On a plus side the originally forecast heavy showers had decided to stay away so it was just a case of deciding which three layers of running clothing to wear and what kind of head cover was likely to decide to stick around at the first hint of a gust of wind.
I decided on a cold weather compression top that I had bought recently for these colder training runs and events and a long sleeved top plus my `your never gonna miss me` florescent orange runners jacket and ooh..a fourth layer, my charity running vest :)
I topped all this off with a wooly hat and a pair of running gloves, I considered that enough to make up for the fact that I will be wearing a thin pair of running shorts and would likely freeze from the waist down if it was colder than expected.
Common sense and experience had already helped me decide to wear my compression shorts and compression calf sleeves/guards as well.I decided on my Red Venom ones which had been generously discounted and in the case of the sleeves,given free by Red Venom as support for my training and my runs during this campaign.
So off out I finally went after a light breakfast and headed for the free buses that where taking passengers from the free parking at the park and ride, these had been put on by the organizers of the Mad Dog 10k the Hesketh Round Table who do a great job year on year (Thanks Guys).
A quick journey and I was at my destination Stanley High School which is transformed into a base station for all the runners with lots of facilities you don't normally get at most running events, the gym hall being one off them was the first port of call to pick up my runners t-shirt prior to the race which is a nice touch as you can ensure you get your size without the usual mad panic at the end of most runs.The medal though you do have to earn and complete the race first before you can have it :)
Next was a quick visit to the changing rooms in the sports hall to get rid of my track suit bottoms and coat etc and any thing I wasn't going to be running with, and then into the main area of the sports hall to hand my baggage into their safe hands for secure storage, all done within minutes may I add (take note Helsby Running Club).
Next was the quick walk to the start line and back out into the blustery conditions, this was the real test of whether or not I had wrapped up correctly and I can safely say "job done".
With about 5 mins to go I was at the starting area and in a big crowd and I couldn't even see the front so I figured I was going to have one hell of a lot of people to run through very shortly.
For those wondering below is what the front actually looked like minus the usual inflatable start/finish arch which I assume was not used due to the chance of it blowing away in seconds :)
So a quick 5 mins and we where off, and onto the seafront and head on into the 30mph winds......this was well hard to run into and I had previously advised people to stick to the left inside of the road as this would be sheltered by the other runners as the wind was coming from front right....I completely ignored my own advice and race plan because I was stuck behind loads of slower runners and I couldn't run at a decent speed so I had no choice other than to move right out onto the far right and ended up being everyone else's windbreak.
Full respect to all the cadets who where out marshaling along this stretch, how they didn't lose there beret's etc I'll never know.
I persisted like this for the first 3k at least and often felt like I was a kite with my legs dangling below me and flapping in the wind going nowhere :)
After 3k I started to see a few familiar faces of other runners I know so I said my brief hello's as I struggled past, the first friendly face being the lovely Adele and a bit further on I saw Jessica who is new to running and was doing well, and cracking on at a good pace considering the weather.
I had already passed the Battala Liverpool drumming band who were superb as ever in supporting the poor runners in the blustery weather, but they must of been struggling even more being stuck in one spot, so hats off to them.
From 4k onwards the long car park on the left hand side came up so a big stretch of freely available running land was at my disposal, so onto it I went and started to slowly go past some of the slower runners around me.By now I was not particularly tired so was thankful the wind hadn't crippled me and I only had another 1km to go to the turning point where the wind would turn to our backs.
A quick run past the new Guelder Rose pub & restaurant and under the pier and past a rather slimmer looking `Elvis` from last year who may of just been another Elvis, who knows.
5K and now the fun begins the wind is at our backs so around the outside of the fairground we go and past the Splash world facility and past another band who were a Beatles tribute band (The Dockers) but as I'm not particularly a Beatles fan I'm not sure what they were singing as I passed, sounded good though.So onto the Promenade we all continued.
A water station soon came up but I decided against getting any as I wasn't thirsty and it wasn't hot so I just ran through and left it for people who did need it.
I carried on down the Promenade and then under the pier where I saw my good friend and fellow runner Mr M (remember him my Helsby blog?) quick hello's exchanged and then onwards past the Ramada Plaza and then back onto the Promenade where I see another fellow runner Chris, I say my hello's again and continue to the end of the Promenade and turn left towards the seafront again.
Now it's pretty much the 8km mark coming up as I approach the seafront and the Battala Band for a second time, their still smiling which is good :)
Now here we go, full wind at my back and some energy left and only 2k left so it's time to at least try and get past some more people and get a half decent time.By this stage the wind is helping that much I'm having to hold back because I don't think my legs can keep up :)
So a final right turn towards the finish and a bit of a cross wind so no sprint finish coming up here....and finally over the line at 49 minutes 40 seconds, 3 minutes slower than last time but with that wind I'll take it thanks, job done and hello `Goody bag` in the Mad Dogs case `Doggy Bag` :)
A little wait to say hello to a few people and then back to the sports hall to get showered and changed and retrieve my bag etc again only a few minutes to collect my bag (Take note again Helsby Running Club) and say "hello" and "how did you do?" to some fellow runners and friends from the Facebook Running Discussion Board.
The sports hall is great for meeting up with all your friends after the race and you always see lot's of proud club runners and friends who have run together proudly showing off their Mad Dog t-shirts and medals for photo's.
Finally it was time to go to the best place off all at an event apart from the finish line `The Pub` in this case a nice Churchtown traditional old pub called the Hesketh Arms.
Best of all a nice sit down for my first pint this year due to being in marathon training since the New Year, and the chance to catch up with more running friends....
A couple of days rest for me and then the marathon training continues with a 14 mile and a 20 mile run in the next 3-10 days as I have run #3 coming up in exactly a month the Bolton Hill Marathon........26.2 miles AND big hills...oh dear.
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