Race Date: Sunday 12th April 2026

A running festival that includes a choice of 10k, Half and Marathon distances. I undertook the Marathon aiming for a GFA time to apply for London having had to miss last year due to injury! The qualifying time is 4.23 but was really hoping for a ten minute buffer to increase my chances of a place.

The day arrived bringing sun/cloud/breeze and being on the cool side – seemingly ideal running conditions. The start is in the centre of Boston and at an early time of 8am. The route heads through the centre, out through a residential area before heading onto the open expanse and exposed area of Lincolnshire.

The forecast winds hadn’t materialised so by mile 10 I became quite confident that I would have a good run as I was coping well. Sadly this was to become short lived. Upon turning ‘the corner’ we were suddenly hit with high winds. Wow. At times it really did feel like you were on a treadmill, feet moving but going nowhere. There was a relentlessness about it, constantly alternating between sidewind and headwind with the noise from the large protective plastic sheeting covering miles of fields flapping about being so distracting.  A couple of the lanes looked like you were running through a sand storm. No deep breaths taken here. Having said this, the route does go through a few villages which did offer respite from the wind and spectator support was welcome.

Worrying about the wind and not being able to concentrate on the math/time for pacing and knowing I was tiring far too early was not helping. This let the mind games begin but trying to stay positive I told myself “It’s only a run, Can try again if need be, See it as a challenge, Be able to laugh about this later!”

I did focus on the mile markers quite a bit. There were regular water stations and thought about and rethought about when to drink and when to pass by.  At mile 18/19 I did feel down hearted as the time was similar to Stamford (2:45 for 30k) and had hoped to be quicker given the flat route. I had a drink, thankfully as the next water at station mile 22 had run out of water. Was offered a jelly baby! Took two. Next aid station was at 24.5 but as we’d entered the built up area and the wind wasn’t quite as strong I passed this by as I thought that I might not get going again should I stop. I was exhausted by a twelve mile long beating by the wind.

It was a huge relief to know the finish line was approaching.  Which incidentally is not at the same place as the start but in the grounds of Boston College with the many runners congregated there swapping stories. The atmosphere was nice and a good sense of achievement was felt…. and after all that I was well within the London GFA time finishing as third F60 into the bargain.