Category: Race Rundowns

 

This was my third Parkrunathon, having done one each in 2016 and 2017. They don’t get any easier. Previously they have been in support of Acorn Children’s Hospices and organised by George Nicholson. George is well known around the Durham sporting scene as a runner and former rugby player and rower. A really great guy, he is also one of the ever-presents in the Great North Run. I sat one place behind him on this year’s bus.

This year, Elvet’s Catherine Smith took on the organising role and we decided to support local mental health and suicide prevention charity If U Care Share. Catherine will be familiar to many Sedgefield runners. She lives in Coxhoe and regularly runs or volunteers at Sedgefield parkrun. She did a great job.

With mainly Elvet runners, the numbers grew in recent weeks and a coachload became an additional minibus became a fleet of cars. Via social media a group travelled up from Wakefield and at its fullest we had about 100 runners. Catherine gave me a few ‘picks’ and along came Ray as well as a Darlington (Quakers) friend Alistair plus a late call-up for Durham Harriers’ Diane Wood. Alistair bust his calf a few weeks ago so decided to do his bit by cycling the whole route instead. Diane photo-bombed our Sedgefield group at Wynyard last week; that’ll teach you!

 

Sedgefield junior parkrun

PK: 11.37              Ray: 11.16

A nice gentle jog around Hardwick lake started us off at 8.15. A marathon is 42km, so it needs this little extra to make the full distance. Steve Foreman (parkrun gaffer) was setting up around us, looking quite chilled as we all posed for initial photos.

 

#1 Sedgefield parkrun

PK: 26.49              Ray: 26.43

What a spectacle. Runners streamed all around the lake like never seen before. 485 in total, a record by 101 I believe. Ray and I jogged around together, Steve still looking quite chilled at the end too.

A nice touch for me was that both my kids, Oliver and Grace, were on barcode scanning and managing quite well.

We posed for a few more photos afterwards and then got away on the bus. Nice to have the officially timed one of the day on home turf and I even managed a take-out coffee for us both before we left.

 

#2 Hartlepool parkrun

PK: 28.33              Ray: 25.40

The weather was still very nice at this point. I’ve never done Hartlepool before but know the seafront route well enough as it covers much of the same stretch as the Marina 5 Mile. I nipped into the public loos on the front, hence a slower time. Wee stops were to become a recurring theme…

 

#3 Cotsford Fields parkrun

PK: 27.23              Ray:23.31

We didn’t have time to get a coffee from the accompanying van before we left Hartlepool, so Ray’s plan was to run this one quicker to be at the front of the queue at the end. It worked. I ran much of this one with Paul ‘Lord Smyth’ Smith. Many will know him for his running a mile a day (at least), for a decade or more and his eccentric outfits. I think he changed into red budgie-smuggler santa shorts for this one.

Cotsford Fields is on National Trust coastal land near Horden and passes the metal sea bird sculpture on each of its two laps; beautiful on a day like we had, perhaps less so in the depths of winter. Coffee was enjoyed post run, as was some chocolate cake and away we went.

 

#4 Sunderland parkrun

PK: 26.45              Ray: 26.39

Alistair, by now known to everyone as ‘Bike Man’ got a bit lost on his way to this one. ‘We’re at the bottom of the ski slope’ I text. ‘B********’ he replied, ‘wrong place’, but still got there on time to see us off.

I’ve run this course on both previous Parkrunathons; it starts and finishes at the top near the ski slope and takes in two laps of the lake at Silksworth. Rain had appeared from nowhere and Ray and I had a wet run together. We had a nice chat with the Rodillian Runners of Wakefield. I needed the loo too!

 

#5 South Shields parkrun

PK: 31.05              Ray: 24.09

Ray and I also did this parkrun back in February as part of a recce morning for the Marathon Club’s Leazes event. It starts by the Sandancer pub and runs south along the coast path, almost as far as Marsden before turning back and following the road (Great North Run finish) for about a mile. Colin Robson is their run director, and just as in 2016, he joined us for the day. Before today Colin had only ever run Sedgefield parkrun once and that was GNR day in 2016 when their course was taken over. As a result of a chat that day I got a last minute place in the GNR; I digress but it shows the kinds of quirky occurrences that come as a result of running together.

I also had to digress on the route at #5. I needed another wee badly from the start and so went down on the rocks. By the time I emerged I was well adrift of all the runners.

