Kelly Williams reports on this 9.6k tester.
It was only
a few days before the race that I made the connection between Gold Hill
and the Hovis advert. How was I going to get up there! Then, just before
the start I was told that was the easy hill. HELP!
The race
started with a slight incline. Then onto a narrow footpath where
overtaking was impossible. Back onto the road and a little downhill to
the 1K marker.
Round the
corner and there it was .... steep, cobbled, but thankfully short.
Although many were walking, I was determined to run, albeit slowly. I
started to sing the 2nd movement of the New World Symphony (the advert
music) in my head. Da de da, da de da.... I made it. My legs were
screaming at me and I wondered how I was going to run another 8K.
|
Gold Hill … steep, cobbled, but thankfully short! |
The next bit
was thankfully flat with wonderful views over the north Dorset
countryside. This gave my legs some chance to recover.
Then a
wonderful downhill. I let gravity do its thing and just let myself go
making sure my feet were landing below me and not in front of me. Wheee!
A few
smaller hills then the killer. The hill from about 5 to 6K just seemed
to go on and on and on. Da de da, da de da.... Part way up was the only
drinks station. I struggled to drink and keep going but I knew if I
stopped that would be it.
Reached the
top (or so I thought) turned the corner to see more uphill. Only a
little bit though, then another wonderful downhill. Wheee!
Then came
the long slog back.
2K uphill. Da
de da, da de de...
Passed the
9K marker, then after a couple more corners caught a glimpse of the
finishing field. Turned towards the finish and attempted to sprint to
the line. Crossed the line with jelly legs to be handed the heaviest
memento I've ever received. Somehow I managed to stay vertical!
All in all,
a tough, enjoyable run that highlighted I need to do more hill training!
Kelly
WACers
results:
13 – Callum
Kennedy – 39:51
22 – Jerry Shield – 41:37
30 – Neil Hopkinson – 42:52
38 – Steve Guy – 44:24
53 – Jon Braund – 46:19
118 – Ian Kennedy – 53:21
128 – Jools Maskell – 54:42
156 – Kelly Williams – 58:15
163 –
Wendy Kennedy – 58:55
185 – Bob Caines – 62:23
208 – Julie Gosling – 73:04
