I was wondering how many would brave this race with the weather and the low park run turn out. I know the course has changed since I used to run it. Hillier and longer! And whether the cakes I enjoyed afterwards were a thing of the past. Then hot of the printer comes the report! Thank you Nicky and well done everyone for running it. Tim entering it on the day?
WET,WET, WET
As the saying goes when the going gets tough…..the tough go and run ‘Not the Langley 7’ – especially after 24 hours of solid rain and in a temperature of 5 degrees.
We knew it would be raining and wet underfoot, but we didn’t realise it would be like running through a river! Within the first mile I had fallen over when splashing through a gully of water up to my shins. I hadn’t expected to run in wet knickers so early on!!
I ran in a t-shirt and had hoped to warm up after struggling up the first hills. The feeling was just returning to my arms and legs at the top of the old Langley 7 hill but as we turned left a strong headwind hit us. Where were the beautiful views? There was nothing but mist below us. It was still my favourite part of the course flying down the hill back to Langley. I knew however that we still had the steep hill which we had descended at the start. At 7 miles I was getting delusional and visioning hot chocolate and a hot bath. I was grateful for a jelly baby from the marshal.
I didn’t see the Wilmslow men after the start and as there were no other WRC ladies I didn’t have anyone to chase, apart from Bernard (ex WRC) whom I eventually beat. I was not really bothered about time or placing I just wanted to get round without getting hyperthermia. I had never been so pleased to see the mile markers. I knew I would be slower than last year as descending most of the hills was rather treacherous with wet leaves, branches and roots making it very slippery.
The organisation was amazing. There were marshals every few hundred yards. Of course the best thing about the Langley race is the tea and cakes afterwards.
Nicky
Apart from Bernard , ex member Christian ran too.
Surprisingly, the winner Martin Dawson from North Derbyshire broke last year’s course record, and first lady Macclesfield’s own Alannah Birtwistle also ran faster than she did last year ! And that thanks to everyone’s generosity the race has raised £3000 for Rossendale.
Results are in:. Well done Malcolm- especially as you were hampered wearing a waterproof for the whole of the race:
Pos. Name Club Cat Cat pos Time
1 Martin Dawson North Derbyshire RC MV40 1 49:04
8 Malcolm Fowler Wilmslow RC MV55 1 55:04
15 Alannah Birtwistle Macclesfield Harriers L 1 58:22
27 Tim Billington Wilmslow RC MV55 3 1:01:38
32 Richard Lawson Wilmslow RC MV45 5 1:02:28
76 Nicky Mowat Wilmslow RC LV60 2 1:13:34
134 Runners
Malcolm Fowler: Nicky looks to be ‘walking on water’ in the photo, whereas I was sinking ever deeper.
Nick Bishop: The water at the top of the initial climb (first 400 metres), was a large area of standing water at the start….By the finish a huge lake!