Some of the ESM team after the race: Olov, Annick, Louise, Simon, Gurmeet, Denise, Mark & Martin
The South Bucks 10K. This Championship race saw 14 club members (plus volunteers and supporters!) head over to Black Park to line up for one of the flattest 10Ks around. A beautiful, if crisp, morning greeted the runners as we approached the starting line. Cold in the shade, warm in the sunshine. And lovely autumn colours all around. Much more of a low-key event than last week’s club championship race, the Ealing Half.
Some of us were racing, some of us were running. I was just running; having lost my running mojo this year, my aim was to just enjoy the run. Tick. Beautiful course, lovely day, what’s not to like? Interesting wood carvings in one of the gardens along the way, too.
At the sharp end of the race, though, we had some really impressive results, with a fourth place finish (Jonathan – who really needs to find his club vest!), an age group champion (Mark K, I think he’s getting used to bringing trophies home now), and a PB by about 2 minutes (well done Simon!) Mark D, Andrew, and Martin D all put in impressive performances, too. Then we had the 60-something male crew; John leading the way, followed by Olov, and then Martin W.
Leading the women home was Mary Walsh (again, someone who needs to find their club vest!), followed less than a minute later by Gurmeet, who was looking very strong as she surged passed me at the 6k mark. Denise followed me in, and Annick completed the line-up for ESM, in her ‘anniversary’ race – this was her first 10K a year ago! Since then she’s done loads, completed a half marathon, and come home with a few age-group trophies herself . Today, though, she came home with tales of a loose dog on the course, and the same as the rest of us – a nice medal and smiles on faces. Nice race, nice day. Same time next year?
ESM results summary:
Men: 4 Jonathan Horan 34:40; 12 Mark Delahunty (M45) 37:18; 14 Mark Kencroft (M50) 37:34; 33 Andrew Price (M40) 41:32; 38 Martin Daoud (M55) 42:10; 54 Simon Turrell (M50) 44:26; 86 John Falvey (M60) 50:35 ; 94 Olov Hansen (M60) 51:36; 102 Martin Wilson (M65) 53:06
Women: 104 Mary Walsh (W45) 53:36; 107 Gurmeet Lally (W55) 54:06; 121 Louise Prince (W45) 55:39; 145 Denise English (W50) 58:31; 158 Annick Hooge (W60) 1:03:27
Full results can be found in runbritain.