Ninth of June, in the Toon, with a bottle of broon

There was a canny Wallsend contingent assembled at the Bigg Market on another warm ninth of June.

The annual Blaydon Race continues to be one of the most popular runs on the North East calendar and it’s easy to see why: a relatively fast course, great atmosphere, plenty of supporters and stotties and brown ale to greet all finishers at the end – Geordie tradition at its best.

I love hearing all the familiar songs at the start: Fog on the Tyne, Run for Home (always brings a tear to my eye), Blaydon Races (of course, and one day I will master all the words!) It gives the thousands of runners a great send off.

It’s always hard not to get carried away at the start and as usual the atmosphere overtook my senses and I shot off like the overexcited competitor (who still never learns) I am. But the conditions were good and I was feeling on form so I kept gannin’ along the Scotswood Road at a decent pace (for me that is) until pretty much the Scotswood Bridge. Thankfully I had Mrs Ironman herself Leanne to spur me on. The hairpin was a delight on the way down but a predictable displeasure on the way up. Fortunately seeing my tenacious team mates on both sides of the tape was welcome motivation.

The blue finish was in sight and thankfully earlier than I had anticipated. It’s been a good couple of years since I did Blaydon (babies getting in the way again) so I was delighted to smash my PB, until I realised the course was different and indeed shorter than the last time I did it. I think in previous years it has been 5.9 miles. This year seemed to be around the 5.7 mark so I’m guessing a fair few others got PBs too!

Well done to everyone who took part and to our supporters (let’s have more next year though please!) A special mention must go to our first male, Matt ‘the Tash’ Darbyshire, who finished in a fantastic 31.35 and the sensational Sarah Robson, our first female, in 37.15. Some of us even made it into the Chron, although of course we are just a blur!

Full results here:

https://www.resultsbase.net/event/3268/participants?round=6396&search=wallsend+harriers

 

Emily