LRRL 2022 Race 1: Stilton 7 - The RUNdown
It was great to be back at Stilton 7 on Sunday 27 February, the start of the Leicestershire Road Running League (LRRL). Hosted by Stilton Striders, it's a tough 2-lap course around the roads and pavements of Asfordby Hill and Asfordby Valley near Melton Mowbray. There wasn't a race here in 2021 because of the pandemic, and for many Barrow Runners attending, it was their first race in a long time.
It was my first race since October 2020 and I discovered that it was Andrew Price's first league race in 3 and a half years, John Ashby's first race in 5 years and Russell Lewin's first race in a very long time. It was also great to see Sallyann Harper who was absolutely buzzing to be back racing after a torrid time with recent injuries. Combined with the incredible sunshine, there were plenty of beaming smiles and a feeling of "it's great to be back".
I arrived early with new member Luke Martin (who was running his first race) and we picked up the race numbers. Other Barrow Runners started to trickle in, along with 400+ other runners from various clubs across the county. We got our numbers attached and headed out for a warmup before joining the crowd at the start line. I had run this race twice before in 2019 and 2020 (right before the pandemic). I had high expectations for my first attempt in 2019 but I set off too quickly and couldn't cope with the hills. In 2020, the pressure was off - I was returning from injury and accepted the difficulty of the course. The expectations returned this year though as I have been running well since summer 2021 and had a target in mind. I was feeling the pre-race nerves.
I started the race in the middle of the pack alongside Luke and behind Andrew Price and Liam King. I had a target of an average pace around 8 minute miles so I wanted to set off at around 8:20/8:30 minute miles and progress from there. In amongst the pack at the beginning, it felt like I was running 10 minute miles, but a quick glance at the watch showed me doing 7:45, so I backed off. The speed you run at race starts is so deceiving and I remembered all too clearly where my 2019 race went wrong.
The course begins on Welby Road, which is long and straight, and with a very slight incline. It's a good opportunity to get into a bit of a rhythm and to get settled into the race. At the end of the road, the first mile is done. There's then a left turn onto Welby Lane, the course's first downhill, and a chance to open up your stride and make the most of the descent. Luke and I were still running together at this point with Liam and Andrew Price just starting to edge their way ahead. Towards the bottom of the hill, the lane turns into a quiet country road. You head over a small humpback bridge and around a couple of bends. Then you arrive at the course's first climb. It passes a remote church, and under normal circumstances you would probably find it quite pretty, but when you're running up it during this race, it's far from that. I backed right off the pace in the hope that I'd have plenty of energy left once I got to the top. Thankfully that tactic worked and I was able to push on.
The reward for reaching the top is approximately 1.2 miles of mostly downhill into Asfordby Valley that provides the opportunity to make up some time. When entering Asfordby Valley, Mick is always there to cheer you on and provide the encouragement you need for the next crucial part of the race – the second climb. The second climb is a direct line from Asfordby Valley to Asfordby Hill, and it's a testing one. There isn't the reward of a downhill afterwards this time, as once you reach Asfordby Hill, there's a slight incline which carries on through the village and back around to the start line. It's then time to begin the second lap and do it all over again.
By this point, I was starting to feel it. Liam and Andrew had become red and yellow blurs in the distance, and Luke had started to edge ahead - he was having a fantastic first race. I tried to get back into a similar rhythm and pace that I'd started the race with, and although I was just about able to, I was starting to struggle. The climb past the church was particularly hard, and with every stride I just wanted to stop running and walk. But I carried on and was pleased to find I had enough energy to push on down the hill into Asfordby Valley. Mick was there again to cheer the Barrow Runners up the final climb. The climb was tough. Very tough. There was also a head wind to challenge you further, but when Luka Yates came flying past, I found enough energy to shout "go on Barrow!". The run through Asfordby Hill towards the finish was brutal - it felt like it would never end. But a shout of encouragement from Russell on the final corner and some people cheering on the person behind to overtake me, forced me to keep pushing. Finally, the finish line was in sight, and I kept the final effort going to the end.
The majority of us gathered at the finish line to discuss the race, and as tough as it was, there were still plenty of smiles. Those new to racing or returning to racing for the first time in a while were particularly buzzing. We gathered those nearby for a group photo, with Paul Leaney joining the group directly from the finish line, still trying to catch his breath.
Because of a malfunction with the timing chip box, there wasn't an official chip time. But according to my watch, I finished the race in 55 minutes and 56 seconds with an average pace of 7:59 minute miles. So despite the struggles of the second lap, I was delighted with the result, and have no doubts that if I'm injury-free, I'll be there again next year - wearing the red and yellow of Barrow Runners and dragging myself up those hills.
Written by: Ben Spencer