Sunday 27th January 2019
1st Mathew Kotara 36.26 Run Wild MCR
2nd Gemma Rook 38.31
102nd Chris Cannon 53.29 2nd V60
Another well organised race, part of a three race event 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Basically the half set off at 9.30 followed a small loop the 4 laps of 5K. The 5K & 10K set off at 10.00 am, 5K runners were funnelled off after the first lap.
This time the sun was up when I left home, my car was buffeted by the wind as I worked my around the M60 to Heaton Park, I don’t know why I used Sat Nav because I know where Heaton Park is, but it managed to take me to an entrance that must have closed years ago. Eventually parked up, the queue to pay was 50 deep, no cash like most people so debit card transactions on a tiny screen in full sunlight made slow work of it.
By the time I got to registration the Half Marathon was underway, getting my number was straight forward but not enough time to return to the car so decided to run with the extra layer on.
It was at this moment the gazebos decided to take flight, needless to say the next 15 minutes was spent trying to salvage what we could and collapse down what was left standing as by this time the wind was relentless.
The course was on decent surfaces apart from 100 yards of muddy track and some slippery cornering. The main obstacle was a 500 meter steepish hill at the 3K point, it was tough running up it into the wind but once at the top a 90° turn, away from the wind a loop around the hall and then downhill to the start of the next lap.
I thought I’d run faster than at Tatton park earlier in the month but the wind was certainly a problem and the hill was tough, would not have fancied running four laps.
Chris