On a weekend when many Wilmslow runners were gearing up for a hard Stockport 10 or the Macclesfield Cross Country, a small band of three happened to be down south, taking in the convenient Bedford Harriers AC Half Marathon, incorporating the Beds AAA Championships in their 20th Anniversary year.
After being shaken in my bed at 6 am by the shock wave from the Buncefield Oil Depot explosion (the two lovebirds were oblivious), we arrived in freezing, misty conditions at the superbly organised event in the quiet village of Wootton. With so many assembling runners clad in hats, gloves and numerous layers, we opted for the minimalist look of Wilmslow vests, shorts, goose-pimpley skin and bone. Mike’s ‘race face’ was unusually lacking as he lined up at the front in a relatively relaxed manner.
Conditions were crisp and ideal for the race over this undulating course. There were a few long climbs, especially between three and nine miles, but it was mostly downhill after that. Mike had established an early lead – news of which was being relayed to Sally and me along the way via the generous course Marshals, one of whom shouted to me ‘come on Wilmslow, your mate’s winning by a country mile’. This welcome news helped to spur both Sally and I on to PBs (despite toffee and pecan roulade the night before), so a good day all round for the ‘journeymen’.
Mike Halman 1st 1:11:01
Dave Quinn 148th 1:29:58
Sally Maddock 295th 1:36:52
1195 finishers
Full results at http://www.bedfordharriers.co.uk/
Dave