I gradually caught up a few by the end. South Shields was also the first time I began to feel really quite stiff at the start. The Sunderland run had been quite pacey (well, for me) and the hill at the end had taken something out of my legs. By the end of #5 I knew I was certainly feeling it.

 

#6 Windy Nook parkrun

PK: 29.00              Ray: 25.34

This is a semi-urban nature reserve in Gateshead, in the shadow of the Wrekenton cross country course. Experience told me that #6 is always the toughest, made especially so by this very hilly three lap route. The rain had stopped though and there was a full team of Windy Nook volunteers to guide us. This happened a number times throughout the day and was really welcoming and welcomed.

Keeping well hydrated I needed another wee before the start. By now Ray was inventing his own timing rules; either each one faster than the previous or under 27 minutes. Off you go mate. The route was hilly and twisty and 29 minutes doesn’t tell of how much effort I put in on this one. There was a series of steps on each lap and that was punishing.

Another member of our running group was Oliver’s A Level history and politics teacher, Mr Brown. I couldn’t quite manage to call him Alex. He’s a super fella and Oliver idolises him but ‘Mr B’ was as informal as I could muster. He tailed me all the way around this course and believing that he was going to pass me at any moment, I even managed to run the steps on lap 3. I finished ahead, job done Mr K.

Another wee stop in the nearby community centre, where they also provided us with very nice refreshments, and we were off. Just two to go.

 

#7 Riverside parkrun, Chester le Street

PK: 29.05              Ray: 23.28

This is normally a fast, flat course, but serious stiffness and another public toilet stop put paid to any kind of performance from me. Meanwhile Ray the machine was smashing it up somewhere near the front. I never got near enough to the front runners, but I think there was some competitiveness up there. Support from volunteers was lovely, including a nice shout out from our Aileen Henderson.

 

#8 Durham parkrun

PK: 26.00              Ray: 22.49

The home parkrun for many of our number, there was a great turnout as well as speeches before and after. Bike Man Alistair received warm applause before we started. His day had been a different challenge. Unlike for us on a sweaty coach and running together, his time was quite solitary; a great effort.

The Durham folks had also set it up as a ‘proper’ event with bar code scanning and everything. Just as well then that Ray and I got a sneaky wee in the cricket pavilion as we walked to the start.

Because of where I was standing for the briefing I was near the front for once when we started. I felt myself spring off with not too much stiffness and so I decided to run hard for the last one. Okay, so Ray and the quick guys soon came past but I was pleased to finish with a proper run. It felt quicker than 26 minutes but that’s what fatigue does to you I guess. The ‘new’ course at Durham which finishes along the river and back to the bandstand is lovely, but try as I might I couldn’t quite catch Paul Smith in his leopard skin shorts. The man is crackers, he drank a bottle of Peroni after each leg, but he can run.

We had a few more photos (Maggie Davison is a great photographer, and trailed us all day) and I led a few words to thank Catherine and Co. Diane even admitted after, that despite her protestations, she had really enjoyed it. I knew she would.

Parkrunathon is a great communal event and it was good to support a worthy cause. It is tiring and you do have to pace yourself a bit, but for me a normal marathon is tougher. We all hugged, shook hands and promised to do it all again soon. I hope we do.

The last hug and word went to Kerry Anne, one of Catherine’s lieutenants and run director for Cotsford Fields.

“Pete I think you should get your prostate checked out mate. I’ve never known someone have so many wees.”

 

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/iucsparkrunathonposse2019

When I signed up for this I thought it would be a nice way to spend a sunny spring evening running round the grounds of Wynyard Hall. Being a few days after my Edinburgh 10K race I had every intention of taking it easy…

Rosie kindly offered to drive so we set off and got there with plenty of time to spare. We joined the short queue to pick up our barcode and goody bag (running socks, packet of crisps, mars bar and water) When I told the marshall my name I got the reply ‘Uphill, there are a few of those, haha!’ .Never heard that before!!

We decided the best way to ‘warm up’ was to sit in the car staying dry but as 7pm neared we headed out to the start and had a quick catch up with most of the other Harriers racing.

Rosie also had the same idea of taking it easy, her aim to run steady and have a chat all the way round. I was thinking that Rosie’s easy pace varied quite a bit from mine, but that we’d see how it went!

