New style of racing for North Wales Road Runners Club

Several members of North Wales Running Club were finally able to participate in the new form of ‘racing’ events, recently introduced since lockdown, instead of the previous virtual runs.

Taking the form of staggered ‘rolling starts’ and essential social distancing, athletes had to endure strict guidelines resembling more of a time trial than previous open races.

One of the first new ‘live’ runs was at Tatton Park, Cheshire, on 9th August for the ‘Run Through Tatton’ event held over a hilly 10k course.

Kelly Alford and her partner Cai Roberts took part and both ran well after such a long break, with Kelly finishing in 51 mins 23 secs, and Cai in 54.18.

Last weekend many club athletes travelled to Blackpool for the annual ‘Run the Lights’ 5k and 10k events, which this year were held in very different circumstances with a reduced number of entrants.

And once again, the races were carefully scrutinised with similar rolling starts over a lengthy period.

Teenager Mia Morris however, enjoyed a good dash in the dark, finishing in 24.22 over the 5k promenade course, with Helen Hannam also celebrating an excellent return to competition in 25.47, and Mia’s mother Rachel ran well after injury in 33.31.

In the 10k event, both Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts claimed faster times than the previous week in Cheshire, with Kelly finishing about 30 seconds faster in 50.52, and Cai making a big improvement in 48.12.

Another fast finisher was Charlie Owen, who knocked about 5 minutes off his previous best time in 56.04, with his wife Mandy back home in 58.18.