Race Date: Friday 12th July 2024
Race Report by Lucy Broom

DonFaster 5K is organised by Danum Harriers running club. The inaugural race took place in July 2023, as a memorial for one of their members, Simon Piggott. The race is run at The Cycle Hub, next to Doncaster Dome, and follows a similar format to the Loxley Lash – part of a series of three across the year (Friday evenings in March, July and October), and on a 1km looped outdoor cycle track. 

Runners are offered a “Chip timed, fast and flat, floodlit and officially measured 5K course”.  For £9 (affiliated), this was a bargain! Aside from chip timing, prizes and encouraging marshals; there was a race clock (so you could see your time per km each loop), and ranked race numbers in order of predicted finish time – nice touch! Not such a bargain, however, with added bus gate fine… The briefing email did warn us to avoid temptation to take the short cut into The Dome, but I’d completely forgotten this and blindly followed Google maps, which led me astray before I realised. Hopefully I averted disaster by quickly turning into a hotel car park – time will tell. Parking is free at The Dome – I parked in car park 1 (out of 4), which seemed to be closest to the cycle track. 

There were lots of similarities with Loxley Lash: runners are set off in two waves, depending on predicted time; there is a slight incline heading out on the loop, with a slight downhill heading back in; and a familiar light headwind on the way out (although weather conditions were pretty perfect). In terms of the shape of the loop, there is a hairpin bend at one end (like Forge Valley), and a wider loop at the other. We were warned at the start that GPS watches can get confused, and over or under-estimate the distance. I had entered the race after twice trying and failing to go sub-20 at Loxley, both times running the right pace but failing to run the correct distance.  I was worried that I might’ve chosen something far too similar, to make any difference! 

Predictably, we all tore out with excitement at the start, and I doubt I was alone in terms of dubious pacing. Like the three bear’s porridge, my first mile was too fast, second mile too slow, and third one was juuust right!  Aside from the time, I was motivated by gradually hunting down the third placed female, finally gliding noisily by her on the final lap. Coming into the finishing straight, I was surprised and elated to see the clock ticking through the mid 19s and realised that sub-20 was in the bag!  A good night’s work: 3^rd female – box of celebrations and a tenner (to help with the fine) and a sub 20 club record at last! 

It was great to hang out with striders Chris and John at the start and finish, and I appreciated the cheer as I crossed the line. They were both pleased with their times too (John having mentioned beforehand that he was really hoping (but not hopeful) to get back under 18 minutes for the first time in a while. Great job! This is a fantastic race series that I can highly recommend.

Results

The women’s race was won by Lindsay Skinner. Off that Couch Fitness. 00.17.05 (C). The men’s race was won by Elliot Morton. Rotherham Harriers and AC. 00.15.30 (C).

Striders Results: