We looked out over the deserted track and infield of Julie Rose Stadium as it submerged under a deluge of epic proportions. The rain had come too late to interfere with the battle between Cambridge and Radley (near Oxford) who, as we stood watching the waves of torrential rain batter the stadium, had just been named joint winners for 2008. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't sink the 2 crews, finishing just behind them in third. After my soaking in the first event of the day, the pole vault - more on that later - the rain had in fact held off until after the last event to make for a very enjoyable, if windy, day.
My main, and arguably only, contribution had been the 3000m towards the end of the event. We went into it with a good chance of victory, so needing as many points as we could muster - no pressure then! I've been suffering cramps and spasm in my calves for the last couple of months, whenever I do races or speedwork, so had hoped there wouldn't be quite so much pressure to run hard. In the event though things played out quite well.
With Steph running A-string, myself B-string and Marilyn our V50 runner, we had a strong line-up, but we were up against it when it came to Cambridge Harriers: they had the UK W40 champion Clare Elms on their team along with someone who looked like she could have been Clare's sister running B-string. The regular creases in the B-string runner's vest suggested it had just come out of its wrapping - I hope they hadn't recruited her into the team just for that event - that wouldn't really be in the spirit.
The race started and the first lap went by at quite a sedentary pace - real championship running. The quality soon started to show though as the Cambridge women picked up the pace. Steph gave chase but I realised my battle was with the B-string runners and this worked out quite well for me as the Cambridge B runner took off with her team mate at a pace I knew I couldn't match, leaving me still running comfortably on the shoulder of the Herts and Phoenix runner in 2nd place. Radley were somewhere behind but this didn't surprise or concern me as their strengths seemed to lie very much with field events and sprints rather than endurance running.
I was running at around 10k pace, putting in 100 second laps, although the effort seemed greater due to the strong headwind in the home straight. My Herts quarry seemed strong, lapping consistently, but I knew I had plenty in reserve - hopefully this wouldn't be too brutal a race for my fragile calves.
With each lap I monitored my friend's breathing as I heard shouts of "good tracking Susie" from my team mates at the side. The most telling evidence of her condition came on each running of the home straight. I was unable to get any real drafting due to the angle of the wind so just sat on her shoulder and monitored her effort. The first few laps she ran strongly, but with 3 laps to go she was noticeably struggling into the wind. With 2 laps to go I was now having to slow slightly to remain behind her in the straight. I knew the time had come to make my move.
She picked up her pace again as we swung out of the wind and I moved along side her along the back straight. As we rounded the bend with under 600m to go I heard a little voice echoing from a running book in my head "When you make your move, make it decisively". I picked up the pace and powered past her into the wind, sensing the gap widening behind me.
I felt good! In fact I felt great! With 200m to go I picked up the pace again with Pete shouting "Easy!" from the sidelines. Did he mean to take it easy or that I made it look easy? My second surge was fairly pointless as I'd already sealed 2nd place B-string, but it felt good to finish strongly to the cheers of my team-mates.
Steph got 2nd A-string behind Clare and I got 2nd B-string behind their other extremely talented runner, who in fact beat Steph into 3rd place on the track. I think their V50 also won. We got good points, but unfortunately lost ground to Cambridge.
My time was slow: 12:29.5, but I was pleased with how I ran. My penultimate lap was a full 10s faster than any of the previous laps, and my last 200m was covered in a comfortable 44s - my mile PB pace. Satisfaction in 7½ laps!
A major source of my apprehension before the 3000m was my performance in the pole-vault at the start of the event: I failed to make the opening height of 1.40m and so despite Cambridge not fielding a vaulter I failed to score any points - you'd have thought I'd get a point for at least trying!
My pole-vaulting hadn't started well. I watched in frustration at the men warming up (ie practising!) as we searched in vain for someone who could get me access to a stadium pole I could borrow. When I finally found one I was left on my own to warm up in a heavy shower, while everyone else sheltered. I managed 3 jumps onto the mat, just enough to establish that the pole was far longer than I was used to and I should be holding it well down the pole. It was then time to jump for real over an opening height 30cm higher than I'd normally be allowed to start at in the league. I'd cleared 1.40m several times in practise a year ago, but after my torn stomach muscle I hadn't jumped since. I was nervous! It didn't go well! I think we'll leave the story there!
Apart from the pole-vault it was a great day with some great performances from the team. If only we'd been at full strength, we might have had those 7 points we needed to win. Here's to the finals next year: watch out everyone - we'll be back!
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