April fools day dawned clear and sunny but cold for the 2012 edition of Telford Harriers Ironbridge Half Marathon, as usual starting and finishing in Telford town park with a run down to a large loop around many of the visitor sights in the Ironbridge gorge area including the Ironbridge itself which is negotiated at the 8 mile mark.
The cash prizes on offer attracted quite a large entry as usual, and the dry conditions attracted another 70 last minute entrants.
The race was won by William Joyce of Telford Harriers in 1:15:24, almost 2 and a half minutes clear of his closest rival Dave Mansbridge who was first MV55 finishing in 1:17:53 with 3rd going to Adam Lloyd of Bromsgrove and Redditch AC in 1:18:45. Telford Harriers must be on fire currently as Kim Fawke won the female race for them and finished 4th overall in 1:19:35! The 2nd and 3rd ladies finishing 57th and 60th overall some 15 minutes behind Kim.
Two Croft runners made the journey to Telford this year: Martin W. who completed one of his best Half Marathon runs to date finishing 122nd in 1:39:55. the other being myself who finished in a much more sedate 1:47:22 which was good enough for 234th (could do better!); a total of 591 finished out of 599 starters.