Netley Abbey Park Run, Saturday March 17th.

First ever running of the Netley Abbey Park Run, Southampton. Not best conditions for an inaugural run, a wet Saturday morning. Unsure why its been named Netley Abbey Park Run as it is actually held in the grounds of the former Netley Victoria(n) Military Hospital, next to River Solent, the Abbey itself about a mile away.

A 2 kilometer circuit followed by 3×1 kilometer laps around the remaining (museum) section of the hospital. Multi terrain, grass, tarmac, gravel track. Mostly flat. Did not set off too fast, held steady pace, probably running more than 5k due to having to lap other runners.

Sidney DeLara: Netley Abbey Southampton Park Run Saturday March 17th.
Time: 20mins 48secs
Position overall 24th/152runners
Age Cat MV 55 1st.(74.5% age grading)

Exbury Gardens 10k

Nice sunny Sunday morning. Run starts and finishes in Exbury Gardens, so tea room and other facilities on hand. After leaving gardens out along country lanes for first 4k, only minor undulations. I tried to hold to a 4 minute kilometre pace, just after 4k a section of mud track and then onto gravel of Lepe Beach and along an elevated track section. On beach shoe came loose and i lost 30 seconds sorting problem,last 5k country lanes and into gardens. Slower than expected time. Straight across finish line into tea room, no vegan food so just fruit juice and black coffee.

Sidney DeLara: Exbury Gardens 10k, Sunday March 18th.
Time: 42mins 39secs.
Position: overall 30th/336runners
Age Cat MV 50 6th.(74.1% age grading)