By: Victoria Johnson

Race Date: 16th March, 2025.

My Duck Pond Podium.

I hadn’t really considered paying money to race a 5k until a week or so ago when I saw that the Wakefield Hospice 10k team were also putting on a 5k this year. This was a new experience for me – I’d raced 5ks as part of the parkrun cup and the Rother Valley Relays – but I’d never raced the distance at a paid event.

I also justified that, because the more serious runners would be taking on the 10k and the field for the 5k was only 200 people, I might have a chance at ranking highly in this race, so I happily parted with my £14 and turned up at the start line on the 16th of March at 9am.

The 5k and the 10k set off together, with the 5k runners turning around at the 2.9km mark and the 10k runners continuing onwards. I was concerned that there might be clashes, or I might miss the turn-around (as half my brain appears to shut off while I’m racing), but the turn-around was clearly signposted with several marshals and big pink signs.

While the race isn’t the flattest in the world (with an elevation of 42m according to my watch), the hills also weren’t particularly difficult to handle, with the exception of the 3rd hill (km 4) which had a bit of a sting in the tail at 5km pace.

I managed to set a new (42 second) PB at this race and was the third lady, netting me a Duck Pond Podium. Sadly, however, to my best knowledge there were no prizes for the 5k race. I did get a lovely pink t-shirt though, which was nice.

The course was well manned and supported, with plenty of marshals and lovely Wakefielders cheering us on from the sides. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning and I will probably do it again next year.

The male winner (of the 5k race) was Angus Eady of Totley AC with a chip time of 17:26, and the female winner was Isabella Tutt (who I want to point out is in the Junior age category – how incredible to win a race at this age!) of Wakefield District Harriers and AC with a chip time of 19:12.

The 10k race was won by Mark Bostock (Wakefield District H & AC) in 30:35 and Helen Ansell (Stadium Runners) in 38:17 .

Strider’s Result (5k):