But Fleetwood, ahh, billed as a 'fast, flat, pb course....and actually very
similar to Blackpool, with which it shares some of its course. The difference
though was the wind. No, not from too much haggis, but wind coming from the
Irish Sea,. The races started at the front in Fleetwood, but the organisers
had to change the starting point because of a large amount of sand that had
been deposited in an inconvenient place exactly where we were supposed to
begin. If it had been a Harriers race, I'm sure Mr Crane would have been
there early in the morning with his shovel. Ironically we had to run over the
same 'dune' later in the race anyway.
The first 6 miles were fine, because we ran inland around the town. THEN, we
went on to the front and were assailed by flying sand which stung our eyes and
legs, and reached parts that are only being discovered today. The shower back
at the hotel was almost blocked! After that we settled down on a journey south
to Blackpool, wind behind us, and feeling good. THEN after 16 miles, the
turnaround, into the gale force winds. I have never before run so strongly
and achieved so little progress. For 8ish miles we were buffeted, thrown
sideways and sand blasted. We passed holiday makers dressed in overcoats
skulking in the shelters, and we must have been a surreal sight as we
staggered onward up the fronts of Blackpool, Cleveleys and Bispham.With grim
determination and no stopping I was achieving 12 minute miles for 5 or more
miles, and it was only when we came off the front and headed east with the
wind in the last miles that I was able to start proper running again. I felt
strong at the end, overtook a good quantity of folk and even did a sprint
finish; but by then the damage was done. No pb, but a good confidence booster
because my marathon race plan seems to work and bodes well for the next
one. Rob Bishop was there (of course!) and did well in the circumstances, and
Fiona ran a good half.
I'm just hoping that Brussels will be calm...
Robin