Barrie Roberts reports: In company with my wife Katie I arrived at the Race HQ – Llandaff Rugby and Athletic Club, Western Avenue Cardiff (next to UWIC) – in good time for the 1pm Start of the Annual Old Father Time Road Race, which incorporates the WMAA 5 Mile Championships.
I was running in the WMAA Championships. The 5 mile Course consists of 2 anti-clockwise laps around Pontcanna Fields/Sophia Gardens. The surface is mainly on concrete and tarmac paths and one has to be mindful of the `sleeping policemen` just after the Start and again at the earlier part of the second lap.
The sky was overcast and the temperature was 4 degrees Centigrade but with a chill wind. The 5 mile Course, as usual, was well marshalled. I was positioned in the front of the field at the start and managed to get away without being `run over` by those runners behind me. However,it soon became apparent to me that 3 races in 6 days was too much, and although I ran at a steady pace for most of the Race I was `off the pace`.
Also I had a slight URI but I don`t think that that made a lot of difference. I completed the 5 miles in a time of 00:40:16 and picked up a Bronze Medal in the M65 category. Having run a PB at The Nos Galan 5km Race less than two days before I suppose that I have to accept that my preparation for the Old Father Time Race was not ideal.
This Annual Race organised by Les Croupiers Running Club (a friendly Club not dis-similar to BvH) is well worth putting in your diary for next year
Well done Barrie good start to the year. look forward to pacing you to some PBs In 2011.