Salisbury 54321 half

A slightly damp morning, taking the edge off August heat, but good conditions underfoot and reasonable visibility.  A perfect day for a multi-terrain half marathon!

I nearly did this race a few years ago but withdrew with a summer cold.  I'm so pleased to have done it - it's a charming and good humoured event, organised by the local fire station with a quirky and exhaustive attention to detail (check this route description out).  The lovely Mrs S had run her own full marathon yesterday so was in support mode today.  We met up with Romsey ladies Brenda, Liz and Anna, endured some horrendous blaring music (race directors, don't put teenagers in charge of this) and set off.

The first 2k was flat.  I counted the runners ahead - there were 5 of them.  One fell back pretty swiftly and two went well ahead.  That left three of us in our own race.

From 2 to 14k there were 4 really quite knobbly and interesting hill, starting with Old Sarum.  It was good to get off the road and get the lungs working properly.  Then over Laverstock Down and then a familiar hill up past Clarendon Palace.  By now one of the three, a bloke in green, had dropped back, and I got into a proper tussle with a man in black.  He consistently edged past me uphill and I overtook him downhill.

We steamed down past Clarendon, dodging the tail-enders of the 33km race which had set off half an hour earlier, and emerged on the road near Alderbury.  From here there was a lengthy drag uphill, but luckily we'd recced this part and I knew what to expect.  MIB overtook me near the top.  I knew this was the last hill, and I hoped to put a bit of distance in front of him on the descent into the Avon valley.  I pushed past and kept as much pace as I could down the steep gravel track. 

There was a real treat ahead.  The route went through the Longford estate, and right past Longford Castle. 

Nice pile... we ran top-to-bottom

By now the 33k-ers had peeled off and I was alone.  I kept the pressure up, fearful of MIB creeping up on me.  I went through the village of Britford and emerged into the familiar edge of Salisbury. 

The last 2k or so was a big weave and dodge past all the bemused folk out for nice Sunday strolls around the cathedral grounds and the commercial centre.  The signs weren't all obvious and I had to make some guesses.  I had to duck a bit on the riverside path as it went under the ring road and the railway line.  I was properly tiring now, my watch having beeped for 21k some way back... but suddenly I found myself on the finish field and I flopped over the line.  Third place!  I was really chuffed with that.  Here are my stats.

A smashing course and a friendly, quirky event.  See you next year!

Better gurn for the camera

Spent but happy.  Sorry about the armpits.