After a quick run through of the route from the race director: Starting out from the field at the end of the grand marquee car park heading through a gate and then out and round farm land before heading down into the woods. We’d then head back up uphill to start a second lap, the only difference on the second lap would be that we would go right out of the woods and along towards the lake and Wynyard hall.  After an out and back we would snake up the hill and then a short loop around the woodland walk and we would finish back on the grass next to where we started.

After that we were off, and it was good to start to warm up on a chilly evening. There was conversation to begin with including discussing what races are good for a fast, flat 10K  (any recommendations?) but after the inevitable going off too quick (for me, not Rosie) happened, my side of the conversation dried up somewhat.  Luckily for Rosie about a quarter of the way into the first lap, Pete caught us up and after telling us he was taking it steady ahead of the parkrunathon he would be doing on Saturday he seemed happy to stick with us and provide better conversation than I could offer!

What goes down must invariably go up, and so it was towards the end of the first lap that we hit the hill. Repeating ‘I love this hill’ in my head and thinking of Tuesday night training sessions I managed a steady pace, and how kind of a photographer to be positioned at the top – think I managed a smile!  A quick drink of water at the start of the second lap and then we were off and round again, the route itself was a good mix of terrain and was a nice chance to see the woodland and surrounding areas around Wynyard Hall.

By the time we had got to the section by the lake the conversation had turned to bad jokes (why don’t elephants like penguins…because they can’t undo the wrapper) and what we thought of compression running socks; it really was high brow stuff!  Once we made our way up the hill the end was near. After a time check from Pete saying we would be close to 51 minutes it was time to dig in and hold on for a final push across to the finish.  More effort than I was intending on putting in and it wasn’t the take it steady run I had planned but hey, you’ve got to push yourself a little, right? I think the course may have been a bit under 10K so not sure I can claim it as a PB but I was very happy with a time of 50:18, I have that sub-50 min 10K in my sights!

Thanks to Rosie and Pete for pulling me round, I know I didn’t add much to the conversation but your company certainly helped!

Results: http://trailraces.co.uk/results.php?event=25

By Fay Uphill.

Great photos provided by Nat Snell (Flickr)

 

Janet and Julia return to Scotland to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon

On a showery Sunday, 26^th May, we finished the Edinburgh Half Marathon drookit, but with top ten in our age categories results, so well chuffed.  The new route offered a slower start as it was narrow and busy, but fine views of this beautiful city where we have run every emf half marathon since it began in 2010.  Now, it truly is the Edinburgh Half Marathon, passing Greyfriars’ Bobby, the castle, Scott Monument, Princes Street Gardens, running down the Royal Mile, by Holyrood Palace, through the Queen’s Park, and along the promenade to Musselburgh and Prestonpans.

It is a very well organised event, which is well supported by encouraging spectators keen to boost runners with jelly babies and inspirational quotes……..’that’s not sweat, it’s sparkle’ made us smile.

by Janet McRae and Julia Atkinson-Tait

 

I was asked to enter this event by a friend of mine as he had completed it last year, so me being me I thought ‘why not?’ as it was on the doorstep and not too badly priced to enter. Mind you the doubts had been creeping in after a conversation with Mr King during parkrun relating to what lies towards the end of the event…

So the day arrives and firstly I think to myself ‘where has the sun gone?’ as all I see is rain. To this then ‘what will be the best running gear to wear?’, I decide to pack a quick bag with plenty of choice and head off. On arrival to the event I firstly see Ian and Jayne both of whom have completed it before, and start to enquire about the dreaded hill. I then collect my number and get ready for the event. As the race draws closer we assemble at what was the train station, where I see Ray and Sam; luckily both have completed the race before too and Ray is able to give us a good guide as to where the run takes us, which is always a bonus.

Race time we all line up as I jump off the platform. I move further to the back as there is no way I want to be near the front. The race briefing starts then the count down begins, the hooter sounds then away we go, all 100 runners. I start off running with Chris and taking it steady, I see Sam up ahead but all I keep thinking is keep some energy back for the hill, the humidity starts to increase, making it harder to breathe, but I carry on.By about 1 mile the first water station I take the opportunity to grab one, and try to take a drink, from which I end up wearing it as it goes up my nose down and down my top!

I continue on and by about 2.5k I lose Chris, so I now look ahead and try to see who I might be able to catch. As the course reaches just over half way you veer off into the fields, me being super tall and all I lose sight of anyone as the rape seed plants are taller than me! I hear foot steps behind, so I know I’m going the right way, the guy behind eventually catches me and as passing says its getting warmer to which I agree. Then a little hill appears and I start thinking to myself this must be it, but it isn’t. Then my watch beeps to say I’m getting closer to the finish and in my head all I’m thinking is only a parkrun left to go. I see another marshal up ahead he says ‘keep it going, now long now’ and ‘only a few steps up ahead’.

