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