Harriers end the Run Exe 5k series on a high

This year’s Ironbridge Runner 5km Series came to an end last week on Tuesday 3rd September. After 5 rounds over 5 months, the only hindrance to good times at this final round on the virtually flat course at Exwick in Exeter was a slight breeze, so it was disappointing that there were only 73 finishers. However, “you’ve got to be in it to win it” as they say and consistent performances over the summer enabled Exmouth Harriers Nigel Dupain (Men Over 60) and Dawn Teed (Women Over 50) to pick up first place prizes in their respective age categories.

Making his debut appearance at the event and, indeed, over the distance, at this fifth and final race was Marc Cox. Marc set an impressive inaugural PB over the 5k distance of 16:41 in finishing 3rd and you get the feeling that the steady increase in the quality of his performances will not be levelling out for a while yet. 

Further down the field Chris Dupain was 19th in 18:59. Chris has consistently dipped under the 19 minute barrier this season and was rewarded with a very commendable 5th place in the senior men's category as a result. Richard Hawes was 21st in 19:14 and this gave him 3rd Man Over 45 in the series overall. Both Chris's and Rich's times were a little outside the PBs they set recently but the slight wind and a smaller field than usual could be enough to account for that. 

Dave Eveleigh’s PB days are long behind him (his own words!) but he was happy enough with a time of 21:11 in 47th place and 3rd Man Over 55 on the night. Indeed he should be as it's not too far adrift of the times he was running there last year and is well up on the times he was recording 2 to 3 years ago.

Nigel Dupain (Men over 60) was 60th overall on the night in 22:54 and Dawn Teed (Women Age 50-54) placed 64th overall in (23:29) but both were first in their age group on the night and for the series.

The winter equivalent of this Series, over 3km on the track, starts on 28th October at Exeter Arena. It's a good leg sharpener to keep the speed ticking over during the winter months and also counts for the 1st category on the club championship. Why not give it a go?!