Rugby Half Marathon

Today’s Rugby Half Marathon is organised by a company called The Race Organiser, who organised the multi-lapper that was the Draycote 10. So I should probably have known what I was in for. They have recently taken over this race which has been on my ‘to do’ list for a while. Unfortunately this is not the race I wanted to do as this one doesn’t appear to go anywhere near Rugby.

I feel I was a little duped by the race description of ‘Starting at Hart field, you'll quickly find yourself out on to clear country roads and flying round to return to the town centre’. No not really, never saw the town centre.

It is basically two laps of some country lanes with a final stretch along the pathway of the disused Great Central Railway. it is pleasant but far from exciting. However I’m pleased with my time, a 1:46 again and five seconds quicker than last week. The organisation, aside from the disappointing course, is very good.

We also get to park quite close to the start, although we were told not to. Oops. There is also a handy field for L, who doesn’t run, to exercise the boys. So not a bad morning out.

Chesterfield Half Marathon

Possibly the hardest part of today’s Chesterfield Half Marathon was getting there as the main A617 in to Chesterfield was closed very early and we really had no clue where to go. 

After accosting a marshal, who also didn’t have a clue, we ended up driving down a section of the course that wasn’t on the A617 rather than the bit that was, that they had diverted us away from. Bizarrely we were then directed to re-join A617 closer to the town centre. Having got that far we were then directed to a car park literally in spitting distance of the start in Queen’s Park. So at least that bit was good.

As well as the Half Marathon, there was also a five mile event which L lined up in and both races started at the same time. There was then a split after the first mile and they went on to do the last four miles of our route. 

After a brief sightseeing trip through the centre we were sent on a three mile jaunt out along the aforementioned closed A617 before we left the dual carriageway to follow the way we drove in on, which was a much more minor road. Then back in Chesterfield there was the loop the five milers did before the finish back in Queens Park.

The route, is has to be said, ran better than it drove! My time of 1:46 is nearly two minutes slower that Nottingham but within the bounds of acceptable.

(Sunday 21^st October)

Stilton Stumble

Today it's the Stilton Stumble 10k. There used to be a 24k option which was never that popular but now before I got to have a crack at it, it has been discontinued. So now there is just the 10k.Use it or lose it I suppose.

The course is bacially a tour around the Stilton cheese making villages of Cropwell Bishop, Colston Bassett and Long Clawson with the added bonus that on completion you get a block of said cheese, so it’s well worth the run even if it’s chucking it down.Which it is.

Daughter joins us and naturally makes us feel like we have forced her into it, particularly considering the rain. Just as apparently we forced her into Draycote a few weeks ago. After which, of course, she was sat in the back of the car putting photos of her medal on instafacebook.

Anyhow, eventually we all emerge from the dry-ness of the car and have a decent run. Well, that is if you regards my 48 minutes as decent. I'm not sure I do.