Sunday morning, way before the sun had crawled out of it’s duvet, saw the Orton clan on our second trip to Silverstone for the Half Marathon or should that be Snicker?  I thought we had seen the last of this place after Adam struggled round last year with Ashley (fiancée) to raise some money for the CLDF.    It had certainly put Adam off but, this year Ashley had entered on her own.

I had forgotten how blasted cold the race course is at Silverstone, it has, I am sure, a direct wind tunnel connected to the coldest depths of hell.  This year was no exception. As soon as we got out of the car on the car park, by the distance we walked I think it was somewhere just outside Tipton, we were hit by the icy cold.

To make matters worse we were there a good two hours before the race and there is not much to do apart from shiver or buying an overpriced hot drink amongst all the ‘professional posers’ who had already copped all the tables and were busy, lying each other how they were only there as a warm up for the London marathon, and they didn’t really care about their times. All their lycra clad efforts would be fine tuned for the televised event.

So there we all were; Adam, Annette, Emma, Ashley and me, trying to keep moving to stop the permafrost burying us. Adam looked quit guilty that he wasn’t running, but has had trouble with his knees since the last race (he is supposed to wear shoe implants because of flat feet, but of course it’s a right pain getting any from the NHS) The only calm one amongst us was Ash. I do believe Adam has found a good one there 🙂

Eventually we get to the start and all the lycra mob go off like a bat out of hell with all their first 1,000 numbers expecting to be finished before the last peasant has crossed the start line. After all, it’s only thirteen miles warm up for London.  Ashley went off at a reasonable pace and we started moving round the course to the three mile point to see how she was getting on and show some support. It was also marginally warmer if you kept moving.

We nearly missed Ash at this point as it was clear she was running a lot faster without Adam in toe and we based her arrival on last years times.   She did the first three miles in about 40 minutes, just ahead of a team dressed as  Cree’s running in a home made canoe.   They were followed by a guy carrying a dinosaurs outfit, a telephone box and some one eyed alien from Toy story.

We stopped for a warming hot drink before debating where to go next. Apparently the seven mile point was over by the car park and Annette and Emma were reluctant to walk back there again. I volunteered to go with Adam but, they decided to see if they could catch a glimpse from the seating in the stands.  I went down round by the ten mile point to have a walk and noticed the first of the ‘super-fit’  was just reaching the 10 mile marker. In fact he was so fast he missed most of the professional supporter; they were the kind who stood there applauding everyone and encouraging them “keep going you’re doing really well….not far now….   Maybe it was just me but, when they got to the poor sods at the back who were the heroes in my mind ( the grandparents, the overweight, the limping, the bright red faced with gritted teeth.) it all sounded rather condescending and had I been out there I think I’d have gasped a quick ‘f$*k off at them.

As I saw these genuine charity runners struggling at the back part of me thought I should be out there with them, fortunately there was enough of me left over to tell me not to be so damn stupid. Nevertheless, they were an impressive sight, many of them with eyes glazed over, moving on sheer will power and I felt privileged to see them run. If only I had the words to encourage them without sounding like a twat.

So two hours after the start we were over by the finish line waiting to cheer Ash home. We had based her time for about 2 hour 45 min from the previous time and 3 mile time. We were there in good time and still missed her. Despite being at the front she managed to finish out of sight of us. We are still not quite sure how but, think she crossed the line with a large group at around 2 hours 30 mins.  Already the crazy woman was talking about next year and we hadn’t even got back to the car.  A grand effort by the daughter in law to be: she has raised at least £260.