Cross Country Season Round up 2021-22

Men’s Harrier League

 

By Justin Cox

A record year for Sedgefield Harrier’s Men’s cross country team with 1^st position in Division 3 and promotion but also a record year of participation with 24 runners registered and 22 of those actively competing at some point.

It all started in the balmy sunshine of Wrekenton on the 25^th September.  It was such a great feeling to finally have normal mass participation running back on and the start was preceded by a one minute applause for all those lost over the Covid pandemic.

The Harrier League runs a handicap system with the majority of runners starting a season in the ‘Slow’ pack. If they finish in the top 10% then promotion is gained to the next pack, usually starting about 90 seconds behind.  With most of Sedgefield in the slow pack and a team of 11 runners we were hopeful of a good finish but not expecting 1^st place in Division 3, and by some margin – a sign of things to come.  James Oldfield came in 6^th overall and Stuart Ord an excellent 21^st, a bit too good as it turned out; Stuart was disqualified for starting in the wrong pack, a legacy of his registration with his previous club.

Next up was picturesque Druridge Bay, the long journey often makes it a weak event for Sedgefield but again an excellent field of 11 runners including some relatively new boys in Pete Summerbell, Matthew Cooke and Mark Chapman.  Another excellent Oldfield performance strongly backed up by Mil Walton and David Walker meant another 1^st place finish.  This was looking good !

Lambton Estate was next at the end of October and a brutal course was laid out with 2 seriously steep climbs negotiated 3 times.  Step forward the 2 mountain goats of Chris Lines and Gary Thwaites who along with David Bentley making the trip and excellent performances from David Walker and Mil Walton, meant another comfortable win.  With 17 runners we almost had a full C team and even the B team finished in the top 10 in the division.  Was Sedgefield becoming the next Morpeth Harriers?

27^th November brought Storm Arwen so what better time to run cross country at Akley Heads.  Incredibly we got 12 runners and with many clubs struggling to get full teams it meant another win and a strong B team result.

Into 2022 and our ‘home’ fixture of Thornley.  It didn’t disappoint, the extreme mud trying it’s best to remove shoes at various points with Razza kindly marshalling at just about the worst point and clearly not missing joining in!

An added steeplechase jump before the woods caught a few out but Sedgefield triumphed again with 12 runners being led home by Mark ‘too fast’ Raine.  We only accumulated 82 points for the first 6 runners making it the best performance of the season.  A quick bit of maths and it seemed that provided 6 runners crossed the line at Alnwick the division was ours.

So to the final fixture, the long trip to Alnwick but a pleasant sunny day brought smiles all round.  Sadly the cracks in the team were evident with half of our 10 runners bringing injuries to the start line.  Despite James’ insistence (some would say threats!) that we don’t break our 100% winning record it wasn’t to be, a 6^th place result but Chris Lines’ obvious pain getting over the line with 3 cracked ribs and the cheers greeting final finisher Ray evidence of the amazing effort and camaraderie we’ve had this year.

A bet was made that if we got promoted everyone would get a Mars Bar and so it proved along with a swig of champagne.

So many thanks to everybody that has run this year, even if just for a single event and of course the fabulous team that run the Harrier League.  If you haven’t already tried cross country come and join us next year – it’s actually ever so slightly better than you might fear!

 

 

by Justin Cox.

Gary Thwaites and I took the trip out to Germany for the BMW Berlin Marathon, one of the Marathon Majors to tick off.  Arriving on Friday we went straight to registration at the wonderfully restored but disused Tempelhof Airport. Those familiar with London will recognise the exhibition that runs alongside but this time supplemented with beer and sausage stalls outside the terminal building on the old aircraft stands.

The real action started early on Saturday morning with the free Breakfast run starting at the Charlottenburg Palace and running to the Olympic stadium.  The pre event atmosphere was amazing, people gathered from every part of the world and many in fancy dress (including a couple of Danes dressed as a part of the male anatomy – photo not included in this report!).  Those hoping for a fast 6km run would be disappointed, a field of BMWs at the front booming out music and marshals linked across the front, keep the pace at a very social level and make for a wonderful pre marathon jog.

As we neared the Olympic stadium and saw the 5 rings suspended between 2 huge towers the atmosphere really built up, everyone cheering and singing through the tunnels before we ran under the stands and into the stadium, absolutely fantastic!!

Everyone does a lap of the track before climbing up the steps to the original part of the stadium complete with roll of honour from the 1936 Olympics.

If that wasn’t good enough the organisers then give everyone a free breakfast of doughnuts, croissants, yoghurt, fruit and drinks!

 

Saturday afternoon was spent visiting various sites including a trip to “Curry by the Wall” which as the name implies sells Currywurst next to the Berlin Wall – not the usual pre marathon nutrition for “Mr Nutrition” – Gary!  An exhibition running alongside a large section of the Wall dedicated to the city of Warsaw and in particular the suffering of the Poles during the war, made for sobering reading and time to reflect on the fortune of living where and when we do.

As Gary was raising money for Get Kids Going we went along to their pre-event reception which included a Q & A with Paralympic athletes David Weir, Shelly Woods and Justin Levene.  All were great company and it was great to get an insight into their athletic lives.

Finally race morning (cool and dry at least for now) and a short walk to the start with an excellent bag drop off similar to London, although the start and finish are at the same point.

The pre event atmosphere really built up and then after the wheelchair and handbike starts we were off.  I started OK but knew quite early on that a hip issue was probably going to bite later on.  Gary ran at a metronomic pace and passed me at about 9 mile.  Gary went on to run consistent 20:30-20:50 5km splits, a second half 5 seconds faster than the first half and a finishing time of 2:54:37.  That was a lesson on marathon running if ever there was one!  This marked off marathon number 97 for him with only Kielder, Yorkshire and then the Town Moor left before the end of the year so please don’t forget his VIRGINMONEYGIVING site !  My leg finally gave up at mile 21 but after walking for a couple of miles I was determined to run the last mile and finished in 3.19.  After losing my little brother to cancer a few weeks before it was an emotional end and I was just so grateful to be able to enjoy experiences such as this.

After indulging in post-race beer and chocolate the trip home on Monday was made more eventful when a fast looking bloke sat next to me at Berlin’s departure lounge.  When I asked him what time he’d ran he said 2:06 and finished in 4^th place.  His name was Jonathan Korir from Kenya, training partner and friend to Eliud Kipchoge – his next run is the Ineos 2 hour challenge in Vienna as a pacer!  Amazing and so humble, he was happy to talk with us about all things running, a real inspiration.

A great end to a marvellous weekend.  Berlin is possibly not quite at London’s level of crowd support and organisation but don’t let that put you off trying to get an entry.  The route takes in a city that has seen such changes and devastation, however the event is packed with a truly international field of runners all coming together to celebrate the joy that is running.