What do you get if you combine hills, with more hills, fantastic views … and a few more hills? Yes, the Leek half marathon!
Described as an ‘iconic’ half marathon, which passes through ‘scenic villages and in front of the Roaches, the race has something for everyone from beginner to elite runner’. It certainly did not disappoint! The Leek half is exactly what it says on the tin! The hills are alive … As I nervously collected my race number and t-shirt on the Sunday morning I looked around at the rather ‘hardcore’ looking runners and for a not-so-brief moment wondered if registering for this was a sign of madness - especially having done it two years ago and knowing what I was letting myself in for! I am pleased to say however, that I did NOT change my mind, nor did I sneak off to the car in despair; instead, I joined the other runners at the start with thirteen (point one!) challenging miles ahead of me! The fact that this run is not easy is what makes it special. I live very near to Leek, so I certainly know that it is not flat (!) but for me, that is what makes it so worthwhile. Running a race that is out of your comfort zone, but knowing that at the end you will feel such a sense of accomplishment for working hard, definitely spurs you on. It started on a lovely downhill, a pleasant warm-up you may think! Then a hill (Abbey Hill Road) magically appears...It is magical because it seems to last for an eternity! There is time to recover in between hills however, but before you know it, another one emerges! Although my legs were tiring and I won’t pretend that it was easy, it is true that what goes up, must come down! After around mile seven I found it much easier, with more downhills throughout the second half. The scenery of the Roaches was truly fantastic. Being out in the countryside amongst that natural beauty and running past unspoilt fields engulfed by heather and grass was superb! It is easy when running to be so fixated on the end, but I really do recommend taking note of the surroundings when running Leek. It was not a race that I set out to do for a particular time, as I found completing it was a challenge in itself. I loved the views and the hills have definitely made my legs stronger, which I hope will help with future runs. The course was really beautiful in parts and the marshals were fabulous. It was a well-organised race and one that I hope will continue to grow in popularity. So …was I wondering what on earth I was doing when I signed up on that Sunday morning? Yes. Did I question my sanity? Of course. Did I think that the stunning views and sense of accomplishment made all of that hard work worthwhile, so much so that I would do it again? … Absolutely! The ‘mountains’ of Leek are calling me back! |
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