Chernobyl 10k

Sunday, 28th January 2007

 

Scenery:                      Good course, though the consensus was that it was slightly long.

PB potential:               Not so good, if it was a tad long! Also a bit breezy today!

Atmosphere:               Good. Welcome Tavern was packed out – too packed. (Only spoiled by PNE and Blackburn Rovers photos on the walls.) Lots of support and encouragement en route.

Organisation:              Another race sold out with runners clambering for numbers. I didn’t envy Dave and Diane Clarke, (trying to keep everyone happy), (a thankless task!) – I believe the Start was delayed till 11:11 as any on-line entries not collected were sold on, but runners outside, (in the cold), weren’t informed. One of the top, (Kendal), runners seemed to acquire a number after the race should have started. Runners are going to either have to get there an hour+ before the start or pre-enter or stop whinging when they don’t get in!?

Apparently the first four to five were that quick, the marshal wasn’t in place and they went the wrong way.

Very friendly locals:    One year a lady, whose house adjoined the pub, said I could park on her drive! I’ve done the race that often; my 9 year old son knows the way!

Value:                          £8 to pre-enter – mug at the finish and it’s for charity!

Beginner Friendly:     Excellent. I was talking to two novices at the Start, (on the front line!). Runners seem reluctant this morning for some reason to stand near the front, so it didn’t wind me up. (They didn’t get in anybodies way). I finished in 38:43, had a game of pool and saw them as I was driving away. I gave them a toot of encouragement – they looked like they were enjoying it!

 

Had a chat with Chris Moss at the Start. He hadn’t realised he was in last night Gazette – society diary, (the launch of a new look gym at Ribby Hall). He seemed more interested in whether the models were featured!

 

The race. My warm up was three games of pool with Levon! We left him on his own for the first time playing on his PSP/Nintendo. A nearby elderly couple, who I didn’t know, said they’d keep their eye on him. I had seen people I could have asked, but didn’t want to impose and he seemed happy enough as he was.

 

I set off with Alan Hudson till we got to the tramway, when he left me. I ran with Joe Swarbrick (RR) for a while, but managed to get away when we crossed back over the river. Graham Vickers and Julie Cruse were jogging round the course and shouting encouragement, as was John Winder (PH) – it does help! You feel obliged to try to put a spurt on! Graham had given his number to Dave Wood (NF), but he didn’t want me to mention this to Richard Davies for some reason!

 

I heard a runner grunting behind me – it was Chairman Dave. He was running well and started picking quite a few runners off. I let him go – (Translation: I couldn’t stay with him!)

 

After four miles I could see Peter Cruse slowing down. As I drew along side, he told me his calf was troubling him and, after struggling on for a while, he eventually pulled out which was a shame as he was doing well. Hopefully, there’s no lasting damage.

 

A mile to go and you climb up a short hill back onto the road and I glanced back to see who was behind. It’s something I tell others not to do in case it gives encouragement to runners behind! I had a good gap fortunately.

 

An old Bank colleague, Dave Barker gave me a shout. Dave’s son was just behind Peter Gleaves. As soon as I finished I headed for the Pub to see Levon. I was still sweating, but had another game of pool almost immediately.

 

We left the Welcome and headed for the Derby Arms of Treales.

1st Man            Rick Hayman                         31:45

1st Lady           Toni McIntosh                        38:29

 

23rd                  Alan Hudson                           37:28

29th                  Dave Waywell                         37:57

43rd                  Martin Bates                          38:44

67th                  Peter Gleaves                         40:49

145th                Michaela Dempsey                 45:28

164th                Stephen Wilkinson                 46:24

165th                Jon McLeod                           46:29

171st                Nigel Shepherd                       46:41

187th                Chris Moss                             47:19

191st                Kath Hoyer                             47:25

195th                     Dave Wood of N.Fylde           47:32

248th                Michael Owen                        49:26

260th                Norman Bateman                    50:01

284th                Nicholas Brandwood               50:58

289th                Tracy Hulme                          51:11

320th                John Howorth                         52:27

341st                Paul Carter                             53:37

363rd                Pauline Weller                        55:10

417th                Scott Monday                          57:55 WRR debut!

418th                Berni Ashworth                      58:08 WRR debut

497 finishers.

 

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 29th January 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor