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Aerospace 5 Reports by Karen Galpin & Edward Collier and photos by Tony Stanton of CLC Striders - July 2010

Special thanks to Tony Stanton who provided the photos.

Outright race winner - Etienne Paatjies of South Africa/Gloucester Club

Karen's report:

The Almost Athletes veteran ladies shone through at the Aerospace 5 mile in Bishops Cleeve with Karen Galpin securing the 1st LV45 title with a time of 35.48 and Jean Bryan taking the LV55 prize with her finishing time of 40.46. Anthony Bailey was the first club member home in 28.44, giving hime 12th position overall, followed by Ed Collier in 32.33, Andy Bullingham in 33.40 and Dale Midwinter in 33.44. Phil Withers continued his recent good form with a finish of 34.44, just ahead of Ken Sears. Dave Elliott, Steve Adams, Rob Hume and Anne-Marie Willicott all managed to dip under 40 minutes and Art Williams did well to finish in just over 50 minutes despite a painful knee injury.

Anthony Bailey 28.44 Ed Collier 32.33 Andy Bullingham 33.40 Dale Midwinter 33.44 Phil Withers 34.44 Ken Sears 34.46 Karen Galpin 35.48 Dave Elliott 36.30 Steve Adams 38.56 Rob Hume 39.20 Anne-Marie Willicott 39.44 Jean Bryan 40.46 Hester Davis 41.09 Dave Chittock 41.29 Phil White 43.33 John Poulton 43.57 Bill Jones 46.04 Kate Giles 46.15 Art Williams 50.24 Anthony Bailey of Almost Athletes & Lewis Gray of Bourton Road Runners

Edwards's report:

Back on terra firma - otherwise known as blessed tarmac - at last, after three off-road races on the bounce. But hang on - what's this? A lap of a ruddy great playing field to start? They might have cut the grass.

Edward Collier of Almost Athletes & Ian Shoemark of Bourton Road Runners Phil Withers

So, we lined up on the edge of a playing field. The weather was threatening (or, for those of us who were already quite warm enough thank you, promising) rain, which as luck would have it duly and finally materialised around bedtime. There was also quite a strong breeze which did nothing to cool a runner down. A fine turnout of purple vests, which is always nice to see at local races. Once the "off-road section" had been completed the race turned left up Southam Lane, with the emphasis on "up". The course's elevation profile shows a climb to about two miles, which experience bears out. Even the mild downhill of New Road seemed energy-sapping, while I found myself almost walking up the small rise to the entrance to Haymes Mushroom farm.

Dale Midwinter

Anthony Bailey had it right when he told me before the race that he thought the worst part was running down Two Hedges Road. I agree - it's very hard to get one's breathing right on that stretch, as you're suddenly running somewhat faster than you expect. At this point I had Martin Ford (super 65+ vet from the Harriers) about two places ahead, which is as close as I've ever been to him in a race at more than half way, so I knew that either he was suffering or I was full of beans.

Dave Elliott & Karen Galpin of Almost Athletes, followed by Niamh Shoemark & Adrian Higgs

At the foot of the downhill the course turns left into Kayte Lane and from here there it is a very gradual ascent all the way back to Southam Lane. As I turned into the loop on Delabere Road I saw Gemma Turtle of Gloucester AC absolutely flying round having completed the loop, with Anthony Bailey not far behind. From this point on I was running on fumes, until I got to the turn back onto Southam Lane. I glanced behind and couldn't believe my eyes - Mike Smith of Bourton RR. A sub-2h 40m marathon runner. Behind me. And labouring by the sound of it.

David Chittock

There's only one construction you can put on this sort of thing - the aforementioned Mr Smith was suffering from a serious cardio-vascular complaint coupled with chafing on his wooden leg. But we pot-hunters will get our glory where we can, and seeing him there gave me the jab in the buttocks I needed and I picked up my knees and pushed on for victory. "Come on Ian", someone shouted. Must be someone else, I thought.

Jean Bryan

The chocolate bar given me at the finish melted in my hand while the aforementioned Mike Smith served everyone water. I think he'd only picked up the jerrycan to help himself but, being a polite sort of fellow, carried on filling everyone else's. For all I know he's still there, cutting a melancholy dash. As I retrieved my bicycle I saw Gemma Turtle stretching and debriefing with her coach. Being an inveterate eavesdropper I pretended the lock on my bike was tricky, and thus heard him trying to reassure her that she'd actually had a good race, considering the conditions and the hills. She wasn't having any of it, so far as I could tell (on the off-chance that either of them reads this, I didn't have my hearing aid in). I pondered, as my leaden legs took me home, what it must be like to be able to run 28m 17s for five miles, win your category by more than four minutes and still be dissatisfied. Maybe that's why she's an international athlete and I'm a serial underachiever ...

Anthony Bailey Edward Collier Dale Midwinter Dave Elliott Jean Bryan Hester Davis