Centurion Grand Prix Series 2018 / 2019 5 Miles Schoolboy error - Looking at your watch as you cross the finish line instead of smiling for the camera

Full results HERE Organised by Centurion Running Club, consisting of 6 races over a 5 mile traffic free course round  parkland in Chelmsley Wood. One small loop and two larger loops.. January Good day for racing, not too cold and no wind. Today there would be prizes in the over 60 year old category, so I was hopeful I may be a winner. I started with a 7:15 first mile, followed by 7:24, 7:26 7:22 and 7:00, for a total time of 36:30, which was my best time at the Grand Prix since February 2016. Happy days. Despite finishing second in the MV60 age category, there were two MV65's who finished in front of me, and they were awarded prizes, so I came 4th overall in the over MV60 category February My calf has been a bit sore for two weeks, after I had tripped going upstairs. Decided to do the sensible thing and give it a rest, so no CGP this month. Hopefully I'll be back for the March fixture. March After missing last months run, I had been doing plenty of stretching and weights in the gym, and started back running with 10 minutes and built up slowly from there. After doing a five mile run (very slowly) on Wednesday I felt confident that I could do the race without any problems. I just wanted to get round today, so was pleased to complete the race in 40.07 April A great day for running. Very still and ideal temperature. Not may taking part today, as there were quite a few other local events happening. I had written on my hand my fastest and slowest times of this seasons series, and hoped to get closer to the fastest than the slowest.  During the week I had done 9 miler (my longest run since June 2016), a 5.5 miler and a parkrun the day before Centurion, so I wasn't expecting to do a fast time. At the moment its all about being able to run regularly, and trying to buld up some speed, which is sadly lacking.  In the end I was nearer to my slowest time, which was dissapointing but i'd rather be out there running slow than not running at all. I probably should have rested on Saturday and missed parkrun ! As always a nice engraved glass momento for completing at least four races in the series. A great event and I look forward to competing again in the next series. Click here to go to the Centurion Grand Prix 2017 / 2018  results and here to go to my Centurion Grand Prix 2017 race reports Click HERE to view the CGP archive which has results going back to the 2001/2002 series See how many names you recognise !

	Race Number	Overall Position	Age Position	Time
Sunday 4th November	421	47 / 117	1 / 4	37.38
Sunday 2nd December	139	37 / 106	2 / 7	37.57
Sunday 6th January	295	49 / 131	2 / 7	36.30
Sunday 3rd February	NO RUN THIS MONTH - CALF NOT 100%
Sunday 3rd March	91	56 / 104	3 / 6	40.07
Sunday 7th April	286	33 / 64	3 / 5	38.33

Massey Ferguson Tractor 10k Monday 22nd April 2019 Race Number 1579 Finishing Time 46:59 Finishing position 145 / 428   Age Position 12 / 35

Full results HERE Well, at the third time of asking I finally got to run this race. This was the third edition of the race and in 2017 I had not entered due to injury, and in 2018 I entered, but withdrew with an injury. A three lap race within the grounds of Stoneleigh Park, which is just a ten minute drive from Coventry Previously known as "National Agricultural Centre", and final home to annual "Royal Show". The show started way back in 1839, and was held at Stoneleigh between 1963 and 2009. Rising costs and dwindling visitors were to blame. Two trivial points are worthy of note here: As I teenager I had to walk home from the Showground. My friend and I had boarded the bus back to Coventry. In those days the conductor came round to collect your fare, and as we didn't have enough money we were kicked off ! Secondly whilst I was employed by the Coventry And District Co-Operative Society (so it would have been sometime between 1973 and 1979) I worked at the show selling ice cream ! Anyway, as the title of this web site suggests, its about running so let's talk running. The race limit is 500 and it sells out every year, and I would guess the majority of entrants are club runners. A 10 am start with temperatures of 64.0°F it was going to be a warm one. I tried to run evenly but my times were a bit eratic, with a first mile of 7.16, then 7.34, 7.46, 7.43, 7.41, and 7.32. I had a couple of Northbrook runners on my tail during the last lap so I tried to shake them off, and then when catching another two up I wanted to push on past them, which I managed to do. The course itself is not that exciting, but it is reasonably flat, with just one incline. Water on every lap and great support from the marshalls. Bespoke medal, Natures Harvest cereal bar and more water at the finish. Overall very well organised, but a three lap course is never going to be that exciting. Would I do it again ?   Probably !       Part of the Warwickshire Road Race League

Bosworth Half Marathon Sunday 12th May Race Number 355 Finishing Time 1.43.05 Finishing position 220 / 811   Age Position 5 / 19

Full results HERE This would be my third Bosworth Half Marathon, after having run in 2015 and 2016. It would also be my first half since the Bosworth 2016 race. The previous Sunday I ran 12.25 miles in 1hr 44 minutes, which I was happy with as it's been a long time since I ran that distance. I would love to get somewhere near 1.45 / 1.48 on the day, but as I haven't put a massive amount of training in that might be a bit hopeful. Race day came and brought a change in the weather. The cold and rain of the last few days had been replaced by a warm, still day. I was nervous from the moment I woke up, aprehensive about running a half, but once the race was underway all that dissapeared and I got on with the task in hand. Everything was going well, but at the second drinks station I missed the outstretched hand of the marshall and missed the cup. Undeterred I carried on, not a problem as I had drunk at the previous drink station. About a sixth of a mile later I noticed my Garmin was off. It had been fully charged the previous evening so it couldn't be discharged. I pressed the on button and it fired up. Full battery. I can only assume that in trying to grab the cup the marshall had caught my Garmin and hit the off button. It was annoying as I didnt know how long I had been running for so the best I could do was estimate by using the mile markers and my average pace. When I turned the final corner there was not a clock on the gantry so I had no idea of my time but thought I should be less than 1.45. I waited for the results to be pinned up, and  I anxiously looked down the list to find I had done 1.43.05 so I was really pleased with that. Dont know what I was worried about... It's just like falling off a bike. You get back in the saddle and carry on ! Excellent event,  bespoke medal, but no T Shirt this year. Goody bag containing bananna, four or five gels and a water bottle. Plenty of toilets and showers as well. No doubt i'll be back.

Two Castles 10k Sunday 9th June Race Number 134 Finishing Time 46.58 Finishing position 413 / 4000   Age Position 29 / 305

Full results HERE This was my 10th Two castles run, the first one being 1995 ! Great conditions for running for this popular event between Warwick Castle and Kenilworth Castle, with plenty of support all the way round.  I would say that its inclusion in the Warwickshire Road Race League significantly bumps up the number of club runners taking part, as alot of them are not fans of this race, and would probably give it a miss if it wasn't a league race. 4000 runners finished the race, the split of unattached runners to club runners was 3061 (76.5%) to 939 (24.5%). Part of the Warwickshire Road Race League

Centurion Grand Prix Series 2019 / 2020 5 Miles

Full results HERE November The first race in the 2019/2020 series. The previous day I had run Warwick Racecourse parkrun in heavy rain, cold and windy conditions, wearing a rain jacket with two tops underneath and leggings ! Today's race was under ideal conditions. I even wore shorts and a vest.... OK I had a T shirt under my vest ! I had written last years fastest and slowest times on the back of my hand, and I finished inbetween  the two so I was happy with that. December

This page was last updated 7th November 2019 © A S Mackness  2019