Hogmanhoway 5k

We entered Steve Crams newest race, the above named 5k. He had secured most of the Newcastle University Estates roads and some of Newcastle City Streets for this evening affair in deepest Midwinter. 

The number of entrants had swollen to around 1800. This probably reflected the need for many folk to do something other than getting bladdered and eat stuff on Hogmanay. There was an accompanying elite race with around 15 in the mens and the same number in the womens races. I was not surprised to have been passed over this time for the elite race, what with just getting over the lurgy thats going around. It s been some time since I did sub 15 (like never). With a first prize of two grand, there was no shortage of fast lads and lassies who flew around the 3 lapper. The plebs on the other hand were asked to experience a different course. It was quite a tortuous affair involving swithchbacks, sharp turns and so on. This baffling circuitous route was countered only by the relative flatness of the terrain. Twenty quid got you a number and a medal, buff and 'goody bag' at the end. There was also alcoholic and non-alcoholic warm mulled wine which was very welcome, given that the temperature was a midgies-didgie over zero degrees with a perky biting northerly wind. Still on the recovery path, I was hoping for a sub-21, but it was going to require a bloody minded effort. The consequences of failing to do a sub-21 were that I would do a 21 something, so the vapour clouds which I exhaled probably gave off an air of algid apathy. I didn't bother to remove my tights and kept my woolly hat and gloves on. 

We watched the elite race, which was entertaining. I tried to run along parallel with Beattie as he darted his way to a sub 14 minute win, but even at a flat out sprint effort, I was dropped. We lined up at the Civic Centre and I dumped my trackie top, tying it to a handrail. The bloke on the microphone was trying his best to keep folk jovial as they stood outside in the refrigerator and slowly turned blue, but the wait soon came to an end and it took me only 10 seconds to get over the start line. I was joined by Mike from the club and we ran together for a while, before I pushed on ahead. However, he was, I suspect, sat just behind me and not breathing quite as hard or gurgling along with a chestful of mucus, unlike me. The field went back and forth, round, up and down the streets, the super-cooled wind channeling between the buildings to give you a helpful push or an unwelcome dose of wind chill and red nose. Around 4k, Mike came past me. However, I didn't chase him as I was done in and also unsure how far into the race we were. Turns out we were just about done and he crossed the line around 10 seconds ahead of me. It was a sub-21, but only just, and after waiting for Missus Mac, who went sub 30, we repaired to a hostelry for a modest imbibement. It was a surprise that we could get served straight away on Hogmanay, and this probably shows how frail the hospitality business is presently. Either way it was a good event and one we might do again next year.