Race Date: Saturday 15th March 2025

Podium began in 2014 as a grassroots 5K event hosted from a cold, damp shipping container next to the Leicester cycle circuit. The format was simple: pay a fiver and race. More than 50 events later, Podium Festival II represents the latest evolution, featuring eleven seeded 5K races and a handicapped mile. Though the infield is now packed with tents showcasing running shoe brands and nutrition companies, the heart of the event remains firmly about the racing.

Five Steel City were in attendance although we somehow all ended up in different races. After a short drive down we took some time to explore the festival, scooping up enough freebies to surely cover our £10 entry fee. Briefly delayering to pin on our bibs we collectively agreed that early March is far too cold to properly lounge out on the grass and that the whole thing could benefit from being a couple of months later to fully take advantage of the festival vibe.

The day was off to a good start with Yasmine Chaffer who, fresh from a strong result at the North Lincs Half, was keen to get back under 20-minutes. Nothing can be taken for granted in the 5K though and success can quickly turn to failure if one isn’t disciplined with their early pace. Much to her reassurance the event had hired two 20-minute pacers which she diligently ran with for the first 4 laps. Then, unexpectedly, both pacers stepped aside leaving her on her own for the final lap. Not an issue though as she cruised to a 19:50 finish time, her best in two years. Business done, Yasmine was later spotted with a glass of wine in hand, ready to spectate the upcoming theatrics.

Yasmine credits the pacemakers on a job well done, “They were bang on the pace which isn’t that easy when your GPS isn’t accurate on the tight course”. But also “I like the atmosphere and how everyone there just loves fast running and proper racing. I loved how the commentator was as enthusiastic about someone breaking 20 minutes as they were about the first guy under 15 mins”.

Eddie Brooks was up next, clocking a solid 17:44. “Not quite where I thought I was” he admitted, but nevertheless a sign of good form heading into Spring. Naeem Stevens followed, closing hard with a 16:47, a testament to the strong base he’s built during the XC season.

The stand-out performance of the day came from Seth Kirby who, after setting a personal best at another Podium event back in November, was keen to test the legs after a solid block of training in the interim. “In the run-up to the race my training had been slowly improving (well, over the past 4 weeks I thought!). However, I did not expect to run close to my personal best.”

As for the race itself, Seth admits that “We got out fast and I was little bit too aggressive”, covering his first kilometre in 3:02 (15:10 pace!). Sensibly he was able to quickly get things under control, settling into a pack near the front of the race.

“One of the guys in this pack (Tom) I knew from training with Blizard, and I felt the race passed quickly. The conditions were close to perfect in the afternoon and to make the race easier the course was flat. Laps 2 and 3 went by and I was still at the back of this mini group. I managed to stay with this group until the end of the lap 4 when the group started to splinter. The only time I looked at the race clock was at this point and I think the screen read just under 12:30. I knew if I tried to pick up my speed on the final lap I should be able run under 15.50. That seemed like wishful thinking as my legs had turned to jelly but I was able to take back a couple of places in the last 30 metres. Finally, I crossed the line and I knew immediately that I had set a PB (a feeling which never fails to uplift your mood!). I then made my way over to Yas and Naeem to watch Rob’s race.”

Seth’s finishing time of 15:41 is now the club road 5K record. (Editor: Knocking Rob off top spot). With Seth focusing on the 3000m in the upcoming track season one must wonder if Philip Murray’s 8:54 clocking from 1989 might finally be under threat. For reference a 15:41 5K equates to around a 9:01 3K. (Editor: Seth also does a good chunk of his training with Dave Ansell and Mick Thompson’s (800m and 1500m athletes) at Woodbourne Road and Indoors during the winter. To give a flavour of the type of speed work involved they generally run longer sessions on Tuesday with shorter, sharper sessions on Thursday. Two weeks ago the Tuesday session was 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 mins (off 1 min recovery) on the grass. On Thursday Indoors it was 6x50m turnarounds (50m), 6x150m (50m), 6x200m (2mins).

Rounding out the afternoon, Rob Byers lined up at the back of race E aiming to switch off his brain and coast round as many laps as possible. With no real sense of pace and feeling surprisingly comfortable as he came through 4K he decided to push the pace in the closing kilometre and see what was left in the tank. He crossed the line in 15:56 administering a much needed injection of confidence after a disappointing (for him) result at Dewsbury 10K.

It’s exciting and motivating to see both the men’s and women’s club records being challenged and surpassed lately. A bit of friendly competition can only be a good thing. Edward, Seth and Rob are doubling back at the Mid-Cheshire 5K in late spring so let’s see what 10 weeks of training can do.