"Storming Langley"

I have just got back from an hour on the bike to stretch out my legs from what was performance wise my best race by far this year; the Langley 7 Road Race. Organised by my club Macclesfield Harriers (with me as usual on the race registration desk) it's advertised as a scenic, hilly and tough race around the roads of Langley, Sutton and Macclesfield Forest. I have helped organise this race on the day for many years at both the start and finish but this year decided I would run straight from registering athletes to the start line and have a run out myself!

With a fast start I was on 13.23 for the first two miles but shortly after this the race climbs over 600 feet in under a mile and a half going straight up the feared "Wythenshawe Lane". I held it together (and retained my breakfast which was more than a few managed near the top!) saving enough for the rapid three miles to the finish where I was pushing six minute miling to finish in 50.32 which is pretty close to my best ever time on this course. The other plus was that I took 30 seconds out of my colleague who took the final place in the club's national xc relay squad instead of me so honours are now even!

The prize as always for this race was a bottle of local beer (pictured) brewed by the Storm Brewing Company of Macclesfield as a special edition just for the race. It was then back to the local church hall for well deserved tea and home made sponge cake!

Annual mileage - 1074