Running wise the 10 miler is a rare bird these days, checking stato’s stats in the striding report, the distance by far the least ran - I didn’t run one all last season despite running around 40 races so I was determined to get at least two in this season. The first was a point to point from Blackpool to Fleetwood – pancake flat and if there was any wind, it was behind you all the way. Stockport couldn’t have been any different!
I was advised that this was a really tough hilly course and I’d be lucky to get under the hour. I like a challenge and thought it couldn’t be too bad and with a bit of course management I could get under 59 mins. I headed over with Captain Dale in the PB mobile but with the scare stories about the course both our PB’s looked pretty safe.

Good weather for December greeted the runners of which over a thousand turned up. Numbers were ready to collect all with the runner’s names on which was s a nice touch. I was considering wearing my Nike Lunarspider jedi slippers for this race, they’re pretty flat and I reckon if I stepped on a coin wearing these bads boys, I could tell you if it was heads or tails. It had been raining in Stockport so I decided to wear the more grippy adidas adios, and boy was I glad I did.

The race got under way and Dale and I were quickly away and lapping runners on the track. This is bit of a problem in this race as the race starts with a lap and half of the track. By the time we hit 500m we were catching the runners who started at the back as they went through 100m. After leaving the track we were fast running around Woodbank Park before hitting the roads of Offerton. Dale was still on my shoulder and we agreed that the best way to run this was a slightly quicker first few miles before the big hill kicked in but I wasn’t able to go much quicker but I still hovering around 5.50 average so no need to panic.

After the garden centre we were heading up to Harry Town which is the first good climb of the race. I started to struggle a bit as the times slowed but not as much as I’d anticipated. I got over 1st tough climb and reached 6 miles in 35.55. This year the course altered slightly and the route went down Dark Lane which really should be renamed muddy and cattle business lane! The ground was undulating and rocky, mainly downhill though and very muddy through the farm areas. This took us off the main road but I for one prefer the roads in a road race! I appreciate why the race would want it to go this way rather than the main roads but for me it changed this race.

I still managed to eek out a few quick miles, getting to 8 miles in 47.30 but after the new section we were at the foot of New Zealand road which wasn’t really what I fancied running up as I was feeling tired but I dug in. So from feeling like I was going to get under 59, I knew I was going to have to dig in to get under the hour. A little loop at the top of Vernon Park and it was straight along the flat tarmac path to the track and the welcome finish line. I finished 59.56, Dale wasn’t far behind me in 61:41.

This is an excellent race, well organised and well supported. A couple of PLS bizarrely got PB’s here! James ‘pb machine’ Stansfield and Sarah Hodgeson, not sure if Pembo and Myka’s were PB’s but well done anyway.