My email contact with the Langley Tap started in jest (as is appropriate for anything coming from my hashing email address or indeed related to this blog). I really assumed they would just open doors to the public on the occasion of the Chippenham Half Marathon despite their posted hours of “from noon” on Sundays, but Peter was not going to be seen as an ungracious host.
So it was a pleasure to spot the pub sign near the 11 mile mark in the race and an even bigger pleasure to spot my lone pint sitting on a table marked “Reserved for drSR” and with a couple of spectators gaurding it. “We’ve had some imposters trying to take this,” the one guy told me. While enjoying it, Peter came out to say hi and refused my offer to pay (a true gentleman, and the second publican this day to buy me a pint).
“You’re making the others jealous,” they pointed out.
“That’s my strategy: mind games. Then I’ll crush them in this final couple of miles.” I thanked my fans and headed back into the stream of other runners. At least I know how to get back to the Tap for another, longer visit.
Pingback: The Chippenham Half Marathon 2011-09-11 « The endless British pub crawl
Pingback: Reflections on 1000 pubs or, now 1002 « The endless British pub crawl