On Sunday, Dale Fordham represented Newport & District Running Club at the Stone 10k. On an overcast, but very warm and humid day, the race took place over two well-marshalled anti-clockwise laps of the roads to the south-east of Stone town itself, starting near and finishing at St. Michael’s School and taking in the A34, A51 and a short section of canal towpath.

Dale during the race

Dale said: “The race started at 9am. I set off much too fast, being drawn along by the field. Setting a new personal best at 5km, I continued to feel strong until approximately 7km when fatigue started to bite. Although I ignored it on lap 1, the water station was a welcome sight on lap 2 for a couple of sips to moisten a very dry mouth!

Dale with his medal after the finish!

I managed to press on, taking 56 seconds off my previous 10k personal best. I finished 229th out of 440 runners, with a chip time of 50 minutes, 54 seconds. I am unsure which was more welcome at the end: the medal, or the large bag of Haribo being handed to all finishers!”