Race Report by Dave Phillips
Well the only thing about Summer yesterday was the name in the event as it was raining at the start and throughout this 14th Summer 6. Mary Arden’s House at Wilmcote was the event HQ and was full of runners (c300?) as they all had to collect their numbers there so a bit of banter and local rivalry took place with, as usual, Massey coming out on top. Probably the red and whites also topped the poll for entrants in the event.
Some of us even acted as “sort of unofficial sweepers” at the rear end of the run to make sure that our rivals all finished. That’s what I said anyway.
A very well organised and marshalled event on lovely country roads with hardly any traffic. Mind you who would venture out in such weather anyway even in a car?
What did surprise a few people was the undulating course with a hill at the start out of Wilmcote followed by a very steep downhill long section. Some lady passed me saying she could only run fast downhill. Then I told her that we came back up this at 5 and she was horrified. She stayed just in front of me all the way round. Hmm!
Then after a very scenic section came the very long uphill drag from 3 to 4 which took its toll but then it flattened off again to 5 where the early downhill bit came back on us again-this time to go back up it. Tough going.
At last Wilmcote village appeared and a final dash and the end was in sight at Mary’s House where many of the Massey mob cheered the finalists in.
Another T shirt to add to the collection for all finishers so well done Stratford R.C.
Off to Switzerland later for the Alpine Marathon events in Davos next week end-now these are really hilly!
Massey time:
Dave Phillips 70.27