The first summer league race of the season:
freezing cold, but at least it was dry and calm, about the best we can
hope for this year. The light was a bit low and I was very pleased that
the Harriers shirts show up pretty well in the gloom, especially as I
was finishing well after 8:30!
The summer league really is about the taking part
and not the winning. As a slow runner I really appreciate all the
supporters there are at the end cheering all of us in.
I remembered enjoying this course last year: it’s
nice to have a chat with some of the other back-markers in the first km
although quite daunting to see all the field streaming up the first hill
way out ahead. We did have to remind ourselves that we did it for fun as
we jogged along behind.
I was pleased with how I ran and finished strongly.
Thanks to Paul Adams giving me a target for 5k, my second half was
faster by about 3 minutes, although I was slower than last year –
perhaps I enjoyed socialising en route too much!
The great news when I got back was that William New
(34.58) and Emma Yates (40.29) were runners up in the men’s and women’s
races respectively and Ian Anderson (36.06) won the M40 category. Chris
Roberts came 3rd overall. In fact a great all round
performance from both our mens and womens teams with 7 of our men
finishing in the top 15 and 4 of our ladies finishing in the ladies top
10.
At the back of the 260-strong field there was a
plethora of Knavesmire Harriers and for once I had runners round me most
of the way. Particular congratulations should go to Jean Snelling who
not only hasn’t run a 10k for 8 months but organised the sandwiches
afterwards!
My husband Peter and I both joined the Harriers for
the League last year as it keeps us motivated to run. We have never felt
that we are either too old or too slow to participate. Many people I
talk to think that both the Harriers and the Summer League are for
“serious runners.” I always say that they are supportive and feel that
even at the back of the field I am respected for taking part.
