write up by Road Captain Gareth
Sunday saw 9 Lostockers take part in the first race on our road/trail club champs and the first in the Cental Lancs Grand Prix – the Bolton United Harriers 5K.
You don’t see many road 5K races these days so this one is a must!. It’s a cracking good event, a genuine flat and fast course (so many races make this claim when you enter them but this one actually is!). It’s also got a lovely warm sports hall for registration & prize giving, meeting club mates and generally keeping warm in beforehand and the track is perfect for a good warm up before the race.
Starting and finishing on the track at Leverhulme Park it’s a 2 lapper, taking you out of the park onto Long Lane and then taking you back into the park off Blenheim Road. Getting off bang on time at 9:30 in a very high quality, super competitive 308 runner field Jo & Chris (running a blinder in his first race for team green) got off to flying starts on the speedy track surface. I managed to peg them back on Long Lane on the first lap and it took a lot to keep them at bay!
Jo in her first race for a month (that’s a long time for Jo lol) ran strongly to finish an impressive 5th of 15 in her age category and Paul running his first race for a while showed he’s very much still “got it” with really consistent, speedy splits to come home 4th Lostocker with Rachel Susan Hancock next home keeping up her excellent recent form and coming a brilliant 4th of 25 in her age cat. Martin was next, backing up from the tough Grizedale HM last week in a very creditable time very closely followed by Rachel Stevens who despite being full of a cold and running 13 miles the day before managed to shave 5 seconds off last year’s time. Ste ran his usual solid race despite saying he was only there because it’s local 🤣 🤣 to be next back.
But performance of the day has to go to Gill who ran a tremendous 31:06 to win F70! She looked so strong at the finish and picked up a nice cash prize at the end 😊.
Prize giving afterwards in the sports hall was done by Bolton running legend and GNR winner of 1985, Steve Kenyon which was a nice touch.
Big thanks to Mike and Janet (and Alan) for coming out to support and take lots of photos. It’s hugely appreciated and really helps ❤️.
Big well done to everyone!
