Middlesbrough Tees Pride 10k 2015

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Dave Spence

I entered this race some time ago thinking that it would give me a chance to set a new personal best 10K time and fit in with preparation for the GNR a week later. The previous week I had survived the what can only be described as a brutal Jelly Tea (I think Dougie rather underplayed the difficulty). Oh all that pain for a bit of jelly and a sandwich. But one needs to suffer to progress ( was that Nietzsche or maybe more likely Mudwoman Susan Davis?).

So back to the Tees Pride. I prevaricated between this or the Coxhoe Trail for a week before but then decided having paid I should run it. So awoke to a lovely coolish morning and had an easy and leisurely drive to Middlesbrough. Research on Google helped me to find a parking place about half a mile from the start/finish. There is very much the atmosphere of a smaller GNR , 2000+ entries, with athletes village etc. Having carried out the usual pre race prep (ie regular visits to the toilets) I spotted Mike Elliott and we geed each other up or I think that’s what we did. Then a few dynamic exercises (Alan S would be pleased).

Then a wander over to the start and wiggled my way forward to the under 50mins section. Listened to the tales of woe of those around me from Marske Harriers and then we were off. My target being 7.45 mpm to set a new pb.

I had started well enough forward to have a clear run. The first mile is a drag uphill but nothing compared to the hills of Durham. Then a left turn where the road becomes undulating for about half a mile before a left turn( should I say at this point its all left turns on a rectangular route). Then for about 2 miles it is a long gentle downhill so looking at the watch at 3 miles was at 7.30mpm average pace. Felt good and under control. But and there’s always a but another left turn and from about 4.5m the course becomes undulating and drags uphill all the way to the finish. Starting to feel the heat on a warm sunny day and pace was slipping to 7.38 with half a mile to go. But took heart from the bands hammering out heavy noise and saw the left turn ahead into the finishing tunnel. But why can’t the finish be just round the corner rather than always 200 yards away.

Powering (or should that be stumbling) across the line in a time of 47.10. A personal best by nearly a minute. Happy with that and congrats to all purplies who took part. Now for the GNR.

So if you are after a well managed race supported by lots of people on the route with the chance of a good time this is worth a go.

Results

position name club cat catpos gun time chip time
1 Tadele Geremew Mulugeta Elswick Harriers M 1 0:30:36 0:30:36
7 Alyson Dixon Sunderland Strollers F35 1 0:32:17 0:32:17
250 Katy Walton F 16 0:43:14 0:42:53
390 Fiona Jones F35 9 0:46:11 0:45:09
432 Helen Todd F35 10 0:46:59 0:45:57
525 David Spence M60 11 0:48:25 0:47:10
563 Andrew Davies F35 13 0:49:18 0:47:55
687 David Case M 288 0:51:12 0:50:27
690 Victoria Brown F 54 0:51:15 0:47:54
819 Dougie Nisbet M50 71 0:53:25 0:51:31
1101 James Potter M 408 0:57:43 0:55:45
1484 Helen Hall F45 76 1:03:42 0:59:37
1806 Mike Elliott M60 64 1:10:16 1:05:23
2059 Bev Walker F50 74 1:19:27 1:14:37

2213 finishers.

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