On Saturday the Sunderland Festival increased it’s races with a new 5km race. A race which was described as flat and fast and a potential PB course turned out to be pure fabrication. This race which starts and finishes on the Northern Spire Bridge takes runners over the bridge, before a climb up to around the 2km point before bringing runners back down the bank then another sharp left sees another climb before levelling off and a third climb before looping runners back round down towards the finish line.
From a field of over 500 runners, Paul Cook was first home in 27th place in 19:04 with Val Clarke our only other competitor in 54th place in a time of 21:54. GB’s Aly Dixon managed to dip under 17 minutes which shows how tough this one was.
On Sunday morning the sun was out just to make life a little more uncomfortable for everyone. Both races were well represented with Darlington Harriers each person deserving of their own recognition for the effort that they put in on the day. Paul Cook was first home for the club in the 10km despite a disappointing run on very tired legs, Tony Winward first home in the Half Marathon in a new personal best of 1:20:50. A number of personal bests were achieved on the day, and neither the 10km or Half marathon courses at Sunderland are flat so congratulations to all who managed to achieve one on the day. John Cook unselfishly supporting a work colleague on her first ever run.
With some of our Couch to 10km runners competing on the day, special kudos goes out to William, Sarah, Alison, Jo-Ann, Astrid, Lou, Sarah and Michelle as well those who supported them on their journey. Well done everyone who ran.
Before and after shots from some of our half marathon runners
