An intrepid 20 JJ’s set their alarm clocks extra early and rendezvoused at a cold dark Osbourne Road on Sunday to catch a 6.30 coach to York. The dawn was rising as we arrived at York racecourse in time to brave the toilet queues and assemble on the start line. We were joined by some other JJ’s who had travelled separately and Joe Inns whose family live on the route and were out cheering the JJ’s on and taking photos of every JJ they could spot. The weather cold but  with no wind or frost. Perfect running conditions for January.

24 JJ’s lined up on the well organised start line. Runners were placed according to their target times with highly visible pacers to help with hitting target. The race started quietly and quickly at 10.00. The pack moving quickly on closed roads. The hump of a railway bridge caused little difficulty on the outward leg of the otherwise pan flat course but hit back on the return leg taking its toll on tired runners. Thumbs were up for the race photographer at the half way point.  The marshals and spectators cheered us all around a superfast traffic free rural course until the end was in sight.

First JJ to finish was Ali Maxwell placed 81st in 1.16.81 behind  77th placed former JJ Joe Cherry at 1.16.12 with a PB. More JJ’s followed thick and very fast with Jonny Law at 1.17.28 (another PB), former JJ, Molly Pace leading the ladies at 1.21.26 (another PB), Tom Dowling at 1.25 and Joe Inns at 1.25.20. Toms efforts earning him a bruised and bloody ankle from some unpleasant chafing. The writer was nicely paced by Mark Adamson around the course and finished in 1.32.28 closely followed by Mark himself who was suffering on the last mile finishing on 1.33.17. Laura Chapman scored a PB with her time of 1.35.40. Rob Mulligan was close behind followed by Niran Patel bravely struggling against cramps and chafing in the last few miles. Simon Wells finished strongly at 1.37.40. After that JJ’s finished thick and fast: Emilio Varquez 1.38.02, Geoff Blair 1.39.45, Megan Rolland 1.40.21, Sabrina Kapur 144.33, Kate Black 1.47.09, Emily Pass 1.48, Catherine Johnson 1.48.10, Beth Deutsch coming in on target at 1.48.15, Kate Robson 1.48.21, Sophie Reynolds 1.50.07, David Newman 2.03.32. Martyn Collins closed the book at 2.05.12. Everyone finished well before the course cut off time of 2.45. The organisers provided race t-shirts and plentiful Yorkie bars. Weary JJ’s then boarded the coach home. Some slept, some refuelled with sandwiches, beer  and homemade cheese scones. It had been a day worth getting up early for with plenty of PB’s in the bag.

Cliff Veitch

 

81st                 Alistair Maxwell          01:16:31          37th Snr Male             

101st               Jonathan Law              01:17:28          43rd Snr Male             

265th              Tom Dowling               01:25:00          29th M45                    

275th              Joe Inns                       01:25:20          87th Snr Male 

450th              Cliff Veitch                  01:32:28          21st M55                     

470th              Mark Adamson           01:33:17          111th Snr Male            

519th              Laura Chapman           01:35:40          27th Snr Female                      

531st               Robert Mulligan          01:35:58          119th Snr Male

561st               Niran Patel                  01:36:55          123rd Snr Male

582nd              Simon Wells                01:37:40          49th M50        

599th              Emilio Vazquez            01:38:02          128th Snr Male            

660th              Geoffrey Blair              01:39:45          11th M60                    

673rd              Megan Rowland          01:40:21          39th Snr Female                      

781st               Sabrina Kapur             01:44:43          44th Snr Female                      

837th              Kate Black                   01:47:09          14th F50                      

849th              Emily Pass                   01:48:00          50th Snr Male            

855th              Catherine Johnson      01:48:10          51st Snr Female                      

860th              Beth Deutsch              01:48:15          52nd Snr Female                     

863rd              Kate Robson                01:48:21          53rd Snr Female                      

919th              Sophie Reynolds         01:50:07          63rd Snr Female                      

1161st             David Newman           02:03:32          32nd M60                    

1186th             Martyn Collins             02:05:12          100th M50