Race date: Sunday 17th August 2025

Race report by Tony Bell

A run down Memory Lane in my home town of Warrington. A great race organised by a different bunch of striders, Spectrum Striders running club, my first club. I first ran this race in 1984 and have run or volunteered at this event many times. It is always nice to go home to run the race.

A very early start to drive to Warrington, I got there in good time. Got my race number and 1.3km warmup, feeling a bit tired. After last weekend’s racewalk I didn’t feel very well at the start of the week. It was only Friday when I decided to run. I deliberately started right at the back, 45s to cross the start line. Very slow start but gradually speeded up as I worked my way through. Feeling tired by 3km, it was a warm day, kept working my way through. 25.37 at 5km, which is a decent parkrun these days.

Kept passing to 6km but then runners started to come past me. I didn’t try and follow them, I didn’t want to push too hard. Hard work over the 3 motorway bridges 7-9km, the only real hills on the course. Maintained pace to the end, lots of runners zoomed past in the last 400m. Over the line in 51.54 (chip) 52.39 (gun). First time slower than 50 minutes at Birchwood, I once ran 13 minutes faster at this race!

Tired on finishing, a reasonable run in the conditions.

The race was won by John Joe Doherty of Liverpool Harriers & AC in 31:54. The first woman home was Alyssa Davey of Sale Harriers Manchester in 37.28.