Harrier League Wrekenton 17.02.07

If you require race results please click here.

This was the first time for me, never run here before, but never mind, even at my age life is still full of firsts, although the firsts will never be race positions.

It was a lovely day for racing, not much wind, dry, and sunny, but it was still a poor turnout by the club for a local race. For the first time ever I think we had more seniors and vets running than we did kids, or very nearly.

First race as usual the under 13 lads. Only two runners here Ade and Kieran. Kieran's' dad had been there since 7.30 marking out the course. It was a shame for an incomplete team, but Robbie was sunning himself in Spain visiting grandparents with dad. Adrian finished 7th out of the fast pack, well done to him, and thanks to Kieran who supported him, even thought they needed another runner for the team.

Next race was the girlie under13 race. There were a few runners here, in fact there was an unfamiliar face running which I later learned was Holly Falcus. Nice to see new blood making the effort. Sophie and Bethan ran from the fast pack, and I think Chelsea was the third team counter for them. All the girls ran well, particularly Sophie, who finished 9th from the fast pack. Bethan had a good race, growing in confidence since her promotion to the fast pack. Chelsea also ran well becoming an 'everpresent' in the harrier leagues. Paige was absent after spending the days from Thursday's session with her head in a bucket. Get well soon Paige.

Two entrants in the under 15 race, Josh and Sam, both lads ran well, but as far as I was concerned they just churned the track up more for me to run on later.In the Under 17`s mens race both Richard Hopkins and David Barraclough competed for the club coming 12th & 14th.

. In the under 17`s women's race a big well done to Monique Howell who finished in 1st place. The highlight is usually my race, (a low light this week) But I did hear that there had been some entertainment put on by the locals. Apparently a crowd gathered on a field next to the course, and two grown men stripped to the waist and started kicking lumps out of each other.

Then we lined up for a spectacle. Have you ever seen 9 senior/vets line up for a race on the same day?? Is there a collective noun for senior runners? Would it be a bizarre image, or just a gaggle of runners? Anyway I digress, I felt really good at the beginning, started at the back, as I do, but normally I manage to work my way through some of the pack. I did manage to get through a lot of the pack, but unfortunately I seemed to have no energy, and nearly all the pack caught me again, and I was really fed up at the end. AND very tired. My legs were killing me on Sunday morning.

Dave Ransen and I wandered off for a coffee, and then we all hung round to watch Maggie's race, again a lone runner. A big team effort for Maggie, as we all waited rather than leave her to make her way back to the car on her own. It was a great course, but I have never before seen any races where they were fighting on the peripherals.

Well done to all who competed…………….YB