Well it has finally come around to the Stafford 20 road race, it all seemed like a good idea when I entered a few months ago!! It is a 3 loop race around Stafford, Weston, Salt, Hopton and surrounds, the 1st is the longest for 8 miles and though hilly Salt, the next 2 laps are 6 miles, less of a climb but you will have to run past the county showground again another 2 times . The actual route can be found on Map My Run Stafford 20
Although I thought I had prepared well for the event but the actually day was a different story The weather was great and the sun was out . Met up with my running partner Sharon and also caught up with the other Potters Trotters, some of the Trentham lot and Mark ( my twitter friends) and we wish each other good luck .
I was a little daunted by the distance but thought that I had put in the training and I could easily achieve my goal of finishing in 3 hours, the start was good Sharon and had agreed to run together and our aim was 9 minutes miles, however the 1st hill was my downfall. I started to slow down and told Sharon to carry on, 3 miles in and I was done for I felt sick, I needed to go to the loo and putting one foot in front of the seemed to be impossible, so I stopped took a minute, plugged in my head phones decided that I would make it around to Sean (near the Uni where the finish was) and give up there.
I made it round to Sean (7.50 miles), nipped off to the loo (the less said about that the better) had some more water and words of encouragement (from Sean) and carried on, determined to complete at least one more lap . With Jelly Bellies in hand with another bottle of water I started out again , the 2nd time pasted the county show was difficult but I didn’t stop it was pretty and it wasn’t quick but I made it, just passed Hopton I scoffed down the and it was like been turbo charged!! and I made it back around to Sean. This time I was ready to give up, I had a good run made it around and completed 14 miles, then I saw a Potter Trotter top and decided yes I could make one more lap, I am not a quitter I WILL FINISH!!! and finish I did; the time wasn’t great but I have a well earned mug , which I have not stopped using yet!!
Lap 1
Lap 2
Final Lap
Lap 2
Final Lap
Has this put me off running, nah my next run is Sunday and it is the Liverpool half….and before you ask yes I have already started looking for my next 20 mile race so I can beat my official race time of 3:28
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