Despite it being a Sunday I’m at the Haling Dene Centre just after 7:30am to set-up for the Penkridge Fun Run and Fun Day. We know it’s going to be a busy day, before the day starts there are over 500 registered runners and we can only allow 550 to run. So there are only a few places left for on the day registrants.
First tasks are to get the grounds ready, the scaffolding suppliers arrive and build the start - finish gantry. The outside broadcast unit from TheWolf arrives and establishes connectivity back to the studios in Wolverhamption. The start-finish straight is marked out and taped off and the drinks station positioned, and the finishing medals unboxed. St John’s Ambulance arrive and take their position at the first aid point. Round the course direction signs are temporarily erected, and marshals from Penkridge ATC positioned ready to guide the runners.
Meanwhile the Fun Day team have delivered and distributed the tables for all the stalls. This year there are over 30 stalls, from a wide range of local groups. Each team’s volunteers arrives with various games, gadgetry, goods for sale and goodies to win. Round Table has it’s infamous mega-barbecue on the go, whilst tabler’s wives are already busy on the face painting stall.
Back inside the first runners are arriving for their race numbers. By ten-to-eleven the grounds are heaving with people. The pre-race warm up is in full flow with music via the TheWolf unit, and 550 runners are almost ready. The final two runners emerge from the building: Father Christmas on holiday (in his shorts and sun glasses), and Pitman Pete (the Hednesford Town mascot). After a few photo’s of the runners with local MP David Kidney (the Official Race Starter), it’s 11am. There’s no time to wait for the horn, the runners are ready the countdown starts and they’re off!
This year we’ve changed the route to accommodate more runners, by easing the areas of congestion. The distance is unchanged, but the route must be a little harder, and its 14 minutes 22 before we see the first runner, Ian Milner, cross the finish line. Then there is a constant stream of runners, joggers, and amblers – some in fancy dress, some with pushchairs crossing the line. Santa and Pitman Pete, cross the line around an hour after the (silent) starter horn was blown, followed by the final pair – in a three-legged combination, collapsing in a heap at the finish line.
The race may be over but the results team hide away inside the Haling Dene Centre, cross checking the two sets of computer records of finishers and times, the manual record of sequence, and validating any differences against the video recording. Outside the Fun Day continues in full swing. The course tape is all down and the grounds are a mass of runners and spectators enjoying the sunshine and stalls; a refreshing beer and a fresh-cooked burger in hand. Just after 2pm race coordinator Malcolm mounts TheWolf FM podium, takes over the microphone from Dicky Dodd to announce the results and hand-out the prizes.
It’s late afternoon before the last of the crowds disperse, but its still warm and sunny; quite fortunate since I have the final stint in the stocks: pelted with wet sponges. All the stalls pack up, and then we ensure the building and grounds are clear, the tables chairs packed away, the cooled barbecue removed. Then it’s time for a couple of pints at the Cross Keys to end a very enjoyable, and very successful (fun) day.
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