‘Michael Page’ NWFPAC 2021 Championship – Race 8: Windmill Remembrance Day 10k

Remembrance Sunday saw the eighth and final race in the ‘Michael Page’ NWFPAC 2021 Championship take place with six members of the group taking part. The event saw a field of 1,300 runners who completely took over a large section of Lytham Green at the start. A two minutes silence was keenly observed at 11.00 before most of the horde (* although not me, see below) pushed on towards the start line for the 11.10am start.

The full sun for the duration of the race with only a minor breeze, which that revealed itself as a headwind on the second half of the run, saw the conditions firmly qualify in my opinion as ‘vest weather’. The ‘out and back’ route itself took runners West along the seafront and main road, before going through a more sheltered and residential section, prior to the u-turn and water stop at half way. After the u-turn. the route returned the way it came, with the last few kilometres switching off road to the footpath right along the seafront where spectators had gathered. From what I could tell at this point in the race, the glistening views were spectacular out to the Irish Sea and towards Southport & Formby.

In my own race, despite ‘having left plenty of time’, a slower than expected journey and very unfavourable parking conditions saw me miss the start in what was my first ‘in person’ NWFPAC race, having previously taken part in the 2020 virtual 5k and 10 mile races. I had contemplated getting back in the car and going straight home (!) but instead decided to join the advertised ‘socially distanced’ start allowing runners to start on their own after the mass start.

This ‘socially distanced’ start seemed to consist of only me and, after a few minutes, I caught the back of the pack where I was fortunately able to largely run past the other runners by using the other side of the road, avoiding the odd car as that lane had remained open to traffic!

After a couple of miles in, I’d blended into the race and recognised Dave running strongly in the opposite direction. Noticing the wind on the return half and fighting a very rare stitch for me, the wheels fell off my own charge through the field though I held on to finish in just under 40 minutes taking second place in the NWFPAC group.

David Chambers finished 19th overall in the race in a rapid 38:11 to finish first amongst NWFPAC runners, whilst Dave captured 3rd just sneaking in to break the 42 minute barrier (41:54). Adam Stirling was 4th just inside 45 minutes (44:51), whilst Jill Hickson collected the last of the NWFPAC points in 57:12. Frances Simpson finished in 54:25, although didn’t pick up NWFPAC points as she hadn’t confirmed her intention to run (sorry Frances!).

Overall (and despite a less than ideal start for me personally) it was a great event and in really amazing weather for November! Definitely a good course for a PB (weather permitting) and quite simply the largest medal I’ve received highlighting the true significance of the day…‘In Flanders Fields’.