Sale Water Parkrun – ‘Michael Page’ NWFPAC 2019 Championship – Race #4
Round four of the Championship saw our bandwagon roll out to Sale Water Park for the parkrun event which consisted of an out and back course around the water park. It’s a flat route albeit on some rough rubble-strewn terrain and the very occasional very short rise or drop. Byron mentioned beforehand he was worried he might damage an ankle due to conditions underfoot to which Dave suggested he run a bit slower. Byron as you will see from the results did not heed this advice (at least I hope not for the rest of us!).
The sun was shining with little wind and 8 competitors lined up amongst the 312 parkrunners. I opted for an unusually quick start as the path at the start is quite narrow and was alarmed when I could still see Charlie Batho about 200 yards ahead after the first kilometre and Tim Hayle a stone’s throw away – lots of ammunition was available on the ground although I didn’t think it sporting or in the parkrun spirit.
Settling into a pace that felt bearable I tried to keep up with Tim and by the 2k was on his shoulder before he picked up his pace and pulled a gap of about 10m. I managed to hang onto this gap before finally managing to start winching Tim in, spurred by the sound of someone about 10m behind me (fearing it was another NWFPAC runner and lost points).
Into the final few hundred metres where you leave the waterside and onto tarmac, I managed to pull alongside Tim once more and again he pushed the pace up. This time I managed to stay with him and I kicked again, praying the line was in the next couple of hundred metres (alas it wasn’t). Whilst I managed to just keep Tim behind (a photo finish was almost needed), a young lad no older than 14 had the beating of us both and stole in 2 seconds ahead showing us how it really should be done.
At the head of the race, Byron coasted in 25 seconds ahead of everyone else, coming in at 17:22, a first finisher of the parkrun and the NWFPAC race. We eventually found him sat casually outside the café (he was about to head off to do a BMF session…). Second of the NWFPAC cabal was Charlie Batho at 18:30 and rounding out the podium was Gareth Hurfurt at 18:44. All three of these times were PBs at Sale Water so well done gents. In fact every NWFPAC runner ran a PB at Sale Water who had previously clocked a time there – we clearly make each other push that bit deeper.
Unfortunately I had to head off at the finish due to other commitments so you will have to pester Dave to see what, if anything, happened during the café debrief but miracles of miracles we actually remembered a finish line photo!
