Report by Huw
Sometimes things don’t turn out quite as you planned. Having walked the route of the Chairman’s Challenge 2 days before, and written the instructions for everyone, I was pretty confident that I knew the way. Unfortunately, it proved not to be the case!
I knew the handicap times I had set meant that I was highly likely to be beaten by more than a few runners. It was a good thought to have as I pushed as hard as I could from the start. I passed Anna and Ali Benwell just before making my navigational error. They turned out to be the last two runners I would see before arriving back at the pub!
I often get flummoxed at a road junction and head off in the wrong direction. This time it happened after exiting a gate in the corner of a field. Rather than head along the lane to the Priory and Limebrook, I started the ascent to Upper Lye. It was a tough climb and, I will admit, I was starting to have doubts about where I was heading. When I got to Lower Lye and saw a sign that said it was a half mile to Covenhope I thought – I live just down there! It was then that I decided to get my phone out work out what had happened.
There was really no choice but to re-trace my steps, get back on the course and head to the finish at The Royal George. Being greeted by thirty plus Crofties was a bitter-sweet moment.
I’d managed to add 2.5km onto route by the time I got back. But hey ho. It was a lovely run in perfect weather and, with a cold Guinness at the finish, it wasn’t a bad way to spend a Tuesday evening.
A special thanks to Theresa for marking the course (unfortunately I didn’t feel I needed to look out for the flour trail she set), to Gem and Steph Main for their timing endeavours and to Liza for liaising with The Royal George and organising all the food.
Next year I’ll try really really hard to get it right. Promise. The timings below reflect the fact that I wasn’t the only one to get a little mis-laid!
