Sunday 12th September 2021

Race Report by David Naisbitt

I guess that there is something a little strange about those of us who run reasonably regularly. When your son is returning to university, for his final year of study, his tactic, to ensure that he gets a lift back to his city of choice, is to persuade his dad to enter a local run.

Back in June a mid-September half seemed like a good idea. After a long and lazy summer the thought of running so early in September seemed quite daunting. However, the lad needed returning to his university accommodation, I was cleverly boxed in; the Liverpool Skyline half marathon it was, and not to be confused with the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon.

It was a reasonably low-key event. The organiser (BTR Liverpool)) ran two races simultaneously; there was the half and a 10 mile race which set off together and then finish together. You spend much of the first few and few miles confused as to who you are racing – it does make pacing a particular challenge.

The pre-run details make much of the steep hill about a mile in – Upper Parliament Street, for those of you who know the city. Those of us who live in and love Sheffield would describe it as a slight incline. Other than that ‘incline’ the route was pretty flat and reasonably fast.

The organisers had made most of the green space to the north-east of the city centre and very soon after the start, which was in behind the Liver Building and on the Pier head, we were out into a series of parks: Princes Park, the rather stately Sefton Park (which we were in for around 5 miles) and finally down through Otterspool onto the Mersey promenade.

The last 4 miles were along the Mersey back in towards the city centre and fortunately for us there was very little wind. In the past, whilst visiting junior, I’ve been out onto that promenade and a light gale elsewhere can feel like hooley on the banks of the Mersey. On Sunday the wind was light and the river calm.

You finish back where you started. A fine half marathon which comes recommended.

As far as I could tell, having scanned the start line for Striders vests and T-shirts I was the only Striders running this event on Sunday.

A special mention to my son Ben, who isn’t a Strider but he has come back to running, following a couple of years off, in the last year or two. It was his first half marathon and he went round in a very impressive 1:28:55. I know my place.

The winner was Thomas Rogerson (M) of Liverpool Harriers and AC in a time of 1:11:21.  First female was Fay Hughes (F35) of Liverpool Running Club with 1:23:41.  There was only 1 Strider.