Friday night was the Annual SMM Gala Dinner, which, with the presentation of awards, draws a line under the previous racing year. After a fantastic night at the Upper House in Barlaston, it was back to business at the Alsager 5.
A very fast, popular race to start the season, the Alsager 5 is often used as a marker or springboard for the year ahead. For me, after an injury-hit 2024, it was a chance to put on the racing vest and see how my body handled five miles while also helping a fellow SMM colleague push themselves.
With a relatively late start time (11 a.m.), I met up with Carole and Phil at the club, and we shared a lift to Alsager, arriving with plenty of time to collect numbers and greet old friends and racing buddies I hadn’t seen for several months. We had a team photo at 10:15 a.m. courtesy of Mick Hall. Unfortunately, it was so efficient that a few of our later-arriving colleagues missed the photo—no names shall be mentioned! Some of us then went for a short warm-up to get everything working before the race.
Standing at the start line, it felt a little chilly in my vest, but as we all huddled together, the sun came out, and we were ushered forward for the start.
My main aim was firstly to check that I could run without any injury concerns and secondly to help Vicki, who had asked me to pace her at around an 8:45 min/mile pace to beat last year’s time. Knowing that Vicki had been consistently running at an 8:20 to 8:30 pace during recent intervals and tempo runs, I had no intention of settling for 8:45s.
Alsager is notoriously fast, and many runners have been caught out by fading too quickly. To avoid this, our group—including Vicki, John, Philip, and me—started near the back to ensure a controlled pace. While this strategy prevented a quick burnout, it also meant a lot of weaving and hopping onto pavements to get past other runners. The first mile felt very stop-start, but I had anticipated this. By the time we reached the first mile marker, the course was starting to open up, and we were perfectly on pace at 8:45.
The race itself is very flat—any inclines are barely noticeable, and the descents are negligible. With perfect weather (sunny, slight breeze, excellent running temperature), the only factors affecting pace were mindset and strategy. As a pacer, my role was to keep spirits up by engaging with the crowd, chatting with runners around us, and offering plenty of encouragement—all subtle tactics to distract Vicki and help her maintain pace. As we hit the second and third miles, our pace hovered comfortably around 8:25 to 8:30, which felt manageable despite my previous injury issues. Vicki also seemed comfortable when I checked in.
Over halfway, with just two miles to go, the pace continued to build. We began focusing on reeling in the runners ahead of us and steadily increased speed. I kept talking to Vicki and those around us, offering encouragement. At this point, my dentist, who was supporting her friends, spotted me and shouted enthusiastically as we passed her for the second time—a surprising but welcome boost!
By now, I knew Vicki was watching her watch, realizing we were moving faster than anticipated, but I remained confident in her ability to sustain it. The fourth mile was quicker, and it became a matter of maintaining that pace for the equivalent of four 400-meter reps or two 800-meter reps. Breaking the remainder of the race down into manageable segments helped keep us focused. We passed Sara and Pam, and Vicki kept pushing hard. As we approached the final turn toward the finish line, we maintained the pace, with faster SMM members cheering us on.
We crossed the line in just under 43 minutes. Vicki had beaten her previous time by over six minutes—an impressive achievement. I suspect she may have cursed me during those last two miles, but I was confident she had it in her. From my perspective, the best outcome was that my injuries hadn’t caused any issues. Whether I’ll be ready for the Manchester Media Half Marathon in two weeks remains uncertain, but I have time to test things further.
After grabbing water, collecting medals, and chatting with fellow runners, we soaked in the friendly atmosphere. This camaraderie is what makes racing in the NSRRA so special. It’s a supportive environment where competition is friendly but fierce—you still want to beat that person to the line! Over time, these events forge great friendships.
Following a quick gathering at the finish line and in the sports hall, runners gradually drifted off to celebrate their achievements and plan their next races. Social media buzzed with race photos and updates, and friends who hadn’t raced sent messages to ask how we’d done. I even managed to recruit two more club members to join the NSRRA.
Days like this remind me why I’m a proud member of both SMM and the NSRRA (North Staffs Road Running Association, www.nsrra.org).
Well done to everyone who ran—see you all again soon.
Paul
