Tommy Run 10k, 3rd November 2024
Lynne Cornell returned to the coast for The Tommy Run, sending us this account:
“I did this race for the 1st time last year and so enjoyed it that I signed up for this year the day after, due to the tempting early bird offer Wild Deer sent me.
This is the first race I have done since the Great North Run and the issues with my back that followed that. I’ve been doing lots of strengthening exercises as per physio instructions and building my mileage up gradually (again!) but I must admit I felt a tad nervous driving to Seaham and hoping that everything would be OK. Pleased to report it was.
It seemed much busier than last year and I now know why. Last year 421 participants, this year 1043. We arrived with plenty of time, collected our numbers and then sauntered back to the car to stay warm, although to be fair it wasn’t too bad. Very still compared to the ‘breezy’ conditions last year. We wandered our way back to the start about 15 minutes before the start time to find most people had already lined up, in no particular order in relation to estimated finishing time. This did make the 1st mile very busy with lots of weaving!!!
The route was very different to last year, including closed roads and no running round the very muddy field. After a minute’s silence we were off. Again the start was right next to the Tommy statue but this year we headed north at the start instead of south. North along North Road (!) to Sea View which involved the first hill of the race, then a loop around at Sea View so we were then heading south on North Road (!) and back down the hill we’d just run up. Then down to the prom (not so many stones this year and no seaweed) and a run south to a loop near Featherbed Rocks. Up the hill to North Road then headed south past the Tommy statue and the harbour along the road until we headed off on a track through Noses Point Nature Reserve passing Chemical Beach (!) and Noses Point as we went.
A 2k loop through the nature reserve took us back to the road and we headed north on the last mile to reach the finish at the Tommy statue. Waiting were a t-shirt that fits, plus wooden medal, drink and a cereal bar. No chocolate for the husband this time as I missed the fact they were handing out Mars Bars. He’ll never know!
A really good morning out. I loved the new course and look forward to next year.”
Lynne finished in a time of 53:39, well done Lynne.
