Dronfield Town 10k – In Garmin we trust?

Race date: Monday, 6 May 2019

With my fell running background I thought this one should be a good race for me.

I can’t drive so I set off from S7 on my road bike with an hour and a half to get to the start, register, have a natter and warm up. Plenty of time I thought….

It didn’t turn out like that. The previous night I didn’t sleep too great so I was a bit dozy when I set off. When I got to Dronfield after about 45 minutes of gentle pootling on the bike I realised I didn’t really know where the race start was. Don’t worry I thought – have faith in the Garmin and all will be well. 99% of the time that tends to be the case – not so today – I ended up in the middle of nowhere some 1.5 miles away from the start with 15 minutes until gun time. So I pulled myself together and rattled my way back to the train station burning a few matches in the process. Later, Dronny local Strider Jimmy Sharman confirmed that I was literally 400m from the start before I went the wrong way! Anyway, panting outside the train station, I asked a local person where the race was. Initially he looked at me in a suspect manner and when he realised I was one of those ‘nutcase’ runners he thankfully pointed me in the right direction.

When I arrived at the start, breathing heavy, the race pack were listening to the starter give his instructions. I locked up the bike. I waddled awkwardly in my clip-in cycling shoes to the tent to get my number, “It’s the other tent you need love!” said the nice marshal. Typical. “One minute to go!” I heard on the announcement. I waddled again to the other tent. “Can I have my number please, my name is Adrian Fisher?” Stood there in my bright green hi-viz jacket and helmet I might have looked a bit out of place. “The Fun Run has already set off I’m afraid”. “I know”, I said, “I’m here for the main race”. “It’s about to start now,” said the lady. “I know,” I said. She quickly handed me my number and I started to undress quickly outside the tent.

It’s easy to get cold riding to a race so I was fully togged up. Helmet, trousers, jacket, club jumper, and those clip-in cycling shoes were all hastily thrown in the rucksack. I heard a loud ”Go!” and the race had started. ”Arse,” I said to myself. I threw my bag in the tent and I quickly began putting my trainers on. Double knots mind – no need to be sloppy. With no time to pin on my number I scrunched it up in my hand and hurdled the containing rope and headed toward the start. In the rush I even forgot to take off my cycling gloves off. As the attached photo shows, not a great look. I’m calling it my Madonna phase. I crossed the start line roughly 30–45 seconds after everyone else – quite an odd feeling.

Pumped up from the ride in I probably set off a bit too fast trying to make up ground but after a mile or so I settled myself down. There was a huge green and gold throng of runners heading out of the sports ground. A very impressive turn out from the Club.

To my mind the course is quite a tough 10k but very scenic and despite having open roads is fairly traffic free. The good weather meant that the off-road sections were entirely runnable, although if I am honest I did walk the hill that the locals use for sledging. The elevation coupled with the off-roading means the course isn’t a PB opportunity but what it does have is variety. There is a nice long downhill road section which allows you to claw some of your time lost on the climbs.

Overall I managed to place 23rd which I was happy with taking into account the pre-race nonsense.

I’d recommend this friendly race to any runner who is perhaps thinking about entering a fell/trail race and wants to dip their toe in. Just make sure you know where the start is before you set off.

WASAW

Full Striders results for this race are at: https://www.steelcitystriders.co.uk/2019/dronfield-town-fc-10k-2019-result/