From Hilda Coulsey…
The day was really hot, the first time this year for me running in 25 degrees full sunshine. I was on a mission though, I’d failed at this event last year pulling out with a pre-existing calf strain which unsurprisingly didn’t get better when I started to run. Then I attempted to run the marathon later in the year, but without a real reason it became a case of too many marathons in 2023 and in trying to find a reason I chose to run as fast as I could. Again unsurprisingly that failed when I made it to half way in good time then my head went, not able to contemplate the second half at similar speed.
Chester is a lovely city and the crowds were cheering enthusiastically in the villages, deafeningly loud in the city. The half starts in the racecourse and after heading north westwards through country lanes it finishes in the town centre. There is a little hill first off up and down, then up to gently undulating countryside, down and back up again to the centre. The half last year saw me running with Jane McCarthy and Sally Armitage proudly in England vests. This year it was a qualification race to achieve an England vest for an event in the future. My head was in the right place, I had studied the route carefully, I knew not to set off too fast, I knew what I need to do to qualify, the issue was the temperature and with no breeze we were in for a very hot race.
All thought of a PB time was therefore out of the window from the start, I set off at a pace which was not dissimilar to a solid training run knowing that should see me inside the qualification time. I was able to keep that pace going despite what must have been glorious views but was seemingly relentless ‘undulating countryside’, chasing shade, and walks through water stops to dowse down my head, neck and wrists. Sadly there were a large number of heat casualties on the road side and DNFs in the results.
I am so pleased to have finished, achieve qualifying standards and rest my Chester demons. The race attracts a strong field, many club and charity runners, it is highly recommended.
1. 1.07.52 Marshall Smith, Ashford AC
27. 1.19.17 Abigail Howarth, Vale Royal AC
2560 2.05.11 Hilda Coulsey 1st v 70
5133 finished, out of 5911 entries