Macclesfield was my first half marathon in 2004 and I’ve gone back every year since. I like the atmosphere – big enough to be exciting with a track finish but still relaxed. Also for some strange reason I’ve always managed to run a bit faster on the hills here than on the plains of Wilmslow.
It was an extremely cagy start as four very fast guys behind me took their time to decide whether they would be racing or just enjoying a Sunday run. Meanwhile I was trying to do both and was grinning from ear to ear as I led everyone round the track and out onto the road. As we passed through 1 mile I was on my target pace but surprisingly still in the lead. Through 2 miles I remained in front of Dave Norman, Carl Hardman, Gareth Raven and eventual winner Nick Goodliffe who are all capable of running a 30 minute 10k. Time to worry? But my watch confirmed that I wasn’t running a daft pace so I grinned on and just hoped that a photographer would capture the moment. Three miles had gone by before they started to lope past me but Gareth remained behind me as we ran through Prestbury.
Around 5 miles Gareth overtook me looking to catch the leading group causing them all to pick up the pace and I was quickly left for dead. After all the excitement I was now running completely alone. Fortunately the WRC Sunday Run team appeared to shout some much needed support.
Past the Alderley Road the views began to open up but as I cruised down the hills I became aware of someone running quietly a few paces behind me. Gradually he came alongside me but he looked pretty tired so I ploughed out ahead again. Cresting the hill at 8 miles Jodrell Bank appeared below us and with high spirits I stretched out down the long hill. This made no impression on my silent companion who doggedly remained a couple of paces behind me. Out onto the main road and he was still there. And all the way up Whirley Hill I couldn’t break away despite
Roy’s shouts of encouragement. Into the last mile and I finally thought that I’d opened up a small gap. But there he was behind me again as we ran up through the car park. He nipped past me as we arrived back on the track and despite chasing hard down the back straight I just couldn’t catch him.
It turned out that my assailant was Vet 55 Ken Moss. It seemed that he was carrying on from where he left off at Leek where he had beaten most of the rest of WRC group 1. Our own in form Vet 55 Andy Watts looked fresh as he ran 2nd V55 in a great 1:29. Paul Ayres was not far behind with Dr Kate in close pursuit for 2nd FV45.
Loads more great Bryan Dale photos at: http://racephotos.topcities.com/macclesfield_38.htm
Full results at http://www.ukresults.net/2007/macchalf.html
Clare and Cat find the going too easy on Whirley Hill