Four races, two weeks and mixed terrain, the HPRC Grand Prix series offered varied challenges across 5K, 5 miles, 4 miles and 10K routes in scenic Nottingham locations.
Race 1: 5K at Nottingham Embankment
The series opened with the 5K at Nottingham Embankment, where Sylv Hull was the sole GRC representative in around 400 runners.
The evening began somewhat biblically, with dark skies and heavy showers. Fortunately, the rain eased before the race got underway, leaving the air warm and humid.
Sylv was pleased to run an evenly paced race, dodging the odd tree root and duck poo to cross the line in 24:39, building a little bit of race confidence.
Race 2: 5 Miles at Colwick Country Park
Just two days later, the action moved to Colwick Country Park for the 5-mile event. With lakes, tree-lined paths and stretches of road, the route offered plenty of variety. This time Sylv was joined by Kev Wallace and Ross Warden, both keen to do something a little different with their evening.
Ross was first back for the club, finishing strongly in 35:17 after another impressively even effort. Having focused more on longer distances recently, he was pleasantly surprised by both his pace and result. Kev followed in a solid 37:38, while Sylv crossed the line in 41:35, netting a 5-mile PB despite a slight wobble in mile four.
Race 3: 4 Miles at Rushcliffe Country Park
Race three took place the following week on a very hot Tuesday evening at Rushcliffe Country Park. The 4-mile course was largely trail, taking runners around trees and the lake and finishing on grass.
Ross was again first back for GRC, although he admitted that pacing four miles took a little figuring out after setting off at something closer to 5K pace. Once the initial excitement settled, he held on well to finish in 28:52: a strong result given both the heat and the nature of the course.
Kev found it difficult to settle into a rhythm in the conditions and wisely focused on getting through the race, finishing in 31:18.
Rounding off the GRC trio, Sylv finished in 33:58 on her first outing over the distance. Given the challenge of the heat and trails, she was pleased with how she ran.
Overall Impressions
All three runners praised the organisation of the races and the settings. The mix of distances made the series a refreshing change from the usual races, and the free, plentiful race photos were a bonus. Definitely a series to recommend.
Photos by Chris Hill Photos, Colin Brearley and Ed Mayes Photography