June 30th 2021 – Malvern Joggers 10k
Thanks to Jayne for this report on a great local race.
On Wednesday evening, seven Ledbury Harriers made the short journey over the hill to run the Malvern Joggers 10K. The race is run around Little Malvern and Castlemorton Common and whilst not on the hills, is still very hilly with some long climbs. The weather for the evening was hot and muggy but with rain earlier on in the week the ground was damp and in some places muddy.
The race started at their new starting point, just below the Little Malvern Priory. We had all been allocated pens in which to start based on our starting time. It had a great social feel and was a great opportunity to meet up with runners who we had not seen in many months.
The race is on various terrain, grass, gravel paths and roads and there are a couple of opportunities to see other runners running in the opposite direction. It takes in the quarry and if it hadn’t been fenced off, I would have been tempted to take a dip. After the quarry, you run down the road that runs through the common. I love this stretch, a great opportunity to stretch the legs out. Then, it is back up and then back down and then back up to the finish.
Do you remember the scene from the Vicar of Dibley, where Dawn French is romantically walking along with her new boyfriend and she splashes in what she thinks is a puddle which ends up to be a hole up to her chin. Well imagine that with mud. You now have a picture of me, running through Castlemorton common! I thought I was going to lose my much loved trainers but thankfully they survived.
Anyhow the bit your are probably wanting to know, the results:
40:02 – David Bannister
42.54 – Steve Rooke
48.06 – Martin Williams
48.48 – Chris Law (returning from injury)
64.01 – Rachel Bannister
80.24 – Deborah Band
83.50 – Jayne Cresswell
This is a fantastic race. Great marshalls and a really friendly atmosphere. The medal was great, made out of locally sourced slate. Let’s hope that next year we can be treated to the usual after race curry.