Hi Everyone,
Thanks to those of you who have sent something to the inbox. Please remember to send any contributions to helsby-race-reports@outlook.com.
Firstly I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Karen Bell and Peter Causton who I understand have recently joined us. Looking forward to running with you both sometime soon.
Upcoming Events
A reminder that there is loads coming up over the next week. See the snapshot of our club calendar below, or view the full calendar at: https://helsbyrunningclub.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/helsby_rc_calendar-31-07-2019.pdf
Also thanks to Janet Robertson for sending in details of a new local race coming up in November:
Save the date … Weds 20th November
Marbury Night 5
Northwich Running Club have come up with a great idea to give a bit back to the North West XC League running community. They are planning a new 5 mile night race that has the feel of a Club XC with mud, hilly bits, woodland and a bit of water as well as team prizes. Headtorches will be essential. The entry fee includes refreshments afterwards and is being offered at a discounted price of £6 to members of clubs that run in the NW XC league – so that includes Helsby! Entries are not open quite yet but save the date. Hope that lots of you are interested – it sounds like a fun event!
Racing News
Wirral 10k – Sunday 8th September 2019
Thanks to Karen Horsley for sending in a report from the Wirral 10k. Well done everyone who ran – some awesome results for Helsby!
“Pre-race nerves or excitement had me awake at 2.30am and I didn’t manage to achieve much sleep after that, however a hearty breakfast set me up for the race.
Wirral 10k (and half marathon) was blessed by the running gods today as the weather was perfect for racing. Early sunshine became grey skies as the start time approached and the majority of runners will have completed the 10k before the sun made a second appearance. The half marathon runners will have had more sunshine to contend with but at around 17 deg C at least it wasn’t too hot.
Logistically the race was great, with plenty of parking which was near the start line, a good number of portaloos, and the distances helpfully marked in both km and miles.
Knowing there was a real possibility that I might struggle to make the distance I began at a steady pace, however on reaching the 1km marker and feeling good I kept going to the 2 mile marker where I took a short walk break before running on to the half way point. The first 5k I completed in around 31 -32 minutes. A brief stop for water and I was off again. The second 5k was more difficult, but then I’d expected that it would be so was prepared to run/walk as I needed. By around 7k my leg was starting to ache more, but as it was an out and back course I had to make my way back to the start/finish line one way or another so carried on but at a slightly slower pace.
The half marathon route followed the same first six miles with the 10k runners taking a left at the clown roundabout to head to the finish. What a welcome sight it was to see the clown sculpture as I made my way along New Brighton promenade, and knowing that the end was close. I even had enough in my legs for a little sprint finish (albeit a slow sprint). I finished in an official time of 01:07:11 which was the sub-70 minutes I had hoped for and didn’t collapse with exhaustion on the finish line. All in all a good result!
The only downside to the race is that there wasn’t a great deal of spectators on route, I rather like being cheered on by random supporters and sadly there wasn’t much cheering happening.
But my first of three 10k races in September is now ticked off and I totally deserve a couple of days of rest.
Helsby Results
Well done everyone on some great running!
- Richard Hankins 00:39:37 – 9th male and 1st in age cat
- Trevor Lewis 00:43:37 – 19th male and 2nd in age cat
- Geoff Shaw 00:51:08 – 1st in age cat
- Kai Horsley 00:54:42
- Janet Shaw 01:04:02 – 2nd in age cat
- Karen Horsley 01:07:11″
Northwest Road Relays – Sunday 8th September 2019
Thanks to June Swift for sending in a report on behalf of the Ladies Team at the Road Relays from Sunday:
Parkrun
Well done all everyone who did a park run at the weekend. Our consolidated club results can be seen HERE
That’s all for this week. If anyone still has something to contribute from the weekend then please do still send it in and we will include it in the next round-up.
Cheers,
Jim