The Altrincham 10k (17 September 2023) and more

Above: this morning's sunshine in De Quincey Park has an autumnal feel.

Luckily, it remains just about warm enough to attend running events in t-shirt and shorts without getting cold. On Saturday some of the 289 participants at Wythenshawe parkrun took the opportunity to jog slowly round the course by way of a 'warm up' for Sunday's 10km race around Altrincham.

Richard, today's Run Director, addresses the masses

The finish area was pretty quiet by the time I got there...

Full results are here.

On Sunday, Paul joined me in Altrincham. Others had excuses  - "bike ride to an unknown destination" (Jeanette); "visiting parents in Birmingham" (Sue); "doing a 20 mile training run" (Laura), but others were spotted amongst the 2000+ starters - Zoe, Sheila, Louise, Colin, and more.

While Paul was warming up, I took a few photos around the starting area in the middle of Altrincham:

Then we had a selfie before Paul went up to his starting position whilst I rested and started from the very back.

It's an easy course, mainly flat, on roads with which I'm familiar, even passing a memorable house in Shay Lane whose occupant involved me in an episode that generated mention in Private Eye (fame at last, though not necessarily of a desired nature!).

I chatted to a few folk on the way round, including Louise from Stretford Road Dental, and the last 2km went very quickly thanks to chatting with a complete stranger, Bianca, from Cape Town, who was welcomed at the finish by her husband, a strapping lad who is contracted to play rugby for Sale Sharks. We hope to see them at a Wythenshawe parkrun in the future. It was good to meet you, Bianca.

 

Here's the route:

I managed an even pace for a finishing time of 1:06:45 - position 1784 out of 2147, 9th out of the 11 V70 men taking part. Paul excelled by finishing in 43:55 - 2nd out of 18 in the V65 category. We enjoyed coffee and cake in Hale afterwards with Rufus.

Then I adjourned to Adlington for a discussion with Reg about his autobiography, and a lovely selection of curries prepared by Saro.