← Essar Four Villages Half Marathon
I chose the Four Villages half marathon after enjoying it last year. It had a distinct community feel compared to the much larger, more ‘corporate’ events out there. Note the useful items in the goody bag – from last year’s drawstring bag that I still use, to this year’s doughnut water bottle. It is clear that some thought has gone into what would actually be useful to runners.
Feeling January’s pinch in the pocket, I love events I can get to without a necessary stay over the night before. Hence why this race was marked in the diary for a while, as well as the Wirral Way winter half a fortnight ago. Therefore, owing to a generously late race start time of 10.30am, I was able to get the train to Chester and then to Helsby without any difficulty. From Helsby station it is about a 20 minute walk straight down Chester road to the Community Sports Centre to the race HQ. (Maybe give yourself 25 minutes coming back…)
After a clear but bitter forecast due the last few days, misty fog plus close to freezing would have been more accurate. Luckily, the baggage drop marquee is handily placed a few seconds from the start line area. This meant I was able to linger within the warmth of the sports club until the last few minutes before stripping down to my race kit, and bunging my bag into the marquee to get to the start. Wirral AC Club vest. 2XU 2 in 1 compression shorts unlike a fortnight ago, as I suffered from calf pain for a few days after.
It took a few minutes to get over the start but once over the line there was just about enough room to get into your own rhythm. Unlike larger races where you are shoulder to shoulder. Although the village roads were not the biggest, the size of the running field meant you never felt too wedged in.
Compared to Wirral Way, I took my time earlydoors as I ran out of puff in the latter stages of that race. Especially as it would have been harder to gauge my progress around the undulating course, with pleasant downhill sections between miles 3 and 4, and then between mile 11 to the finish, bookending a few sneaky climbs. Mile 8 seemed the windiest little climb. However, you felt like putting the work in was worth it for the sake of the final couple of miles that gave you a nice downhill slalom to the finish, as you wound your way back towards the finish line by the primary school, crossing the line with the chip time of 01:49:04.
Compared to Wirral Way, I took my time earlydoors as I ran out of puff in the latter stages of that race. Especially as it would have been harder to gauge my progress around the undulating course, with pleasant downhill sections between miles 3 and 4, and then between mile 11 to the finish, bookending a few sneaky climbs. Mile 8 seemed the windiest little climb. However, you felt like putting the work in was worth it for the sake of the final couple of miles that gave you a nice downhill slalom to the finish, as you wound your way back towards the finish line by the primary school, crossing the line with the chip time of 01:49:04.
Swift pint at the community sports centre afterwards, making a slight mistake of taking a seat.. but then it was homeward to the train station. Somewhat of an issue in the freezing cold as the warmth bubble soon wore off, as the train back to Chester was heavily delayed due to passenger illness on board, as the trainline’s twitter page told me, so bit of hard lines there, but would definitely recommend the 4 Villages Half Marathon to anyone considering an early year half to conquer.
