On Thursday 8th May 2014, we returned to the torturous hill they call ‘Mow Cop’.  Both entered into the first adult category of the race. The competition between us was on.  Standing on the start line we both had butterflies in our stomachs.  Amongst the crowd we huddled close together and shuffled around, trying to keep our muscles warm.  As our nerves grew, it felt like we were waiting for hours.  Then down the hill came the lead car.

Silence…

BANG!

Off the starting blocks we all ran.  Jostling for position.  Weaving in and out of each other.  At the beginning, Emma was ahead of Mike.  This lasted for about quarter of a mile, until Mike became like a man possessed, and shot through to the front of the pack.  With a smile on his face, looking like he was taking a stroll in the park, he picked off the front-runners one at a time.

By the top of the steepest section Mike was gliding along in first position, he rounded the final corner on the approach to the finish and stepped over the finish line 30 seconds ahead of the second place runner.  Meanwhile, Emma was grunting and trying not to focus on the pain too much as she dragged herself up the hill, finally finishing in 6th position, and first female.

Mike: 8:29 (1st position in race)

Emma: 9:20 (6th position in race, 1st female in race)

By Emma and Mike