I'm back

Thankfully, I’m back running again. It’s taken some time but I’ve taken it easy, running gradually working down the gym, building up the miles andI really enjoying myself. I’ve been down the Park doing Parkruns most Saturdays and have been building towards Rivington Half Marathon last Saturday.
This was the race I did last year (just coming back from a tear in my thigh) and loved it. Therefore even though I pulled out of Chester marathon, I was determined to run Rivington.
I woke up on Saturday morning to be greeted with the hottest October day on record with the temperatures touching 30 degrees c. and got to the race in plenty of time and enjoyed the pre-race atmosphere. I got chatting to a couple of lads who were running their 1st half marathon. They stated that they wanted to do Rivi as their 1st one as “it was flat”. Oh dear, when they said this, I laughed and about 3 people turned around and looked at them in a really odd way. They didn’t believe me when I told them that there was a 350 metre climb in the 1st mile and then continued to climb and climb for more or less the entire race. When I saw them at the end, collapsed on the grass, think they realised I wasn’t lying.
My time last year was 2.07, so my aim this year was to break 2 hours. Very chuffed with my performance as I managed to come home in 1.57 (winning time was 1.20). Also entered Conwy Half Marathon in November and am hoping to break 1.37, my half PB. Before that I have 2 trail races in 2 days up in the Lake Districts, which is doubling up as a weekend away for me and Sue. Can’t wait