Catching up with The Commando Runners and Keeping it Local
Waking up to the typical Bank Holiday weather of gloom and rain I was expecting to have to run in wet weather gear. My husband, a golf fanatic, is well versed in the vagaries of the weather and he assured me it would not rain for the duration of the race. So I made up my mind to travel light. No rain gear at all.
I opted for my tee shirt from the Round The Island Race in 2013 and just my iPhone for Map My Run and photos. I keep my car key zipped in a back pocket and carry my camera. Oh and my Garmin watch too. It's difficult to leave without taking the kitchen sink so this was very pared down for me.
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A quick shot for posting on Instagram |
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Race numbers collected for both Becci and I - love the 900 Becci was given
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I picked up Becci's number for her as she was working first thing and would be joining us as time allowed. Becci is a nurse and I think she is setting a wonderful example by keeping herself active in her spare time. Not easy when you have to work and organise a family too.
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And here is Freddie proudly shaking hands with the first male Ten Miler home |
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Only on Mersea! Runners compete with a mobility car to get over the finish line |
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Getting this running thing into perspective - racing through the ten miler finish funnel - hope she was given a medal! |
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Little Freddie's most important job - awarding his dear Dad, Darren, with his well deserved medal |
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And Dad gives Freddie a well deserved hug |
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Becci rushing back to work after chatting with Mersea Island Hash House Harrier, "Who Wears" about Monday's meeting |
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And here is another who runs with us MIHHH'rs finishing the ten mile route - brilliant job! |
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Mark taking advantage of a quick lie down after completing his ten mile run - very well done |
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And as the runners come in the tide rising in the background brings out all the beautiful little sailing boats |
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A new design for the medal this year |
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Wendy arrives 'home' after a great ten mile run and is greeted by a wonderful lady marshal who took her duties very seriously and was enjoying the occasion very much |
The race itself
The rain may have stayed away but the humid conditions and the usual rise in temperature during the day made for quite tough running. Becci and I set off at quite a quick pace for us but we managed to keep it going making sure we slowed in places to reserve energy for the long slow climbs on Mersea. We are racing next weekend over 10k at Langham and this was going to be a good measure of how we might plan that race.
There were plenty of Marshals and two drinking stations but the traffic is allowed to pass you in both directions which means that you must remember to be aware of what is going on.
It was a familiar route for Becci and I but we did feel that with all the Hashing we do that we missed stopping for Jelly Babies and a chance to get our breath back. So this, we decided, was a good reason for getting back to some sort of running sessions which would train us too.
I feel this is a great short distance race with lots of friendly runners and enough of a challenge to keep it interesting. Five miles will give you a good race and I would recommend trying it if you haven't yet.
The usual stats
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And the results: I think it might have been a bit of an advantage knowing the finishing Marshall but don't tell Becci! |