‘This must be it’ I think to myself. I continue to power on up the little incline, then down the little slope, to be greeted by another marshal and I then look to the right and there it is, Mount Everest or so it seems! I shout to the marshal ‘what’s this?’ and she just giggles and says sorry. The next decision is the hill or stairs, I opt for the hill and start to run, I catch the guy in front and he spurs me on,.I continue to try and run up the hill/ mountain, it then turns to the right and proceeds to climb. It’s at this point the hill wins, I’m wondering where my safety rope is hidden as I start to slip slightly.

Once at the top it takes me a couple of seconds to catch my breath, then the final approaches. Luckily this is a slight downhill, which is always good, as the finish line approaches I power on and complete the 6.5 miles in a time of 58mins 27, which I was pleased with.

By Mark Chapman.

https://racebest.com/results/zft44?fbclid=IwAR26cK2-KqYVebH_IUH4XYHnWJcMI7Ejt-taV1PhVPatkbXPOVCh_28kBeg

 

The day had come. After some build up events including Harrier runs in Manchester and London, the big one was here, the 35^th running of the Melmerby 10k Road Race.

This had added excitement as it was Dave Walker’s second attempt of the year to achieve the golden prize of a sub 40 minute 10k, having so cruelly just missed out earlier in the year at the other prestigious event, the Dishforth Dash, with a time of 40:12.

For my part, I was just happy to be there with the chance to witness history being made having resigned myself sometime before to the stark realisation ‘You’ll never beat Dave Walker’.

The journey down in the team bus was pensive as we both tried to make small talk to take our minds off the enormity of the occasion ahead.

After a short and minor panic that we may have missed our turn off, we were there and being directed into a field car park, which was a short walk from the village hall where our numbers, race chips and destiny awaited.

As we collected our numbers I thought of other Harriers legends, such as Wood (M), Raine (B) and found myself asking the question, what would Glaister (T) do now? We both went for a pre-race wee.

After a short warm up where we pretended (or at least I did) to know what I was doing, we were at the start line. A quick manly handshake for good luck and we were off.

Without a race plan, I quickly decided that I’d run with Dave and try to maintain his 4 minute kms for as long as I could.

As per most of my races the question in my head soon changed from ‘I wonder how long I can keep this pace up?’ to ‘I wonder if I’m going to finish?’ all too quickly and after just 3km the thought of maintaining 4 min km for me was gone and from there on Dave gradually disappeared into the distance.

The course was not as flat as we’d both hoped. Not hilly but undulating, and that, coupled with the wind and the heat made it a tougher run than I’d anticipated.

That said, the villages we ran through, Melmerby, Wath and Sutton Howgrave, were very pretty, with some enthusiastic supporters which kept me going as my pace slowed.

The finish was a welcome sight, as I finished with a distinct lack of flourish and Dave wandered across.

So…. Had he done it?

Unfortunately not.

Another great effort and a close thing but 23 seconds too slow:

 

Next time Dave…..

Snazzy medal though:

‘M’ for Melmerby?

Or perhaps male menopause?

Barbara thought it was a ‘W’ and said I was a complete ‘Winner’, at least I think that’s what she said.

By John Haycock and Dave Walker

 

Ravenscar Half Marathon….. 19th May 2019

I’ve thought about this event a few times before but never got around to running it….. So 2019 was going to be the year, which unfortunately clashed with a club race… The plan was that myself and “BILLY” were off to do this… But I kept pursuing fellow Harriers to join me… Eventually I managed to in the name of Steve Forman.

So the morning came and all the travelling plans were in place… The morning weather reports said cloudy and showery…. so put the appropriate clothing on……. which turned out to be the total opposite, a very warm one indeed. Ravenscar would take around 1 hour 25 minutes to get there so set off in good time. It’s been a while since I’ve travelled over the moor roads, which I used to every morning for a while when working over at the early warning system….. at Fylingdales. We had the postcode set into the Satnav and one called ‘just follow’ which took us though a place Sandsend (which would be a nice seaside stop in the future ?????).

