Borders League: Ellesmere Port

I wasn’t quite sure what a Borders League was, but I saw mention of it at the various places where the Eryri Harriers put their information. The races tend to be quite far away! But also, it became clear it was a club thing, and I tend to be attracted to competing for something that is bigger than me. I hoped to do the first one of 2025, which was conveniently nearby, but it got cancelled because of awful weather. So then it would be the second, in the metropole of Capenhurst, near Ellesmere Port, just over an hour away. 

I had asked on the appropriate website whether anyone wanted to car share, but I only got a request for a ride back from the race. There were 13 Harriers signed up! So that response was not much. But more than nothing. I drove up alone and marvelled at the crowds of runners already flocking to race HQ. There were so many! Even though this was only open to clubs! 

I parked up and started walking to HQ. Along the way I met Anna, who was the club contact person for this race, and Sam, who would be my passenger on the way back. At HQ I first went to the loo, and then socialised a bit with the other Harriers. I found out a bit more how it all works. And I stripped down to shorts and my club vest. It was too warm to wear more! And soon after that we all went to the start. 

Blurry club pic

With this stellar turnout I was not going to start at the front. So when the starting signal was given, I was in a crowd. That was okay! It wasn't a slow crowd. And I quickly could go at my own pace. And I had imagined things to be very competitive, but, of course, like everywhere else you end up running with people who run at the same speed as you. It's just that everybody is wearing a club shirt!

The first lap went quite fast. And when I got to the last 2 miles I was wondering who I could still overtake. There were women in sight! And I managed to get past several of them. When I got quite close to the finish I overtook a lady from Chester Triathlon Club. And then saw a Deeside lady I might just about pass before the path would get narrow near the finish. And I did get past her as well! But while I was doing that, the Chester lady came sprinting past. She left us in her dust. And that is how we finished.

Entering the second lap

I seem to have a canine admirer

Approaching the finish just ahead of the Deeside lady

I got my finishing token, and had a small chat with other finishers. Then I went to have my results documented. And did a bit more chatting with fellow Harriers. And then it was time to put on another layer and head home. Sam agreed. 

We chatted the whole way to Llanfairfechan. And then I was almost home. 

I had enjoyed that! And I had met my expectations. I had figured I’d need 35 minutes, and that was indeed the case. And my Strava said I had set a new PB on the 5K of 21:14. I clearly hadn’t done a Parkrun in years! But I had to wait for the official results to know more. I had done 34:39, and finished as 38th woman out of 125. Not bad! And the Eryri Women had a chance of promotion; had we got closer to that? I think so! Our result had been the best of the season. And I figured I should do the next Borders League race as well…