Racing The Wife

Distance: 21.3km
Time: 1:43:27

Over the past few weeks I've been building the miles on my Sunday morning runs, 17k then 19k last week. I'd planned on running either to or from my Mum & Dad's house home. Originally the plan was to do it the last weekend before Christmas. However I thought I'd give it a go now.

I decided to run to my Mum & Dad's as the return trip would have to be done in the dark. We live in Failsworth, Mum & Dad live in Altrincham - for those that don't know their local geography it's a trip of just over 21k away. After talking to Jan we decided to make a bit of a race out of it. We'd both set off at the same time - I'd run and she would be at the mercy of public transport. Now, normally you can get a tram between Failsworth and Manchester and then on to Altrincham. Not today, the trams weren't working so it was buses all the way.

I knew I'd get a decent head start as Jan would have to wait for a bus both into Manchester and then onwards to Altrincham. Although I tried not to I set off well ahead of the pace I'd set myself of 5min k's clocking up a 4:23 and 4:36 for the first two kilometers.

Weaving through people in the centre of Manchester wasn't much fun, but I was soon back on the quieter streets on the way towards Old Trafford. Just after crossing the river Mersey (yes in Manchester) into what was Cheshire until Greater Manchester swallowed it up I saw a bus go past heading to Altrincham. Well I thought I'm going to have to pass Jan again as she walks from the bus station to Mum & Dad's.

As I've said 21k is more than I've ran before and as I passed the 19k mark in Altrincham town centre I really started to feel it, my last two k's were 5:03 and 5:01. I was busy by this point looking out for Jan and thinking about what I could say to her as I passed her towards this finishing line.I kept looking but there was no Jan. Drawing up at my Mum and Dad's I'd resigned myself to hearing Jan celebrate. Before I could knock on the door I had to have a quick drink, as I did Mum opened the door to tell me Jan wasn't there! She had missed the bus that passed me and was on the one behind. I made the trip a whole half hour faster than the bus.

I may have to run everywhere from now on!