i've only ever won one race. to say it was a race proper is extending the truth a bit. it was a charity run for Cancer Research UK last year. so there weren't your usual hardened club racers. it was my last 10k of the year, and the once a year i'd tried to raise a little money for charity. i only ever do that once a year, so as not to ask my family and friends too much. i'd raised £300 odd, so was pretty happy.
the race took place in Crystal Palace Park - starting and finishing in the famous stadium. the course was none too kind - as you leave the stadium, you wind back and forth up the not inconsiderable hill, then wind back down, then round the bottom of the park, up past the dinosaurs and back through to finish in the stadium. the terrain ranged from asphalt to gravel to grass - and the route marking wasn't super-clear.
i had to go on my own, as the kids had a birthday party (if i remember correctly) and my mate wasn't running. i parked on the other side of the park to the stadium and left the kids in the wheel arch - there wasn't a bag-drop at the race. i wandered across, and it didn't seem overly organized. things started coming together as they sorted the loudspeaker and organized a group warm-up. as i joined in, i really didn't know what to expect.
the weather wasn't too great - coldish and not quite raining. i decided from the look of the crowd that i should put myself up near the front at the start - to give myself the best chance. i'd promised to those that had sponsored me that i'd do my damnedest to set a PB.
the race started, and within 200m i knew the pace wasn't good enough for a PB. so i did an odd thing. i broke away as we left the stadium complex and started out on my own. there was a guy on a pedal-bike out front i guessed put there to make sure we took the right route. anyway, he latched on pretty quick that i wanted to go quicker than the others and started talking to me. just quick comments like 'left up ahead' or 'you're still 50yards clear'. it was actually a big help.
from the moment i went out on my own i was far from clear about what i was doing. all i knew was that i needed to race against the clock this time, instead of looking at others ahead. i actually always race against the clock - i think we all do - but this time that was the only gauge i had. i knew there was at least one guy tracking me as we wound our way back down the hill, but i could see he was a fair way off. as the race went on i got more confused about the whole thing, and i spent kms 7 to 9 in fear that i was going to get caught.. which was when it really dawned on me that i was going to win if i kept it up. oddly, that came as a surprise. i could see the km markers going by and it was clearer and clearer that the guy wasn't going to catch up as long as i kept the pace up. in fact, if i remember correctly, this made me speed up!
as i came into the stadium, the crowd noticed me and started to cheer. there were only 100-200 people, but still i got that chill down my spine that the top runners must feel.. 'i'm going to win! and these people know it!'
to come in at 38:08 was a big achievement for me, and the guy who rode with me was really nice in congratulating me. i had to thank him for all the support - i think he was one of the reasons i held it together. i waited for the first few others to finish and shook hands. there was a surreal moment where the guy who came in second sort of inferred that i cut a corner on the hill, but i ignored that.. and he didn't say any more. after a little while, i went over and picked up my bag from the stands where i'd left it, got dressed and took off.
there was no ceremony - the race was about raising money, not the winner - so i just got the same medal as everyone else. i walked back through the park as the others came through to the finish. no one outside knew i'd one. made it back to the car and gave Poll a call. neither of us could actually believe it had happened - even as i told her. in fact, the whole experience still feels more like a dream than a reality. i think that's helped by the fact i went there on my own, knew no one there and came away again with no recognition. even when CR UK called up after the race, they didn't know - i mean, why should they! there are no records online of the race results.. you get the picture.
so there it is. the race that wasn't really a race.. that i won, all the same. took some doing to explain that to anyone else as they congratulated me.. and i still don't really feel like i won a 'race'. but it was a great experience all the same..
No comments:
Post a Comment