Congleton

Tropical storm Laura instead of hitting land in the southern states of the USA travelled up the eastern seaboard, messing-up our weather in New England. It was then expected to fizzle out across Canada. Instead it gained strength over Newfoundland, was picked-up by the Gulf Stream, followed us home and targeted Congleton. It was expected to go through on Saturday and head down south but decided to wait for the race.

At the official start time of 9:30 it was still pouring. The start was delayed 10 minutes, but it was dry in the school and there were enough bodies to keep warm. Delayed starts are not great, last year’s Stockport 10, when it was cold, gave a number of people a real problem. Once away, the rain faded after a mile, water on the course was not a significant problem and the sun was out in the second half.

Malcolm won what I understand was only the second Half of his career, the other was also at Congleton, but some years ago. Jim was third, Rob sixth and Trevor seventh. I believe the ‘sting in the tail’ after the 12-mile marker had a significant impact on the final placings but you’ll appreciate that someone else will have to give you a first-hand account of that tale.

Vicky was first lady, Tom first M50, Kate second L45 and Simon second M65. Another great Wilmslow day out.

The results, however, look at bit of a mess with many rounded down and Trevor (Faulkner) appears to be missing. I initially thought Chris Watts was missing, having thought he said he’d done 1:38, an eight minute PB. He is there but at 1:32.

1:38 would be Chris’s best run of the season and he recorded his first Group 4/5 victory on a day that produced a number of outstanding performances; Penny, Sarah, Catriona and Angela also posting PBs.

At 4 miles I was running 7:47 minute miles and, although I trailed Chris, Penny, Amanda and Sarah, I was only a little slower than Helsby and Wilmslow. I normally fail to hold my pace in the middle section but Sharon came alongside me at four and we ran together until eight. This was the first, and probably the last, time I’ll run with Sharon, the Berlin marathon last weekend was her excuse, it seemed a good one. We ran 7:45, so Sharon had kept me on schedule. I saw Penny with Paulo about 300m ahead but the hedge blocked any view as to where Chris, Amanda and Sarah might be. I started to fade over the next two miles and ambitions of improving my 4/5 position were replaced by fears of the wheels coming off especially as Steve Smith had warned of the hill at 12. I didn’t make 1:45, my only triumph being holding off Simon. I nervously turned, fearing him, with every set of passing footsteps over the last three miles, and there were quite a few.

These need checking, but I think Mark got his second PB in consecutive weeks and Kate, despite the marathon training in her legs, also got a PB. Geoff did brilliantly with one arm. Amanda is back after a dire six months; three weeks, three races, three great runs. Louisa didn’t match her wonderful run at Wilmslow but, given her commitment to training over the summer has not been obsessive, did pretty well. I didn’t see Trevor at the end, nor can I see him on the results.

Ian Ashcroft