Race report by Tony;
Inaugural Preston half marathon.
Following on from yesterday’s 3 shires Fell race I decided that I would start this very steady and try not to get caught up in any ‘racing battles’. I bumped into clubmate Matt Withers at registration, also competing in yhe half and his wife Jo. The race started at the beautiful Winkley Square and the route threaded it’s way though the shopping area of the city on closed roads before dropping down to the banks of the river Ribble. There was also a 10kms race on the same course but only 1 lap. Id thought that my legs didn’t feel too bad until I did a bit of warming up!! I tried to keep a steady pace of 5.15 min kms which was going well until the final steep hill (think Preston Parkrun) at the end of the first lap. Really felt like walking here but the site of Leigh Warburton, a legendary, inspirational fell runner also inflicted with prostate cancer jumped out of the crowd and urged me on. I picked up the pace again and kept steady again round the second lap and into the finish. It was a tough ask after the previous day but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
556 starters Tony Marlow 191st 7th V60 Matt Withers 277th 53rd V40.
