Sunday, 10 March 2019

Rushcliffe 10K & Running Festival




On Sunday 3rd March six members of Grantham Running Club took park in the second Rushcliffe 10k & Running Festival, which attracted over 1,400 runners. The multi terrain courses made use of roads and paths in and around Rushcliffe Country Park. Like a growing number of events the Running Festival featured numerous distances to choose from – a 10K, a 5K, a 2.5K Fun Run and a Toddler Dash. The organisers though timed the events to make it possible to race both the 10K and the 5K on the same morning to add a challenge for those willing to double up.
First up was the 10K with five GRC runners taking part. Joaquim Jeronimo was delighted to go under 40 minutes for the first time in an official 10K race, clocking 39:43, although his official 10K PB remains at 40:10 with this race being awarded a multi terrain race licence. Stuart Baty (48:04) followed with a 10K season best. Tracy Webb (58:08) was seven seconds quicker than her official PB. She was followed by Claire Fritz (1:08:00) and Simon Hartley (1:11:45).  The race was won by Aston Perrin from Long Eaton RC in 32:09, with Alison Greenwood the winning woman in 37:20.
The 5K race followed at the completion of the 10K which gave three members of GRC a chance to double up and get additional mileage in their legs (and an additional medal for their collection).  They were joined by surprise entrant CJ Walker who wanted to surprise Claire and had kept her entry into the event secret. 
Unfortunately with the arrival of Storm Freya the conditions for running deteriorated rapidly, as did the times, being very wet, windy, and tricky underfoot.  First home was Stuart Baty (26:41), followed by Tracy Webb (0:32:33), CJ Walker (36:58) and Claire Fritz (37:20).  All members of the team were grateful for the support of the other competitors and their team mates once they had finished, especially  ‘Flash’ who paced all the others home for both races despite the poor conditions. The 5K race was won by Christian Watson from Sutton-in-Ashfield Harriers in 17:12 with under 13 runner Ruby Milnes of Mansfield AC the winning female in 21:46.
Despite the conditions it was a very well supported and organised race enjoyed by everyone who took part. The 2020 edition takes place on March 1st.

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