Very hard to describe what happen yesterday and why it develop into a bit of a farce. What should have been a fun family day out sadly didn't.  After complaints about the hardness of the course last year, the organisers of the Sheffield Children's Hospital run, up sticks and moved away from central Sheffield to basically the middle of nowhere somewhere between Sheffield and Worksop. The venue was the Rother Valley Country Park and along with Sheffield Athletics club they thought had a better annual run. As usually there would be 2 races 1 3k race for children and the 10k race for us runners. The main event as normal was set for 12 noon.

The time of the event was great for me, despite living on the western side of the Pennines it didn't require a to early get up. With big brother living in the city, his house would be used as base camp. So with a careful planning it was arranged that we would arrive in Sheffield soon after 9 and being Sunday both my nephew and niece still could have their weekly swimming lesson and still leave us with plenty of time to get to the venue.We worked out we need about 30 minutes. So we picked up the kids at 1030 and made haste up to the venue. Traffic was little in central Sheffield, and we made good time until we came within a 1-2 miles of the park, where we met a line of stationary traffic going nowhere. I thought it may be roadworks but there no signs..Time was just before 11, so we still had the best part of an hour to get to the start. But as time went by we were literally inching our way along, couldn't see the front of queue & it was getting longer behind. We soon realised that this was the only way into the park and we stuck in the middle of it. I found out later that queue eventually tailed back to the M1, some 3 or 4 miles back. Just after 1130, with the park just about in sight my nephew made the sensible suggestion of me walking to the start. Which I duly did. Other runners also opted for this "route". But what surprised me was there just nobody not even a poilceman directing the traffic basically a free for all.

It was only whilst walking down the long entrance that there was somebody shouting that there would be a delay of 15 minutes. I got talking to a guy who agreed with me that it was a bit of a shambles. After a long walk I got to start- which was about 1-2 miles according to pedometer and although I had come in my running gear, I still had track suit bottoms, top on and kit bag to depose of. Unlike last year there were no changing facilities at the venue, so I prayed that my Mum and brother would make in time so that I "download" my gear with them. Fortunately they did.Dispite people still piling in, the organisers seemed very determined not to delay the start any further and made desperate announcements to get runners down to the start which was still quite a distance away. Managed to get to start in "time" but it appeared they had abandoned the traditional warm up which is part of the event. Think real panic had really set in by now.

But at approx 1220, only 20 mniutes late but with tens of runners still making their way down to the start. We were off. They did assure competitiors there was no need to rush as the run was on the chip system, which was their saving grace really. God knows how they would have coped under the old system.  Anyway Ozzie Owl started the race. Course was 2x 5k laps of the park around 2 large lakes. Run on a combination of tarmac paths, roads and but mainly dusty country park paths it wasn't going to be the most challenging course I've experienced. But with having rushed to get into the place and the lack of a warm up, decided that I was just going to treat this as a training run.Was under instruction anyway from Sarah not to take any unnecessary risks. The start was chaotic, everybody wanting to stay on the paths, loads of pushing. The first mile was tarmac run before going onto the stoney dusty paths. Felt really weird running but with people still making their way to the start. It was very hard to settle into any sort of rhythm. Soon thought I was right that a fast time would be out of the question so I would try and just enjoy the run. The "circuit" was large and people soon spread out and you could see a human chain forming around the course.  Even when I came through to start the 2nd circuit people were wondering down to the start. As we started the second lap there was the only chance to take on water, again last year they had 2, fortunately although sunny it wasn't hot, if it had been there may have been one or two problems with dehydration.  Used the second lap to try and do some "sprinting" but found that my feet slipped slightly on the stoney surface. I was mighty glad to see the finishing line.For once I wasn't particularly bothered what the time was, knew it wasn't the best I had done.

For what's it worth here are splits according to the watch

1 mile       7:37

2 mile      15:15

3 mile     23:00

4 mile    30:56

5 mile   38:46

6 mile  46:39

10k      48:31 both chip and watch

Probably the most amazing thing about it all was my final time, considering that I wasn't bothered about it.  It was only 6 secs out from a PB. Unfortunately the chaotic nature of the event continue into the finishing area, a very small area given over to the finishers to meet with family etc,claim their "T" shirt and also to have their time chips taken off them. For some bizarre reason we wore them on our shoes iso around the ankle which meant officials had to help most people to get them off. After a quick recovery and meeting up with the family, we decided to get out a.s.a.p.,as there was only 1 exit for everyone & we didn't want to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon in yet another traffic jam. Got out with any problems and we made our way back to base camp.

It's such a pity that what had been a well run event in previous years had clearly lack organisation this year. There was just no atmostphere, no bands playing, certainly lack of facilities for both spectators and runners alike. Informing competitors of the possible delays and then rushing into the start when it was clear that there still people arriving. Yes they had the chip system in their favour and as mentioned before that really saved the event for a total farce, but it was meant to be a fun day and they removed that part of the event to save themselves. I'll put a fiver on that they get more complaints this year than they did last year.

Even today I can't find anything good about yesterday. I'll wait and see whether or not I'll do it again next year certainly will not do it if they keep the same venue...One fact about yesterday I spent more time waiting in the car than I did actually running.That's how bad things got.

But I'm really looking forward to next few months, firstly Manchester in 6 weeks time and then back to Sheffield in early September. Both courses with their unique atmospheres and challenges especially Sheffield. That final hill and I have some unfinished business to sort out.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Enjoying the warm spring sunshine.

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