JANE TOMLINSON RUN FOR ALL YORK 10K,
Sunday 6 August 2017.
Hot on the back of the Jane Tomlinson Run For All 10k at Leeds last month, Glenn Ackroyd and Andrew Mellor were Northowram Pumas’ only representatives in the York event over the same distance on Sunday. On a course that’s a joy to behold, it’s ideal not just for getting that personal best, but also for taking in the glorious sights the city has to offer. But don’t just take my word for it, why, even the event organisers were promoting the event as “arguably the UK’s most beautiful 10K run.” As they went on to explain: “There’s no shortage of architectural ‘eye candy’ on this course; you’ll journey past the racecourse, along the fashionable Bishopthorpe Road, through the medieval city walls, across the River Ouse, past York Minster, through Goodramgate and on to Clifford’s Tower, past Rowntree Park and the old Terry’s factory on your route to the finish.” What’s not to like?
Both Andrew and Glenn squeezed themselves into the massive pack of 5,286 runners* on the starting line, and at 9.30 they were on their way.
Glenn and Andrew ran the Leeds 10k in times of 54:44 and 55:50 respectively, but here, with the conditions near perfect – they certainly weren’t running in the searing temperatures we encountered in Leeds – and on this super-fast course, one could have expected both runners to go faster. And indeed they did, with Andrew romping home in 51:57, testament to the amount of effort he’s been putting in recently, and Glenn finishing in 53:04, a more than satisfactory performance, for as he later admitted, it wasn’t so much about taking part, it was all about beating his buddy Keith Petty! And he did that by a minute-and-a half.
In a post-race interview, Andrew agreed that York was a great course, and though not necessarily easier than Leeds it was “nicer”. And of his time, he was “proper chuffed”, so much so that he treated himself to a right proper brekkie at Lucky Days Café.
Lucky days? Happy days, more like.
* The number of runners who completed the course.
Pumas’chip positions and times;
1428 Andrew Mellor 51:57
1587 Glenn Ackroyd 53:04