I could scarcely get in the Cotleigh Village Hall carpark when I turned up for this inaugural running of the Cotleigh loop in the handicap series. There were the usual handicap runners and some first-timers and also some club runners who had come to do a run and give their support. When everything had been sorted out and we were ready to go we had the welcome addition of Gerry & Maggie who drove leisurely into the carpark - Gerry never likes to rush his tea. We had the short walk to the start in Cleverhayes Lane where we sorted out starting times for the five new runners. These included the surprising addition of club captain Warren who normally sends Ceri out to do the handicap while he watches the tele. Several times we had to flatten ourselves against the hedge while the locals drove past in their battered 4x4's They probably thought we were an Olympic training camp - or perhaps not! Wendy (W) and Maggie were first away and then we slowly worked our way through the list, listening to the usual moans and excuses - "I don't know why I'm doing this", "I've got this peculiar problem in my little toe", etc etc. One runner kept disappearing up the road then shooting off down the road. Eventually I realised this was Kevin who was desperately trying to keep warm while he waited at the back of the queue. A wait of 17:29 minutes and nearly 2 minutes after the next fastest runner, Graham. After they had all gone Nick (starter's assistant) and I set off back  to the village hall only to hear the patter of feet behind us. Had someone had a lift or taken a short cut? It was the club runners returning  after doing the loop. I pointed out they could add another 3K by running round the Holmsleigh Green loop but apart from the lean mean running machine, Pete Lyus, they were happy to stay and cheer. We chatted to a car driver who told us the runners were on the way and had all asked her for a lift. The finish is 30m from a sharp bend - who would round it first? To the delight of the cheering spectators and sprinting like a proper athlete came Wendy (W) who collapsed over the line having knocked a huge 3:18 off last month's qualifying time. Then came April's winner Dan who also put in a great PB performance (1:43) that would normally have taken 1st place. He had just overtaken Wendy (Le M) who was hard on his heels also with a race-winning PB (2:29). Yet another of our ladies who just keeps on improving her distance and speed. Now I was kept busy logging the times while Nick was busy scribbling down names. A life-time spent trying to decipher kid's homework stood me in good stead when I had to read these later - who are Jovvy and Kovis? 4th home was young Jake Harvey, also with a whopping PB and well ahead of his old man, then good PB runs from Tracey & Rod before Steve D came in (wot no Bruce?). Then more PB's from Richard, Graham and Jennie (Jovvy?). Kovis only managed to overtake 2 handicap runners but  nevertheless he made up about 3 minutes on Tom and 3:30 on Bruce, and ran the course only 16 secs outside his PB at an astonishing 5:38 pace! It was good to have Tom back from uni. where he hasn't been doing much running and also good that Sascha could get away from his studies to have a run. 
 
Handicap newcomers, Sarah (S), Warren, Steve (Briggs), Gerry, Maggie & Lesley all laid down their marks but I had sadly over-estimated Gerry's fitness and sent him off with Dan who promptly opened up a lead of 30m by the first bend and that was the last Gerry saw of him.

Many thanks to Ian who set off running with Maggie and ended up encouraging Josh (Kevin's son) round the course.

Is there more climb on the Cotleigh course? Do all the PB's mean it's faster? Actually the climb is almost identical at about 225ft. Also the course was about 20m short as we should have finished on the grass through the carpark. Next month we will move the start up to the bend in Cleverhayes lane, to keep out of the way of the traffic and also to make up the missing 20m.

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BRET WINS HIS FIRST HANDICAP RUN
As I was coughing for England at the time I wasn't there to witness Bret's triumph. Neither did I witness the late arrival of those who had gone over to Cotleigh, thinking that the venue had changed this month and not next. Thanks to Roger for taking charge
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The Handicap Run is a great spectator sport and John, Warren Tracey and Bruce had good value for their ringside seats last night. How would the Clare-Jay battle work out? Clare with her marathon training and Jay obviously getting fitter. What about the other marathon runners, Brent, Vanessa, Nick B-C and Olivia? They are all training hard and seeing the benefit. Then there were Wendy and Pete who are also improving. I decided to put my money on Pete but he assured me I would lose it so transferred the bet to Vanessa. Wendy led them off and had a terrific run, she held the lead going into the last lap and was looking strong. Behind her the battle was well and truly on. Pete and Vanessa neck and neck, Jay putting distance between himself and Clare, Sascha running hard and leaving Steve seemingly adrift. Nick B-C was running like a man possessed and Nick T had a determined glint in his eye. As they all set off on the last lap we waited impatiently to see who would come round the corner in the lead. It was marathon-man Brent who had picked off all 11 runners who started ahead of him who gained his second win, but not far behind him Clare was sprinting as she has never sprinted before, with Nick T hard on her heels. Naturally the spectators were all on Clare's side and she just made it to second place. We hardly had time to draw breath before 6 more runners crossed the line led in by Steve who must have had a great last lap and overtaken at least 6 runners in the last 300m. Then Vanessa just squeezed home ahead of Sascha; Wendy stormed in ahead of Pete but was just overtaken at the line by Nick B-C. Next home was Jay who had a great run but Clare's marathon training made the difference this time, or was it the large slices of cake and second-helpings of pudding she has been feeding him. Olivia, Roger, Brett (times now corrected) and Judy completed the field. They all ran hard but the beauty of the handicap system means the normal order is upset.

