Sport in the Port

Sport in the Port – 21^st June, 2015

It was a rather dull and windy Father’s Day, which saw 7 Buckley Runners line up with around 1000 others for the “Sport in the Port” 10k around Ellesmere Port.

It is promised to be a flat and fast race, with good PB potential. I have heard quite a few people mention this race and it had clearly drawn in a good field of local Club Runners. I personally was very keen to do it having missed last year’s race.

Roads were closed at 9am, which meant having to get there really early and it seemed like a long time hanging around. However after the kid’s 1m race completed, the race finally got under way at 10am prompt.

The race starts and finishes between the Civic Hall and the Port Arcade and then proceeds out of Ellesmere Port towards Cheshire Oaks. It is pretty much an out and back race which goes in almost a full circle, the 5k point being a few hundred yards from the start at the West Cheshire College.

The race had a fast start, with the first mile taking us past Whitby Park before cutting through a housing estate. Before long, miles 2 and 3 passed, they were still relatively fast but it didn’t seem as flat as suggested.

With the race going through housing estates mainly, there was support all of the way around, however there was a large build up at the 5k point, clearly a benefit of having it so close to the start.

I know a few of us from the club were really hoping for good times in this race with it being a fast race, I was personally chasing my fist sub 40 minute 10k but really found the 2^nd half harder. There was no denying the effect the wind was having on the way back, there was much more of a headwind and was adding precious time to the mile splits, especially in mile 4.

Before long we were heading back on the other side of Whitby Park and were meeting the 5k runners who had set off 20 minutes after the 10k. For me this last mile was really tough and energy was really starting to wane, but picking off some of the 5k runners helped spur things on.

The big cheer from Jane Lindley at the end who was spectating really helped, with one last push and before you know it there was the final straight.

Results on the day are as follows (based on Chip Times & Positions)

Chris Myles – 32^nd – 36:38

Eric Campbell – 40^th – 37:34

Gareth Houghton – 79^th – 39:45

Steve Bellis – 113^th – 41:27

Samantha Dutton – 172^nd – 43:12

Dave Wootton – 292^nd – 46:29

Amanda Mountford – 600^th – 53:36