Having taken a slight (or very!) wrong turning in the last couple of years, Huw seemed determined to buy as few runners as possible that elusive drink back at the Royal George Pub in Lingen, by running at a cracking pace.
The handicapping system is a closely guarded secret – there was talk of clandestine meetings in Shobdon with Mike B, plotting how many minutes before or after Huw setting off runners would be starting on the 5.7 mile route. Was it heavily in favour of Huw this year or is it his shear determination to beat as many as possible that saw only 7 runners cross the finish line before him?
This is a fantastic loop run around Lingen, starting and finishing at the Royal George. There is a relatively tough uphill climb near the start off the mainroad up to some lovely woods, across a meadow, along some farm tracks and then road into Kinsham. We are very grateful to the owner of the garden where the footpath goes through for being so understanding of the 29 runners coming through into Kinsham. There is then a level stretch along a river, a bit of road and an uphill pull into the woods to finish along the road back to the finish.
Natalie ran a cracking race to get past Huw and finsh first back at the pub. Only 6 others – Jonathan, Anna, Ali B, Sam H, Oli and Jo T managed to either stay in front of Huw or get past him to claim their drink in the pub.
Huw and Jo had a cracking sprint finish meaning Huw was pushed all the way to the line and managed to stick to the route this year!
Along with the competitive element of the evening there were other groups out too.
Big thanks to Theresa and Tori who set of early for a walk/run to do a fantastic job of marking out the route with flour.
Flora, Gary, Tom D, Rachel and Dawn ran a slightly shortened version in a less competitive manner, and Wendy, Sian, Michelle, Tim, Ali, Roland, Clare, Jane, Kelly P and Heather did a walking route.
To round off the evening we had the pub to ourselves and a very nice lasagne meal.
What better way to spend a summer evening!
