Rivington Pike Race – 3.25 miles 700ft ascent
This race seems to be a must do fixture after our debut here last year as James is a good climber and excellent downhill ( definately does not get the latter from me!!!). James managed to come third and knock 30 secs off last years time in poor conditions underfoot.
Senior race looming I climbed to the pike to check shoe options as last year baked dry earth and racing flats used, however with all the recent bad weather and farmyard activity the fields made boggart hole look appealing. Shoe choice made, Gladiator Mk II was the only way I was going to stay upright and any hopes of getting under 20 mins remote. I opted for a cautious start going against all my race plans to hit it hard from the off. As we left the tracks and onto the steep top section I managed to pick off a few runners and some known vets, round the pike and down onto the mud slide I was holding my own "bimbling" down (a Malcolm phrase ) when a wrong route choice ended up with me staring at a wire fence. Hurdling was not an option though Stuart Stokes further back in the field running for charity may have given it a go. Over the fence I lost one place, managed to pick off an U17 on the way to the finish, but the two vet 50s in front were out of reach.
1 Thomas Cornthwaite Balckburn 17.31
17 Stuart Parrott Wilmslow 20.21 2nd V45
Stuart