The Olympics, Old Father Time, the Rain....

15th July. St. Swithin's Day. If it rains today then it will rain for 40 days and nights. Oh, blimey.
It's also the main day of the Wenlock Olympian Games. The Wenlock Games are acknowledged as the modern forerunners of the Olympic Games. Oh yes they are, stop arguing at the back there..

<--This is William Penny Brookes. No doubt he had us in mind when he thought that "every grade of man should have opportunities to become mentally and physically fit". (snigger)

Much Wenlock was heaving on Sunday with people, cameras, TV cameras and more people when we turned up, ridiculously early - or in good time, depending on your point of view.
Mike was taking on the Wenlock Olympian Triathlon, so we went along to see how a real athlete went about his business. Dave & I decided that, due to our injuries, the 7 Mile Road Race was the extent of our efforts and that was going to be tough enough,  thank you very much.
We cheered Mike on to a stirring effort which at the time of writing we believe to be 3rd V60. The wall of Fame on the right-hand-side will be updated as soon as we know for definite. YAY!
And so to the Road race. My own knee was a bit sore and Dave was complaining, well he was just complaining really, as is his want.
Eventually, at 12.30pm we kicked off, the route having been shortened by some 300m due to the sports field being a bit boggy. Soon we were out on to the road and this was all going swimmingly, even more so as we splashed through a few puddles on the way. The road up to the Wyke took it's toll out of Dave though and I stood on the top while I waited for him, having a little chat to Scott who had ridden out there on his motorbike to come and see us.
We got going again ...but it was clear that the hills were taking their toll on my mate's venerable legs, with some long slow climbs becoming long, slow runs, but eventually we were on the road back down into the town and our speed and spirits picked up. Phew. Because there were so many folks around, it felt like a really special atmosphere running through the town, and I thought Dave might have saved something for the final hill (I was  wrong).
Do you know? they've sorted out the trail to the back of the Gaskill Field now.. no longer mud, it's really rather nice. I waited up here again for Dave and we ran in together to a large crowd, a well-deserved Olympian medal and some jelly babies :0)
Later celebrations/commiserations/post-run analysis continued at HQ over a pint. What a blissful day, and no - it didn't rain............