It was good to welcome back Jo Jo, who was pleased to get round intact having had a long lay-off because of injury and good also to welcome Robyn who did her first handicap run.

What about PB's?  
(Revised since I first posted this as Clare pointed out an error) Here is the list in order of PB improvement (red) or close to PB (blue). So congratulations to all of these especially to the top 4 who smashed their previous bests. However Vanessa Brent, Olivia and Nick B-C should have special mention because they are all veterans of the handicap and a PB run gets progressively more difficult - marathon training is good for you!

Sascha 00:56 Wendy 00:50 Pete 00:47 Clare 00:41 Vanessa 00:15 Brent 00:15 Olivia 00:02 Nick (B-C)   00:00 Jay 00:03 Steve 00:04 Roger 00:13 Nick(T) 00:17

I have based the PB from the March run onwards as the best run in the last two years (2011-2012) rather taking a figure from year's ago, since regular runners are bound to slow a little year on year.
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20 runners turned up for the second handicap run of the year with 3 new runners and a welcome return by Pete Lyus. Paul & Jo are running a mini-course for some members and made a welcome addition to the cheer-leading and recording. With so  many runners putting in the miles as they train for Grizzly and London it was anybody's guess who would finish first. The advantage of a 3 lap route is that you get a good idea after the first two laps who is eating up the opposition and who is being eaten. We could see that Richard was running like the Richard of old and that Graham was making inroads. Nick T was another one who was going really well and we knew there was a needle match in progress between Clare and partner Jay - Jay had come out on top at Killerton last Saturday and Clare was out for revenge. The hoped for turnout of club juniors failed to happen but Jake Harvey came along and put in another good run and came close to his PB. The finish was dramatic; Nick B-C came into view with about 150m to run but he was being closed down rapidly by Richard H who was on full throttle. It looked as though Richard would would do it but then Nick heard the spectators yelling  and realised all was not well. A glance behind to see the danger and then he shot away like a scalded cat and crossed the line just in front. Then Jay came in winning the domestic battle by finishing 11 seconds in front of Clare which is exactly the lead that he had at the start. All four of these recorded PB's. Sandwiched between Jay and Clare was Nick T who had an excellent run as did Sandra who was first away and held off all the other runners until the 3rd lap. Roger too had a good run very close to his PB and then came Judy who just held off Graham at the finish. But Graham who started last on handicap had a storming run, setting a new PB and smashing the 20 minuter barrier. Dan Brett was running his first handicap having established his time last month and should start to climb the finish order as he gets used to the course.Julie, Olivia (what no PB?), Bruce, Brent and Steve are all in training for Grizzly or marathon and put in their usual hard runs.

First across the line tonight was new runner Sascha Kranen who has just started to come along to the club having recently moved to Honiton - he and his partner took part in the Duathlon in November. He set off with Nick B-C and had to work hard to stay with him on the first lap but then pulled away. It was good to see Wendy and Jayne coming along to set a 5K time and it will be interesting to see how their running improves under the tutelage of Paul and Jo.
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The 1st Handicap run of the New Year seemed to be a very damp squib as I stood by myself under the lampost at the start. Then Vanessa came jogging along doing a warm up and suddenly there was a great crowd of runners. I nearly wore my pencil to a stub writing down names. Actually 19 people signed up for the Handicap asylum including 4 new inmates - Sarah (Walker - the fitter, leaner, meaner runner), Jake Harvey (Richard's son and experienced Junior), Mark Andow a new member of a few weeks, and Dan Brett, another new member. Richard and Bruce acted as recorder,clothes horse and cheerleaders - but not in short skirts you will be pleased to hear.

I accidentally sent off George, Roger and Judy one minute early so it was not surprising to see them finish in the first three places. The true winner was Nick B-C who has been training hard for the Grizzly and seems to be getting even fitter but George ran a good PB on his second outing round the course overtaking Roger in the last few strides. It is good to see Vanessa back to her old form and she had a good run especially as she also ran in the morning. Clare set off 2 seconds behind partner Jay and he held her off for almost two laps before Clare's stamina took her away in the last mile, giving her a PB in the process. Graham put in a great performance with another PB under his belt and very likely more to come this year. Rod was doing his second handicap run and shaved 18 seconds off his PB. He joined the club before Christmas and has already done his first race in club colours. Another one to watch this year. Of the other runners and riders Olivia for once did not get a PB, Nick and Sandra had a good tussle with Sandra getting the best of the contest - does this reflect domestic life? Sam, yet another new member, is perhaps still not up to speed after Christmas and finally stalwarts Steve and Tracey put in their usual fine effort but made no headway on the rest of the bunch. An excellent start to this year's event.
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