Mad Dog 5 – Game of Bones

Southport, Sunday, February 8, 2015

Gareth Cardus

Gareth representing Striders at Southport. The Southport 10K run, aptly named ‘Mad Dog’, is into its fifth year now. The races inaugural year, 2011, seen it voted the best 10k run by Runner’s World magazine. Indeed in 2014, the race was voted the best 10k run in the UK at the running awards, and has been shortlisted again for 2015. Keen to see what all the fuss was about, and coupled with the fact that my parents lived nearby, I registered for this year’s event – the opportunity to become a ‘Mad Dog’ and conqueror the coast of Southport, was too great a pull!

Over 2500 runners took part in the race and I have to say the organisation of the event was superb. There was a designated car park for runners and spectators, which could be entered upon showing your race number. Then there was a free bus that took you from the car park to the start of the race. There was food stalls, changing facilities, showers – everything you required. The runners taking part in the race were divided into sections, based on ability; each section was given a colour as with other races. However, each section was also a dog breed, in keeping with the ‘Mad Dog’ theme – I was a Labrador!!

There was a strong contingent from a number of running clubs; there were fun runners, charity runners and fancy dress runners – all were raring to go!! The course is a flat course along the coast of Southport; it is a road race, so no trail shoes are necessary. As the race started, the conditions were ideal – there was virtual no wind, a bit of dew in the air and low temperatures. The only downside was the mist, which obscured some of the views along the coast. The race started in good timely fashion and before I knew it I had complete the first kilometre. One thing I was keen to do this time, was to pace myself correctly. I tend to start running too quickly and burn out towards the end of the race. With the course being flat and the conditions being ideal, I was looking for a PB – my PB for a 10k race was 53:55 back in 2013.

Game of Bones. I started the race slowly and completed the first four kilometres in just under 22 minutes. The first 4k of the race is all along the coast road and is fairly straight. Just after 4k, you reach the furthest point on the course and you move slightly away from the coast and follow the road around the marine lake. As we made our way around the course, music blasted out for all to hear, there was steel drum bands beating their rhythm and other music stations to keep the runners motivated. There was also great support and some amusing banners, one in particularly brought a chuckle to many a runner – it read ‘Please run quicker, we are cold’. Another funny moment was a fellow runner kitted out as Elvis singing at the top of his voice ‘You ain’t nothing but a hound dog’, very apt!

By this time I was past the half-way point now and with 6 kilometres complete my time was a little on the slow side for a PB – I had 32:38 on the clock, but I felt good and I knew I had plenty left in the tank; so far I had paced myself well. I increased the length of my stride and pushed on. Once round the Marine lake we re-joined the original coast road and headed for the finish line. I had completed 8 kilometres now and my time was 42:43, I was going well. I pushed on, as barring injury; I knew I would achieve a new PB. Finally as we turned the corner onto the long home straight, I could see the finish line in the distance. I sprinted down the home straight, keen to gain every place I could for my final standing. I crossed the line with a time of 51:54; I had managed to beat my PB by 2 minutes. I ran the last two kilometres of the race in 9:20.

As with most races these days you receive a ‘goody’ bag after crossing the finish line. You get the usual goodies, Medal, banana, a drink and a T-Shirt. However, the T-shirt does deserve a special mention for this race, as most T-shirts from these events can be pretty bland and boring. The Mad dog T-shirt was certainly not boring!!!

Overall, it was a great race, with a flat fast course that was very well organised. I would definitely race this one again. It is back next year and the race is called ‘Mad Dog 6 – Raiders Of The Lost Bark’

Results

Pos Name Club Cat Catpos Time
1 Chris Nicoll Derby Triathlon Club M 33:36
36 Kirsty Longley Liverpool Pembroke Sefton F 38:12
775 Gareth Cardus M 53:16

2004 finishers

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