Eight Wakefield MAG members helped support Wakefield Hospice with their 18th Annual City 10K Road Race, on Sunday 14th April. The Wakefield Hospice 10K is a big fixture in the running calendar, attracting seriously good runners, as well as being a major fund raiser for the Wakefield Hospice. This years event was sponsored by Harratts, Wakefield's Renault & Volvo dealership, and they had brought ten cars along with them to show off on the Clarence Park arena, together with the official race car. They also showcased a couple of new Renault electric runabouts. Nice concept but given the limited protection from the elements, together with a modest range before it needs plugging in again, I think I'll stick with the bike !!!!
Steve & Justine were there at 08:00 for the race briefing, from Danielle Cain, the new Events Fundraiser at the Hospice. Chas, Martin, Jagster, Sandie, Terry & Sharon all arrived by 08:30 with the race itself starting at 09:00. Our role is to act as mobile race marshals, ensuring the safety of the tail end competitors, once the road had been re-opened to traffic - the road is only closed for an hour maximum, and although the bulk of runners would be finished whilst the road was still closed, a good number of runners (walkers !!!) would still be on the course, hence the requirement for mobile marshals (that's us !!) to ensure their safety.
We left the start area at 08:50 to take up position on the course. We had great conditions with morning sunshine but with strong headwinds, which would have made the runners legs ache with the extra effort. The race was started by BBC Look North newsreader Harry Gration, at bang on 09:00, led by a police van and it wasn't long before the lead runners came storming past us.
The bulk of the runners then passed, followed by the tail police van, and then it was our cue to spring into action to marshal the tail-enders.
The race was won by Ian McBride of Royton Road Runners in a time of 32 minutes and 13 seconds. Second and third places went to Adam Peers and Patrick Gardiner respectively. The first woman across the finish line, with a time of 35 minutes and 42 seconds, was Helen Singleton of Wakefield H&AC.
After about 45 minutes traffic was being progressively allowed onto the road, so we took it in turns to ride the course, park up and observe and make sure the runners/walkers were safe. We were certainly needed as various competitors kept alternating between pavement and road, blissfully unaware of the re-opened road and traffic coming up behind them !!!! Jagster had to fetch an ambulance for one competitor who was eternally grateful for his swift action.
After about an hour and a half, we had safely escorted the vast majority of the remaining competitors to the finish line and their own personal glories !!! Justine was back marker and escorted the tail end competitor, Michelle Longley, to her coveted last place with a time of 1 hour and 48 minutes - a cracking effort though, and she steadfastly refused to give up !!!
For the first time mascots took part in their own 100 metre race and the dash was narrowly won by Wakefield Wildcats mascot, Daddy Cool.
Youngsters and fancy dress runners also competed in a 1K Fun Run.
There were 1,330 entries into the 2013 10K race making it one of the biggest fields in recent years. The Hospice hope to raise £40,000 from the event, which equates to about 6 days running costs for the entire Hospice.
Following our obligatory team photo, we all headed our separate ways.
A huge thanks to Steve, Justine, Chas, Martin, Jagster, Sandie, Terry and Sharon for helping to marshal this years race, and for the very early Sunday morning start (ridiculously early for Steve, Justine, Chas, Terry and Sharon who had also had a very early start (and late finish) to attend the previous days MAG AGC - not a lot of sleep that weekend).
It is great to be able to support our local charity in a non-monetary way, and in a way which is so very useful to them. We have helped the hospice marshal their prestigious 10K race for a good number of years now, and long may it continue.
We have since received a very nice Thank You letter from the Hospice:
Dear Steve and all at Wakefield MAG,
I would like to extend my huge thanks and appreciation for your help and support at the 2013 10K Road Race. Once again the event was a huge success with over 1,330 entrants taking part and raising money for the hospice.
Due to the scale of the 10K, the Hospice would not be able to host such an event without your support, and to offer your services free of charge allows us to save much needed funds that ultimately benefit our patients and the care they receive.
We are confident at all times that our runners are in safe hands when out on route, knowing that they are carefully being looked after from start to finish. It was a please to work with you as you are so confident in what you do.
Helping us to organise such a professional event, encourages our runners to return and take part next year, ensuring a successful event for years to come.
From your help and support, we hope to raise a fantastic £40,000, the equivalent to funding the hospice running costs for approximately 6 days.
Thank you once again for all your support and I hope you can join us for next year's event on Sunday 13th April 2014.
Kind Regards
Danielle Cain
Event Fundraiser
Helen Knowles
Director of Fundraising