The Peter Herd Vanilla Slice 1 Mile Challenge

With no responses – apart from the fab 4 – to my request for articles of your favourite or your best race. I have asked Hipperty-Hopperty to send me some race reports. However, It would be nice if some of our other 96 members email theirs – please. Over to HH.

The Peter Herd Vanilla Slice Challenge

I needed to do some running in the belief that, though it would hurt, it might also stop my hip from getting worse! Having not raced since the Woodbank parkrun at the end of last October, I had been experimenting hobbling up and down the street to see how far I could go. Eventually I made 660 steps just stopping before I reached Peter Herd.! A few days later I decided to enter the little unknown race – The Peter Herd Vanilla Slice Classic Mile.

As a tester – prior to the big day I completed a 1k loop around the neighbourhood. So, the potential was there. I allowed for a few days rest to reduce the soreness. The big day came. It was sunny and warm; blue skies with just a little breeze. The magnolias and cherry blossom were out.

Watch ready. I set off with such an ungainly gait – more of a hobble. A bit worrying. Rounding the corner, turning right onto Altrincham Road. Still hobbling as I rounded onto Bourne Street. There were a few spectators [walkers; out, though I managed to avoid a couple of families coming in the opposite direction, by running down the middle of the road. I passed my escape route exit and knew now I had to be committed to finish. I noticed that the hobble had eased into an uneasy quick limp.

I was amazed that my breathing was quite good. The gait now felt better as I approached Peter Herd’s for the first time. Taking care to cross Chapel Lane I noticed already there were 3 people lined up outside the shop – the finish line. I hoped there wouldn’t be a big queue when I returned. Toughing it through Nursery Lane I was feeling quite good, confident at the bottom – as I turned left onto Moor Lane and to Knutsford Road before looping back – on the finishing leg.

My gait felt much better now; but I could feel the right leg reminding me it was there: sore shin! Onto the finishing straight now. I could see only one person at the finish line. Great! A couple of cars caused me a painful hop onto the path from the road. Soreness now in the adductor and the piriformis was beginning to hum. A quick glance on my watch and I could see my internal clock had measured the mile accurately.

15 metres from home two hi-viz vested workers turned the corner from Chapel Lane and joined the queue for their lunch, causing me to run past them and finish by the lamppost; to rest. Breathing hard, whilst looking at my watch – 1615 metres! Damn those two. An extra 4 metres.

“You been running”, one says smiling. You taking the piss I thought.

“Just trying to keep fit”, I said, smiling. Trying not let the disappointment of an extra 3-4 minutes wait time, caused by the workers.

The ‘funnel’ eventually cleared and I entered the shop for my Vanilla Slice. Unfortunately, though they provided the ‘goody’ paper bag for me; I had to pay for the cake!! Sponsorship was in name only.

Oh Well. A cooldown walk back home in the sun. A nice cup of tea with my winners ‘slice’ in the back garden. Looking forward to the Well Pharmacy Classic 2k next week.