Running GP Oulton Park 10k - 'Michael Page' NWFPAC 2020 Championship - Race #7

Oulton Park near Tarporley was the setting for the 7th race of the NWFPAC championship, in which 7 NWFPAC runners competed in the penultimate race of the series. Only days out of lockdown #2 and it was a real treat to be in the company of real human beings! RunThrough did a great job organising the event, despite the fact that the race circuit was hosting 5 different distances that morning, ranging from 5k to marathon distance. Plenty of parking close to the circuit and no queues to collect race packs or for the toilets.. dreamy. It was a chilly morning but the weather managed to stay dry for the race.

The 10k course was a short out and back and then 2 x laps on the race circuit, more undulating than expected, and with a banked section which is probably more fun for a racing driver than a runner! A bit of musical entertainment on the race track was a nice touch.

And onto the results. Byron smashed it out of the (Oulton) park and then some, winning the race comfortably in 33:19 out of a field of 204 runners, only just missing out on a pb and bagging 20 points for Run on the Bank. Impressive stuff, well done Byron. I have it on good authority that Byron will struggle with a hangover only after 8+ pints so if someone can volunteer to take Byron out for a sesh the night before races in next year's championship, that would be ideal. It’s in everyone’s interests so let’s work as a team here guys.

Only 13 seconds separated the 2nd and 3rd fastest men in the competition. David Chambers edged it with a time of 37:56, claiming a pb - nicely done. My team mate Adrian debuted his new whiter than white Nike carbon-plate trainers (aka cheat shoes) and finished hot on David’s heels (also in new carbon shoes) with a time of 38:09, just missing out on a real life pb, although Strava awarded one so that still counts (in my slightly biased opinion). David and Adrian came in 4th and 5th respectively in their age category and 8th and 9th in the race overall. Great running chaps.

And only 28 seconds separated the 4th and 5th fastest men in the competition. David Simmons claimed 4th position with a time of 44:29, beating Alan Reynolds who ran the course in 44:57. Well done both.

As for the ladies, I managed to beat my arch rival Jill with a time of 51:26, coming 2nd in my age category and also claiming a pb. It’s not a world record but I started running again in March 2019 as a middle-aged mum, at which point my 10k pb was around 59 minutes (and that was in my twenties!). So I’m super proud of me. And hats off to Jill for running a respectable 58:55 after recovering from an ankle op, claiming her position as 31st fastest female and therefore edging ahead of Dave Simmons as 34th fastest male on gender position, to claim 16 points for her team.

It will be for Dave to confirm whether the runners living in tier 3 areas will be disqualified for making the non-essential journey to Tarporley yesterday. Adrian and I both live in tier 2 areas... just saying.

Well done everyone, have a very merry Christmas and see you next year!

[as ever we didn't manage a photo with everyone in, but we did manage to get one with four of us and the Stig!]