Runstreak day 2825 - September 25th is up there with December 25th Im like an excited schoolboy as it is the birthday 3 times Olympian, running apparel guru, my hero idol and proud to call my friend the true LegendOfTheStreak Dr. Ron Hill. Since celebrating his 70th birthday his close friend Andy OSullivan MBE has organised a birthday 5k run for Ron and since then I have made my annual pilgrimage to pay homage wish him well & enjoy a pint together, today was to prove no exception as I set off Lancashire bound, not to The Falcon Inn, Littleborough and nearby Hollingworth Lake the usual venue but to a different different pub & course at neighbouring village of Whitworth and 2 laps of Cowm Reservoir. A steady drive with plenty of nibbles & cheesey tunes to sing along to arrived with much time to spare so much so enjoyed an ice cream by aforementioned lake stunning scenery despite grim Lancashire drizzle then onto the race HQ of the hospitable Cock & Magpie still with ample time to partake in a pre race energy drink. . . . .a pint of Dizzy Blonde! Warm welcome & hearty greetings for yours truly as my regular annual visits have somewhat carved an impression on the organisers! Race time approaching rapidly Dr. Ron makes his late entrance just enough time for used to respectfully shake one anothers hand exchange salutations his half mile warm up before proudly wearing our club vests he of Clayton le Moors Harriers I of CrookAC joined a field of 211 competitors and after the doctor had officially started the event we loitered at the back and started well behind everyone else in last place a tactic often used by Ron. Steady away we were picking off runners picking up the pace ideal conditions for runners but not for spectators who were braving the elements but witnessing a man of greatness and to say I was proud to run alongside him for yet another year would be a major understatement. Encouraging a 3 time Olympian an athlete of his stature and pedigree whilst chatting about such mundane topics as his house flooded unfortunately by a burst pipe explaining his wife Mays absence this evening due to mopping up opetation was truly bizarre! Watching our footing all the way especially on the steep greasy tarmac decent to the finish line allowing The Champ to honourably cross the before me in a time of 28:28 a remarkable performance for a 76 year old who then wryly quipped he was saving himself for thid forthcoming weekend Saturday Manchester Heaton Park parkrun & Sundays Aintree 10k. Adjourning to the pub for prize giving we chatted at length over a pint not all about running, he was delighted to receive my card and gift of Durham brewed Hill Island Ale and was most amused when I announced that Id just surprisingly found a £20 note in my jacket pocket followed swiftly by a raffle win and a bottle of wine a great night all round. Bidding farewell to one another it may not be another year before we meet, Ron will celebrate 50 runstreak years on December 20th at Manchester Heaton Park parkrun. . .it would be rude not to for LordOfTheStreak not to join in the celebrations of LegendOfTheStreak
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:35:48 +0000