I was feeling pretty confident of getting at least a PB in this race but on learning what the actual course was (the website was very sketchy) I knida knew it was a big ask. The Liverpool Marathon was cancelled and the Wirral Half and 10k were put on as a replacement. I ran the Liverpool marathon in 2011 and if this race wouldn't used the first half of the marathon course, heading back to Central Park instead of dropping down the Mersey Tunnel, then it would have been a great course, really quick.

As it turned out, you went the opposite way up the promenade from Seacombe towards New Brighton then stayed on the coastal path, ont othe beach (no, I'm not joking) then back to New Brighton were you performed a series of switchbacks. Pretty poor really, it's not like there isn't enough road on the Wirral to a accommodate a road race! Plus, and obviously I can't blame the organisers for this, the wind was pretty much in your face for 8 of the 13 miles!

Anyway, on arrrival is was pretty obvious the field wasn't going to be very strong but there were enough local runners I knew would be around my level to work with. I mentioned Martin Swensson that I fancied his chances aof winning it as I didn't really see anyone I knew who were better than him. The start was uneventful enough but once we hit the promenade it was tough going, even when try to get in a group there was no real shelter from the wind. I went through 5 miles about 40 seconds off my pace but once dropped into New Brighton I started really pushing the pace.

As the 10k racers peeled off I was tucked in behind Gareth Howell form the Harriers and we were both in touching distance of two more Harrier runners Al Ashton and Mike Fitz. We all started winding it up but once we turned onto the coastal path we were back into a cross wind.

I was still cruising but knew the beach section was coming and we'd be running into a full on head wind back towards New Brighton. The costal path was covered with sand and the the drop down onto the beach itself had as much soft sand as compact.

I lost the will to run hard as I could only manage 6.20 miling on this stretch and didn't fancy busting a gut to run 78 mins. I kinda stuck to 6 min miling, cheering Martin on as he steamed to victory. I finished in 79:16 and was gutted because I felt so good. Another course on a kinda day I was confident I'd have got under 77.

I celebrated Martin victory with the lads at Pi over a few Erdingers - great night and a rare visit for a few of us to the mainland from marathon monk island :0)

I'll have to wait until spring and Blackpool or Wilmslow for a PB at the half - I might even tackle a marathon, watch this space!