Race date:  Saturday 18^th May 2019

Report by Adam Newell

Agden Against Alzheimer’s – Event 94 of #Nasser94 and Event 2 of The Striders Trail Race Series.

156 runners – 56 of them Striders. Our club claimed Men’s and Women’s 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

The final event of a two-year fundraising effort in honour of my Grandfather, Nasser Misri, was held this Saturday 18^th May 2019. Along with the Sheffield City Striders, the Sheffield Triathlon Club, and Sheffield Running Club, local businesses SCX, Katie Bell Physiotherapy and Wellness, and Kilpi UK also supported the race, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society.

It all started when friends from St Philips suggested a run around a reservoir that was not Damflask. Sacrilege! I’d never heard of Agden and was sceptical as I approached my first run around it, but my attitude quickly changed as the beautiful view over the reservoir took hold of me. Conversation flowed during the post-run trip to the pub; then one thing led to another and we decided we’d organise a race around Agden Reservoir to end the #Nasser94 series.

Agden Reservoir. Two words I would speak many times over the following months, and struggle to spell many times more.

Being part of this fantastic running club allowed me to call upon the members’ many years’ experience of running and event organising, to ensure we could deliver a race that was not only challenging, but inclusive and enjoyable.

Race Day

On the morning of the race, myself and the race director (my father in-law) were setting up in the corner of Bradfield Village Parish Cricket Club’s field when a gentleman approached.

‘Oh dear,’ I thought, ‘what have we done.’ Turns out it was more a case of what haven’t we done.

“Excuse me, what are you doing? This is my field and I wasn’t told about a race today…”

Thankfully my father-in-law’s diplomatic nature avoided what could’ve been a disaster. The gentleman, who turned out to be the Chairman of the field trustee committee, was satisfied we had made an attempt to gain permission by contacting other people and went on his way.

Crisis adverted…. until a Our Cow Molly van drove through our finishers area towards the Village Hall Food Festival that was apparently happening at the same place and time as our race. Luckily, we managed to navigate this obstacle too, but it did feel like God was playing a practical joke on us, reminding us who was really in charge of the day.

As 10am approached, the runners made their way to the start line – it was wonderful to see the sea of Green, Gold and Alzheimer’s Blue.

3, 2, 1…GO!

155 runners set off on the first ever Agden Against Alzheimer’s race. Over the bridge and up the hill to take on the “AAA Windy Bank Climb”. There was, however, a twist to this race: enter Liam Walker, our Charity Chaser. His mission was to wait 9 minutes 40 seconds before starting the race and overtaking as many people as possible during the two laps. He was being sponsored a total of £5.43 a head for each runner he overtook. Some of you may be aware that Liam took a slight detour on the first lap, which makes it even more impressive that he managed to overtake 106 runners within 9km. His efforts raised £576 in the process!

The Men’s race was won by my SCX colleague and Kimberworth Strider Michael Harrison with a time of 35:01. Caz Kay won the Women’s Race in 39:28. Silver and Bronze belonged to Striders as Paul Middlemass (35:07), Simon Bennett (35:40), Abbie Pearse (39:42) and Lucy Broom (39:48) rounded off the prizes.

Agden Against Alzheimer’s was an incredible end to an incredible journey. One family’s story to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society became many families’ stories over the two years, as more and more people came forward to tell their own experiences of dealing with dementia.

My family might have started the series, but it was the Sheffield City Striders family that finished it. Thank you to everyone who participated in Agden Against Alzheimer’s – it means so much to me and my family to have your support.

We will be leaving the #Nasser94 fundraising page open a little longer for any last minute donations: www.justgiving.com/Nasser94.

Striders Results below.