Race Date 15th April 2022
Back in 2019, sitting in the pub with the beer talking and the world a very different place we were discussing target races for 2020. For those not running a marathon Salford came up with it being claimed to be the fastest, flattest course in the UK. (Lots of prizes and a bounty for breaking the 29:32 course record).
As it turned out 2020 never happened and neither did 2021 so when it came to 2022, plans had changed. On-line transfer completed, Good Friday saw me driving over the Snake with Bob (M65, NDRC) as we compared recent afflictions including a cough that wouldn’t go away, sore knee, sore hip, stomach upset, Novovirus, bits of a mouse left behind by the cat and of course a dose of Covid.
The Salford 10k is a no frills club race without t-shirt, medal or razamataz although each finisher did get a Cadbury’s Crème Egg. With two laps of an indeed pancake flat course starting from Salford Sports Village I couldn’t describe it as fast however with a poor road surface and competitors being bumped up onto the pavement for long sections. Part of the route reminded me of Carlisle Street through a grimy industrial area with a skip lorry trying to force its way past. It’s difficult to stage road races these days, especially in built up areas.
Driving home afterwards with the 21st Century breathing down our necks, we discussed the efficacy of human existence. In 2019 Cusworth 10k was four minutes quicker than today’s effort whilst Bob who had run 71 mins and won his age category in the historic Brampton Ten had fared even worse. We talked about getting the new fangled cheating shoes but decided we look ridiculous enough as it is
Postponed for two years there were the options of refund or transfer. Salford Harriers were formed in 1884 and their red vest with white sash is frequently seen to the fore in events such as the 12 stage relays.
Later, looking at the official results there appeared to be a way out as the transfer hadn’t gone through and one of the 2019 boozers would have my time on his Power of Ten. I take a dim view of swapping race numbers however so an email to John Schofield at UK Results saw official results and Power of Ten amended within half an hour. What brilliant service.
| Name | Cat | Posn | Time |
| Peter Brown | M60 | 260 | 47:59 |
Official results Salford 10k 2022 Results Winners were V. Urquhart Smangs (29:50) and Scout Adkin (34:42) 438 finishers, 80% of which were wearing club vests.