Double or Quit – Race Report by Helen York & Gareth Tomlinson
Saturday 27th August – Shipley Country Park – Ilkeston Runners
Well the clouds were grey and the weather report said rain was due. I picked Helen up from home and made sure she had everything sorted for her first official race. Spare clothes, shoes and some energy snacks so she wouldn’t run out of energy. It started to rain when we got into the car, ever the optimist I chirped up “you never know it might not be raining in Ilkeston?”. As we headed towards the M1 for the long drive, it started to chuck it down even more.
Hoping that it would stop we carried on. Eventually, we hit a dry bit but like earlier it didn’t last long. Driving through Langley Mill and up the hill into Heanor we made our way following the signs for Shipley Park Visitors Centre.
The car park was filling up quite quickly, so as a creature of habit I parked in the exact same spot as the year before and under a tree. My friend James who is the chairman of Ilkeston running club asked us what our numbers were and he nipped over to the number collection tent, whilst I went to get the car park ticket from the less timely card only machine.
Anyway, I digress! Both myself and Helen were soaked before we even made it to the start line. We had an hour before the race started, so I took Helen along some of the course so she could get a grasp of what to expect. To calm our nerves, I decided that we should do a warm up session before the race. Doing the warm up helped as Helen hadn’t done a trail race before so was a little unsure of footing on the grass and the warm up helped prepare her for the race.
Ten minutes before the race they announced that runners should make their way down the hill to the start line. Now this is one of those races that starts running uphill. Definitely gets the blood pumping! There was a huge swathe of purple and green running tops (Nottingham Women’s Running Club), a friendly Barrow runner came over to us to have a chat and wished us both luck and as it turned out, he was half marathon training. There were a number of other Derbyshire running clubs represented and in total over 400 runners for what is basically like a Derby runner Cross Country race. The Gun went off but only just audible as the masses of both nervous and excited runners chatting made it hard to hear. Then we were off and it went quiet very quickly. Jogging up to the start line we went over and off we went. Up the hill and round to the left and through a narrow gate. Bottle neck!!! Waiting patiently we went through the gateway into the big grass field which had a peak to it and then out the other side. The path led through onto a gravel stretch with various exercise equipment and was undulating and technical due to the number of runners taking up the whole path. We headed on and up a tarmac road uphill where I looked round to see if Helen was behind me, she was still with me so I carried on pacing her along. Running past slower runners and up over and then up again to a lovely decent and through into the fields. The marshal indicated down onto a grass path and down to wards a high hedge lined muddy path with plenty of puddles to run through. As ever I ran through them whereas most decided to tip toe around them. Down into the wooded section and over a wooden bridge where the light levels dropped.
Following the runners in front the way ahead was back up hill and you could just make out the exit point and runners walking through another gap. Helen was still with me determined to keep going and made me beam widely when we got to the top where it leveled out as she was out of breath but kept up. A short incline up onto the bridle path and then down a nice gentle down ward slope to where the marshal pointed out the mud and to be careful. Helen was still smiling and chatting away to other runners as we passed them. Up another hill through trees and then a long trail decent back towards the park. Over the wooden footbridge and more puddles which led to another hill which was quite rocky where the water had washed the soil away. This was a two part hill which leveled out and then went up again. Looking comfortable Helen carried on running behind me without stopping. Stopping briefly for water top up we then carried on but moved out the way for a group of cyclists who decided to go past us on the decent. Up and over and around we went along the path. Then we arrived at the bottom of the aptly named “Cardiac Hill” this was a steep long drawn out hill which then went up again and then round and down a long fast path. Smiling at the photographer at the bottom we carried on. Through the woods where the sunlight caused the wet leaves to glisten when you looked up at them. This was a dark part of the course and then a sweep round to the right and up hill again. I caught a quick hello to one of the marshal’s who recognised me from the year before which was nice. Then it was a long straight path through the tunnel of trees overhanging the path. Various motivational signs along the way made us both laugh and the marshals cheered us on as we went past. Soon it was the split off for the 5 mile race and 10 aka “the Double”. Stopping to swap over the running waist pack I said good luck to Helen and well done for her efforts.
As I ran through the split section I could hear the announcer mentioning Helen’s name as she made her way back up the hill to the finish. As I headed round the field I caught a word with James as he was standing at the half way timing point. Smiling I headed onwards! Surprisingly even after running 5 miles before hand over quite a tough course I managed to speed up. Bouncing along the course I planned the race ahead of me and what I would do. Runner after runner went behind me as I shouted coming past on your left. It would appear that certain people panic slightly and don’t know their left from right! Splashing through puddles and rapidly gaining ground the miles seemed to get eaten up. Cutting through the woods with the wooden bridge and up hill section I spied a colleague from work, so ran up behind him and slapped him on the back. The pace seemed steady and the second lap was flying along. Back up cardiac hill without stopping then to the down hill path and into the darkened woods again. When the last mile was ahead of me I picked up my pace and just zipped along with a strong finish in my legs. Coming through the gap out into the sports field there were two other runners in front of me. It did make me smile when I overtook the lady who was giving it her all as she said to me gee thanks! Then crossing the line went through to the finish area and picked up my medal and goody bag. At this point the rain decided to come back with a vengeance!
All in all a great day out running the Double or Quit race even though it rained all the way round. A cheeky chinese was ordered on the way home and we sat and snored afterwards!
Definitely doing this race again next year and recommend it very much.
Massive well done to Helen too as it was a tough but fun course. Even said she thoroughly enjoyed it!
D or Q Results:
Helen York 5 Mile – Chip Time 0:54:15.2
Gareth Tomlinson 10 Mile – Chip Time 1:32:43.4 – (Lap 1 54:43, Lap 2 38:16)