Kewstoke Hangover 10K, Somerset. 1st January 2012 – by Jon Moorhouse
Scanning the race calendar on Runners World just before Christmas, Hannah found – and entered us for – this little race that was right by the house we were staying in for New Year. The notion that this entry would curb our NYE appetite for excesses was ill-founded and the ‘Hangover’ element of the race name was more than appropriate.Kewstoke is by the sea, and the start was by the beach. For me, pre-race adrenalin met NYE queasiness and a quick chunder trip to the dunes was required!
Having reccied the course I knew that there were two good hills and a well-marked figure of 8 course. I broke 45mins for the first time in my ‘second life’ last month in Langdale and I half wondered whether I could repeat the feat.
I had expected some costumed / drunk / reveling participants but the start line looked more like the great and good of South West running. I should think that Hannah and I had quaffed more wine the night before than most of these guys had managed throughout 2011!
I covered a 4:00min first kilometer before hitting the first hill and settling in to an already strung out field. I was running alongside Geoff, a 50+vet who was chuffing like a steam train. I found a pace that matched the rhythm of his breathing and managed to grind out a 4:30 average until 5K whence the steam train chugged past me up the second hill. I passed him before the summit and kept him just behind me until 8K when he came past again. I pushed on and marked another 5 runners ahead as target for my final kilometre.
At 9k I picked up the pace and finished as I started with a 4.00 min/K and the signature sprint for the line. I took all 5 of the runners in front and, talking to Geoff afterwards, remembered something about runners that I often forget when I’m racing tri – Geoff wasn’t trying to pass me to beat me, he was trying to take on some of the work I was putting in to hold the pace! Thanks to Geoff, another 45min 10K in the bag. Now bring on the next one, I’m on the wagon!!
