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.
