THERE is something of a running boom going on at the moment. However, is it something that is passing Thurrock by?
On a Saturday morning at hundreds of venues across the country, tens of thousands of people, f all shapes sizes and abilities, take part in 5K park runs. The are great fun and nurture a great sense of well being.
There are park runs in Hockley, Romford, Brentwood, Harlow, Dartford, Finsbury Park, to name just a few.
But no park run in Thurrock. Community champion Trevor Rawson says there is on in the pipeline but you do wonder if Trevor is being given all the help he needs.
On Sunday morning the fourth Mel Batty memorial 10K took place. 144 runners completed the course. That is one of the lowest turnouts in Essex. The race wound its way around the Orsett lanes.
And if you weren’t one of the elite runners, then you’re prize at the end was not a medal or a t-shirt. No, for your £14 entrance fee, you got..a pen.
Let us be clear, this was a very well organised 10K and the marshals were very encouraging but again, one has to wonder if Thurrock did not miss a trick.
This was not a race to encourage fun runners or people taking their first steps. The person who finished last came in at 1hr and 11 mins and that’s not bad.
We also counted (as this reporter ran) around two people actually lining the street.
Whereas some races have a lot of sponsors, this one seemed to have just one. we are sure there are Essex businesses who would have been interested in sponsoring (including this business).
You might say, there is a running boom in Thurrock. There is the Chafford Hundred Running Group who seem to be going from strength to strength and on any given evening, many individuals who just like jogging and may have no desire to join a club, run in a race etc.
As we said, we think Thurrock might be missing a trick and we hope those, who are in charge of the health of the borough, are doing their best to get the best out of the borough.
