NWFPAC ‘Michael Page’ Championship 2025 – Race 5: Race the Train Bury to Rawtenstall

The pre-race:

The day started with great promise, blue skies, low chance of wind and a chance to try out our new run club race vests.  The blissful bubble was soon popped (the irony will come clear) when we realised as we were due to leave that the tire pressure warning light in our car was in fact due to a large nail in the back tyre!

Luckily for us, a fellow NWFPAC racer has recently up sticks to the Bolton suburbs so a quick phone call to Jake Topp and we were back on track.

 We in fact arrived so early to the race that we managed to secure a spot on the cosy carpark opposite to the station – which came in very handy seeing as Tom did four trips to and from the car for things he had forgot!

 Having never visited the station before, we knew we would be in for a treat with the nods to the ‘golden age of travel’ – the flower arrangements on the stairs and the platform were a lovely addition too; following a quick chat to a member of staff, we found out that a couple had got married on the platform the night before ahead of boarding a Dining train for their reception.

 On the way down the platform we bumped into Dave and Aisha, Tom quizzed them both on the best footwear for the day ahead with the vote split across their feet (Aisha wearing fresh neon carbons and Dave in tried and tested trails.  Registration itself was a finely tuned machine – a small table hidden down the end of the platform following which we did trip 1 of 4 back to the car to pick up the chosen shoes (we could’ve rivalled SportsShoes with the collection we were hoarding in a bag for life in Jake’s car boot).  Shoes picked and we were off for the dreaded part of any pre-race ritual – the ‘do I need the loo or should I go anyway’.  As usual the ladies loo queue was long and slow but with no dreaded Port-a-loos in sight, it was a win for the day already.

 The race start time was fast approaching so we made our way to Platform 2 where Marv was perched with his bike – ready for a morning of cheerleading - and towards the start in the car park next to the platform (Ed. We even managed a quick photo!).

There was some confusion from that point on regarding the length of the race – but we all decided to put our best foot forward knowing it would somewhere between 16.4km and 18km – a fact which the Race Director didn’t make any clearer when he announced that “the race is somewhere between 10.5-11 miles” as part of the race briefing.

Onto the race itself:

The NWFPAC contingent bundled closely by the timing chip mat – keen to not lose easy points in the league.  A very relaxed start by all accounts, the Race Director announced we would be setting off in 5,4,3,2,1… and we were off!

Up the hill from the station car park with a sharp left, a tight pack of NWFPAC runners charged ahead. It would be the last time I would see most of the group until we reunited on the Rawtenstall Platform post race. Josh Nelson was the last runner I saw but he soon also sped off down the hill and off into the distance.

It’s at this point; I pass over my (much speedier) counterpart Tom Grime for his summary of the front pack of the race:

On the start line I asked Adrian how quick he was planning to run, his answer banked in my head after an agreeable nod that we would be broadly similar on pace albeit his 4.20’s looked a lot like 3.50’s up to 5km when I eventually caught him back up.

 For the first 4km, I ran with Mike Ginn and Jake Topp before Jake bowed out, booting a rock like he was going for the World Cup deciding penalty (more details later in the review).

It was until (one of many) kissing gates along the course at 10km that I plotted my escape from the grasp of Mike and ploughed ahead for the final 3rd of the route.

 The marshals (of which there were so many!) were very encouraged along the route – updating me on the ‘gap’ as I was chasing down 3rd; in hindsight I needed the course to be more towards the 18km length suggested to stand a chance of the podium.

 Now back to Briony…

 An overall summary of the race:

 An undulating course with some technical elements and a couple of testing hills for good measure!

 The course itself was well marked with the runners upfront bashing the weeds/ nettles down out of the path by the time us merry runners passed.

 For a well-priced race, the aid stations (at 5km and 10km) weren’t expected to be well stocked with goodies but the lack of choice was counterbalanced by the generous measures in the cups of water; making it somewhat difficult to continue running and sip slowly (so I took the welcome break to rehydrate!)

 Ice pops were a great addition at the finish line – a medal we all needed crossing the line in the deceiving heat.

 The important bit:

 Tom’s face sank when he realised that Aisha sneaked in at 3rd female so with Tom in 4th, Aisha would take the crown for the full 20 points with Tom on 19 points.  Mike Ginn also placed in the top 10 overall having been with Tom for most of the race; taking 18 points for his team.

 Jake Topp suffered with his toe nail after a brief tumble – his heart rate didn’t lower but his brand new Garmin watch came out unscathed which was the biggest relief, the same can’t be said for his fresh white socks which were ruby red at the finish – I’ll spare you all the gory detail.  He did say that his spirits were uplifted soon after the tumble when an on course group of the enthusiastic youths started an England chant from the sidelines (note his running shirt in the photos).  A respectable 13th position overall even with the tumble – taking 17 points for the NWFPAC league on his maiden outing.

 Adrian Rogers’ speedier than scheduled km’s meant he crossed the line as 17th male taking 16 points.  Thanks to the female and male separation in the league chart, I came away with 15 points nipping in ahead of Dave.  Dave’s injuries must be in the rearview mirror now with a 1:25:36 chip time taking 14 points for ‘We excel’.

Steve Hughes crossed the line just over the 1:30 marker taking 13 points.  Sian revealed that she took no pride in overtaking a 14-year-old at the finish but that the “points ranking take priority” – sadly, her efforts were with little gain as the young runner must’ve started further back in the field pipping Sian a place in the overall results.  Josh Nelson also took a tumble on the course coming away with a bloodied hand as a souvenir for his efforts; closing out the NWFPAC league table for today’s outing with 11 points.