‘Michael Page’ NWFPAC 2021 Championship – Race 1: Run Heaton 10k

The venue for the first race of the 2021 season was Heaton Park for another well-organised Run Through event. The weather was unusually dry compared to the soggy May showers we’ve endured over the last few weeks. Good temperature for running, chilly when hanging around.

The 10k course took in 2 laps of Heaton Park, with great views of Manchester in the distance, on a decidedly undulating course. Whilst the route didn’t take in angina hill, there were a few good climbs to separate the men from the boys and a fair few switchbacks to ensure it was near impossible to get into any kind of rhythm. Not my favourite course!

There were 6 NWFPAC runners ready for the new season and everyone got their excuses in early. A recent covid vaccine, illness, a bad night’s sleep, tired legs from a bike ride the day before, too much drinking

and young kids (my excuse) to name but a few. It was a shame for us all but sadly Byron wasn’t running in the race. However he did run around the park at the same time as the race, either shouting encouragement, pacing people up hills or attempting sabotage and threatening to rugby tackle 1 of the 2 female runners, depending on what NWFPAC team you were in.

In the men’s competition, Adrian was the first NWFPAC runner home and 10th overall with a smashing time of 38:06 - see the action finishing photo. A strong start to the new season and all the more impressive after a 214km, 7.5 hour bike ride the day before. Rob did amazingly well too, coming in 14th overall with a time of 38:58. Dave had an outstanding run, coming in 37th overall with a time of 43:12, only 40 seconds slower than the comparatively flat and easy course at Aintree 2 weeks ago. Adam wasn’t far behind Dave, coming in 39th overall with a time of 43:45, which was a new PB! Well done all.

As for the ladies, I ran my slowest 10k race since December 2019 with a time of 56:16 but at least there’s plenty of room for improvement this season! I also got a parking ticket after buying a ticket from the machine and putting it facing down on my dashboard (gah) but otherwise it was a good day out! Jill, returning from injury, ran it in 1:04:58 which includes time spent tending to an injured runner from her club who needed an ambulance. I think that deserves a bonus point but I’ll leave that to Dave.

And with the easing of covid restrictions, a few of us managed a socially distanced breakfast in the park afterwards for a race debrief, a tad chilly but very tasty!

Good to see everyone and keep up the good work.