Bristol & Cheshire

ieNo not a new building society but a brief word on my last couple of weeks racing in England.

First came a long drive to Bristol to see the inlaws, and avoid them by running in half marathon. I thought I was running well at the moment, but a very hot day (21 in the shade at 9a.m.) made me nervous as the course has no shade. The winner was 4 min off the record too though, so it wasnt just me suffering. Its a flat out and back race, not too lovely really and of course being on roads, a bit boring. I started too fast, ran ok till 10 miles then began to cramp badly and finished disappointed in 1:45.

Two weeks later, ie this weekend, I was in England again, this time for the cheshire sandstone trail race. Actually there are two races, but the long one is 17 miles ( though only 1700 feet haha). It is a lovely course, with the nicest bits in the first half, climbing and following a sandstone ridge above the cheshire plains in lovely weather and with 150 others for company. For a change I was passing people on the climbs and being passed on the flats! I finished in 2:39, so not that much slower than Bristol, though I did struggle in the last couple of miles. Full results not out yet for this one. However a much happier run over all.

Thats my summer racing over and I think a slight rest before engaging the legs again for the notorious and arcane winter league.