What’s the time Rother Valley?
(Chris Heggs)
It’s 10 minutes past 9 on Saturday 19 th April 2025, and the Totley faithful have descended on Rother Valley Country Park for the second challenge.
10 minutes into the event, you are probably imagining that Kevin Walker is well into the second half of his run around the generously named ‘lakes’ and is already beginning to think about his post-race plans for the day.
Wrong!
A record 661 bemused runners/joggers/ walkers stood in silence as participants continued to head from the car park to the start. Apparently, there had been some sort of parking issue, although Pete Dooley confessed that he was just running late as he casually joined the 43 Totley titans.
Maybe the delay gave the challenge combatants the opportunity to contemplate their run strategy, consider the course conditions, perhaps ruminate on the weather? Whatever the tactic, it seemed to be effective, as an impressive 19 of us ran a course PB, or a lifetime PB. The parkrun was a pacing event (thank you to the Killamarsh Kestrels for providing the pacers), although I will say that trying to catch up with the correct pacer was challenging in the first mile.
There were many tales of success today, but I’d like to focus on a couple. Paul ‘I think I’ll take it easy today’ Grayson showcased the benefits of the Thursday improvers sessions by breaking the 20-minute barrier for the first time. Great running.
Ian Bates was so terrified by his probable demolition at the hands (or feet) of the incredible Yvonne Twelvetree, that he feigned car trouble and headed to his safe space at Millhouses Park. With hindsight, he was right to avoid the lakeside lap, with Yvonne clocking up a mind boggling and ‘world class’ age grade of 91.96%.
As we did last year, we decided to hold one challenge here to give Totley runners a chance to familiarise themselves with the racing line ahead of the very popular Rother Valley relays held on Wednesday 21 st May. (hint: you can still sign up to be a part of the fun!)
What’s that, you prefer hills and wind and starting at 9am?
I have just the place for you.
We convene again at Graves Park on 17 th May. I hope to see you there.
