When Alister said this was a hilly half marathon I always believed it would be but what I didn’t realise is that it takes in some of the Spen 20 course which I ran in 2012 when I was at my fittest.
Jill and I set off early on the Sunday morning (just in case we got lost on the way – I have a history of this as you all know and was the navigator) but we managed to find the parking and village hall straight away so had plenty of time to register and get ourselves as prepared as we could be (so no wins on your bets Alister and Bill). It was snowing quite heavily and I don’t think either of us were overly enthusiastic at this point.
Anyway we set off at 11am in the snow well wrapped up with hats, gloves, coats, buffs and anything else we could find that we had taken with us. Within a couple of miles we were soaked through to the skin and I was thinking “that’s another stupid mess you have got us in to Susan!” At 5 and a half miles we hit a nice downhill section followed by about a mile of straight which whizzed past. There was then a lovely big hill at about half way which seemed to go on forever and I am sure that is where my legs started to feel very heavy. I kept saying to Jill go on and I will see you at the end but she refused and stayed with me whilst I must have moaned pretty much the rest of the way round! She did at one point threaten to sing to try and make me go faster but even Jill’s singing wouldn’t do it for me lol.
At about 10 miles we passed a guy walking and Jill was really encouraging towards him. When he didn’t answer her and didn’t speak to me even though I said hello I managed to put a spurt on as I was not going to let him beat me – what a misery guts!
Jill finished just before me and we were glad to get out of our wet clothes and head back for the car. We just couldn’t find the car though and wandered round Robertstown for a while before someone pointed us in the right direction. Then it was off for a well earned Sunday lunch and a drink. Jill says she quite enjoyed the run and would do it again. I can’t say I enjoyed much of it but knowing me I would do it again if persuaded in the pub.