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Bring me Sunshine Gromit!

CHRIS QUIGLEY 15 MAY 2013
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Fresh from recent assaults on Grand Prix fell races both Wallace and I headed to Morecambe for its half marathon, a new race this one for and is part of a half marathon series being run in and around the Lancaster area. Got there early as always, had a quick look around and posed for photos up at the Eric Morecambe bronze statue. When in Morecambe....

Looking out over Morecambe Bay you could see the dark clouds rolling in off the sea with a promise of heavy rain given by the forecast the night before. As we headed to the start from the small pier behind the Midland Hotel, the wind had picked up and spots of rain were starting to fall. Bring me sunshine Gromit - no chance today!

Pre-race instructions, 3…2…1 countdown, and we were off. I really did think this would be the usual promenade flat run as always seems to be the case with the coastal runs, but this proved not to be the case.

We did have the wind behind us for the first four miles and quick times at the mile markers showed we were flying by. But at this point the course comes away from the front and heads inland with quite a steady climb for a mile before the turnaround to head back to the Midland hotel.

From the five mile marker the weather really kicked in with the wind and the rain driving into our faces, and a race up some steps to cross the railway line and down again added
to the engery being drained from the legs.

The next five miles were pure hell with a long slog down the prom just praying for the turning point, ready for the last few miles with the wind behind to the finish. This seem to go on forever with the weather really starting to grind us down. Not until the 10-mile mark could we finally see the turnaround at top of yet another hilly climb - so much for being a flat one.

I was really pleased to top out with the marshal pointing the way back to the Midland and the finish. With the wind behind it was really great to push on for the final two miles and right to the line. I had a look behind coming up to the finish and it was great not to see Scott looming over my shoulder and breathing down my neck!

Totally knackered for the run in, I really had pushed hard in this race with not much left in the tank as I crossed the line. Not until the finish did I realise how bad the weather had become, so we were pleased to collect our medals and T-shirts and head back to get some dry clothes on.

Bit of a tester this one but well marshalled with plenty of drink stations. Good times for me and Wallace and both of us won our vet categories of 40 and 45 respectively. Back on the Grand Prix circuit next see if I can wreck my legs some more on the fells!

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