York Marathon &10 Mile Race Report

A quick background to the reason for entering this race was the fact that in 2019 an intrepid band of Harriers ran the York Marathon with great success, known as Andy's Angels this group (you know who you are) covered themselves in glory with Andy leading the way and Kenny close behind. It would be true to say that they celebrated with great success on the way home on the train as well and that was possibly when Kenny stated he would do the race again but faster.

So fast forward to 2021 and Kenny is running well and he decides that the York marathon is ready to be run again with high hopes of a faster time (some people seem to remember what they say when they have had a drink !!). Not having high hopes of fast times for anything never mind a marathon I decided that I had better go down with him to York to make sure he didn't get lost (seems he did once before somewhere).

For some reason I let myself be talked into the 10 mile race scheduled to begin about 45 minutes after the Marathon, at this point Frances decided we both needed looking after and entered the 10 mile as well. Chris decided nearer the time that he would enter the 10 mile too (a training distance for him these days). Then we found out that Davie Watt had been spotted doing a lot of running from a reliable source (Kirsty is not a policewoman for nothing, she notices things going on around her neighbourhood). Frances confirmed with Davie who stated he had entered the York Marathon but not broadcast the fact because he had not done a marathon for 35 years and as he had now entered the MV60 category (comes to us all sooner or later 😟) he thought he would give it a go.

So things are all set for the return to York, entries in, accommodation ready everything in place !! Well even the best laid plans go astray, Kenny picks up an injury which unfortunately means he will not manage to run the Marathon nor even drop down to the 10 mile distance, however he still plans to come down and hold our "jaickets" and cheer us on and buy us drink afterwards 👍. Ah well that didn't happen either as a family commitment prevented him getting to York at all.😞

So at last you will be saying get to the point and give us the race report, ok it is worth waiting for honest.

The day of the race started off wet and windy on the way to York University Campus , however the weather God smiles on Calderglen Harriers , well sometimes, and the wind dropped and the rain stopped. Frances and  I met Chris, Davie was already off and running, and got ready for the start, Chris sensibly getting up near the front and me sensibly getting near the back. Frances had said a few times before the race she was just out for a scenic run round York to see the historic landmarks on the route which meant she would be running with me. She would be sightseeing I would be huffing and puffing and seeing nothing much but the road in front of me .

I knew it would not last even though she was adamant it would, needless to say the Harriers competitive instinct kicked in (that's Frances 's competitive instinct mine is just a burning ember these days) and after a 1 slow mile for her off she went never to be seen again until the end of the race.

Chris meanwhile was absolutely flying round I don't know if he saw any historic buildings at his pace but I suspect not. So 10 miles passed as 10 miles does, with the Harrier's 10 mile results as follows:

 Chris       - 01:02:23 Category Position.        28 (out of 322)

 Frances  - 01:19:23 Category Position.        06   (out of 94)

 Billy        - 01:24:38 Category Age Concern 02  (out of 15)

And leaving the best till last, what can I say Davie Watt's Marathon may have been 35 years to wait for but his race was incredible.

 Davie     - 02:58:15  British Masters Silver Medal for 2nd place in the M60 category.

I think I can safely say that we were all pleased with our performances and that Alan's training schedules definitely work, this is surely proof of that, thanks Alan.👏👏

By the way  Chris is now a media star as he was interviewed at the end of his race for York University TV, not sure if he is looking for an agent yet but you never know.

So there we have it, all done and dusted, t-shirts and medals in the goodie bag, along with cans of "non-alcoholic beer", actually tasted ok, but I did go for the real thing later on courtesy of Frances, obviously feeling guilty about running away and leaving me !!

Next year ? well who knows what Kenny will come up with we will wait and see.

Billy B