WRC Series race: Wilmslow Festive 10k – 27th November 2022

The WRC Race Series came to a conclusion on Sunday with Run North West’s Festive10k

Forty-two members turned out in force. Looking forward to their race.

Don was tail and Gareth paced 80 minutes. Andrew, Alan and Nicola also pacing.

Richard pipping Peter by 1 second on Gun time. They both had the same Chip time.

Peter and Paul were first in his Age Category. Others in the top 4 of their ACs included – 2nds: Claire and Di; Richard, Nic and Sue who were all 4^th.

When the Half Marathon Winner Philip set’s the pace you expect everyone will be dragged around in his slipstream. PB’s for Richard, Peter, Sam, Max, Robert, Claire, Nicola, Sue, Mark, Matt, Markus, David, Colin, and  Frances.

Many happy faces at the end.

For me Santa came early this year. Thanks to Mr Klaus [!] At the very last minute I got the opportunity to do a rehab run to see how far I could run before stopping to walk! I Haven’t exceeded 5k since give permission to commence a slow and long recovery. Starting very nearly at the back behind 3 Golden Angels it was a long shuffle to the Start matt.  80 minutes was the target 75 if I could get a fair way before tiring. 70 would be a world mental record – especially as I was feeling Leggy after Alexandra Park the day before.

Missed the WRC photo opportunity as I searched high and low for the number registration at the leisure centre. Until I bumped into Nick. Then to the shop – no. The stalls outside – no. Ah the ‘toilet queue’ is not that – it’s the registration queue. Should have read the email this morning. Number got, off to the real queue – with marshals saying Hurry up 6 minutes to Go! No worry when you intend to start at the back.

I had my new Hoka’s to try out and and music too. My Black Friday cheap Shockz earphones to replace my Aftershockz which had served me well  – until I threw my sports bag into the car a while ago and it landed on the earphones and broke them. ☹

It’s nice slowly running past people at the start. Usually, it was people running past me on towards the end of races. But great not to have any raised heart rate on the start line

I chose my Marathon Fartlek playlist. This alternates between a Quick and lively tune followed by a slower one. I thought that would stop me going too quick at the beginning. It’s 3 years since I last ran in a Wilmslow Vest! Festive 10k 2019!!

Starting at the back you get an interesting and different view of les derrieres!! Sizes too as I slowly passed runners Infront of me. The Angels disappeared quickly before I got to the roundabout. I Met Gareth as he concentrated on his pace. With this being the longest run since the 2021 Handicap outing and being much further than my once a week run at park run I assured him He’d probably catch me towards the latter end of the race.

The headphones kept me updated on my pace. I seemed to be going quicker than I had thought I run. Jingling bells on runners’ costumes were driving me mad! That’s my excuse for overtaking some groups of runners. By the water station I was well ahead of schedule and beginning to worry about the moment of truth – when my legs would say stop. Being one not to litter. I kept my bottle for the finish. The second half seemed to be more crowded. I ended up behind the angels. I’d wait until they created a gap and then nipped in behind them. They stopped at 8k. But the  runners were beginning to spread out in front of me by then. The 8^th K was hard. Jelly Beans time.  Focussed on the killer dip and passed a number of runners. Thought this could last to the end if I concentrated. Jelly Beans with 500m to go. A final push for the last 80m. Finished. Wow! No need to queue for water. No Wilmslow Shirts about. They have had their photo opportunity and no doubt were back at home by now. Just Ian awaiting his daughter and a  mass of people wanting flapjacks water, Photo opportunities. A bit like trying to get out of a football match.

No Coffee van ☹ .. but there was one at the Christmas Tree Farm on my way home. A successful morning! Better see how the body reacts over the next 2-3 days.

Wilmslow Runners results below:

ChipPos	Runner	Club	Chip	Cat	CatPos
1	Philip Sesemann	Leeds City	29:21	MSnr	1
28	Richard Coen	WRC	32:18	MV40	4
29	Peter Speake	WRC	32:18	MV45	1
38	Anna Bracegirdle	Salford H	33:08	FSnr	1
55	Samuel Bailey	WRC	33:58	MSnr	36
75	Max Bridge	WRC	34:35	MSnr	44
103	Robert Jackson	WRC	35:26	MV35	14
107	Claire Clancy	WRC	35:33	FV35	2
174	Nicola Reece	WRC	36:57	FV40	4
188	Diane McVey	WRC	37:14	FV45	2
228	Richard Harrison	WRC	37:58	MV50	11
236	Mark Kirkby	WRC	38:05	MV40	29
286	Rebecca Jackson	WRC	39:01	FSnr	11
300	Markus Dalgaard	WRC	39:18	MSnr	133
305	Evan J Wolf	WRC	39:20	MV35	43
312	Matthew Taylor	WRC	39:26	MV45	33
341	David Baxter	WRC	39:48	MV50	17
416	Louisa Harrison	WRC	40:58	FV45	6
473	Nick Jackson	WRC	41:41	MV55	21
477	Graham Duce	WRC	41:43	MV50	30
506	Jarrod Homer	WRC	42:04	MV55	22
523	Colin Caisley	WRC	42:18	MV45	62
528	Frances Kenney	WRC	42:25	FV40	14
541	Stephen Greaves	WRC	42:34	MV50	40
551	Ella Howells	WRC	42:41	FSnr	28
558	Paul Norris	WRC	42:45	MV65	1
580	Sue Harrison	WRC	43:03	FV50	4
724	Andrew Cleal	WRC	44:44	MV40	96
794	Janine Ellis	WRC	45:28	FV50	8
834	Ian Smallwood	WRC	45:55	MV55	51
839	Tracy Bown	WRC	45:58	FV55	6
966	Steve Reynolds	WRC	47:23	MV50	86
980	Frances Jackson	WRC	47:28	FV35	31
991	Nic Bown	WRC	47:37	MV55	60
1016	Ian Roberts	WRC	47:52	MV55	62
1067	Colin Walton	WRC	48:15	MV60	20
1289	Alan Turner	WRC	49:52	MV55	82
1712	Barry Archbold	WRC	53:52	MV45	183
1783	Nicola Coppock	WRC	54:23	FV40	81
1870	Kathryn Patrick	WRC	55:21	FV55	29
2446	Patrick Grannan	WRC	01:02:09	MV70	22
3113	Trevor Faulkner	WRC	01:16:22	MV80+	4
3170	Gareth Trimble	WRC	01:19:51	MV50	201
3241	Don Bullough	WRC	01:42:03	MV65	41
3242	Finishers