ANOTHER RACE TO DIE FOR (OR DO)
By Dave Waywell, Club Chairman
The race I have chosen this time
is one which both Kath and I, along
with quite a few other members, over the years, have been to because it was a
part of the best series of races in the area. They were all on different
courses and all 10k’s. Sadly this
series has been dropped this year but the “Hawkshead
10K” has mercifully survived.
The downside is that it is still a
Wednesday evening race starting at
7.30pm but I promise the traffic is never very bad, whichever route you choose
to use. The date this year is the 28th
June, a glorious time to run in the lakes. On this course, you certainly
get the chance to see the area as it heads south out of Hawkshead,
goes around Esthwaite Water, up
to Far Sawrey, skirting, but never
climbing Claife Heights, heading
toward Outgate but never quite
reaching it as you turn back into Hawkshead.
You pass the 
main car parks and finish in a dead end lane close to the
primary school were most of us have made use of the school car park, leaving a
donation before heading for home. The course is a little undulating but never
in the severe classification and that is what helps to make it interesting as
well as the sights you are privy to throughout its length.
The cost is only Ł4 with, would you believe it, no extra
for on the day entries but be aware, there is a 300 limit. Although I admit it has
never been reached, you must agree it is a long way to go to be disappointed.
What do you get for your money? Well
a damn good, well organised race with plenty of marshals but no water stations,
however, there is bottled water at the finish line, free results on the night,
courtesy of Dave Clarke, and a free
beefburger from the barbeque at the pub in the market square.
This is a classic race and well
worth the trouble and time travelling and we have nearly always found that
lifts are easy to come by if you let people know you are going or, for that
matter, why not offer someone a lift.
So which race is it to be in the next
issue as autumn approaches? Well I am not going to name one but I think it is
time for one of the longer races, so watch this space!
Written by: Dave Waywell, Club
Chairman
Submitted: 8th May 2006
Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR
Website/Magazine Editor