Race report by Tommy:
Tonight was the final installment of the 4 race series and was run in much kinder conditions at 18°c – a full 14°c cooler than the June race!
I did intend to run the July race however I found out that July this year had 5 Thursdays in it and the race is run on the 4th Thursday of the month – guess which Thursday this clown turned up? I did run anyway and won albeit there was only 1 entry as everyone else ran a week earlier 😂.
Anyway tonight’s race was a clamy affair with hours of rain only stopping around 90 minutes before the run however given the recent weather the ground was still firm which meant quick, slippy conditions. After a briefing before the race at the community centre registration point we made our way to the start line and set off at 7pm sharp on Hillside Ave – home of Wigan’s 90210 postcode and some right cribs. The race profile resembles an upper case M – climb, decend, climb, decend.
Setting off with one of the 1st females we made our way up to the top of the first of the climbs and quarry where we hung a right and through local knowledge and sticking to the right of the two paths I stretched out a small lead. Decending was tricky tonight given the overcast conditions, wet weather and tree cover. Spotting slippery tree roots and smooth slab stones was paramount! I began to close on a chap who resembled Andre Aggassi wearing a back to front baseball cap. Andre was dispatched before the bottom of the first decent having lead the race for the first 30m. Starting the second climb I spotted another Aggassi look alike about 50m in front and wondered what was going on – had I missed the memo like the 4th Thursday of the month? Anyway climbing up through the fields I caught Aggassi 2 and he sportingly encouraged me on. The climb up through the fields is really the back bone of this race and the long climb upto The High Moor Restaurant really finds out anyone who isn’t feeling good or has set off too quick. Thankfully although I was stretching the elastic at this point it didn’t snap as I made it to the underground reservoir which is close to the highest point of this race.
Tommy’s top tip here – This race has a number of styles and gates that give away where your closest competitor is behind you. I knew Aggassi 2 hadn’t given up hope as everytime I jumped a style or went through a gate I could hear the same thud or bang around 20 seconds later as Aggassi 2 passed through it. I made it to the high point of this race – the Windmill at the top of Harrock Hill. A quick descent was made easier thanks to the encouragement of a marshall and I made it to the finish before Aggassi 2 had chance to reel me in.
A lifetime best round this race at 38:26 mins showed how much I had stretched the elastic tonight. I knew I had pushed it though as my eye lids where sagging like I had been through a bin bag amount of wacky baccy by the finish!
A great race and one I use so many times on my training. Role on May and the next series.
Next up for me is the months of training before Manchester marathon in April where hopefully I’ll get my 2hrs:42! 🤞🏼
