Great Eccleston Scouts Fast 4 Miler

Sunday, 5^th September 2010

This was the inaugural run for a fund raising event for the scouts organised by Alan Taylor who had had a sleepless night the night before the race but he shouldn’t have it was a lovely short fast course for some, for me not so fast but nice route.

We arrived to be greeted by scouts directing us to a field for parking which looked like it was to become somebody’s front garden when the property was finished but they had cut the grass so we could see the pot holes. Jog or walk to the registration which is a very old and tired scout hut that desperately needs rebuilding. I know how they feel as I am involved with a local scout group and my Dad as Chairman spent 20 years fund raising with others to build their new Scout Centre which was completed earlier this year and what a building it is, his life long dream came true, so lets support Great Eccleston with their dream as it can only be good for the community and young children because scouting certainly offers ‘experiences’.

Now to the race, we set off just by the local church holding up parishioners trying to get to the Sunday service and set off toward Bonds, on a gradual incline so much for being flat...........but nothing to worry about only we didn’t have to stop for an ice cream, marshals directed us up to the corner shop where I normally stop when I am cycling for a drink and sit under the tree opposite but not today. We turned left and headed back down the road to the white house where we were turned again to head back towards the finish. I played cat and mouse with Paul Carter who I quote, ‘my heart is running faster than my legs’ today. That wasn’t surprising after he had run Fleetwood Marathon the week before. I didn’t have that excuse but my legs didn’t want to go either. I am out of the habit of short fast races so instead of breaking myself in gently I end up doing three in less than a week with the Lancaster 5k last Saturday, Red Rose Interclub on Wednesday, this today...............I must be mad!!! Approaching the finish you have to run past the car park where all the good runners are jogging back to armed with a Travis Perkins goodie bag which had quite a selection in as I was to find out a minute later – (a medal, beaker, gloves, chocolate biscuit, sweatshop voucher and various leaflets - not bad for £6.00 entry fee.)

It was a fast 4 miler and well worth supporting in the future and it was nice to see a selection of Wesham runners turn out including Reg Chapman which was his first race in months, so well done to you all. I did take a picture of the three old Wrinklys on my new iPhone but mucked it up so you will just have to imagine Mike Walsh, Reg Chapman and John Whiteman at the end of the race instead!!! (Brenda found these on our Picasa site and added them for me.)

It was nice to families out watching with their children, even mum’s supporting as family Colby does for most races I am sure we should be getting Mum a vest or sweatshirt as where Chis and Angela go, Mum, with or without dog goes too. It is so nice to hear friendly voices cheering you on whilst running keep it up you fans.

After putting a few layers on over my vest it was back to the scout hut for feeding, they were doing a £2.00 meal deal comprising of a bacon butty, two pieces of cake and a drink, very good value if you ask me and as I only ate one piece of cake I can only say whoever made the Victoria Sandwich was a dam good cook it melted in your mouth. Alan did the presentation which was won by our own Steve Littler who wasn’t able to receive the prize as he had gone for another run after running to the race in the first place so his girlfriend gained a bottle of wine, hard luck Steve you should have got there first.

See you all at Great Eccleston next year, well done Alan definitely one for the diary.

Written by: Kerry Eccles

Submitted; 5^th September 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor