We are the Friday Gang| by TheFridayGang

Sue write: What a relief! I have had manflu for a week ie the heaviest cold I have had in many years. I only managed eight miles last Sunday and after Monday have not been able to run at all with two days in bed.

In runners' terms I have been in the depths of despair thinking my marathon was over. But knowing how special today's run was i was determined to give it a go. Will's lovely wife Jan was on standby to pick me up if the going got too tough so dosed with ibruprofen and armed with olbas oil, tissues and lucozade I left will's homein Llangollen before others to give me a psychological start.

They caught up two miles later just as we reached Britain's newest World Heritage Site, the 11 mile length of the Llangollen Canal from the Horseshoe Falls to Chirk Bank - the heart of our 18-19 mile run. Mandy and Mel soon disappeared up ahead setting a cracking pace and i was delighted that my breathing seemed not too bad considered my cold. We run with the canal to the left and the raging River Dee to the right, the first of many spectucular sights on our route. (photos to follow)

Our first water /gel stop was in the beautiful town of Llangollen and stupidly because i didnt want to hold Will and Jayne up and missed the chance for a loo stop. Bad bad move.

The forgiving towpath took us through gentle countryside and we reached for our camera phones to snap picture postcard views including lambs drinking in the canal and my thrill at being able to run again was marred by the need for the toilet. Just as I was flagging we were at the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, build by Thomas Telford in 1805 to carry the canal over the Dee Valley. It is 1,007 ft long, just 11 ft wide and carries narrowboats and pedestrians 126 feet over the river Dee below. After photos we ran across the wind blowing us scarily towards the railings to theleft! I felt for hubbie mel who is really not happy on the aquaduct! On the other side was our next water/gel stop - but no loos and i was really struggling now.

The need for the toilet spoiled the next few miles and I was so glad to see the next amazing structure of the canal - the Chirk 'darkie' tunnrel, almost 500 metres long and pitch back in the middle. we had to walk, holding the bum bag in front to stop getting unbalanced! Then there came the Chirk Aquaduct, Telford's practice for Pontcysyllte and just as fabulous. We were at the 12 mile mark and I knew A: I was flagging and B: there was a nearby pub where I can ask to use the loo!

So I bade au revoir to Will and Jayne who had kept me going for so long and resigned myself to just running two more miles to the car. But a loo stop at the fantastic Bridge Pub at the entrance to Chirk was just what I needed. Thanks Martin for use of your loo - a sweaty bird making her way through Mothers Day diners and spending a horribly long timein the loo is horrible - and I am so grateful for your facilities!

So literally 'relieved' I got back onto the towpath and set off in pursuit of the others. I had to summon up every ounce of determination (and remember my last gel) to keep the mileage going and so instead of just two miles are vowed to get to 16. It was the first time I had had to use a running mantra (I am running fast and strong) to keep me going and just as i was about to turn and head for the car I saw the others running back to meet me with Ellesmere runner John alongside! On a narrowboad weekend hehad jumped of his boat to join Will and Jayne for a coupleof miles and it was great to see him!

I was just over a mile behind the others but that was good enough for me. Jayne was flagging and we talked her back to the end and even running round and round the garden centre were we had parked to get their mileage to 19! mine was 17 and a half and I cant tell you the huge relief that I was back on track!

We headed back to wills by car for a welcome shower and jan's delicious brunch. It was a tough tough run for all of us but one that I really needed to get under my belt! Mel and Mandy did a fast average 9.1 ours was much slower but --- did we have some laughs! special thanks to my sister for doing mothers day lunch for mum and thanks to mum and son joe for understanding!