We’ve been busy at other races in recent weeks, obviously our Kirsty Robson was at both, and wrote up some first-hand reports for us…

Firstly, The Angel View Race – the name’s a bit of a giveaway! This one was introduced to us as it features on our club grand prix list. The (roughly) 5.5-mile race is a nice low key local event organised by Low Fell Running Club over a varied 2-lap terrain with hilly off-road sections. The compacted trails and small road section made up for a couple of challenging sections. Overgrown grassy fields and slippy slidey mud sections were a reminder of what’s to come later in the year when the cross-country season starts. The finish line takes in the iconic structure and a few of us were lucky to score for chocolate that was left over from the earlier junior events. Not to worry for those who missed out on a sweet treat.

Low Fell RC looked after us well and we were rewarded with a lovely buffet afterwards in the Angel View Hotel where the presentations took place and Kirsty Robson and Claire Thompson took away prizes for age category wins!

Secondly, The Anita Nott 5k women’s only race. This one is organised by Heaton Harriers in memory of Anita Nott, a member of Heaton Harriers who tragically lost her life in September 2006 whilst out on a training run. HH’s website tells us that Anita was an amazing lady who gave much to her club and was very keen to see women getting involved in running.

The course is an undulating 5k route starting and finishing on Armstrong Bridge over Jesmond Dene and goes through Jesmond Dene Park, Heaton Park and Armstrong Park. It was a warm evening as we went to collect our race numbers from The Corner House giving us a little warm up before heading to the start on the bridge, which was crowded and full of chat, just how you’d imagine when almost 500 ladies stand shoulder to shoulder. The there was a minute’s silence, as a mark of respect for Anita and you could’ve heard a pin drop. We then sped down into Jesmond Dene to a tunnel – woohoo! This was shortly followed by bridge crossings, the beginnings of the undulations and another visit to the tunnel. Heading over to Heaton Park the route goes under trees, past the pavilion and up up up to the entrance to the park at Heaton Park View.

For me, this brought back a memory of my first poor effort at training for the GNR in 1990 as I used to live very close by. What goes up, must come down and we were rewarded by an easier return to Armstrong Bridge and the finish line. The squash and chocolate treat we’re just what we needed to prep us for the walk back to The Corner House for presentations.

An unofficial addition that ladies make to this is a post-race ‘party/social in the park’ but, due to a change in venue from Millfield House in Jesmond Dene, our prosecco picnic didn’t go to plan. However, being classy birds, we didn’t let those bubbles go to waste and we supped on route of course!

This meant we were primed ready to raise a glass to congratulate our Bex Hewitson who won a prize on achieving an age category win.

As Anita was very keen to promote runners particularly veterans, the race has an extensive prize list to encourage everyone to take part. Anita herself welcomed the prize structures in local races that highlighted the strength in depth of the veteran field. I’d like to think of how proud Anita would be at the sight of the varied field of club runners, running their very hardest in all their colours through the beautiful parks in her memory. Our DVRC ladies did us proud.