Race report by Dave Phillips.
This event along with the Metric Marathon (26.2 kms) has to be right at the top of UK events.
The start is at the fabulous race course (5 mins walk from our Crown Plaza hotel) where the accommodation, facilities, changing and everything else is superb. Then the race goes through what must be the oldest and most beautiful city anywhere in the UK. The architecture, old timber framed buildings dating from 1700 onwards, stunning cathedral (where Robina went for Eucharist while I was plodding round), the river Dee and completely closed roads for the whole course made it a stunning event.
Then once out of the town the route followed beautiful countryside on mostly small roads and lanes and we even crossed into Wales for about 6 miles. I felt like staying there but had return to England to finish. Again lovely small villages cropped up here and there where the hospitality was great.
Loads of drink stations with gels, Lucozade and water lined the route and superb marshals made it a great day despite the somewhat cold and wet rainy weather for some of the time.
Then finally back into the beautiful town for the final dash along the pub lined promenade alongside the river Dee to the race course where there were just 2 furlongs to sprint to the finish (but no hurdles or horses thankfully).
Sat evening was great with 13 of us dining and wining at Pizza Express so well done DG and AM for sorting this for us.
On our way back on Monday I stopped for petrol and saw the tragic news on the headlines of the local paper that someone died in the Metric Marathon so condolences to everyone from all the red and whites who ran.
Will be back in 2018 and entries are now open-check it out.
Massey time: David Phillips 5.58.
Leicester, Abingdon and Snowdonia fulls in next 3 weeks so what a month Oct will be.