Promenade 4 Mile Night Race 3 Blackpool Wednesday, 5^th July 2006

MARTIN’S RACE RATINGS:

Location: Hole-in-The-Wall Café, Lower Walk, Gynn Square. The race sets off from here south to the Metropole, then sharp left back down the Middle Prom to Red Bank Road, down the hill and sharp left back to Gynn Square.

Prizes: Should have been first three Men/Women-MV40/50/60 – LV35/45/55, but perhaps shouldn’t expect prizes for such a small turn out? Maybe Reg would disagree!!??

Facilities include: Toilet

How to Enter: On night only

Do it again: Yes, if Ron lets me after reading this!

Scenery: Errrrr…

PB potential: It is a fast course, but only beating your time from your previous Promenade 4

Atmosphere: 1 – Low key event, (only 20 or so runners), though Jenny from my work was there shouting Hi!

Organisation: 3. No safety pins!! If 50 had turned up, it would have been chaos at the finish, (we had to carry our numbers).

Value: 10 - £4 to enter

Beginner Friendly: 4. I suspect backmarkers may have got demoralised with no one in sight to follow?

We had planned to run from Cleveleys. In the end Peter Cruse talked George into driving. Race Organiser, Ron McAndrew was worried about some drunken yobs swimming at Bispham because they’d been throwing missiles and he’d already phoned the police. He’d waited 20 minutes for the police and then had to carry on to the Start.

Quite a miserable turn out, (maybe due to the 2005 Marathon debacle), but at least Ron’s putting races on and you can’t grumble at £4. Peter Cruse has improved doing short, sharp races like this. This was my Promenade 4M debut.

The Wesham contingent, (well at least Steve Myerscough and I!), were waiting to see if Paul Muller turned up with a bone to pick! 7:25 – no sign. The win was in the bag?

Ron fired a gun to start us off! After less than half a mile, George was legged up by a Lostock lady quite close to me. I thanked God it wasn’t me, (work wouldn’t be happy if I broke my arm again!). Brenda might be??? (Don’t mean that Brenda!). George didn’t look happy, (obviously), but I don’t think he said anything, though his knee was bleeding.

George overtook me again and ended up finishing 4^th. I was a slow starter, but ended up overtaking two or three then running on my own for a while - until I saw the first lady with about a mile to go. I managed to get her, but the next runner was to far in front. I finished in 26:11. I was probably 7^th? Peter and George said I’d let the side down!

1^st Steve Myerscough 23:06?

2^nd Lee Barlow 23:40?

3^rd Peter Cruse 23:44

4^th George Kennedy 25:23

Reg Chapman 28:28 – disappointed not to get under 28. Perhaps he shouldn’t have done Pilates at Ribby at lunchtime!?

Before the rest of the race had finished, Ron presented the 1^st Man and Lady with a sports bag. We had a quick natter and then shot off.

FULL RESULTS

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 6^th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor