Despite being a bit worried by the pre-race notes stating that we had to walk past any anglers (90% of the route was canal!) or face being DQ’d, this was a pretty routine trot.

Up at 0430 to get to Stratford was a pain, although I got there a bit early and opted to go out with a group at 0830 rather than 0900. It meant I couldn’t win a prize, but it would mean getting away half an hour early, and since it was Good Friday, I thought that could be pretty handy.

There’d been groups leaving at 0800 and 0815 already, and the out and back course meant I was always seeing people, and there wasn’t much danger of going off course. A lot of it was the same as the December Double route, and it was all either pretty well signed, or massive long stretches of canal.

The only really tough bit was from about 15km to 25km, the stretch before (and then after) the turnaround. It was just really muddy and slippy – too much for my Boost ATRs, and it was all I could do to stay upright for most of that stretch.

I was aiming for around 4 hour pace to keep things sensible and try to keep to a pace that will be sustainable(ish) for the Foxton 24 in a few weeks, although the mud put a little bit on that in the end. Ran with a guy Alex for the final stretch ( he was running Compton the next day) which was cool, and plodded over the line in 4:10 or thereabouts. Only saw two anglers the whole time too (I think the rain helped), and I definitely walked past them. 100%.

Then it was the bit I’d been looking forward to – the food! After the December Double it had been great, and it was nearly as good this time around. I scoffed half a quiche and a shed load of chips and caught up with Richard, Steve, Tracy and Nick which was cool, and then it was off for the drive home – which was not cool. The satnav diverted me away from the M6 for a big stretch which helped a bit but it was still a horrible drive. Fingers crossed the Round Reservoir race on Bank Holiday is a bit less painful to get to and from, but I’ll be surprised!

I’ve shied away from most midweek races, it’s usually too much hassle to either get the time off work, or impossible get the kids into breakfast club in time to get to wherever the races is in time for the start. Hell of a Hill is the only one I’ve managed it for and the stress of getting there each weekday is as bad as the race. Almost.

But this fell sort of ok – the second day of a triple header. I couldn’t do the Monday because of a rescheduled meeting, and couldn’t do the Wednesday as the kids were finishing at lunchtime for Easter, but a 1000 start in Telford on the Tuesday seemed doable. Was it fuck.

I dropped the kids at breakfast club as early as I could (0745), and immediately got stuck in traffic on the way to the M57, then got stuck in traffic on the M57, and again on the M6. The satnav was bumping up my ETA constantly which was starting to worry me a bit. I didn’t think Denzil (the race director) would mind me starting a bit late, but I didn’t want to take the piss, or be having to hammer it just to be done in time before the cut off.

I eventually got to the car park, and ran the mile or so up to the start in Ironbridge. When I got there everyone had been led up to the start a mile away, but I signed in, said hi to Gill and Adam who were doing all three marathons and had started early and already run 9 miles. I passed Denzil on his way back from having started the race, apologised briefly, and just carried on running.

I sort of calmed down a bit from that point, and quickly saw some other runners on the out and back (three times) course, which was the same as the Railway Ultra I’ve done twice before. I scoffed a Wispa Gold, and then got into eating a gel and some jaffa cakes every 4.5 miles or so at the turnarounds. The running from then on was all pretty straightforward, I ran a nice easy pace, said hello to the usual faces along the way, and just enjoyed the day off work.

I had no idea of what time I was on for, but most of the people running had done at least one marathon the day before, and were looking at another one the next day, so even with starting 20 mins late I was working my way up the field the whole way. On the last leg I caught up with Gill and Adam which was cool, especially as by the time I’d finished stuffing my face at the finish they came in, so I got to see them come in.

In the end I came in at 4:20, which effectively meant I’d done 28 miles in 4:00, plus the dash from the car park, and felt pretty good the whole way, so I was happy enough – especially since I had another one coming up three days later.