BAC women’s team captain Caitlin Peers was in action at the Run Media City 5k in Salford
Exhibiting some fine form of late, Bournemouth AC ladies’ supremo Caitlin Peers had every reason to go into the Run Media City 5k race full of confidence. She recorded an exceptional PB of 36:16 at the Lightening Bolt 10k in Langley Burrell when representing team Dorset in the South West Inter Counties Team Championships. She’d also recently set an emphatic new course record in the Tittesworth Trail 10k, a race where she finished 2nd overall. In that event she had to basically run up a massive hill and then back down it again.
She’d also knocked her parkrun PB down to an impressive 17:32 and earlier in the summer she won a bronze medal in the World Duathlon Championships in Ibiza. In sporting terms it was all going swimmingly for Caitlin. She also recently organised the Bournemouth AC Mile of Miles Relays, where club members were split into teams of five, each having a run four laps of the track before passing on the baton. That evening went down a storm.
Caitlin had been in brilliant form of late, demonstrating a great turn of pace
For her latest race, Caitlin was in Salford for the Run Media City 5k, with the course consisting of a flat 2.5km loop in the central piazza of Media City, where the BBC Studios, the Lowry Theatre and the Imperial War Museum are located. It was just a case of running two laps to make up the 5k distance.
Caitlin was up there contending at the front of the field
Recording a 5:42 for her first mile and a 5:46 for her second mile, Caitlin was flying. She shipped a little bit of time in the third mile, which went down at a 6:15 but it was still a tremendous performance from Caitlin and her finishing time was 17:59. That put her fourth overall out of 185 runners and she was first female out of 106.
Luke Harreld of PT Fitness was first to the tape in 17:17, with Deio Garton Jones of Eryri Harriers taking second in 17:47. Martyn Cairns was a couple of seconds quicker than Caitlin on chip time, taking third. Caitlin’s nearest female challenger was Alicia Barczak of Salford Harriers and she got round in 19:21 which put her in 9th place overall.
Caitlin was first female and fourth overall in 17:59
It was a great result for Caitlin in what is likely to be her last road race for Bournemouth AC before she heads off to New Zealand for a year and a half. She will certainly be missed by everyone at Bournemouth AC as well as the members of Zoom Tri Club who she trained with for cycling and swimming.
Caitlin poses with her medal whilst getting a well earned massage
It’s not just for her ability that she will be a big loss though. It’s also for her infectious smile and positive energy that she brought to the group.
She’s always been enthusiastic in the sessions and throws herself into them but equally, she knows how to have fun and enjoy the social aspect to it and that’s important. After all, the club members are there primarily to enjoy it, at the end of the day, and that can often get forgotten.
There were some emotional goodbyes to Caitlin in her last training session and it will be sad to see her go. It’s not forever though and she will hopefully be back in the fold when she returns to the UK. Time tends to fly by quite quickly these days as well so hopefully it won’t seem too long before she’s with the group again and she’ll certainly be welcomed back with open arms.