As a relief from the drudgery of never ending training schedules Team Captain Paul Burns arranged a 5K Time Trial for Thursday night, in which members were challenged to predict the time it would take them to run 5K, with the winner being whoever came closest to their prediction. The one pre-condition being that the wearing of watches, Garmins etc was forbidden. In the event 32 men and women turned up for what proved a very enjoyable competition, and amazingly 11 of that number came within 10 seconds of their predictions. However it later transpired that several of this number had already posted very similar times in earlier runs around the route, while for some of us it was the first attempt at the distance with nothing to base predictions on. Not that I would mention it though. However based on my own prediction and what I was actually credited with I was convinced that either the course was short or the time recording watches were fast. Perhaps there was a special rate for pensioners? Not that it mattered though as my actual time was the slowest on the night, as was my prediction, and even allowing for a 3.09 better than prediction performance I was well outside the prizes. But next time!!

WINNERS and LOSERS
Joint winners with a mere one second difference were Dee Murray and Neil Andrrews, with Ben Hanley and Mark McDowell at 2 seconds, Wendy Findlay at 3, Michael Cultra at 4 and Catherine O’Connor at 5. Fastest on the night was James Savage 17.44, but as this was 16 seconds faster than his prediction he was well outside the prizes. Only 9 runners, including the joint winners, had slower times than predicted, so all in all it was an excellent exercise in pace judgement and for some an encouraging indication that things are improving.

NORTH WEST CROSS COUNTRY
The East Down team, with 4 runners all running together in the same race this week, it was a proper team, through necessity if not choice, and it was great to be part of it, made the second visit to the North West in as many weeks when it travelled to Gransha Park in Derry on Saturday for the North West Cross Country.

While the conditions had to be better than last week in Cookstown, it was almost from one extreme to the other with a blue sky, warm sunshine, light wind and firm turf underfoot. So no complaints on that score. This fixture, which is one of my favourites, has always adopted a compromise position of restricting the Open race to 6K and allowing the Ladies and Masters to step up to that distance to let everyone go together at 12.30pm. This enables trans Sperrin visitors to get home before dark. Though perhaps the Newcastle contingent should be excluded from that comment?

DON’T FORGET YOUR NUMBER
Michael Cultra had what can only be described as an unforgettable experience as he was allocated the number 1690 but put that behind him to again lead home the East Down quartet, finishing 57th overall, with Paul Burns 61st and Mark O’Connor 96th. Three in the top 100 of a field of 277 runners was an excellent outcome and while I missed out on that accolade by 154 places I took some consolation from knocking 25 seconds off my 2014 time. At that rate of improvement I reckon I can catch my old adversary and nemesis Francis Boal, from the Lagan Valley Club, who finished in 27.24, in 12 years time – roll on 2027! Though as I’ll be in my 80th year then, perhaps I should leave it until 2028, as birthday celebrations could take a while to recover from.
WHAT TO BUY FOR MAN/WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE? OR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING?
In case you have not noticed or heard, online entry for Jimmy’s Ten 2016 is open at www.athleticsni.org at a special early bird rate so if you’re wondering what to buy the person in your life that you love, or alternatively hate most, then why not enter them in this, the first classic 10K race of the year. Or do you know someone who makes a resolution every year to get fit, buys the gear, pays the fitness club membership fees etc. and by the end of January has packed it all in again? Maybe even yourself? Well why not buy them, or treat yourself, to an early bird £13/£15 Jimmy’s Ten entry?

UNIQUE GUARANTEE
What better incentive could they, or you, have to keep at the difficult training in the cold mornings or evenings than to have that target date of 13 March dangling invitingly in front of them/you, And of course all entries come with our unique guarantee to carry the entry over to 2017 if for any reason they/you are unable to run in 2016. You cannot lose. But remember the early bird offer ends on 31 January so if you leave it until after that you will have to pay more.

AND AFTER SANTA?
Next weekend it’s Christmas turkey on Friday followed by the Greencastle 5 Mile Race or Burren Townlands Run on Saturday and the Cracker in Castlewellan on Monday. No chance of piling on the pounds with that lot!

Happy Christmas everyone.
Joe Quinn
20 December 2015