Newcastle University had a successful weekend at the third race in the Start Fitness North East Harrier League series. The team consisted of three Team Newcastle Triathlon members (TNT) and an AU officer still suffering from Freshers’ Flu.
The race took place at Temple Park in South Shields. On arrival, it was clear that the race was not going to be a stroll in the park due to the strong breeze that was threatening to blow tents onto the 6km course.
We headed to registration whilst realizing that being a team of 4 from Newcastle University we had no shelter. As amateur as we looked we didn’t care and decided to ask if we could pitch up inside the registration tent.
The clock hit 1.05 and we headed to the start line for the 1.10 start of the 6km race. 1.10 passed and there was no sign of the race starting anytime soon, it was at 1.25 that they announced that the race was going to start in 10 minutes.
At 1.37 after standing around for a solid half an hour huddled together freezing in vest and shorts, the gun was fired and 350 runners headed out onto the undulating, open course.
A steady but strong first km put all the Newcastle runners well within the top 100. Amelia was up there in the leading pack with Susie not far behind followed by Ellie and Clara.
At the end of the first lap we all wondered how we were going to get around again with the wind getting stronger. Nevertheless this was where the training was going to show and it was at this point that Amelia hit the front. 22 minutes and 51 seconds later Amelia crossed the finish line in 1st place followed by Clara, 27th, Susie, 36th and Ellie in 50th.
This meant that Newcastle University finished 1st overall out of 18 teams and 350 runners. Sara Tomassini ex TNT ran the race for Tyne Bridge Harriers and finished in 71st.