Sunday, January 17, 2016

Four Villages Half Marathon

This morning we get up early and drive over to Cheshire for the Four Villages Half Marathon. We head off through the overnight snow which has left a thin covering down our street. The organisers, Helsby Running Club, have repeatedly assured us that the race will go ahead claiming this year that full road closures and a gritter on standby will ensure this happens. Two out of the last three editions have been iced off including the only time we have entered in 2013.

We have our doubts on the drive as there is fresh snow everywhere you look except oddly once we cross the border in to Cheshire. Helsby itself appears completely snow free.

We have arrived super early to avoid being sent to the park and ride carpark a few miles away. We have dogs with us and want to get them close. We were prepared to park on the streets nearby but in the end we are early enough to get on the club house car park and almost front row. So the boys will have a great view of the start.

The race itself is all on lovely lovely tarmac and takes in the four villages of Dunham on the Hill, Mouldsworth, Manley and of course Helsby. Hence the name Four Villages. It is an undulating route but there are no massive hills to speak of. Obviously it is cold so I go for full leg and arm cover as well as gloves.

The race goes well, no injuries flare up and I get a decent pace on. Soon I’m at 10 miles where there is not only a timing clock and some chaps shouting ‘just a parkrun to go’ but also the prospect of it being almost downhill all the way to the finish. Yes, really. For once those marshals did not lie.

It has to be said the whole event runs like clockwork and I do a good time as well. My 1:44 is as good as at Derby in October, a bit short of Leicester but this is after all the first race of the season.

L also runs well, surprising herself. She even buys a souvenir t-shirt as one isn't included here. I still wear mine proudly from the cancelled race three years ago. We grab a bacon sandwich and crack open our flash of coffee to celebrate before heading back home.