Druridge Bay 10k, 26th May 2024

Lynne Cornell sends this report from a soggy Druridge Bay:

“This is a favourite of mine and this year was no different. I must admit we were wondering what conditions would be like as we drove up to Druridge Bay and the A1068 was rather wet with puddles covering large sections of the road, following the downpour on Saturday night.

However it was a sunny morning as we arrived to collect our numbers albeit having to jump around the puddles to get to the collection point. At 10.15 we were told to get to the beach for the start. This year we headed north from the steps rather than south and after half a mile of following others I did say to Susan that I wondered if we had gone too far up the beach. A marshal was then seen running along the beach in wellies shouting at us all to stop and come back!

Finally, when everyone was where they should be, the starting line was drawn in the sand. At this point we were told the route had been changed this year-it was going to be 1.5 miles on the beach, then up through the dunes to the track to take us back to the visitor centre then 2 laps of Ladyburn Lake going in a clockwise direction-the opposite way to the parkrun. Instruction – keep the lake on your right!!! 

The wind in our faces on the beach wasn’t as bad as I remember from previous years and once off the beach disappeared altogether. The track was reasonably dry considering the rainfall, as was the path round the lake, until a certain point, when it was a 50 metre stretch of water that was certainly above the ankles. The puddles at the Rising Sun ParkRun had prepared me well! And we got to do it all again on lap 2!!! 

A short section on grass after lap 2 to the finish and a medal, water and edible goodies!

The rain managed to stay away until we had finished running and had a cuppa and cake! A really good morning.”

Lynne finished 44th in a time of 51:05.