Farndon 10k

Summer Series, race 22

Sunday October 16^th.

Left Wilmslow in the dark, the Summer Series is clearly reaching its autumn. On the M56 the wind got up and the rain started. Farndon scores low on the miles of driving/miles of running Rob Downs ratio. Tony introduces a few new races each year, it keeps the Series fresh. Normally the reaction is great race, we must do that again next year. Normally but not always. Farndon was beginning to have a ‘not always’ feel.

Wythenshawe Park the previous day had not been proper cross-country at all; warm, sunny and hardly a spec of mud. And a mere 20 minute drive away. That I had chosen the wrong race for the weekend seemed even starker as I warmed-up in the rain and blustery wind and discovered the start was half-a-mile away. It was all tending not to engender the right positive approach.

Yet, as 9:30 approached, the rain all but cleared. A smallish Wilmslow turn-out, but good company at the lower end and a big turn-out from League 2. Pleasant, closed country lanes. The profile had shown three climbs, but undulations was a better description than hills. Watching the cross-country you are taken back by the pure depth of class of the field. Here it was a little different, although with exceptions, the winner won by over 3 minutes in just over 30 minutes.

James, one of those doing the weekend double, was nevertheless first Wilmslow runner home.

Louisa, who had caught Janine in the last half-mile at Wythenshawe to be our third counter behind Di and Katy, was first lady.

Matt, again, won the League 2 60-points from Paul, who had an excellent run, Mick, who won the M65 , Ian, Louisa and Andy, who had run the previous day.

Sally and Gail raised the status of League 4 with magnificent runs, which took them both above the League 3 runners.

Chris won League 3 from Mark, Huma, Patrick and John. John had logged a calf injury prior to the start in the event of a disappointing time, I missed him at the end, so am unsure as to whether he wants to call it in.

Catriona, as is now her norm, came-in ahead of the other League 4 runners. Carolyn gave her Achilles what seemed like a successful rehabilitation, this was her first race since Colshaw, but tomorrow will be the acid taste.

Julie, second in League 5, also beat Ian, a mere 2 seconds. At the start of the year there seemed no possibility that Roy could complete a 10k in under the hour or complete 7 races in the Series. He went home a very happy man. Stephen, who also has only one knee, made a rare excursion into racing and came back with a result.

The organisers were appreciative of Tony making it one of Wilmslow’s club races and, in the end, so were we