Buxton Half Marathon - Race Report

Buxton Half on Sunday was the third Club Championship race I'd run in a week and a half with my running club. What I've learnt in that short time is that club races, as opposed to big commercial road races, like to include hills. I don't mean 'an incline' I mean a bloody long steep hill that makes your quads cry just looking at it, but that people refer to as 'a little bit hilly'.

Concentrating on the uphill (Bryan Dale Race Photos)

I was a little apprehensive about Buxton half when I saw the course elevation on last years t-shirt. *gulp* Still, I signed up (hello £10 bargain) and just thought I'd figure it out nearer the time. And then nearer the time came and I realised I'd not done any of the hill training runs I had momentarily and fleetingly planned to do.

Elevation of the Buxton Half

Set in the rolling countryside, this has to be one of the most scenic half marathons I've ever done - or so I was told. I can't quite confirm this statement as due to the heavy drizzle we spent most of the race running through mist and clouds. But they did lift a little for me to catch a glimpse of the lush green countryside.

The first three miles are all uphill, (you may refer to the pic above) and it's hard going. But you're prepared for this and what goes up, must come down. Weeeeee! The downhills were so much fun! I certainly took advantage of them, and literally threw myself down them. I felt like a cartoon Crandon with wheelie legs...

Cartoon Crandon!

Throughout the whole run I just let my legs do what they wanted to do. They seemed to want to go a bit slow and heavy on the inclines, and hard and fast on the downhills and it felt good to let them. Add this to the country setting, through fields full of cows, donkeys, horses and sheep and Buxton  is basically the most fun I've had running a half marathon. Yes the hills are hard, but the effort just makes it all the more rewarding, and the ups and downs make for a very fun and interesting ride and stops you thinking about the miles. If you're in the area and have a spare tenner, definitely give it a go. For your money you'll get a well organised route, lovely scenary if the weather plays ball, nice cheery marshals, a lovely (actual sized) t-shirt and a big huge grin at the end of it.


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