Perfect conditions bring a pan-full of PBs at Run Exe 5k

On Tuesday (4 June) seven Exmouth runners lined up for the second round of the Ironbridge Runnner Summer 5km Series races held on the usual “pancake-flat” course at Flower Pots playing fields in Exwick. In complete contrast to last month, where the runners were greeted with blustery conditions and an almightly downpour before the race that had left some sizable puddles to navigate on the course, this month conditions for running could not have been more perfect. A warm - but not too hot - evening with clear skies and about as little wind as you will ever get on the river bank meant that fast times were up for grabs if the runners were prepared to work for them. The excellent conditions lured 107 runners out from their lairs and, as might be expected, for runners who were tackling their second race in the series, their times were considerably improved from the May round.

The talented Johnny Gilby was a runaway winner, but Harriers' new signing, Rob Orton, paced himself intelligently and emerged out of a chasing pack of 3 to surge onward in the final kilometer claim 2nd spot in a fantastic sub-16, new PB time of 15:51. Unfortunately for the Harriers, we are about to lose Rob almost as soon as we have acquired him, as he prepares to head back to France for the summer season. Before the Erme Valley Relays as well: kuh! Talk about bad timing! ;-) But he will be back later in the season and, with some good summer's training behind him, we should see more super fast times from this new kid on the block!

While it is unlikely to be a question which troubles Richard Hawes himself, his Harriers club-mates might want to speculate as to whether they see him as the singing runner or the running singer. On Friday night, Rich was entertain friends and club members with his other past time by performing some fantastic live music at the Swan Inn in Lympstone. On the Tuesday evening though, Richard was chalking up another running success as he set yet another new PB over the 5km distance with his first ever sub 19 minute clocking; 18:57 for 27th place overall and 4th MV45 (a tough category on the night, headed up by the ever-consistent Mike Feighan). 

Chris Dupain has been racing regularly recently and, if tonight's perfomance is any indication, he must have been training very regularly too as his time of 19:12 - giving him 30th place overall - was also a new PB.

Chris was followed home by Andrew Johnson, who takes part in this 5k series year on year and is always consistent with times that never get any slower, despite the passing years. On this occasion he ran very strongly to clock 20:19 for 43rd spot and 5th MV45. 

Emma Dupain was 60th in 21:23; this was a massive improvement on her round 1 time of almost a minute and, if the grin on her face at the finish line was anything to go by, she was justifiably pleased with her performance. 

Dad, Nigel Dupain, runs a little in the shadow of his offspring these days, but his time of 23:27, putting him in 63rd place for 5km, is in fact very good for a man over 60 and would give his progeny a run for their money on an age-graded scoring system! It will also be encouraging for the junior Dupain generation to know that they have good genes and that they could still be competitive at this running lark in 30 or so years time!

Encouraged / persuaded / told (delete as applicable, depending on who you get the story from!) to have a go at a fast, flat 5k for her club championship portfolio, Dawn Teed ran a stormer to post a time of 24:18 for 82nd place overall and 2nd female over 50. May this new category that she has just ventured into bring her much success and increased age-graded percentage points!

Unfortunately, Mike Musgrove was forced to retire with a calf pull: a sensible move as he caught it early on before he did any real damage to it.... some of us (myself at the top of that list!) could learn a lot from him!

Well done to all the Harriers who ran: next round is Tuesday 2nd July. Remember, section 2 of the club championship is 5ks: points up for grabs!

Happy Harriers after the sunny June round of the Run Exe 5k

L - R: Andy Johnson, Dawn Teed (ladies captain), Emma Dupain, Nigel-Pops-Dupain, Chris Dupain, Rob Orton