Newcastle University Cow Bell 5K, 23rd March 2019

Report from Howard MacClennan:
What a Glorious Day to run the Newcastle University Athletics & Cross Country Club 3rd Cow Bell 5k, on the Town Moor!

The course varies from the Newcastle ParkRun as you have to run past the bandstand, tennis courts and the Wylam Brewery, in the Palace of Arts. Whether it’s faster or not, is questionable.

Claremont Road Runner were accidentally able to field a men’s team of three.

First to come in for the Light Blues, was our Spanish friend and very vastly improving Daniel Mourenza. Today was a bit of an experiment, instead of running the ParkRun at 9am, to race later and gather on any improvements. Well Daniel did, not only did he smash a Personal Best with the time of 18:14, but beat last year’s winner. Some may argue he was going to do it anyhow, but we will soon be able to tell when he returns to ParkRun in the near future.

Surprisingly Luke Woodend did not come second, but fair credit he ran ParkRun in the morning and past results say he would normally beat me. I came in at 21:56, very much a surprise for me, as I’m recovering from a slight injury.

Our Luke Woodend came in third, with a respectable time of 22:02. Personally I wouldn’t have managed that time if I had ran two races that day.

Overall Cow Bell 5k brought many runners from afar, especially from Liverpool University and Clubs South of the Tyne. A good turn out to support our local clubs, and a new men’s course record was made at a very fast time of 16:09.

Newcastle University Athletics & Cross Country Club personally thanked Daniel and I at the presentation held in the North Terrace Pub for supporting their race. I’m sure Daniel was happy with the celebration drink and a deservedly earned afternoon nap.