‘Michael Page’ NWFPAC 2021 Championship – Race 2: Tatton 10k

So the second race in the championship saw a select group of 5 head to Tatton Park for the Run Tatton 10km.

Starting the day off in usual fashion (late), hindered by route diversions and the fall out from the England game on the radio, I arrived with 15 minutes to spare to see Dave and Jill well placed near the start line.

Having not competed for some time, the pre-race chat has upgraded somewhat from fake niggling injuries / excuses for the lack of recent training and is now dominated by the virtues of carbon soles, which I am informed by Dave and Adrian can cut anything from 30secs to 2mins off a 10km time. Anyway, on to the race itself……

Having pre-selected a time range, this was a rolling start on what was a quickly warming morning in the Cheshire sunshine. Following the standard Mr Motivator style mass warm up, waves set off on the rolling start basis. Having chatted with Dave at the start and being fairly equal in ability, the intention from both was to hold back a second on the start line, just in case it came down to a sprint finish at the end – Dave need not have worried as it turned out.

A fairly simple route around the park, with 3 or 4 switch backs which gave the opportunity to offer encouragement, albeit also with a couple of uphill drags in the second part of the route making this not the easiest of 10k’s.

Having stalked Dave for the first part, strength played its part as he began to stretch out a lead over the latter half, Daria and Adrian looked at ease throughout and away in the distance, whilst Jill was having stalker problems of her own (more on that in a minute).

The result wasn’t in doubt, with Adrian finishing with an impressive 36:26 time, albeit pipped to the top NWFPAC spot by Daria (pictured) by virtue of her strong performance and better gender position. Dave impressed whilst recording his best performance over the distance in 7 years. However, the moment of the day is reserved for Jill, who, having just finished herself had the best back handed compliment I’ve heard when another runner thanked her enthusiastically at the finish with the line “I thought, if she can do it, then so can I”.

Well done all.