Lest We Forget...

Big race in the North East calendar at the weekend.  Great race, been run since 1920 and to remember the fallen initially of the Great War and then the Second World War, but now seems to be to all fallen people in all conflicts..... Hence two minutes silence nowadays.

Only 8 of us seniors today, usually more than that.  Spirits were high enough, except me cos I am struggling a bit at the moment.   Darren was saying the last time he had run the race they had to restart it.  I remember running that year, we did the two minutes silence, and then started... Then a random cyclist came round the corner and everyone thought it was the lead bike and started to follow it;  result was a restart after about a kilometre.  It's a different course nowadays although round the same park.

We gathered together at the field where the race started and went for a warm up, Karl, Mark, Ruth and myself, as much really to show Ruth the course, as this was her first time here.    Adrian had stated his intent, wanted to have a good run after the Abbey Dash last week.  Ruth was the only senior lady running, but as ever non committal with regard to her intentions after the starters whistle...

At the start the fast lads lined up in front couple rows, Ruth, Dave Lamond and I a few rows back, observed the 2 minutes silence and set off for the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War , 10k race.

Conditions were as perfect as I have known there, it is a windy course.  The location name is the clue, "town moor" ;  not much shelter on the moor!    This year very little wind and not raining.   Course is actually an alright course as a runner you can see the leaders crossing in places... When as far back as me.  Lee was spectating/supporting and let me know Adrian was top 6.   He was way ahead of me, I actually missed him at the crossover point, in fact I missed Darren, Greg and Karl as well!!

Anyway, I plodded round, and on the run in saw Adrian  chatting and shaking hands with another runner, looked good news.  When we all regrouped at the end there were some great results. Adrian did actually win the race, Darren was first in his age group, and Ruth was first in her age group, Karl not a medalist, but cracking time 38 minutes dead.

So, then the extra bit...The race actually turned out to be the north east 10k championship so Adrian is now the north east 10k champion.  So we hung around for presentations, then a wander into town for lunch;  it's a canny way to spend a day, running and eating with family and friends, then home for the Manchester derby.