What the hell are we doing racing again?!?!?!

The final race of the tour saw the LBAC team (bolstered by their professional pacemaker) arrive for the 6.4(ish) mile dash around Willen Lake. Now by this stage in the tour, the team were starting to feel the effects of the previous races and particularly the gruelling cross country. Whilst the boys waited around at the start, trying to look fresh and at ease to psyche out the opposition, I think the fact that they were all shattered was given away by their warm ups – which had pretty much atrophied to a few meagre attempts at stretching and a lathargic trot across the football pitch!

The race started with a surge off the start line as challengers looked to get into good positions to get across the cattle grids, through the gates and generally try to make everything as awkward as possible for the opposition. Pro pace maker Andy Inchley, fresh from his fine display of pacing the previous weekend, led the boys out and stuck with the lead pack, whilst Pete and Chris shuffled along just off the pace trying to get their legs moving again. Alex and Richard started at a more sensible pace, easing into the first few miles to make sure they would get round in good time.

 

In very gentlemanly conduct, Andy saved the boys some time by holding open gates, and then proceeded to pace Pete in an effort to close down the gap on Pete's target who had just over a minute lead – though Andy did provide some entertainment by mis-timing a gate opening – it's not every day you get to see a runner pole-axed by a gate! Pete had a great race, finishing 4th on the day in a time of 38:32, but just couldn't quite get enough of a lead to pass his nearest rival in the overall standings. Chris started the race wondering where he was going to find over 6 miles in his legs when they already felt like they were ready to drop off. Although Chris couldn't keep up with the Pete and Andy, he had a solid run up to 5 miles after which he fell apart and started wobbling round the course like a drunk with jelly legs! Luckily Andy, having recovered from his tussle with the gate, held back to drag Chris along the remainder of the course to finish 9th on the day in 40:23.

 

Alex ran the first half of the race at a very steady pace – so steady that at the 3 mile mark Richard had caught up and gave him a kick up the ass to get him back up to speed! Being Alex's first experience of racing, the tour might be considered to be a bit of a baptism by fire, with even seasoned runners struggling to maintain their form through the 6 stages. However, he showed good strength to round out his week with a 39th place finish in 50:04, and proceeded to have a little John Wayne style shuffle as his warm down!

 

Richard had another strong race, having taken time off his PBs for most of the races, he had another strong run around Willen, even finding time to push Alex all the way to the finish line. Richard finished in 40th place on the day in 50:57, just under a minute behind Alex. Rounding out the LBAC team, Andy Inchley somehow managed to achieve what must have been the mother of all personal worsts, finishing in last place in a time of 71:54 (over 3 minutes behind Milf the only competing Vet M75!) Maybe he got lost in the last 20 metres and didn't make the finish line…….maybe he was trying out a new pace after his over pacing the previous weekend……..who knows………by this stage all the athletes really wanted was to drink the bar dry!

So following 6 days of gruelling racing and visiting the many sights of Milton Keynes, the LBAC team retired to the club house to find out the final results. Leading LBAC in the honours board, Pete Mackrell finished in 4th place overall out of 52 competitors in a combined time of 156:05 minutes. Next came Chris Norman with a 7th place finish in 163:36. Alex Britt was the third LBAC athlete finishing in 31st place in192:59 – winning the M20 category on the way! Rounding out the team, Richard Inchley finished in 37th place in 208:03 – taking second place in the M65 category!

The LBAC team thoroughly enjoyed the event (even if their knees didn't) and performed admirably amongst some strong competitors from Milton Keynes, and all celebrated with a well earned beer! (or two…or seven)