From Sally Armitage…

Starting and finishing at the Princess Mary Athletics Stadium in Cleckheaton, Spen 20 is another 20 mile ‘marathon prep’ race involving 2 loops around the hilly roads of the Spen Valley.

This was my second run around this race, and after a disastrous, poorly paced run last year I was determined to run it better this year. Which I did! I set off at a fairly reserved (appropriate) pace with the lead women, there were actually 5 of us running together which was lovely. Then at perhaps the 12 mile mark a couple dropped back and I lead for a few miles, I was then overtaken by the amazing Treena Johnson at mile 16 and another runner, Helen Ansell, minutes later. I managed to stick with them though and the 3 of us finished within 30 seconds of each other.

I was really pleased with how I ran, I’d paced it better, tweaked my fuelling and changed my shoes and it all came together. An extra bonus was meeting a fellow Harrier, Phil Joyner, on the start line! Derek Oliver was also there but I didn’t manage to spot him.

Results:

1st male Johnathan Hull East Hull Harriers 1:56:28

1st female Helen Ansell Stadium Runners 2:22:49

26th Sally Armitage 2:23:16

30th Phil Joyner 2:26:24

45th Derek Oliver 2:39:05

90 ran