Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Wirral Multi-Terrain Series, North Wirral Coastal Park

Race: Wirral MT Series, Race 3 (Wallasey, 4.3m)
Time/Position: 25.26 (11th from 195 [1st V45])
Very tight in the V45 category, so all to play for in this third race. Back to the seaside for this one. It starts on the beach just west of New Brighton and then allows for a great deal of latitude in terms of route choice as several hundred runners stormed along the vast expanse of sand heading towards Hoylake. I went a bit too far left, trying to avoid any of the soft sand, then veered back right through some channels to join the main pack of runners. I was well off the pace initially, perhaps 30th, but I gradually worked my way up as we left the beach then headed inland on dune paths towards the Coastal Park. Down a road, then tracks led back through fields to the dunes and an excellent narrow path above the beach - towards the setting sun. The race ends with a mile of hard running back along the beach to the very distant finish: felt like we were running across the Sahara! I gained on Richard Webster of Wallasey, who had a one-point lead coming into this race, and went past him with about 500 metres to go. It's neck and neck (equal points) going in to the final race. Beautiful sunset over the Irish Sea.

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