I’ve ran this race twice, once on the come back trail from a broken leg and once on the back of a stupid night out! The course is always touted as a tough half marathon but I think it’s pretty fast and with some realistic course management it is possible to run quick here.

Leading up to the race I had a nice break over Christmas, despite easing off on the training and having a burning the candle at both ends on more than a few occasions, managed to get in the top 10 at the XC. Then I went to Mauritius for 2 weeks. I took the running shoes (I always do) and despite 35 degrees with 85% humidity I managed to do runs a day with a few short sharp sessions thrown in.

I had sent a few texts to the Penny Lane lads suggesting we get together and run sub 80 at Helsby, working together to get the job done. This was mainly because I didn’t think I was in PB shape but felt 80 was realistic, plus it would be getting a few other lads a decent PB. However, during the second week of the holiday, I was pleasantly surprised with how well I was running, the clincher being an 8 x ¼ mile session I ran with some local kids on bikes dragging me up and down a road leading to the beach. I was flying and it totally changed my outlook for the Four Villages.

So after a horrid flight home, I arrived on the Friday morning with two days to get over the slight jet lag and get to the starting line as fresh as possible. The plan was simply try to hit the 1st 10k in 36 mins – get to 10 miles in 59.20 or better then squeeze an 18 mins or quick last hurrah for the 5k.

The conditions were perfect and after the initial few twist and turn and little steep hills in the first mile or so, I settle into the race, quickly moving along with a group of around 10 guys in glorious sunshine. After around 5 miles part of the group pushed on but I stuck to the 5:50ish pace and passed 6 miles in just over 35 mins. I was still feeling good by 8 and by now it was just me and Colin Thompson from Helsby. We pushed each other along, neither of us making injecting too much pace and we eventually caught a few guys from the group infront but we were slowing.

I wanted to get to 10 miles in 59:20 or less but was still happy to get to 10 in 59:45. Neil Cosgrove from Knowsley then came past Colin and me, he must have been lurking close and again he dragged the two of us towards the start of the rolling section around 10.5 miles in. The first downhill is really steep and I was pushing hard then chopping my stride for the uphill sctions. The three of us were still close, Neil was about 30 foot infront and I was determined not to let him build more of a gap.

On the really big downhill at 12 I made a move but the downhills were killing my calf’s – the pounding was killing me and I was concerned I was going to cramp, I was beginning to think it wasn’t a good move wearing racing flats! I blasted past Neil but him and Colin were still hanging on – Neil came back but with about 400 to go I opened up and was chuffed to cross the line in 77:41 – just 10 seconds off a PB.

The three of us dragged each other around and if I’d have been running alone I doubt I’d have pushed that hard so it was really satisfying, my Achilles/shins/calfs were killing for the few days after but this run gave me plenty of confidence for 2014. Marathon training has started with a bang!