Race report Hannah Lupton

This used to be a regular on the club race calendar as it’s a low key, friendly 10k with money going to the hosts, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School in Ripon. In recent years not many members have entered so I was pleased to see a good group of us entered into this race.

It’s been 10 years since I did this race, back then I was 10 years younger, significantly lighter and was more used to running shorter distances. So my aim was to enjoy myself, run all the hills and finish in under 1:05. My last finish time was a few seconds over the hour and I bet I was cursing not being under the hour back then.

The route has changed a little since I last did it and I set off at a good pace knowing that I’d get a quick breather when we crossed the single file bridge about a mile in. Except this is where the route differed and we crossed the stream by a different bridge and there was no breather. I decided I best slow down a bit as I knew there was hill coming, I would compare it to the big field hill, deceptively hilly and keeps going. I was pleased to get to the top without stopping and cracked on keeping ex member Chris Wordsworth in my sights as if he’s not on form I can often beat him and if he is on from I’m usually around his time. I was also aware that both Maddy and Rachel would soon catch me up as I’d done my usual and gone off too quick.

I was pleased to get to the drinks station as it was an unusually warm morning and I need hydration, plus it’s the turn around point. Rachel breezed past me as I was enjoying my drink and I kept on her tail as long as I could be another mile later and I was losing her.

The rest of the race for me was a matter of keeping going as quick as I could and waiting for Maddy to catch me. Soon I was back to the school fields and with gritted my teeth to get to the finish line as quick as I could. It was lovely to see Mick and Mark cheering me in and another ex-member Liz Wordsworth encouraging me to sprint finish at the end.

I didn’t beat Chris Wordsworth but I managed to keep Maddy at bay. I enjoyed the route, ran the hills and was sub 1:05, very happy with myself.

1^st – Jack Simpson,  38:40 –  Unattached

1^st Female – Nik Tarrega, 42:11- Tadcaster Harriers

For Otley

Mick Jeffrey – 53:03

Mark Davis – 57:21

Samantha Guy – 57:46

Rachel Crossdale – 1:02:46

Hannah Lupton – 1:03:58

Madeline Delucchi – 1:05:12

Lesley Patchett – 1:12:52

Debbie Birkley – 1:18:50

Thomas Hannah – 1:25:14

Online race results