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The Char Lotte and Chinook Show - Powered By Co-Op Custard

Neon Red's picture
on Mon, 17/12/2018 - 09:13

For the 16th round of my 2018 race season, and the fourth cross country in just ten weeks, I made the trip to Arrowe Park yesterday for the third round of the North West Sunday Cross Country League with Penny Lane Striders. I used the gym for a weights warm-up to get the whole body moving before driving over the M53 to the Toby Carvery, where just as per three months ago the parking machine was losing the council plenty of money, probably closer to £400 this time given how many turned up to run. It's a bit of a maze once you get into the clubhouse at the golf club but once I found the way out it was a case of making my way through the woods with local legend John Hammond who'd probably either ridden his bike or run 15 laps of Birkenhead Park before arriving. I'm a little surprised that PLS don't have their own gazebo but in any case it was easy to find them, just look for the largest group of runners in blackand white and you have it. With the 25 doughnuts (also known as Boom Times 25) stored away in the Tesco bag I joined Nigel Foo and the legend known as CHAR LOTTE on a warm-up through part of the course from back in September. It took me a bit of time to get the blood flow rushing all the way round given I was still a bit imbalanced from over-indulging at the St Helens Tri curry night on Friday (chilli power FTW) but I came to my senses on the run back to the team base and come 10am it was time to walk over to the start line surrounded by teammates, Parbold Pink Panthers and some bloke in a Santa suit (surprisingly not John Hammond). The horn sounded and we were underway.

Arrowe Park is remarkably fast and flat compared to the nightmares of Woodbank and, in previous years, Boggart Hole Clough, but just like in Stockport a fortnight ago we did a lap and a half of the main field to string the pack out, and in the early exchanges I found myself on the same piece of mud as Colin Dobbs, who's been the St Helens Tri leading light at the Manchester XC races this winter. As per Wythenshawe I'd managed a great start and was soon making my way past the Iceland marathon specialist (do you own jokes about how much I "saved by going to Iceland" there) and I was off and running round the negative camber right-turn leading up the first incline. Emily has only recently started running with PLS and like me she couldn't be classified in the points standings due to her position with Liverpool Harriers but she certainly looked like she was up for winning the junior division and it took me quite some time to overtake her. On the long straight towards the footie pitches I was able to pick off plenty of fast starters but the wind was quite noticeable after turning left at the top of the hill and I was happy to reach the woods for shelter.Then again, this was the first case of "don't heel strike" on the course and yet I was having to do a bit of that as others in front of me backed up. Me overtaking people on a technical part of the course? Imagine that. Another field followed, complete with marshals and cameraman plus the obligatory dog, but soon we were into the singletrack part of the course where I was struggling to get the power down and I was more concerned with not holding teammates up, however a quick glance round confirmed that I was pretty much on my own and had only a few Kirkby Milers and Ellesmere Port runners to contend with. Once out of the evil left-hand dogleg turn we were onto the long straight approaching the pit and paddock area, and we were onto lap 2. My drag racer capabilities were now paying dividends and I was amazed to see how many people were struggling 15 minutes into the race, but I took it as read that the 80's party aftermath was turning into more of a case of "wake me up before you go-go" rather than "rush hour" (can't believe the latter is 30 years old). Off up the hill we went once again, and now I was closing in on the second and third ladies in the race, one from Vale Royal, the other Ellesmere Port. Luckily they didn't attempt to race me on the speed sections but they must have got the shock of their lives when I once again had the wings (arms) out on the two greasy sections, particularly the second one where a couple of Warrington runners came into view. I decided I would try and pick them off on the home straight so shouted back "orange lady is that you" as if to say "i won't hold you up" (oh hang on a minute couldn't I help Lauren Wilson out today? Maybe next time). For now it was off to the races, quite literally, with photograthers and spectators shouting encouragement at us on what must have been a 400 metre long straight home. I managed to out-sprint the taller of the two Warrington runners straight away and though I couldn't quite catch the next one, I was still delighted to finish just inside the top 30 overall, and (unclassified) 5th PLS member home in only my second XC for the greatest running club in the world!

After ruling myself out of the overall classification I went to find the 25 booms in the boom bag. As I don't play the piano with five hands I simply suggested that anyone who wanted some free sugar should take one and pass them on; in reality that only meant the Charlotte and Chinook show ended up with most of the doughnuts themselves. There's still half a dozen in the fridge for this week's bike rides. A few members also asked me about when will I be eligible for the team; I explained that the best option will be to clear the coaching course red tape, wait until the EA season restarts on April 1 and do the swap then. It was good to catch up with ex-PLS and current LHAC member Lyndon Easthope, who probably had as much Chicane and Avicii on his playlist as I do. We tentatively walked back to the cars on 15mm spikes and, after a lengthy fight to get the shoes off my feet I could join the huge queue to leave the park and get to the other three stages of a thrilling day; the Crosby Courtyard with Harry Middleton Cycling Club, the Westhead carol service and finally the Grifin St Helens for a St Helens Tri get-together. Just over a week to go until Chester Round the Walls on Boxing Day..........

 

Now  for the results, powered by Co-Op Custard Doughnuts:

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 31:40

Pace per mile: 6:20

Final Position: Not sure but in the top 30

Dogs: 1

Doughnuts: 25 most of which were accounted for by two members both starting with CH (Charlotte and Chinook)

REJECT OF THE RACE: Parking Meter Maintenance Team

(Missing contractor costs the council £400)

Time to pick up the bike from the Bicycle Lounge before setting off for a ride.See you in 2019 with the clipboard ready to coach!

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