Once back on track and realising we had just driven around in a nice little circle, driving over to Ravenscar the roads can be like a rollercoaster which could be a little hairy if not paying attention….. We arrived thinking we would be early…. But no, got there perfect timing, just ahead of all the others turning up so parking the car was great, no problems. We collected our numbers and Steve bought us a nice coffee. The headquarters and registration were in the village hall and side gardens. The event was run by the Scarborough Mountain Rescue from this area. Steve and I treated ourselves to a new buff from them which I thought ‘in this heat ???’

All sorted ready for the start, lots of eager runners gathered. There were going to be two events A half marathon, and a 10k which started 30 minutes after us…. so after short briefing we were off… The plan was to take it easy for the first half, no pressure just enjoy this new event. We ran down the coastal paths and across, picking up an old railway line. It was about 9 miles running down this way, through lovely woodlands which did make a nice difference to the temperature… Once at the turning point we found out the first half was a lot easier and than second !!!! A fellow runner did warn us what was coming up. Heading back, the views were great. Trail running is beautiful at times!!!!!

Then the real fun started, HILLS and STEPS or you could call them LADDERS!!!!! Keeping sensible about things and watching our footing we pushed on up the coastal paths taking turns pacing each other.

With about 3 miles to go Steve started to pick up the pace and we passed a few more runners. The heat was starting to catch up with me and my back started to ache again in the place I’ve been having problems …. But I’m not to go there… old age must be catching up ??? I said to Steve ‘keeping going and I’ll see you at the end’.

We didn’t have long to go to the finish, just a couple of little sharp inclines and a little push to the line…. phew finished….. time for a big drink of water…. That buff… I was glad of it… was like a towel around my waist. Grabbing a medal and drinks and a little chat to others we thought about heading back….. Was it going to be fish and chips from Whitby? WELL….. no, back to Guisborough to the trusty place #COSTA ….Parked up, small walk, been a while since here too !!! ( need to get out more ???? well not quite…) While walking to grab a coffee a young lad on his phone asked his mate about getting hold of his…… steroids… nice!! Put it down to culture (or “lack of ”) … and modern life.

So to finish. The trip out, a nice coffee and a muffin….. a rainbow muffin? … sorry no parmo…. Would I go back and run it again? Yes (maybe a great one for the Grand Prix next year????) Great event, great course and challenging in places. It may be different in the rain and wet but that’s the same for all events…. But The views – I can see why people love running – the moors, trails and coast.

Notes …. value for money …. Yes, travelling and parking all good. Event organisation… all ran smoothly. The heat did catch a few out, but all was in hand with the great staff and volunteers.

Just remember people: in warm weather keep hydrated (and that’s a note to myself!!!)

So here’s to the next adventure…… Ray out !!!!!

Results: http://www.srmrt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/RC-Half-Marathon-Results-2019.pdf

 

By Ray Carmichael.

The Pier to Pier (South Shields to Roker, around 7 miles depending how many short cuts you can take) was one of the first races I did and remains a firm favourite. OK, it’s a bit up-and down, there are a lot of people doing it so at times there are bottlenecks and you have to slow down or walk a bit (not a problem for me but maybe would annoy some…) and as it’s a point-to-point you have to work out parking and buses etc, but these are small matters compared to the many outstanding features, as follows: –

1. You can’t get lost. Find your way to South Shields beach, turn right and run, keeping the sea on your left, until you see lots of people milling about waiting for you to finish so they can go home.

2. It starts and finishes on a beach. This may not be to everyone’s taste but I love to run along a beach; at least it’s mostly flat.

3. The goody bag for this race is right up there with the very best. As an added bonus, this year it included beer. Well, it did for about 5 minutes.

4. It is always a very sociable event, as there are always a lot of friendly Harriers (is there any other kind?) around. To meet up at the start and compare anticipated times (somewhere between 1 and 1 and a half hours was the accurate prediction from the conversation I was in) and share reviews of the toilet facilities is a good start to the day, and then at the end, by the time I finish, there are always loads of the speedy types around doing their best not to look pointedly at their watches but instead providing much-needed support and encouragement.

5. They usually pick a good day. This year was no exception – plenty of sun without being TOO hot and a lighter wind than usual.

6. The refuelling opportunities post-run appear endless – this year, the call of the fish and chips from Latimer’s, washed down by a Minchella’s ice cream proved irresistible again, but I jogged back past a number of very tempting eateries and might even try something else next year.

