Stockport Hatters Half Marathon

Summer Series, race 19

Sunday September 4^th.

This was an interesting race, Damian won it last year but few knew the course, an exception was Rob. He, when I passed him, me on the way out, him heading for home, was comfortably in second place, which was where he finished. Andy and Barry also came through before the ways parted and we bridged, what used to be the county boundary, to the Cheshire bank. I felt, coming back, at the point where I had met Rob, for those still on the way out, how long were they going to be running?

Sharon had stamped her mark on the Ladies’ race by the halfway stage and duly picked-up first prize.

The forecast was for dry but we drove to Stockport in drizzle, which fizzled-out shortly before the start. Not holiday weather but the damp was pleasant for a Half, although it became increasingly warm as the race progressed.

We dropped-down from the football ground at Edgeley to the Mersey and then followed-it as it wound its way to the weir at Northenden. Memory lane for Chris who relived his lost youth along the route and also for me, a Northenden boy. Vic’s field, where we crossed the bridge and turned back to Stockport was, 62 years ago, the home ground of Bazley Road school football team. We also took-in Burnage Parkrun on the route home, but I doubt that Elspeth will let you count it for the Series.

Andy was 2^nd.M45, Barry 2^nd. M40, Mike 2^nd M50. James and Brian gave us 8 in the top 30.

Matt was first in League 2, pancake-flat, except the last mile, was not for Jarrod. Pete, who won M60, was next ahead of Paul, 2^nd. M55, who was just ahead of Ian. Then Christian.

Gareth won League 3, but only narrowly from Amy, a remarkable course on which for her to record a PB. Nicky was 1^St. F55 ahead of John and Huma, who is running better but still showing the effects of iron deficiency. Sally’s was a good performance given her lack of miles over the last two months. She led-in Chris who, beyond 10k, finds life exponentially difficult. Then came Mark and Patrick, who fell-down on his commitment to take it easy and give his hamstring a much-needed rest. As ever, scoring points in League 3 was difficult

When I saw them on the far bank Angela, 2^nd. F55, was leading James, but he came through in the final quarter of the race to retain his 100% record in League 4. The two of them beat half of the League 3 runners. Injury has taken the edge off Gail’s 2016, but these were valuable miles at a good pace.

Elspeth set the initial pace, Ian then took-over for 7 miles but Elspeth slowly reeled-him-in and then pulled away, in the process taking the League 5 60-points. Trevor said he was pleased to finish, although he did not sound pleased, not a hill, not a prayer.

A heavy toll, along the way we lost Tim, Tony and Simon