Gerald Story Memorial

On Sunday there is no Three Villages 10K, which is everyone’s ‘go to’ race at this time of year because although it’s clearly organised at the last minute on the back of a fag packet, it’s all there is. It also usually goes ahead no matter what, including the year we had to ice skate round. This year though it is off due to ‘technical difficulties’ which presumably means someone’s lost the fag packet.

However, panic not. At Clumber last week they mentioned the Gerald Story Memorial race. We looked it up and it’s a 5 miler from Worksop College, so we decide to go there. I expected to hear that it was a new race but apparently it’s been running for years and years. Yet nobody told us. They give me number 007. I actually does say ‘007’ and not just ‘7’. I am your running special agent.

The race turns out to be 4.8 miles but it’s a useful leg stretch at this time of the year.

Langdale Christmas Pudding 10k

This year we return for a race that we have run many times before, Great Langdale’s Christmas Pudding 10K run which is under new management this year.

The Brathay Trust, who are based in Ambleside, have taken over the running of this race along with the Langdale Half and Full Marathon. The youth charity already organises the Windermere Marathon.

This year it is the 30th running of the event and the new organiser has invited the long time previous organiser, Rod, to start it.

Then a thousand of us, less those who have wimped out because of the high winds and cold wet weather, set out from outside the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel at 12.10 once the local bus has been let through.

This year there is a new course which I was a little worried about, and I wasn't only one. Rather than being the practically out and back run of old the route now takes us around the back of Elterwater village and back to Langdale via Baysbrown Farm which must surely have off-roads sections? Apparently not, it turns out that due to some excellent footpathing, it doesn't.

It isn’t easy though and it was at Elterwater that it started to get serious with a climb that went on far longer than I recall from when we've walked it. There was a reward for completely this part though and I could smell the drinks station probably half a km before I reached it. Yep, smells like mulled wine to me. It's not really good athletic practice to stop for such things but I wasn't going to pass up on this.

That sort of spurs you on to the finish which is in the muddy swamp that used to be the field in front of the New Dungeon Ghyll. I then rush to get some clothes on and to warm up, just as the rain starts again with poor L still out there.

The other change the organisers have made is to downsize the Christmas pudding. It is no longer one you can feed your whole family off on Christmas Day but a tiny individual one. Which for us is probably better, it might actually get eaten, and we already have one for Christmas Day from the Heanor run.

Some folk resorted to fancy dress to keep warm. 

Nottingham Christmas Half Marathon

As regards finding a distance race to run at this time of year, beggars can't be choosers and canny race organisers know this. Step forwards www.time2runevents.co.uk creators of the Nottingham Christmas Marathon and other races throughout the year based on multiple circumnavigations of the regatta lake at Holme Pierrepont.

This is L’s worse nightmare, hence why she’s not doing it, but I just welcome the simplicity of it. It’s also full, so I’m not the only sucker.

They have a marathon, a half marathon, a 5k and a 1 mile fun run. The Marathon is eight laps and is held on the Saturday, I am running the Half Marathon which is on the Sunday and a mere four laps.

Well, four laps and a bit to make up the distance. Which means the start is right around the other side of the lake, 1.4 miles from registration.

They do provide lap bands in case you forget what planet, I mean lap, you’re on. I hope I can count to four but I can’t guarantee it. I will simply run for about an hour and three quarters, then stop.

At least it’s all on tarmac and there would be a good chance of a fast time if it wasn’t for the notorious Holme Pierrepont winds.

One lap of the lake isn’t quite 5k but I would have though they could have done a short loop out on to the car park or something to make up the 5k, which would have made the laps a nice neat distance. That alone would have enabled you to get some meaningful split times. It would also have given them the option of putting out km markers, which would have been even better, because there are none at all. With the non-standard lap distance they would have been just too confusing.

Of course you’re all screaming at me to wear a GPS watch and let that do my splits. I’m such a dinosaur. I do train with a GPS watch but have never worn it to race in. Wish I had today and make a note to myself to do so next time. Not that I will remember.

Therefore my time was almost a complete surprise when I crossed the line but 1:47:47 isn’t too bad.

There is no t-shirt, unless you’re willing to pay extra for it, but there is a Christmas themed medal. Hmmm. 

L says she has the next running of this event in February down for her half marathon comeback, who would have thought...

Clowne Half Marathon

Today we are in Clowne which is midway between Worksop and Chesterfield, all for a hoodie. This is the second time I have run the Clowne Half Marathon. The first time was in 2015 and they insured that I would probably never come back when they handed me the red race t-shirt with Santa and his Elves on it.

Well, would you believe it, the following year they scrapped the Christmas themed t-shirt idea and started handing out hoodies instead which were not red and didn’t Santa or his Elves on them. Various folk, you know who you are, have been flaunting these must have articles of clothing ever since.

So here I am. L, clearly not a hoodie chaser, isn’t joining me in the race.

The run itself is undulating, obviously, and is a jaunt through several local villages. It goes well and I record a 'ok' time of 1:45:48. Which I then compare with my time in 2015, which was on the back of doing 1:40:01 at Leicester but was 1:50:16. Hmmm. Today’s time is perhaps not as rubbish as I thought.

Again the injuries have stayed away but, I’m sure, the moment I enter my target race of April’s Manchester Marathon...

Coalville 10k

Today we participate in the Coalville 10k. This is another one done by those folk at Nice Work and it’s the seventh running of the race. L's done it before but keeps the details to herself until I’ve entered. Bascially it's two loops and mostly off road. Then she asks if I’m sure I’m not being forced into it. Of course I’m sure I am being forced into it.

She also doesn’t mention, or has forgotten about, the big off road hill that is impossible to get up in the current wet conditions without resorting to crawling on one’s hand and knees.

The race is held entirely within the grounds of Snibston Country Park and includes a lap around one their car parks, otherwise known as waste ground following the demolition of the Discovery Museum which once stood there.In fact I'm sure it hosted the start and finish when we were last here in 2013.

It’s fun, I suppose.

Shepshed 7

Today we do the Shepshed 7 only slightly hungover, mainly due to it’s leisurely 11am start. Totally hungover might have been preferable to be honest as this is far from being my favourite race. Two laps of off-road grit strewn paths and grass. What’s to like? Nothing really. In fact I was seriously worried about my ankles so I wasn’t all sure whether I should risk it at all.

However the event does though seem to have achieved some sort of iconic status with it’s non-standard seven mile distance, excellent organisation and post-race tea and cake. So here we are, again.

55:05. That's four minutes slower than when I was last here, two years ago. Just put me out of my misery now.