7. I normally get to see a couple of photos of myself in which a sympathetic eye (mine) might discern a trace of athleticism. Unfortunately, the photographers this year were unable to capture this; their fault, not mine. 😊

8. The organisation and marshalling are superb.

My own personal performance was marred by my unfortunate tendency to go off too quick. This does have the advantage that I can have a chat with a number of my fellow runners as they overtake me and quickly pull away; yes, Paul Frame and Dave Round, I am thinking of you. I did also think of having a chat with Sue Dobson as she was about to pass me, but it was on the beach with only about 200 metres to go so I thought: no, I’m not having this and was able to push her into a convenient rock pool before continuing to stagger towards the finish line. My new watch I bought myself for my birthday said about 1 hour 4 minutes which is around average for me. I understand that many Harriers were able to knock minutes off their previous best and there were some cracking performances so congratulations to everyone who took part in a great morning’s entertainment.

By Mike Wood:

Full Results: https://my4.raceresult.com/108808/results#1_94D641

Even more photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/SLBv4sByU9bee2NE6

 

The first race I ever entered was the Sunderland 10k in May 2017 and I returned the following year to have a go at the Sunderland Half so this year, after feeling very disappointed with my effort at the half, I was looking for a different event. My brother had spoken highly of the Raby 10k so I thought I’d give it a go.

Once a month, as a family we try to make sure we all get together and go somewhere. We call it Rudd’s Rambles. And when Marie saw there was a 5k race on, which she entered, a 1.2k fun run for the kids and free entry for participants and their families to the Raby gardens, Rudd’s Rambles became Rudd’s Runs for May with my brother and sister-in-law also entering the 10k, their kids entering the 3k and the old people coming along for a picnic after.

We arrived in a bit of a hurry, as we do everywhere we go with the 2 small people, fearing we’d be late for the fun run registration for Isaac, but made it in plenty of time. The sun was shining in a cloudless blue sky and it was hot, even at 9:30 in the morning. Isaac’s 1.2k fun run was the 1^st race of the day. There was a warm up for the kids, which he enjoyed, then we moved across to the start. The horn sounded and there was flurry of toddlers zig zagging all over the place, dragging their parents across the start line and around the course. Isaac smiled the whole way around, liked his finisher medal but was more eager to show his mam the jelly sweet he got at the finish line.

The 3k run was next to start followed by the 5k then it was my turn with the 10k. The only advice my brother gave me was to go steady on the 1^st lap of the 2 lap course to save some energy for the hill at the start of the lap.

I lined up with Matthew and the race began. The start funnel was just to the side of the road on bumpy long grass so I was eager to get on the tarmac for fear of turning my ankle on the uneven surface. But I quickly found that I’d started further back than I should have as I was soon clipping the heels of the runners in front. It was a trip back on to the grass to clear those in front. After a few hundred metres we passed a gate then ‘the hill’ came in to clearer view. Some runners were already rounding a bend and disappearing behind the trees as I started the climb. At 4.3% gradient it isn’t massively steep but it drags on for a kilometre so it’s still punishing. I tried to keep my form and pace consistent and peaked the hill feeling relatively fit. The road then dipped down before raising back up again and around some farm buildings before a lovely long, straight and gradual downhill part of the course sandwiched between fragrant rape seed fields and leading to the off road part of the lap, along a track through some woods.

This is where my personal duel with a lady from Darlington Harriers began. I crept past her on the climb through the woods and as the track turned back to tarmac and levelled, with Raby Castle to our right hand side, she crept back past me.

At the start of the second lap and at the bottom of the hill I overtook her again and this time my legs were telling me that I had ran up a hill as I reached the top. On the long straight to the woods the Darlington Harrier lady re-passed me and on the climb back through the woods I re-passed her. This time it was a race to the finish line so I pushed hard and stayed ahead over the line, passing a few more along the way. I also claimed a 10k race PB, 47:38 on a hot and hilly course, which I was extremely pleased with.

It was a well run event by Teesdale AC with a good medal at the finish, cake, a welcome bottle of water after running in the heat and an even more welcome can of McColl’s brewery (brewed in Evenwood) IPA. A day out that the whole family enjoyed.

Link to the results:

https://racebest.com/results/vrt7r

by Sam Rudd

I have taken part in the Sunderland City 10k on a couple of occasions, but this was the first time I have entered the half.

I arrived a little late and did not see many fellow Sedgefield Harriers; only Pete King (hard to miss at 6ft 5in) and Chris Lines who was involved in PR for the event.

