7:55 7:56 8:35 7:54 8:02 0:48
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mdunn77
1545 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:27:46 AM
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| A superb bit of running there David - sounds like a bit of a special race for you. |
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StephenPrice
2113 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:34:30 AM
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| Well done David, an excellent run. Nice to pull out such a good performance for your dad too. |
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StephenPrice
2113 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:36:44 AM
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| Amazing, just looked at the results and the 4th placed runner was DQ'd for wearing an iPod! haha |
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LittleBigMan
1070 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:40:52 AM
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Great running David! All the better that it was a special one for you too. Well done!
_________________________________________________
"The will to win is worthless, without the will to prepare." |
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Heavyweight
1453 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:47:45 AM
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They were warned about I-pods, still loads of people wearing them & surprising that someone so far up the field was wearing one.
They are probably quite strict as there a couple of nasty road crossings on the route. |
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Dips
4077 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 08:52:07 AM
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Well done David, great report and race. Memories are wonderful things, hopefully we hang on to them into old age.
I do hope J managed to replenish the toiletries store. 
Dips x
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." C.S. Lewis
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MarkWillcocks
1275 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 09:46:24 AM
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i,m glad....ipods are for training....bugs me that people wear them during races and even sing along!!!!!
good running David.....
He who dares Rodney, he who dares. |
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fishyweb
2311 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 09:52:18 AM
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Fantastic running David. Lots of reasons for you to be very pleased with that!
Also nice to see a sensible policy of iPod wearers!
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Steve
http://www.runsaturday.com/athlete/fishyweb |
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Wicked D
2207 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 3:17:36 PM
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well done David excellent report and run, also nice memory's so is a special race, I'm sure your Dad was above looking over you
good on ya
"If you're going through hell, KEEP GOING"....W Churchill |
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colinhewes
182 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 6:36:47 PM
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Excellent run David and a very nice report, especially with the addition of the photo. Not sure about the pre race brekkie though.
Colin Hewes
Stage 4&5 vet. |
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JonHullis
66 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2009 : 8:32:41 PM
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Great run David and good report.
I think this one may have just gone onto my to-do list. I have lots of childhood memories of Felixstowe - but I couldn't go past the Pier without going in to play on the slotties!
P.S. the iPod thing really bugs me - I saw some really dangerous moments at the Robin Hood with wheelchairs steaming downhill and almost crashing into runners who didn't hear their shouts. Should fit Ben Hur style blades to the wheels  |
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PeteStockdale
416 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2009 : 10:52:09 AM
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Good stuff David. Another PB in such a busy running year is excellent. Well done.
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"I just felt like running" - F. Gump |
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claire1
487 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2009 : 6:44:16 PM
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Great report and brilliant run! Lovely memories you shared...thank you.
LOL re the toiletries being left..... very dangerous! And a prostate moment....o'h dear o'h dear... have you redeemed yourself yet? |
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Heavyweight
1453 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2009 : 3:19:27 PM
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Thanks for all the comments.
It is a nice gentlish course - but that was on quite a benign day, it would be a lot different if there was a little weather. I was a little surprised the winning time was not quicker.
Girls - J was re-equipped after spending an hour (and a small fortune) in Boots on Saturday morning. |
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mdunn77
1545 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2009 : 5:36:54 PM
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| What the heck took an hour in Boots? |
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Topic |
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Felixstowe Half Marathon
