The 24th Beaverbrooks
Sunday, 7th May 2006
Martin’s Race Ratings:
Overall Score: 8.83
Do it Again: Yes
Scenery: 5
PB potential: 10
(if accurate)
Atmosphere: 10
Organisation: 8
(the turn around drink station wasn’t manned)
Value: 10
Beginner Friendly: 10
I ran down to the start from home along the
prom with Pete Cruse. It’s maybe 3 miles and gave us a good warm up, but I
felt lousy. (Poorly tummy!)
Managed to grab a bottle of water to try to
rehydrate and chatted at the start with Finlay.
He managed to get tickets for Eric
Clapton for £6!!! But it was for this Tuesday,
(the same night as the Club trip to
the Rat Pack at The Grand). Had a warm up with Gary
de Banke, Karl Lee and Dave Waywell
and a photographer took our photo, (hopefully the Gazette!!)?
The race seemed to be delayed slightly and
I was a little in front of the start line. I set off just behind Dave Waywell and I could see George Kennedy in front and Gemma Unsworth and Caroline Betmead. I was getting loads of shouts of encouragement.
That’s what I love about the Beaverbrooks Run. There’s maybe 3,000 in it
and loads of spectators. I saw people I used to work with in the bank. Half the time you can’t see who’s
shouting your name. I think I heard Terry
Lonnergan shouting my name stood on the bridge by the Palace. I
felt I had to run faster because of all the encouragement I was getting, but
there wasn’t a great deal in the tank!
Andy Yelland pulled along side me at the
halfway point, but I couldn’t stay with him. (We ran exactly the same 10k times last week at different
races). The Wesham ‘fast boys’ were
going well – Steve Littler (3rd),
Les Cornwall, Barry Norman, 
Steve Myerscough, (2nd last Wednesday),
Lee Barlow and Ian Garrod were all well up there, (top 20?). Andy Delaney (NF) and Peter Broome (B&F) went past me. Blackpool Vet runner, Carolyn Robins, went past me and said
the second half would be worse. I wish she hadn’t said that! I was getting even
more encouragement now as Wesham runners,
going down the other side, were giving me a cheer. I was doing my best to give them a
shout. I saw 
Neil Morris in a full Fireman kit, pushing a pram, and I heard Peter Waywell behind me give him a shout. Peter wants my scalp and I gave it him on a platter!! At Central Pier a spectator said I was 99th and I thought he
couldn’t be far out and a top 100 finish would be OK. Then three runners came
past! I left it till 9k, (35 mins),
and tried to restore some pride – Peter
was too far in front to catch and he was giving the crowds a clenched fist, (he
should have run faster!).
I did 39:39
and, as soon as I was over the line, I started giving Wesham 10k forms out! One or two ended up on the floor though. Saw ex- Wesham runner Terry Pett, (last did this 10k over 10 years ago?). Terry and I played football together
for the Bank. Pete Waywell was gracious in victory! He acknowledged I’d run a
marathon on Monday, (though I didn’t
feel it hampered me!) I spoke to Kath
Hoyer. She wanted to know if I would pick up her trophy at the Interclub presentation. Has anyone seen
it? I didn’t go, (I had Levon). Steve Littler finished 3rd in about 32:40 and then shot off to Old Trafford.
Pete and I started jogging home and Julie
joined us. We ended up jogging to Alison
Titterington’s and picking Pete’s car
up. Alison’s husband was giving Peter a load of stick about the North Fylde/
When I got home, Peter Gleaves had rung to see how I’d got on. Michaela said he was pleased with his run even though the course
was a tad short!
Written by Martin Bates
Submitted, 7th May 2006
Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw
WRRWebsite/Magazine Editor