My target was 1hr 38 but the heat, lack of long runs to prepare and quite a few beers on Friday night hampered my efforts. I was on target to 10 miles but at the bottom of the Roker Park Hill I knew that I was going to struggle from there on in, which I did finishing in 1hr 42. I had the words of an old rugby coach ringing in my head “Failure to prepare is preparation to fail”. Very apt.

There were some good runs from the Harriers which are summarised below:

41	Ben Smale	Male	HM-MO	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:25:35
67	Declan Munnelly	Male	HM-M40	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:28:22
270	Simon Cavey	Male	HM-M40	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:42:56
386	Peter King	Male	HM-M50	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:46:31
596	Ian Spencer	Male	HM-M50	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:54:24
1028	Sarah Horner	Female	HM-FO	Sedgefeld Harriers	02:18:19

There were three in the 10K also (not seen Gary Auston for a while good to see him back running):

148	Gary Auston	Male	10K-M40	Sedgefeld Harriers	00:46:21
995	Anne Gladwin	Female	10K-F40	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:02:07
1266	Jayne Freeman	Female	10K-F40	Sedgefeld Harriers	01:06:24

Results are copied from the website, note the spelling error which is not mine!

Views on the event:

Parking and Accessibility               Good (I found a free car park but not sure if all car parks are free on a Sunday)

Organisation                                      Very good

Baggage Store                                   Good to have a store very close to start and finish

Course                                                  Urban (buildings provided some useful shelter from the sun), lots of turns and hillier than I thought it would be

Weather                                              Hot – don’t have an official temp for the day but felt like 20 degrees plus

Cost                                                       High at over £30 but I felt it was fair bearing in mind the cost to host is likely to be high (road closures etc).

Goody Bag                                          Mixed; included a protein bar which despite my hunger was inedible and a fruit drink in a can (even though the contents were flat) which was not to my liking either.

This is my first race rundown which is passed on to Pete King for approval. Given his job, I have been panicking about my English. I have thrown in a few commas and semicolons but I have no idea if they are in the correct place! English was not my best subject at school.

By Simon Cavey

 

Editor’s notes: other than to correct a height error (6’5” not 6’8”) no other amendments were required 🙂; additional to the club spelling mistake in the results, the runner in position 386 also won’t actually be in the M50 category until next time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer finally decided to make an appearance just in time for this beautiful run. Into its second year, this event had sold out many weeks ago. The run is advertised as 10miles (elastic tape measure!), 1080 feet ascent (didn’t we know it!), 1079 feet descent (glad of it after the ascent) and 600 runners .

A motley crew of Harriers had decided to take on the challenge. The start line in a corner of Maiden Castle’s many playing fields was buzzing on the morning, collection of numbers and memento t-shirt all well organised, just as long as you had your ID with you. The Redbull car made an appearance with a very large sound system and Scott trainers had also rocked up with some shiny new shoes which they were showcasing at this run.

Some of us had planned a social run (some more social than others), although once the gun sounded a number of Harriers went off like a rocket, keen to get past the bottle necks of the noisy bridge and the limbo under the bridge at the Rose Tree pub. The course is a beautiful run along the river and through the woods, which are chocablock with bluebells at this time of year, stunning scenery when I was able to lift my eyes from the path! I know that we ran to Croxdale Hall and Sunderland Bridge but otherwise I really am not sure where we went!!! Across fields, down paths, up paths, following the Trail Outlaw yellow flags and being pointed in the right direction by some lovely marshals.

Once we came back towards Maiden Castle and back over the noisy bridge the finish line was in sight! But as with all Trail Outlaws runs, there was a sting in the tail; we were guided to take a right turn to continue along the river, round the uni rugby pitches and then up Whinney Hill, but thankfully what goes up must come back down again and this time we were heading towards the finish line.

After crossing the finish line a spectacular medal was placed around our necks and we were pointed in the direction of our mug memento and big water bottles, big boxes of jelly babies, cola bottles, liquorice allsorts and chocolate raisins. A mug of water and several handfuls of sweets were just what the doctor ordered after the run!

All the Harriers finished with big smiles on our faces (nothing to do with the sweets we were consuming!) and a little bit of sunburn. Some fantastic times on a very challenging course. If you haven’t got yourselves down to a Trail Outlaws urban trail series event, you don’t know what you have been missing!!

By Emma Featherstone