David Howarth reports…
Wilmslow Half Marathon 24 March 2024
Four MACs crossed the Pennines for the more gently graded Cheshire plain for the 40th anniversary
of the half marathon, now part of the Wilmslow festival of running that also incorporates a 10K and
a ‘Running Bear’ fun run.
Eons ago, I lived in Manchester (before going south) and ran this race six times between 1986-1993,
setting my personal best here in 1986 (1.16.29) and running with tonsilitis in 1993. It’s a flattish
course along country lanes through the Cheshire countryside. The roads are closed for the event
which makes road running more pleasurable, but there isn’t a huge amount of crowd support. The
start and race HQ is at Wilmslow rugby club, as it was in the late 80s/early 90s. The start is on the
housing estate just outside the rugby club. With 3395 half marathon runners and 984 10K runners
starting together the housing estate is effectively closed (to cars) until the runners are off and away.
The Rugby club must have an exceptionally good relationship with the residents!
I felt great for the first few kilometres, running a reasonable pace comfortably. From around 10k
onwards it required increasing effort to maintain something close to my initial pace. I ground it out
and finished in a time better than my last half (Robin Hood in Sept) but not as good as I was hoping
for. But a good day out, running on quiet lanes in good weather conditions.
MAC results
Luke Beresford (V40) 35th in 1.13.12
Marcin Zaleski (SM) 180th in 1.21.54
Joanna Krol (V35) 523rd in 1.33.42
David Howarth (V60) 1686th in 1.56.47
