Jack Shirley Memorial Handicap and 2009

The Jack Shirley Handicap race is held every year at around about Hogmany. It is in memorial of Jack who was killed in 1995 in a cycling accident and remembered fondly by Jon and Jude Austin who organise the race.
I had won the fastest time last year but I wasn't the fastest as Stephen Mulrine was but also happened to be first and so couldn't win both prizes. Not expecting the race to be ran today I did a 10 mile run yesterday and so when I arrived at just after 11 I was surprised to see a crowd had gathered already.

I was second last to start this year with Mulrine being the scratch runner. This year the race would be run backwards (not the runners but the course). This meant that the race would have a tough steep hill in the first mile. With no warm up and the freezing conditions I decided to take the first mile very easy and hopefully push the last section. A gradual descent past the Rangers Training ground and back to the start.

The first mile went well and the icy underfoot wasn't too bad. I had to run most of it on the road though so there was a lot of traffic dodging. As I came down from the first hill there is a stream to cross. This was very icy so I had to walk over it. At this point I could hear Stephen catching up with me. Damn, I had taken it to easy at the beginning. Back up another hill and again I took it easy. No point killing myself up these hills. The flat is coming and I want to be fresh for that. More sections of snow and ice and I nearly fell. Onto a flatter section and I could see that Stephen was at least 20 seconds behind me. Good he hasn't caught me up anymore and I still feel fresh.
Now onto the last big hill. It was completely iced up and I slid and flapped. But there was a narrow band of grit along the side that I managed to get purchase on. I started to pass some runners now. Down the hill it was still slidey and I had to take care on the bends. Slowing to a walking pace. Then I hit the gritted last road.
Wham... I started to feel as if I was flying. I passed more runners and looked at my watch. I was 5 minute mileing. It may have only been for a few moments but I was under that too. For a full mile there was no stopping me and then came the last corner, full of snow. Slowing back to a crawl (a painfully slow crawl) as I slid about in my DS Trainers.
Then the final push to the end.
I felt good but it would all count for nothing if Stephen was right behind me still.
He wasn't and I won the fastest time. 24:42. 10 seconds slower than last year and a minute slower than my best but still with the conditions I was pleased. I do have to admit that I liked running it the opposite way.

One thing I was very pleased with though was that I actually stuck to my tactics. The same ones I used during the Cross Countries late last year. Start conservatively and finish strong. It's working so far and feels a heck of a lot better than struggling at the end.

The pace is the green bar. Starting slow and finishing strong. (Mark you would be so pleased)

2009 Totals

Last year I had a few struggles but still managed to clock up 2178 miles. That is my highest yearly mileage yet. I am pretty pleased with that but my training during the year was rotten. I started off strong and fell apart. But I feel that I have learnt a lot and so I am planning ahead. I already have a plan that I am putting my finishing touches too. Last year I didn't have a plan. So that is a step in the right direction. I will post it soon.

Monthly mileage for 2009

One thing that I found interesting is the last two months, November and December. I haven't done a lot of long runs just consistent training and the mileage is some of the highest of the whole year. Compared to the months earlier in the year when most high mileage months consisted of long runs and inconsistent training. My new training plan is based more on consistency. Well only time will tell if it works or not.