From Sally Armitage…
Another day, another Lancastrian road race. A half marathon I’d wanted to enter last year but I think I missed the entry deadline. The great British heatwave has started to fade and conditions were good, a little windy but not too noticeable on course, or at least not if you’re small enough to draft behind a larger runner!
Sold as a flat course, I would call it lightly undulating, probably as flat as you get in Lancashire. The race starts and finishes on a playing field in the village and consists of 1 lap around the Lancashire countryside, almost glimpsing the sea at one point.
Freckleton half marathon also holds the title of the oldest half marathon in the UK, first ran in 1964. Run on open roads, there was a little dicing with death due to traffic, but lots of local support on course, music, drinks, jelly babies, some people even had their hosepipes out offering runners a cool down, I gladly accepted!
I was really pleased with my run, I’d aimed for 1:26 so was pleased to just dip under that, I’d wondered if the wind would hinder my chances but it didn’t. There were some fast looking ladies on the start line too so to manage 2nd place was a big confidence boost. Furthermore, the generous £75 shop voucher I won was for none other than Ilkley’s very own Complete Runner! A good day on the roads!
1st male – Rob Danson Preston Harriers 1:12:50
1st female – Dee Allen Leigh Harriers 1:23:29
20th (2nd female) Sally Armitage 1:25:40
478 ran