Check In
This is a
great little race organised by the "evergreen" Malcolm Fowler that
makes use of the trails and dead end roads that were a side effect of
Manchester airport's long disputed but eventually built anyway second runway. Remember Swampy?
I was
helping on registration with entries on the night and between us we managed to
issue over 200 numbers to add to a similar number of pre-entries and raise over
£2000 for an Alzheimers charity. It was
hectic but we managed a sort of system that got everyone signed in by 7.30pm.
Take Off
After a
few warm up strides I joined the waiting pack and we were off racing up the
lanes. The pace was steady and I slotted
into the leading group that included Damian, Steve Watson (Buxton) and a whole
bunch of eager Sale Harriers. On to the
stony trails Damian started to push the pace and the group were stretched out
by the second road section. The race
takes an almost surreal turn as the trail appears to be leading out on to the
runway apron. Surely we're not allowed
out here. In fact there is a fence
hidden in the ditch but you don't notice this as large jets race past while the
trail bobbles along. A steep descent
took us into the vast Bollin Tunnel and directly under the runway. I was now in 4th trying to hang on to a
couple of the Sale guys with Damian 100m clear in front.
Bumpy
Landing
The climb
back up to runway level was hard on my marathon legs and by the top I was
losing the fight for my favourite position, 4th. I held on across the fields and back on to
the roads and we were making up ground on the leaders. Into the last 400m I was down to 5th and lost
another place almost on the line.
A pint in
the evening sunshine felt well deserved after a hard race.
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