From Petra Bijsterveld…
Six Ilkley Harriers made the short journey to the Brownlee circuit at Bodington Fields tonight for the second race in the 2023 Leeds Evensplits 5k series. Looking at the results the series is gaining wider traction on the Northern running scene as there were quite a few runners from beyond the immediate area, especially at the pointy end of the race. Not surprising as despite not being flat it is a very good course to run fast on, and the no-frills approach works very well. I really just go for the Snickers bar (other brands are on offer) at the end :)!
It was windy tonight, we had the wind against us on the downhill for a change, but the threatened rain held off. Star of the show was Rachel Barnicoat who ran a one minute and 20 seconds 5k PB on her first ever appearance at Evensplits, truly going from strength to strength. Matt Cox and Dave Foyston were 1st and 2nd in their category. I had only entered yesterday and was still not sure what my legs could do just 10 days after a 50 miler, but they stepped up to the task and I managed to shave another 7 seconds off my previous 5k PB from last month, which I was delighted with.
(1 15:24 Alex Birkett, Salford Harriers)
8 16:48 Matt Cox 1st MV45
12 17:14 Dave Foyston 2nd MV45
22 18:07 Mike Abrams-Cohen
42 19:26 Ruth Kitchen
81 23:52 Petra Bijsterveld 1st FV60
96 26:39 Rachel Barnicoat
107 ran