Harrock Hill Wednesday, 26th July 2006

How tough was that?! After a warm up jog to the start, the race set off with about a half mile uphill which had me walking quite soon! Then there were loads more uphills but not matching downhills.  That seemed odd, but was right because, after the finish, it was quite a way downhill back to the level of the start.

I walked on loads of the hills - the start had done for my legs.  I did a lot of mincing along flat bits and down hills too because I am not surefooted enough to bound along stony tracks and over tree roots and suchlike.

Several times I was running on my own and became convinced I was last, if not lost! That got a bit scary for a while but I got over myself eventually, particularly when I could see the people in front of me. Going through the fields, I told the cattle, “I’m a vegetarian”, so they left me alone, but the mooing across one field made me think they might have been plotting something.

Yvonne Russell and Richard Davies encouraged me in to the finish, with Yvonne reminding me about the finer points of hill running as practiced in our ladies’ hill sessions. I finished in 57:39 which was pretty slow for 5.3 miles but at least I made it unscathed, apart from a few scratches on my arm and a couple of near tumbles!

Prizes were excellent - boxes of fruit, vegetables and free range eggs.  Well done Derek Buckley for winning V50. I thought I was last finisher but there were apparently four behind me.  Almost wish I was last because the final finisher received a fruit and veg box!  The prizes were awarded in the car park which was nice until Anne Docherty and I started to experience a very strange and unfamiliar sensation - we felt cold!

There was a good Wesham turnout – twelve of us. I did the race because, in this heat, I struggle to get motivated to go out training - entering races makes me get out there.  And Yvonne can be quite persuasive! However, I am sure I’m busy on the night of the next one, whenever it is!!

Written by: Pauline Weller

Submitted: 28th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRRWebsite/Magazine