Friday 4th July saw the latest in the excellent series of evening 5k road races organised by Danum Harriers.  The event is based at the cycle track next to Doncaster Dome and consists of 5 laps of the track with a short run-in at the end. There are two races over the evening with the first race for people aiming to run sub 21 minutes.  This year’s event also featured the Yorkshire Veterans 5k championship.

The course is pancake flat and ideal for a fast time, although strong winds and some unseasonable rain took the edge off performances.  It was definitely an evening for tucking in behind other runners.

All photos from the DonFaster 5k Facebook page

Four Striders took part on the night, all competing in the sub 21 minute race.  John Kilcoyne has been threatening Adrian Fisher’s M45 club record of 17.21 for a while, coming within 3 seconds of it in Chesterfield a few weeks back.  He was tantalisingly close again at Doncaster, clocking 17.29 for 23rd place overall – maybe a less windy evening would have seen him inside the record.  I’m sure he’ll be having another crack at it soon.  John also finished third M45 in the Yorkshire Vets competition.

Leah Epton has been posting some excellent parkrun times recently, and was pleased to take 10 seconds of her 5k PB, finishing in 58th position, and 3rd female overall in 19.24.

For Jed Turner and myself, this was our first individual road race in the M65 age group so we both had an eye on Dave Beech’s club record of 22.19.  We were both pleased to finish inside the record and sub-20 minutes, claiming 2nd and 3rd places in the Yorkshire Vets competition.

Striders Results: