The view from the back

It’s that time of year where the weather is on the turn and the Frostbite series returns. Now, if there is such a thing as a “typical” Frostbite runner I’m pretty sure I’m not it, even when I was “my” fast I was slow! That said, I’ve done them before and after a few years going AWOL I decided I’d give them another go.

Hosting race one were Riverside Runners at Priory Park, St Neots. St Neots is only about 35 minutes down the A1 and Carol Cook picked me up nice and early to ensure we could get Claire and Noah en route and still make it in time to support our fantastic juniors who started at 9:45. Well done juniors, a great turnout and a great run from you all.

Parking at the venue is limited with only about 35 spaces but Riverside Runners had organised two alternative car parks for us. We parked at Longsands Academy, which is less than a half mile walk away. Finding our team mates was no issue thanks to the Freeman family taking responsibility for the flag this season and it was flapping away nicely in the wind. Bags were dropped, team mates greeted, supporters thanked and team WJ photo taken before we headed to the start.

The seniors course is approximately 5.2 miles around the park. Being one of the slowest I held back and let the fast guys and gals jostle for a place at the front. 10:30am and we’re off. Starting on grass I try to take it steady but as always go off too fast which I regret later. Within the first mile there’s very few people I can see ahead of me, they’re all long gone and there’s not too many behind me. Those I could see ahead of me I kept in sight as we entered into a small wooded area with nice soft earth to run on. Out back onto the grass and up the hill, for the first of three times, then back to the start for lap two. 

Now this is where I start to worry as I know that the next wooded area I’ll enter is longer, narrower and plenty of tree roots to trip on. All whilst the front runners are lapping those of us at the back. I needn’t have worried. Almost everyone warned us as they passed, many thanked us for keeping left so that they could pass on the right. Even better so many of them gave a “well done” or other words of encouragement as they passed. I couldn’t thank them! I couldn’t talk!

By the time I enter lap 3, with the blooming hill to look forward to the final time I know that whilst not as quick as I was last time I ran a Frostbite I was doing better than I expected. Finally, I’m on the home straight and as I approach the finish line I even manage a little sprint and am blown away by the number of people supporting and waiting for us slower runners to cross the line.

Werrington had a great turn out but there were a few faces missing. Hopefully, they were just giving this one a miss in preparation for the Great Easter Run next weekend. As a club we picked up 1050 race points which put us in sixth position out of the 16 clubs that ran. A great start and now we move on to Race 2 hosted by Bushfield Joggers at Nene Park on the 2nd November. If you haven’t ran one before please think about giving it a go and if you have ran one before but couldn’t make Priory Park I hope to see you in November…Werrington Joggers your club needs you.

Thanks for your support today. It really does mean so much.

Denise x