Mike Scotney reports: This is a challenging, off-road 10km, the first of the Worcester Summer Mid Week Series, a popular series hosted by Halesowen, Droitwich and Bromsgrove & Redditch running clubs.
It’s an event to enter on the day (or evening as the case may be) and after meeting up with Ed, Terry and Gary at the start, there seemed to be a grizzled bunch of hard-core club runners, looking to test their abilities on a lovely late spring evening. Terry had recommended starting near the front which was well given advice. 800m from the start by Haybridge school in Hagley we turned down a narrow country path and it was single file for a good half mile or so.
We then met up with an old friend; the final muddy incline from the Stourbridge Stagger (a personal favourite) before traversing the sandy paths of the Stagger in reverse. The loose sand and mud underfoot was quite a challenge, and required more concentration than usual. After this it was a quick dart down another side lane only to pop up back at the start. It’s a tough circuit and as I passed the line I realised that there was another loop to go! Back down the lane, this time with Ed just ahead and although running alone, I felt confident knowing the terrain ahead and made decent progress back through the woods and the sand. Picking up the pace I went for a quick late sprint and ran out of path – Ed finished just a few paces ahead!
This is highly recommended, not for PB chasers, but certainly to test out the ‘central guvnor’ as they would say on Marathon Talk (a great Podcast in case you haven’t tried it!)
Fantastic run from Gary, a recent BVH arrival, who came in 6th out of a field of 180 runners, and well done to both Ed and Terry. Next in the series is on the 8th June, a 10km multi-terrain in Redditch.
Results:
6th Gary Blackman 37.13
32nd Ed Hartley 41.36
34th Mike Scotney 41.38
71st Terry Doherty 46.08
Some very respectable times considering the terraine.Congratulations to all concerned.Local knowledge would seem to be an advantage!
Barrie Roberts