(With apologies to Neil for taking a while to post this properly).
I didn’t race this last year as I waved the post-FLM-chicken card. I could smell my own fear before the race. I was trying to find any excuse I could for not running this year but the family didn’t need me, the car was clean, my hair was washed…damn! I set out and had a great drive across the hills and felt the lump build in my throat as I look ever upwards.
I arrived at the pub and spent an hour chatting and dreading the hills. I thought I was in trouble when I set out for a warm-up, wearing my fantastic WRC fleece, and the hill up to the start struck. I think I told everyone within earshot that I didn’t ‘do’ hills (I was blocking out the brill Alderley Edge sessions).
More chat on the start line as I jokingly predicted a sub-40 and off we went. I tucked in behind the group 4 crowd, until the first corner when I lost Nicky-the-Hill-Machine on the first climb. By 1.5k, Steve went by at a rate of noughts and my heart was coming out of my mouth. I got over the top and found I was running on my own so I sped up a bit and spotted Steve just ahead, I made an effort to catch up and use the downhill to get in a better position. I felt ok as I passed Steve in the full knowledge that he’d get me on the up.
Up we went again, this time for the big one. Sure enough, Steve caught me not long after the climb started. I tried to stay with him and held on for grim death. We started a walk/run to get up the hill and actually held station behind some folk and started to catch Nicky-the-Hill-Machine. Every muscle in my legs was screaming and I could hardly see. By the top of the hill I was about 4m behind her….Eventually….Up and over the second hill and by the time I had recovered from the climb and felt able to push, Nicky and Steve had pulled away. Great running and brilliant to see how quick they changed pace and shot off.
I hit 8k and had a look at my watch, I could see sub-50 was possible so I pushed on again with my Achilles waving hello from below. I found it impossible to turn my legs over fast enough for the descent. Turning the last corner and Kate’s warning was in my head about just how far it is from there to the finish. I build up slowly and hit the line in 49something. Then I hit the deck.
That was one of the toughest races I have done….and I loved it and will do it again. When I do, I’m going to try and copy some of the other WRC runner’s goals and try not to walk.
For me, this race was an excellent example of the teamwork that goes through the field in WRC
Neil McAleece