www.belgraveharriers.com
A hapless day! - March 11, 2007
Thank goodness we finished a team yesterday on one of the most hapless days we’ve had this Century. A fortnight ago we had 15 sleek stallions bang up for Sunderland. On Monday down to 11 … and then within 24 hours we lost our three top guns. And in the race itself two disappointing dnf’s for Pete and Brad – disgusting luck for both after the huge journey. But Belgrave have a new hero! We would all have been pretty gutted if we had failed to register in the six to score, but Matt Whiting calmly and clinically delivered when it mattered most – his best ever National finish. Man of the match of course. At the other end of our team, thanks to Jonesy indeed. He claims not to like grass, but there’s a cross-country runner in there just bursting to come out.
Mal deservedly has stopped my Cross-country Plate sequence in its tracks. He has run great all winter – although it all actually came down to the very first race where he beat me by just 3 secs. Had I have known then what I know now, I would have taken him down! But the best man has most certainly won – I now look forward to us doing battle in the marathon.
The world’s most misleading and out-of-date piece of literature
I had two moments of pure farce in the day, one lasting two minutes, the other two hours … I buy the race programme every year for two distinct reasons: one for the course map, two to confirm the start time of my race beyond all reasonable doubt. It’s £2, so I guess a pound for each nugget of info. Otherwise, the race programme is possibly the world’s most misleading and out-of-date piece of literature on sale. It’s a noble mission to try and list the starters, but around 70% were nowhere near the course on Saturday. I do see that Belgrave had the 3rd most entrants in the senior race (32) behind that little known outfit Sunderland Strollers (33), and of course, the Serpentine juggernaut: 37 advertised starters, 3 finishers.
Anyway, I digress. On pages 1, 42 and 68 of the programme, the start of the men’s race is noted as 3:05pm. Okaaay, I thought. Esoteric and obscure, but someone has spent a long time figuring this out, I shall therefore be on the start line at 3:03pm. T’was a shame when the race started at dead on 3pm. At 2:58pm I was calmly slipping out of my tracksuit; time for half a dozen strides and a final pit-stop. Announcer Bud Baldaro: “One minute to the start - We will not wait for you!” Mad sprint down the hill, throw my polo neck at a bemused Bob Smith (Newham TM), and line up with Newham and Serpie men. “What time is the start?” I ask a marshall. He consults his brief. “3pm,” he replies. “ten seconds to go.” Gnash gnash. I’m tempted to ask for my pound back.
I launched myself from the car and into stone-bonkers No Man’s Land
British Airways had two flights on offer after the race, a cheap one at 6:30pm and a far pricier one at 7:45pm. I went for the cheapo knowing that it could be a bit of a squeaker to get to the airport in time. Matt Whiting kindly offered a lift to Sunderland’s Metro. But the queue leaving the car park was nearly half an hour. I couldn’t take the pressure. I launched myself from the car and into stone-bonkers No Man’s Land, somehow needing to get to Newcastle airport 30 miles away … I ran and jogged for 20 minutes and then a ghoulish sign: “Sunderland 4.” Fifteen minutes later I stumbled across the town of South Hylton. Found their Metro … 30 gruelling stops took 72 minutes … got to airport with six minutes before my gate closed. Exciting stuff – or at least it would’ve been if not for a 45-minute delay to the flight.
All eyes now on Milton Keynes
All eyes now on Milton Keynes on April 1st. This is shaping up to be a fantastic race for all sorts of reasons. Not only are Bedford and Newham stronger than ever, but we have some major issues going on regarding our own internal affairs. At present we have just a handful of men who are sure of their place in the National 12-stage. The other half-dozen and more slots are completely up for grabs with over 15 runners in contention. This is what it’s all about. It’ll be our most competitive selection race for well over a generation. Last year at MK Wardy anchored us in a monsoon with a six minute lead and was able to shut-off power. No such luxury this year. It doesn’t matter who you are, what leg you’re on, or what team you’re in. This year to a man, it’ll be eyeballs-out, lung-busting, gut-wrenchers only!
