Race: Tattenhall Tough Team (9m+)
Time/Position: 59.02 (2nd from 165 [3rd Team from 55])
The helping skeletal hand from the grim reaper is much appreciated on this excellent team event, as it comes just as the infamous 'railway' reaches its most absurdly steep gradient at the top. The whole race is really enjoyable: this year I joined Jez and Steve Toogood in a team ('Toogood and Two Bad') with a combined age of 137. Last time I did it, in 2011, heavy rain fell constantly. This evening, perfect clarity of light: a superb midsummer evening as the recent spell of glorious weather continues. We started off slowly, just behind the leading team from West Cheshire. The road is gently downhill to Burwardsley and, despite our plans to run as a 'peloton' in-form Jez took off on the first hill towards the Pheasant to win the race comfortably. Steve dropped behind a little, so I concentrated on sticking with Dave and the rest of the leading trio. Great running up the steep steps in the woods, a lovely XC section through the Peckforton Hills which soon leads to the Railway. This is what gives the race its reputation and character: an inclining track which steepens continuously until reaching a little wall at the top (hence the grim reaper's helping hand). I momentarily moved into second place until we re-grouped for the run through the fields towards a low sun setting over the Clwydian hills. Glorious running, albeit a bit of a shock to the system after all the recent mountain races. Once we got to the road, it was a matter of keeping a decent pace going. It was nice to finish 2nd overall, but the truth is that Jez was miles in front and the overall placings are besides the point - it's a team event. As such, Steve had an excellent run to leave us in third place overall.
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